Football 22/23

[towny44]

Foxy, the manager sees them in training and knows who is up for the job in the team, in the system that he is proposing. Let's face it in a crowd of 30,000 there will be hundreds of differing views about who are the best players, and which is the best 11. I doubt Rodgers went out of his way to pick a losing team, anymore than our last idiot manager, they were just not up to the job at the time.

[screwy]

Potter is available

[oldbluefox]

Not sure he is the right man at the moment although any new man will be welcome. Short term we might end up with Rafa and then have a good look around in the summer. There are one or two continental managers who would freshen things up but I suppose much depends on which division we are in. Burnley seem to have struck it rich with Kompany but nothing is certain.
I wonder how many of our players who are out of contract in the summer will now opt to stay although it's important we don't go paying silly money again.

[paultheagle]

Scott Parker Bournemouth August 30
Thomas Tuchel Chelsea September 7
Graham Potter Brighton September 8
Bruno Lage Wolves October 2
Steven Gerrard Aston Villa October 20
Ralph Hasenhuttl Southampton November 7
Frank Lampard Everton January 23
Jesse Marsch Leeds February 6
Nathan Jones Southampton February 12
Patrick Vieira Crystal Palace March 17
Antonio Conte Tottenham Hotspur March 26
Brendan Rodgers Leicester April 2
Graham Potter. Chelsea. April 2

13 managers sacked or replaced this season by Premier League clubs. It's a ridiculous situation. Club owners need to look at themselves and not press the panic button just because their clubs are having a bad run. Something should be done whereby a club can only replace a manager during a certain period, a bit like the transfer window. I guess it's the fear of relegation which makes some of them do it.
It must cost these clubs an absolute fortune in compensation, especially those still in contract, money that could trickle down to lower division clubs and non League to make life easier for those lower down the pyramid. It was reported that Graham Potter at Chelsea was on a five year contract at £5m a year. Leicester enjoyed some brilliant seasons under Rodgers, they won the FA Cup, played in Europe and had two or three high finishes in the league. But one bad season and it's bye, bye Brendan, thanks for the memories.
I know loyalty is a dirty word in football and football can be crazy at times (that's why we love it) but owners and fans must accept the bad times as well as the good. Relegation ain't so bad. The Championship is a fantastic competition but not quite so lucrative and if you play your cards right then you can bounce straight back, look at what Burnley have done this season and yo yo clubs like Norwich and Watford. There's more games to enjoy as well.

Rant over. I thank you

[Manoverboard]

I doubt Watford and / or Norwich will bounce back this season which means that they will need to sell their best players at the end of the season. This in turn will lessen the likelihood of an early return to the Prem. Meanwhile the owners who have put in millions if not billions will be sitting on an investment that is going down the tubes.

They are in the game to make money and not to prop up lower league teams. With this thought in mind compensation is pennies if they are not relegated.

[oldbluefox]

Since Rodgers is so good I wonder if Palace will be looking to secure his signature. His record seems to be two good years followed by decline.

Clubs are now a business and owners see them as an investment relying upon league and league position, sponsorship, gate receipts, TV contracts etc to fund them. Once a club is in decline they will look to change the structure and the man who has been charged with coaching and training the team and overseeing recruitment is the manager. Where that person is failing it seems to me only reasonable the chairman will seek to protect his/her investment. I'll not cry too many tears over a sacked manager, bruised ego maybe but financially they suffer little pain.

[towny44]

I doubt Watford and / or Norwich will bounce back this season which means that they will need to sell their best players at the end of the season. This in turn will lessen the likelihood of an early return to the Prem. Meanwhile the owners who have put in millions if not billions will be sitting on an investment that is going down the tubes.

They are in the game to make money and not to prop up lower league teams. With this thought in mind compensation is pennies if they are not relegated.

Other than Man Utd in the UK, I doubt that any PL clubs are profitable for their owners, so the idea that owners are in it for the money is ludicrous.
However if there was a wage cap, much lower than todays average wage, then it might be possible for more teams to become profitable, and the others lose less money. Unfortunately that is highly unlikely, however nationalising players agents might well be a very profitable govt policy..

[Manoverboard]

... I doubt that any PL clubs are profitable for their owners, so the idea that owners are in it for the money is ludicrous.

