Doing a Leicester

[alekaras]

My shout is Palace.

That's not a bad shout. If they get a decent manager, they'll be up there. Very unlucky in their results this year. Should be much higher than their current position.

My answer to the question, however, is no one next season. If you put a gun to my head, I'd say Leicester is more likely to do a... Leicester.

 

[scaramanga]

That's not a bad shout. If they get a decent manager, they'll be up there. Very unlucky in their results this year. Should be much higher than their current position.

My answer to the question, however, is no one next season. If you put a gun to my head, I'd say Leicester is more likely to do a... Leicester.

Shows just what a freak season it was for them that they still qualify for that.

 

[MKSpur]

I hated The Waiter for years. But his loyalty to Newcash, and work despite minimal tools, is for me among his finest achievements.


Sitting on my porcelain throne using glory-glory.co.uk mobile app

It’s good to see an elite manager given a different challenge, like say not having the top 3 budgets in the league and be asked to come top 4...has he really done a better job than Chrissy H or Wagner though?

 

[thfcsteff]

It’s good to see an elite manager given a different challenge, like say not having the top 3 budgets in the league and be asked to come top 4...has he really done a better job than Chrissy H or Wagner though?

A good question.
Chrissy H has done wonders for a long time, but I think the total lack of owner support from Ashley versus where The Waiter came from makes his work huge. That he stayed there when they went down was both impressive and brave IMO. It showed some genuine quality.

 

[Finney Is Back]

Leicester or Everton are the most likely IMO. Mainly because they will have the most money to spend of the club's outside the big 6.

I don't think Burnley can do any better than this season. Their game plan relies on the opposition thinking they can steamroller them and over committing forward. As teams respect them a bit more Burnley will find it very difficult to win games.

 

[nayimfromthehalfwayline]

A good question.
Chrissy H has done wonders for a long time, but I think the total lack of owner support from Ashley versus where The Waiter came from makes his work huge. That he stayed there when they went down was both impressive and brave IMO. It showed some genuine quality.

Seemed to me the job was as much a convenience/lifestyle thing for him than anything.

Im sure I read his family are still in Liverpool, and so being at Saudi Sportswashing Machine is (basically) local to them for him.

The fans love him, he is bullet proof, close to home... I dont think its any particular loyalty or bravery to be honest.

He's 57, has had a massive career, this is basically taking that well paid but boring job close to home to see you through to retirement.

The job he's done? Decent. By Championship standards he spent a lot. Got them promoted. By Premiership standards he hasnt really had funds to work with, but did have an established set up. Much like Brighton etc he has just worked on them being solid first and foremost and gone from there.

While I dont think he is doing a bad job, I dont think its especially brave/impressive/noteworthy. He is following the "so you just got promoted?" handbook, following it well, but none the less...

Leicester or Everton are the most likely IMO. Mainly because they will have the most money to spend of the club's outside the big 6.

I don't think Burnley can do any better than this season. Their game plan relies on the opposition thinking they can steamroller them and over committing forward. As teams respect them a bit more Burnley will find it very difficult to win games.

Disclaimer up front - Im an unashamed fan of Dyche. Thought he looked great at Watford, and has been sensational at Burnley.

While I agree, as teams show Burnley more respect they will have to develop - I think you fail to recognise what is happening there.

Its not fair to say they rely on catching teams short assuming they will be a push over.

Last season was all about defence, and staying up. The scrapped their way to safety.

This season they have built upon that defence with a team that believes it should win games, not simply strive to not lose. They are adding goals, building a system, playing more possession football.

Of course, they arent a top level side yet - but there is a very clear evolution in that team IMHO.

I think this summer (if they can keep Dyche*) they will be able to buy better than ever, and take another step forward in their development.

Considering how the league is now, where they currently sit etc - I wouldnt bet against them moving into the top 6 competition/runners.




*Already talk of Allardyce being let go, I think Everton should do whatever it takes to get Dyche if that happens. They are undoubtedly a step up on Burnley as a club, and would offer him the opportunity to show what he can do on a bigger stage, seems like a perfect match for each in their respective places at this time. Not that Id want to see Burnley suffer in his absence (theyd end up with McCarthy!)

 

[milo]

*Already talk of Allardyce being let go, I think Everton should do whatever it takes to get Dyche if that happens. They are undoubtedly a step up on Burnley as a club, and would offer him the opportunity to show what he can do on a bigger stage, seems like a perfect match for each in their respective places at this time. Not that Id want to see Burnley suffer in his absence (theyd end up with McCarthy!)

I agree. The Everton squad has some good players but is unbalanced and has been mismanaged. Dyche could do a good job there if he got a similar level of support from the board as the last two managers.

 

[nayimfromthehalfwayline]

They are a couple of key buys and some decent management away from being a very decent side.

Honestly I think the management side is more key than the player side, that squad should be doing much better than it is...

 

[milo]

They are a couple of key buys and some decent management away from being a very decent side.

Honestly I think the management side is more key than the player side, that squad should be doing much better than it is...

If you look at the squad, there are a lot of players that are good on paper but either aren't jelling or are really out of form. They've got a decent youth set up to call on too. I think that the difficulty for any incoming manager is that it will probably take a season to work out who is deadwood and who is just out of form. That shouldn't stop them selling Rooney to the MLS this summer though.

 

[nayimfromthehalfwayline]

If you look at the squad, there are a lot of players that are good on paper but either aren't jelling or are really out of form. They've got a decent youth set up to call on too. I think that the difficulty for any incoming manager is that it will probably take a season to work out who is deadwood and who is just out of form. That shouldn't stop them selling Rooney to the MLS this summer though.

