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New England manager = Roy Hodgson
- Thread starter Kingdawson
- Start date
thfcsteff
George Hunt
](*,)...y'know, yes, Levy has certainly played that game, but I can tell you that Harry's inability to make a decision has cost us a few some people would've liked...
parklane1
Tony Galvin
I never thought the FA would offer the job to Redknapp and that was one of the reasons, the other is that the last time the media offered up a messiah it ended in tears with Keegan, the same would have happened with Redknapp. The FA may be stupid but not that stupid, one bitten twice shy.
parklane1
Tony Galvin
tickle my balls with a feather.
thfcsteff
George Hunt
Allow me to tell you a story mate...Harry wanted Samba. More than Cahill. We could've had Cahill, expensive but we could've had him, but Harry wanted to hold out for Samba. Due to the way in which he "expressed" his wish to have Samba, the player became incredibly unsettled and Blackburn staunchly refused to sell him for anything less than an absolutely ludicrous amount of money which would've had the likes of you jumping two-footed down the chairman's throat. It isn't all as it seems mate...I admit that there have been times Levy has been guilty of trying to push the margin, but the last two to three windows, there's been more factor than just that. Frankly, what happened with Samba gives us no moral high ground when it comes to complaining about Modric and Chelski...we all want the nest for the club, and I will support the team and manager during matches unequivocally and with full voice. But we must be "alive" to the full scope of what has happened these past few months mate...IMHO...in the spirit of debate and all that, nothing personal, COYS!
Rorschach
Sonny Walters
thfcsteff
George Hunt
Some however, are just delusional.
The last few years have been mind blowing.
A genuine question, no malice or sarcasm in this at all...
...when does a side who have been "challenging for the top 4 for 3 seasons" become a side who should BE in the top 4 regularly and should be pushing on to win big games? The saddest thing about Harry's tenure is that it is increasingly becoming like Jol's in so much as we get to the point of potential silver-glory and he just cannot make it happen. The CCF against Man Utd was unlucky, granted. But we have lost two semi-finals which you'd have expected us to win, and further, he was absolutely tactically out-gunned by Mourinho. Now, you can say that most people are OR you can ponder whether it's time, with these players, we have a manager of the calibre of Ancelotti or Trapattoni (an EXCELLENT manager IMHO)...I would even take a punt on AVB.
Juande Ramos was much-maligned, and once his personal life spiraled out of control, he did (like Harry actually) lose the plot (as well as have to deal with the Berbatov departure) however give the man his due, when we needed to beat the filth to get to CCF he masterminded an arse-kicking, and he also masterminded the defeat of Chelski in the final with some excellent tactical nous, great use of personnel AND an improved level of fitness.
The devil is in the details, and again, whilst Harry has done some good stuff for sure, I PERSONALLY believe that he does not have either the belief/knowledge that such details are the difference OR the humility to let the coaching staff/a better assistant, lead that cause...
But I digress (and waffle again!)...I am genuinely interested to know when people think it's time to expect more of a side who have been bumming around 4th spot for three seasons?
braineclipse
Steve Sedgley
Not quite what I mean.
Barca and their 5 second rule is (from my understanding) that when they lose possession they press to win it back for 5 seconds before returning to their "natural" defensive positions wherever they are on the pitch at that point (for player closeish to the ball obviously). Compared to for example a full back immediately retreating when his team loses possession.
What I'm talking about is more about how much you allow opponents to play from the back, where you start putting pressure on opponents when they either play it out short from the goalkeeper or have possession in their own half. Real for example have at times put pressure on Barca essentially up to the corner flags whey they try to pass it out from the goalkeeper. While a team like Blackburn (I know, extremes) will get all their men behind or around the half way line and allow opponents space to pass it around at the back and wait for them to come forward.
Barca will normally press teams quite deep into their own half almost all game, their thinking is that if they force the opponent to play it long they have succeeded in their pressure and will most likely win possession. A team like Sunderland or Blackburn (sometimes for both of course) will rather sit back, their thinking is that if they force their opponents to just pass it around at the back they are succeeding as their opponents aren't creating chances.
Varying this pressing, against "established possession" (not in turnover/counter attacking situations) while keeping the team close and defending as a unit is one of the things United are very good at.
johnola
Jermaine Jenas
Catharsis for English football is to take Germany to pens and beat them.
It matters not who is in charge or who is playing for England, they're always there mentally blocking our ambition, Der Mannschaft are our nemesis and we must target them directly at every level they must know we are at them.
We should never surrender.
