awesome dawson
Mitchell Thomas
our useless medical team, coaching staff, scouting network, brick beer on tap, public transport links, grey kit, transfer window tactic madness (i.e. leaving it all until the last minute) - that's just for starters.
-
Dear Guest, Please note that adult content is not permitted on this forum. We have had our Google ads disabled at times due to some posts that were found from some time ago. Please do not post adult content and if you see any already on the forum, please report the post so that we can deal with it. Adult content is allowed in the glory hole - you will have to request permission to access it. Thanks, scara
Let's talk about our history of having 'weak mentalities' and 'bottling it'
- Thread starter glorygloryeze
- Start date
Was thinking of that last night - what absolute clustefudge of a season this is turning out to be AGAIN
- Parker initially out for +/- 6 weeks - now only back around Christmas - probably crocked and fudged for life
- Dembele - apaprently had a 'knock' in that friendly and as rested for a few days - it's now been nearly 2 fudging months - did a player with a chronic hip injury pass our Medical? And if so - who is responsible for those - Bozo the clown?
- BAE - minor injury intially, said a month ago no operation, blah - blah - blah - still fudged - probably out till March
FFS - what are they doing to these guys?
braineclipse
Steve Sedgley
Who are those of you who claim that we have a weak mentality and history of bottling it comparing us to?
Other than Man, Chelsea (under some of their managers) and Arsenal back when they were actually good (7-8 years back) who are clearly better than us in this area?
Our own losses and failures hurt so much more and are so emotional that it's only normal for them to stick better in our minds, but I think looking at things objectively we're not much worse than most of the teams we should be comparing ourselves to. That's not to say that there isn't room for improvement of course.
Other than Man, Chelsea (under some of their managers) and Arsenal back when they were actually good (7-8 years back) who are clearly better than us in this area?
Our own losses and failures hurt so much more and are so emotional that it's only normal for them to stick better in our minds, but I think looking at things objectively we're not much worse than most of the teams we should be comparing ourselves to. That's not to say that there isn't room for improvement of course.
SteveAWOL
Chris Jones
Well ManU certainly love us paying them a visit and even after our recent win there we still have one of the worst records in the history of Premier League:
http://www.sportingintelligence.com...est-manchester-united-challenge-looms-280901/
According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Premier_League_managers we've had 14 managers since the Premier League started, a figure only surpassed by Chelsea (15) and Saudi Sportswashing Machine (16).
By contrast ManU' have had just the 1, Arsenal 5, Everton and Villa 7, Liverpool 8.
southstand1882
Mitchell Thomas
Level with Chelsea next year
Gutter Boy
Tim Sherwood
A bit before my time, but I've always understood it to be about the growing commercialisation of the game.
I just think AVB is here for a long-term project to basically transform us into a progressive, yet sustainable 21st century club, modelled on the likes of Ajax, Porto or Germany. In particular
- Having a system that is embedded from U8s to the first team
- An emphasis on fit, technical, mentally tough and intelligent players
- Far greater use of South American scouting
mudshark
Chris Armstrong
Since 1893-4, when they first appeared in the 2nd Div, we've finished above them in a total of 30 seasons. The only time we've done it consistently was from 1960-1968, 9 seasons on the trot. Other than that, it's been the odd one or two occasions here and there, and never more than 4 times in a single decade. Twice in the 70s, 4 times in the 80s and 3 times in the 90s. We haven't managed it since 1995.
Last edited:
Robbo
Paul Walsh
Attachments
At first glance I thought that was Brad on the left.
The Moonlit Knight
Banned
We focus on our own team more than we focus on others. Hence we have the perception that we "bottle" it when in reality we don't do it any more or any less than other sides. For example, Coventry beat us in the FA Cup final, therefore we bottled it. Wimbledon beat Liverpool in the FA Cup final and it was because Wimbledon played out of their skin.
The Moonlit Knight
Banned
If Burkinshaw was before your time then how can you say we haven't had a decent manager since him?
As for long term projects, from a first team and management perspective they simply don't exist. It's all about momentum. One step backwards to go two step forwards will never work and usually the momentum carries you even further backwards until the situation is addressed drastically to halt the slide. That drastic action is usually the manager being fired. No one gets the time to build for the future.
Gutter Boy
Tim Sherwood
Because we've only won one credible trophy since Burkinshaw ('91, whereas he won 3 himself '81, '82, '84).
We're obviously going to be short of funds for the next 4-5 years whilst the stadium is being built. I think Levy's deliberately picked himself a manager who will work smarter and can be sustainable (as opposed to resource-draining Redknapp). AVB is intended to be our Wenger.
IMO we're going to be majorly restructured and maybe take a short term hit to enable long term growth.
Resource draining Redknapp? Elaborate please...
His last game of the season had 5 loan or free transfers in the squad. 3 youth players. 5 players already here and then Kab who we got back on the cheap. Walker from the championship. Vdv who we just sold for profit. Defoe who cost a lot but great signing and he should never have been sold in the first place. Sandro wasn't expensive and worth more now.
So where is he draining resource ? And any examples have to be proper examples and not just standard PL occurrences.
Spursalot
Jimmy McCormick
Gutter Boy
Tim Sherwood
He may have had cheap players in the first team, but he left us a massively bloated squad of expensive over-paid deadwood. Remember we sold about 12 players in the summer, and more were released IIRC.
Our wage bill also doubled under Redknapp because of his fondness for older players.
jts1882
Dean Richards
Redknapp didn't negotiate contracts.
The expansion of the wage bill was due to qualifying for the Champions League and retaining players. We also were at a low starting point, expecially as percentage of revenues (low 40s). Our wages have increased as a proportion (55-60% now?) but our revenues have also grown substantially. We still have one of the better wage to turnover rations (after United and arsenal).
The expansion of the wage bill was due to qualifying for the Champions League and retaining players. We also were at a low starting point, expecially as percentage of revenues (low 40s). Our wages have increased as a proportion (55-60% now?) but our revenues have also grown substantially. We still have one of the better wage to turnover rations (after United and arsenal).
Spur of the moment
Frederic Kanoute
You're always good for a laugh, GB. His fondness for older players usually meant we acquired top PL quality and experience for little or no transfer fee, players who in his three full seasons helped us finish fourth twice and fifth in the other as well as reaching the QFs of the CL.
Look this isn't hard to understand... Redknapp does not negotiate contracts. Because HR was a good manager our performances were better because our players were playing better... and what happens when your players play like superstars... they get paid like them.
Look at who our biggest earners are. Modric, Bale, king, Adebayor etc - I imagine Lennon/hudd and a few others had decent pay rises. They had pay rises when renewing the contract, they proved they are worth it and this is down to Levy. Why do I even need to say this? Your not stupid and can realise it yourself.
Nelson and Saha were much stop gaps as a last resort. Gallas and Friedel are the only really old players he brought into the club and they are in AVBs first team. Plus I doubt their wage is above their ability. Surely if on a budget it's better to have an old free player on a big wage than it is to have a 20 million player on a big wage doing the same job. It's not like our first team was built up of those players. Having a policy of getting one or two free players every few years is better than spending for every position. It means a better player can be signed... i.e get a Gallas type every 2 years and sign a big long term player like Vert, rather than 2 lesser players.
The best option obviously is to get a great youth system in place, HR did his bit for developing youth but I don't think AvB is interested in youth as much as HR, let alone going to improve it. First window saw very little cheap foreign talent join. AVB had a good few months off last season, I would have thought he could at least find 1 cheap first teamer.