Rooney is clearly a problem, I think it was always going to be the case when he signed but its evident now.

Allardyce is compromising their midfield now just to keep him out of the attack. Allardyce, traditionally a strong manager, is tip toeing around Rooney - its not a good sign.

He needs to go regardless, which should allow Sigurdsson to flourish.

I think that squad, with NO buys, should be able to produce a very decent team. Mis management has been their biggest issue, since Moyes left really (and Im no fan of his).

There feels like there is a bit of rot in there, a bit like with us when Poch came in - and I think Dyche is similar to Poch in that he demands hard work and commitment - which will sort out the squad deadwood on its own terms..

 

[billyiddo]

Everton didn't learn from our mistakes the year we sold Bale and bought a bunch of players in in his place - trying to get a load of new players to gel whilst overcoming the loss of a key player, in their case Lukaku, is a harder job than perhaps people realize and i wonder whether their drop off puts our performance that year in to perspective...

 

[nayimfromthehalfwayline]

Everton didn't learn from our mistakes the year we sold Bale and bought a bunch of players in in his place - trying to get a load of new players to gel whilst overcoming the loss of a key player, in their case Lukaku, is a harder job than perhaps people realize and i wonder whether their drop off puts our performance that year in to perspective...

I think, broadly, that magnificent 7 narrative has changed over time.

We have, as a club, developed massively since then, in no small part because of those moves. Not just in the like of Eriksen how has become integral, but even Capoue etc who we took in a profit on that helped build the squad further.

Its a much less nuanced point - but it surprises me how few clubs look at us as an example.

We show what a club can do with a plan and investment.

We started from relatively humble beginnings, werent doped, werent rich, werent in a world class stadium or training facilities, didnt have a top class academy....

We are where we are now having grown organically and with a steady plan and perspective all the way through.

Improve the academy, the facilities, speculate on talent, build a model that allows for succession on and off the field...

And above all patience.

Why the like of Everton, West Ham, Leeds, Aston Villa and other clubs of that size have never just copied from our play book I just cannot fathom.

If, for some utterly bizarre reason, I found myself in charge of a football club I would be modelling it on Spurs at the earliest opportunity and ideally hitting up Levy for advice. And loan players...

 

[milo]

Everton didn't learn from our mistakes the year we sold Bale and bought a bunch of players in in his place - trying to get a load of new players to gel whilst overcoming the loss of a key player, in their case Lukaku, is a harder job than perhaps people realize and i wonder whether their drop off puts our performance that year in to perspective...

Certainly, selling him and buying two number 10s and no number 9 was a big mistake.

 

[SteveAWOL]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1046350424364777472

 

[K.D.D.D.D.Soc]

Wolves

 

[StephenH]

Wolves

They have some serious money behind them!

 

[Bullet]

I can't hear what Huth says above, is it "Santa"?





Note...if only Lineker hadn't saved them:
In October 2002, Lineker backed a £5 million bid to rescue his former club Leicester City, which had recently gone into administration, describing his involvement as "charity" rather than an "ego trip."[55] He stated that he would invest a six-figure sum and that other members of his consortium would invest a similar amount.[56] Lineker met with fans' groups to persuade them to try and raise money to rescue his former club. The club was eventually saved from liquidation. Lineker is now honorary Vice President of Leicester City F.C.

 

[Spur of the moment]

I can't hear what Huth says above, is it "Santa"?





Note...if only Lineker hadn't saved them:
In October 2002, Lineker backed a £5 million bid to rescue his former club Leicester City, which had recently gone into administration, describing his involvement as "charity" rather than an "ego trip."[55] He stated that he would invest a six-figure sum and that other members of his consortium would invest a similar amount.[56] Lineker met with fans' groups to persuade them to try and raise money to rescue his former club. The club was eventually saved from liquidation. Lineker is now honorary Vice President of Leicester City F.C.

Kante.

He meant thuggery.

 

[SteveAWOL]

https://www.football.london/tottenham-hotspur-fc/news/pochettino-we-wont-feel-love-15602988.amp

Despite taking on the riches of the Reds and City in this campaign, Pochettino does not believe Spurs will feel the love that Claudio Ranieri's Leicester side did two years ago.

"No, I don’t believe so. Now it’s in the top six, Liverpool, Tottenham, City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United and it’s going to be more about who can win the league," he said.

"We are not going to receive a favour and nor will another club. But it’s true the season when Leicester were there, and only us were fighting to compete on the same level. In March, I think, Leicester and Tottenham were the only two contenders for the title and of course the sympathy for Leicester was bigger than for Tottenham.

"That was the reality. But they won and they deserved to be the champions of the Premier League. But the sympathy of the neutral people was more for Leicester than for us. This is normal."

Many footballers came out saying they would rather Leicester won the league that year, including Eden Hazard and his Chelsea team-mates and Pochettino was asked whether that had annoyed him that footballers would come out for one side or another.

"No, well, when you make public some emotions or opinions when you are professionals, yes," he admitted.

"Because if you are going to play after against this team you cannot say, ‘I prefer Leicester to win the league’. You have to play against Tottenham and Leicester and you are a professional.

"I accept it may be your feeling that you prefer Leicester to Tottenham but to make it public is different. That is what annoyed me and my players and our fans, for sure.

 

[glasgowspur]

With Liverpool all over the back pages about how great they are and only going to get better, let's hope it riles enough people up to turn against them.