No more ludicrous than you implying that they are in it to lose money.

[towny44]

... I doubt that any PL clubs are profitable for their owners, so the idea that owners are in it for the money is ludicrous.

No more ludicrous than you implying that they are in it to lose money.

They are in it for the glory, and in the case of the top 6 clubs, just maybe the chance to be able to get your initial investment back with maybe a bit of profit on that, but nowhere near enough to cover what you have ploughed in to keep the club solvent. As for the also rans who just make up the numbers, if any owner ever comes out ahead then they bought in at the bottom And sold at the top.

[barney]

A google search shows that Man Utd have a debt of £535 million.
That’s a hefty wedge of debt in my opinion.

[paultheagle]

I doubt many owners put billions into their club, if they did then they wouldn't be relegated.

I'm not so sure that a manager is responsible for recruitment either. They used to be but I think now all he does is flag up where he has a weakness and the Director of Football or CEO or owner will actually negotiate to sign the player.

[paultheagle]

A google search shows that Man Utd have a debt of £535 million.
That’s a hefty wedge of debt in my opinion.

And shouldn't be allowed.

[screwy]

You’re right Paul it shouldn’t.
That debt is down to the Glazers who took a loan to buy the club and loaded the debt on the club and not themselves.!
The Banker who oversaw the sale was Ed Woodward,he should never have been in a position to oversee that sale, he along with the Glazers have ruined the club that was turning over healthy profits because of the way it was run.They now have the cheek to keep taking the money out while demanding upwards of 6 billion for the sale.

[paultheagle]

Since Rodgers is so good I wonder if Palace will be looking to secure his signature. His record seems to be two good years followed by decl

I've never said Rodgers is good, I don't think he should have been sacked though. Besides I don't think Parish will go for him anyway. We've got an eye on Steve Cooper. and his situation at Forest. Cooper might well be the next casualty in the Premier League clubs managerial merry-go-round If he is then Parish will pounce.

[oldbluefox]

For two years we have been in decline playing unattractive football and little sign of progress. In that time he took a Cup winning club to relegation candidates. He deserved to go.

[paultheagle]

I disagree, he deserved some loyalty for that cup win alone. He should have stayed as manager until the end of the season, same as Viera. What chance has a new guy got to change things around anyways? If Mateta had not scored the winning goal on Saturday, in the 94th minute, then Leicester would have got a well deserved draw and Rodgers in would still be in charge. It's very fine margins.

[oldbluefox]

We will never agree on this one Paul but I respect your opinion. Loyalty counts for nothing in the modern game. In this business if you don't produce the goods you are out. That's the harsh reality.
It will be interesting to see how the players respond now that Rodgers has gone.

[paultheagle]

I agree, let's agree to disagree

[oldbluefox]

Spot on Paul
Just accept I'm right!!!

[paultheagle]

I can't agree to that in afraid. ' Cause you ain't.

[oldbluefox]

Very touching article on BBC1 this morning of a young Everton supporter (haven't they suffered enough?) who is recovering after two years of treatment for brain cancer. His idol was Jordan Pickford who appeared at his final hospital appointment. The little chap was totally dumbstruck. Following on from that he was given the VIP treatment to visit the team before the match in the changing rooms and to act as mascot for the match. What a lovely gesture on behalf of the club.

Everton equalised in the match with a cracking goal from Michael Keane in the 90th minute (spit!!) but what a pity the spectacle was spoilt by Doucoure foolishly pushing Kane in the face for which he was rightly sent off, and Kane going down on the ground as if he had been poleaxed. I watched the ladies rugby team at the weekend who took much worse than Kane but just got up and got on with it. Is it not about time playacting was punished and we cut out all the rolling around on the ground when players have hardly been touched?

Top marks to Everton for making the little fella's day and a massive disappointment for Kane's over reacting. Hopefully young lads do not copy the example of the England skipper.

[towny44]

Moby, how many of your team played in the PL?

[barney]

Can the Udders pull off the great escape ?
Another home win for Gills .
8 out of the last 9 .
I think we are safe now.

[oldbluefox]

Wish we could say the same..............

[towny44]

I'm worried about Moby, I hope he has not done anything silly after we beat his team today.