It matters not who is in charge or who is playing for England, they're always there mentally blocking our ambition, Der Mannschaft are our nemesis and we must target them directly at every level they must know we are at them.
We should never surrender.
thfcsteff
George Hunt
You'll be pleased (and relieved) to know that someone at the club has a dual-tier plan depending on where we finish...as for Hodgson, a great choice IMHO...
thfcsteff
George Hunt
:lol:...and corrected!
southstand1882
Mitchell Thomas
Thanks for the story
The truth of the matter is somewhat different fella!
Blackburn and Daniel Wiltgen (Samba's agent) knew the biggest move for Samba was Anzhi.
They put a ridiculous price tag on Samba, because Suleyman Kerimov has been p*ssing money up the wall on his billionaire pet project.
Blackburn deliberately messed Levy about, right up to the last second of the window (and then beyond) knowing the Russian window would still be open.
Again, nothing to do with Harry.
Sad you had to make that up.....
thfcsteff
George Hunt
Sad that you think I would say something without concrete knowledge. In fact, it's a stupid thing for you to say. Think about it. Why would I bother? Wouldn't I make something up of rather more glamour than the Christopher Samba transfer (the player's head went very early in the window when it was made clear to him that he would not be going to us for anything remotely approaching a reasonable price...thus the Anzhi scenario once Keen knew the player had "gone" regardless of whether he remained in Lancashire or not...)? I suppose you also don't believe that Harry couldn't make his mind up about Cahill, right (for what it's worth, I wouldn't have bought him either, but I am NOT "top" manager)... Still, it's all good, I don't give a brick whether you believe it or not...there's a lot of stuff which if it came out would have you re-considering your almost obsessive fealty to the man. Again, all good, free country and all that...probably best I don't take you up on your offer of a beer on Sunday, let's just settle for cheering the boys on from our respective seats eh?
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Sheikh Ma Nuggets
Tony Parks
Steff, only an observation, but all I ever seem to read you writing on here is your self-indulgent anecdotes regarding the smokes and the mirrors at Spurs. And tell me: why should any Spurs fans give a brick about "...there's a lot of stuff which if it came out would have you re-considering your almost obsessive fealty to the man" - because that's just you trying to gain some false sense of authority, when it comes to having an opinion on him.
thfcsteff
George Hunt
You're right mate. Having read what you wrote, it is self-indulgent without actually showing the balls to fully come out and say something which I know. So I appreciate the observation and will consider it a good wake-up call. I am unwilling to go any further with what I do/don't know, so again your implication that I should basically "put up or shut up" is on the money, and I will from now on try to just volunteer opinions without "hinting" at stuff I'm not prepared to elaborate on. Again, Im NOT being sarcastic, I agree that objectively, it's a clown shoe's tactic, so thanks for the observation mate and I'll keep it onside from now on because again, I won't ever go into further detail publicly.
Cheers...Steff
Gutter Boy
Tim Sherwood
southstand1882
Mitchell Thomas
Daniel got this one wrong
Harry made Samba prime target because of the 10 goals he'd bully from corners and free kicks
He begged Levy for samba, because of the aggression and power he would inject into our box.
Unfortunately for Harry, he knew nothing about Blackburn's Russian pay day
Shame really, because we would no longer dread the hundreds of corners generated by Bale and Lennon...
Harry made Samba prime target because of the 10 goals he'd bully from corners and free kicks
He begged Levy for samba, because of the aggression and power he would inject into our box.
Unfortunately for Harry, he knew nothing about Blackburn's Russian pay day
Shame really, because we would no longer dread the hundreds of corners generated by Bale and Lennon...
The Moonlit Knight
Banned
What is your definition of regular? If we make it this time, discounting the first season when he took us over at the bottom of the table, we'd have finished in the top four twice in three years. Is not regular?
As for regular top four, we shouldn't be. That simple really. It's a credit to all concerned (Levy, the players, the coaching staff) that the club is performing better than rivals better equipped than us to achieve it. Because we aren't bank rolled, and because we have a small stadium challenging for top four and getting into the Champions League on a frequent (and I'd say in this case frequent is probably once every three years) is a heck of an achievement for us.
thfcsteff
George Hunt
I absolutely see the sense in your argument.
We absolutely do punch above our weight financially (helped enormously by the genial fool @ mansion who got the numbers wrong and gave us that HUGE sponsorship deal back in the day)...
...I just personally feel that we had a real chance this season to push to the next level (3rd locked in) and all it needed was a solid mentality...but again, I absolutely see your point and from your perspective, understand why you're satisfied with where we're at...I might disagree, but I can certainly see your perspective too mate...