I'll tell you what I don't understand about this eternal argument/disagreement.
Why is absolutely no credence whatsoever given to the potential power, magic, and alchemy of actually winning a trophy after all the brick last season? It's as if only a fudging idiot could possibly suggest that such momentum was possible.
Of course, I'd further argue that our data-chimps -you know, the ones in the boardroom who disregard such 'human hokum' and instead produce droves of spread-sheets and data to 'prove' why certain 'profiles' and 'metrics' are the future- have been the true architects of our downfall. Every time we've had a chance to sign a top player decisively, we fail to get it across the line, usually because 'data' has suggested a better-priced alternative with 'sell-on value' and all the rest of it. I love signing younger players but I also love to see true, true quality signed when it's needed and available.
I don't think anybody has said it's all down to Frank, but at the end of the day he was the manager and has to take a large portion of responsibility - you know just like Ange did on here even after winning a trophy. I think he's a good coach, but never believed he would work here - it just wasn't a good fit, and just one in a long list of bad decisions made by those in charge.
I will say it's funny how when things were going well at the start for Frank it was announced on here 'See, this is what a real coach looks like' backed up with praise for improving players x,y and z. Then as soon as it goes tits up, it's 'Well what do you expect with a squad who suffered over 20 losses' and 'All our players are brick'. Football fans eh
....
Apologies if I miss some of either of your points as I’ve quoted you both for speed.
Steff, I think the feeling generated by winning something is absolutely a ‘thing’ however to me (and it is just a personal feeling) you need something alongside that to suggest that long term there are pieces in place that suggest long term success as opposed to having done well in a competition with a certain context to it. I’ve said before, I’ll always thank Ange for that trophy, equally, I think they made the right decision in saying thanks and then moving on given the league form.
Interestingly where I think they made the wrong decision is by going with Frank. I was on a different forum at the time but suggested that he gave me Nuno vibes in the sense of “good manager, but wrong fit” at the time I said we should go for Iraola.
However when he came in, I understood the positives behind him and what he could do, so backed him. I actually stayed with him till quite late on because to me, the last few seasons are partly on the players, but much more so on the board and a club which always seems to make the wrong decision - the biggest of which has been in terms of its recruitment. Kane, Som and a number of others have been replaced by journeymen types who do not fit in the puzzle together. However lately there seems to be this idea that Frank got us here, and whilst he certainly didn’t help, and he has certainly added to it - for me, the rot was already in at that point. You mention is being data driven, personally I think we must be using Windows 98.
Harr, fair enough point. TBH, I don’t think this is a situation where Frank and Ange have really done much more than been the custodians of our downfall in many ways, they were almost just caretakers of the appalling management from our board and owners. Both had just ridiculously injury ravaged seasons, and had to make the best of what they had, and during transfer windows where more was needed saw no real quality when it was truly required. I think both deserve a bit of blame for things on the field, but I don’t believe one particular person got us here, I think the board mismanagement got us here.
On today though, who knows. It’s positive, we are still in it. Personally, I think we’ve left it too late and the momentum is with West Ham but we’re in it till it’s mathematically impossible, and who knows perhaps it falls our way. My main worry at the moment is who is actually going to out the ball in the net as due to injuries the front three now picks itself, and worse the player we all felt needed to play so he could feed them is now also injured…. But hey, we’re still in it for now so let’s hope a monumental turn of luck is set for us.
