The New Manager Thread

[Kenneth]

I would have expected some words of support (I'm talking about in the weeks before he was kicked out) - they always had said good things in the past and their silence at that point was noticeable and significant.

I think it's unreasonable to expect someone to speak out publically in a way that is possibly going to be against the views of their employer over a professional matter. Who knows what communication there was between Rafa and any of the players. Just because it wasn't done via the medium of tabloid news hacks doesn't mean it didn't happen.

[Jack D Rips]

No, they sacked him because he asked them for things, like you know, money for players.

Matt, with the exception of Alonso he had the same players as finished 2nd the previous season. He ****ed up big time with crazy selections and substitutions. He promised 4th. He attained 7th. He was sacked. Stop talking about net spends and money for players. He certainly was restricted by budgets but he got loads of money over the time of his managership and too often spent it on ****e, often shipping out players who were better than the ones he brought in.

[Leyton388]

Roy Hodgson as our manager is truly depressing! Prepare for mediocracy!

[dww]

depending on ins and outs, but with roughly the same team at his diposal as Rafa had last year. I would expect a top 4-6 finish.

Rafa hada ****e season last year and this team is much better.

7th-9th you lot really think this team is that ffs? or hodgson is that bad a manager.

I think the thing is that the squad we have lacks the depth to really compete with a strengthening top 4 + Man City so odds are without investment we would be looking at a best case scenario of 5th. This might be revised up if Gerrard and Torres stay and remain fit for the whole season.

Realistically I think most think that we will sell at least one of Gerrard and Torres and not spend any more than we bring in. This I think brings expectations down further.

With an appointment like Hodgson the last point weighs heavier and so a realistic 5th to 8th estimate becomes a 7th to 9th one.

[Kenneth]

Doesn't matter whether he's jobless, Inter Milan manager or assistant manager at KFC in Wakefield...the point I was making is that, in my opinion and based on the deafening silences from both Gerrard & Torres (it's no coincidence Dirk & Pepe could 'find the time' in their hectic World Cup schedules to comment on Rafa's shafting), they turned their backs on him, hung him out to dry - left him exposed. And, given the way he improved both players (and in Nando's case brought him into the big time)...I think that's a bit ****. It's like walking out on your missus after your first argument. **** that.

Rafa got sacked. Managers get sacked. It may be emotive for you as a fan, but players aren't fans in that way. They have professional relationships with colleagues.

You don't know what was said out of the tabloid gaze so you must be implying that they should have spoken out in the press to put pressure on their employers not to sack someone who may well have wanted to go anyway, or to make some bland statement about how Rafa was a good manager and they wish him luck. As if platitudesin the press have some kind of meaning that will mean the lack of them is a personal insult to Rafa and taken as such. Surely you don't buy into the whole media soap opera crap? I really don't mean any offense, but that is a very odd stance.

[Leyton388]

The days of champions league football is well and truly over for us. I don't want some ****ing puppet as our manager who will happily stand by and watch our squad be sold off to service the debt of the cunts! If roy takes the job on i will support him but the minute our players start getting sold and he is happy about that he can **** off back to Fulham!

[Kenneth]

Roy Hodgson as our manager is truly depressing! Prepare for mediocracy!

We have been reading your posts for a while now, we're prepared.

[Leyton388]

We have been reading your posts for a while now, we're prepared.

Good good don't want anyone to be disappointed

[Shaggy]

Rafa got sacked. Managers get sacked. It may be emotive for you as a fan, but players aren't fans in that way. They have professional relationships with colleagues.

You don't know what was said out of the tabloid gaze so you must be implying that they should have spoken out in the press to put pressure on their employers not to sack someone who may well have wanted to go anyway, or to make some bland statement about how Rafa was a good manager and they wish him luck. As if platitudesin the press have some kind of meaning that will mean the lack of them is a personal insult to Rafa and taken as such. Surely you don't buy into the whole media soap opera crap? I really don't mean any offense, but that is a very odd stance.

Generally no, of course I don't buy into all that crap but in this instance it was good to hear Pepe and Dirk speak up.

And it's not just about 'platitudes in the press'. In a way they didn't need to say anything because they said it all with their 'performances'. Torres less so, because his goals to games ratio was still pretty ace but his level was unquestionably down on before. Gerrard patently stopped playing for the manager. Don't you think Gerrard, Torres and possibly a couple of others (I'm thinking Carra, Riera...) gave up on him last season? And are obviously happy to see him go? To lose faith in a man and his methods, a matter of just months after a time when all was so rosy, is a bit ****ty.

[SimonNo7]

Torres's comments today certainly seem to confirm what at the time looked him and Gerrard going of to the WC and leaving Rafa to the dogs, no words of support, nothing.. and if they both wanted him out, Stevie at least might welcome an English replacement.

Is that the comments about how Rafa's departure was 'best for everyone'?

[SimonNo7]

One positive if Roy comes we can get Hangeland as cover

That would be good...





...if he gets any money...




...which if the press are to be believed was something he wanted guaranteeing before he becomes manager.

[SimonNo7]

Doesn't matter whether he's jobless, Inter Milan manager or assistant manager at KFC in Wakefield...the point I was making is that, in my opinion and based on the deafening silences from both Gerrard & Torres (it's no coincidence Dirk & Pepe could 'find the time' in their hectic World Cup schedules to comment on Rafa's shafting), they turned their backs on him, hung him out to dry - left him exposed. And, given the way he improved both players (and in Nando's case brought him into the big time)...I think that's a bit ****. It's like walking out on your missus after your first argument. **** that.

What did you go and say that for? Now I'm hungry for crap food!

[Qantaga]

Kill me now.

[SimonNo7]

Don't diss Wakey man.

and the Westgate run

[cream]

.....several days after the bumming he received from Germany the sulking **** still hasn't uttered a word

What! No press conference from the plane on the flight home?

What a cunt.