[quote author=spider-neil]
Stop typing inside others quotes.
[/quote]
Stop typing inside others quotes.
[/quote]
the end
- Thread starter mark1975
- Start date
- Latest activity Latest activity:
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Neil, you can have differing views on 'Gerrard the peerless player' vs 'Gerrard the captain'; but I personally think the Bruce Wayne comparisons are pointless.
If Rafa wanted a captain to 'lead by example' and not give a shit even though he continually emplys shit selections and tactics (read : 'cautious'), then he should make Lucas our new Captain.
If Rafa wanted a captain to 'lead by example' and not give a shit even though he continually emplys shit selections and tactics (read : 'cautious'), then he should make Lucas our new Captain.
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=39654.msg1082312#msg1082312 date=1270424872]
[quote author=Whaddapie link=topic=39654.msg1082311#msg1082311 date=1270424486]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=39654.msg1082217#msg1082217 date=1270410817]
[quote author=Tal link=topic=39654.msg1082185#msg1082185 date=1270406756]
[quote author=Le Chacal link=topic=39654.msg1082160#msg1082160 date=1270405148]
The end was Athens 2007.
[/quote]
Although this can, and will be, construed as a bit over-reactionary and undeservedly harsh I believe there is some merit in it. By this final the team was more Rafa's, the players fully immersed in his way of doing things and we were up against what, if I recall correctly, was a Milan weaker than we faced in 2005, and there for the taking according to many people's opinions. And Rafa went for some smart-arse formation that failed.
It feels like we've been on a downward spiral since then, with last season's title challenge being the highlight, with many, many lowlights littering the road along the way. Even the title challenge has been afforded an over-rated reputation in my view since we blew it in the mid-season (as usual) but that fact was somewhat blurred by the fact we remained ahead of Utd by some distance due to their games in hand. Once it all unwound we were left chasing and closed in when it was a little too late.
So yes, Athens 2007 can reasonably be put forward as the moment we went over the top and started on the down slope.
[/quote]
*cough* 2nd place finish last year *cough*
[/quote]
*cough* when it should have been 1st but for his play-not-to-lose-rather-than-to-actually-win tactics and formations *cough*
[/quote]
regardless of that, 2nd place is hardly a step backwards from 3rd (the position we finished the year we reached the final).
[/quote]
I wanted to post this yesterday with regards to this. Did it actually feel like a title challenge? As my memory serves me, we got ourselves into a healthy position in the league and we started to believe and then we went tits up by drawing too many games against mediocre opposition. We were excellent in the 2nd half of the season though it all felt like to little too late as we were constantly playing catch up. I don't really remember feeling in March or April that we would win the league. Though it was an improvement so it'd be harsh to play it down too much, but Chelsea and Arsenal were out of sorts last season too.
As I said in my post the other day, Rafa's spent years playing well when he's known what he has to do, when playing catch up, when trying to win a two legged tie, etc. When leading from the front we've spluttered because he's lacked the confidence and decisiveness to keep us there.
Now you could argue that with time and experience this might come, but it's not 1990 anymore, this is years down the line of failings and falling short as a club domestically. And the financial implications for the club are alot different to when United decided to stick with Fergie.
As Vlad said, we need a manager who will stick to the basics. As much as I hate Moyes, he's a perfect example of this and it's proven in getting the best out of a team assembled on a limited budget. They're a 'team' and they've actually got a reasonably good squad now. We need a manager who can do similar in the transfer market with it comes to compromising financially. Rafa has proven far too hit and miss, especially when it's come to identifying the creative edge of a side.
[quote author=Whaddapie link=topic=39654.msg1082311#msg1082311 date=1270424486]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=39654.msg1082217#msg1082217 date=1270410817]
[quote author=Tal link=topic=39654.msg1082185#msg1082185 date=1270406756]
[quote author=Le Chacal link=topic=39654.msg1082160#msg1082160 date=1270405148]
The end was Athens 2007.
[/quote]
Although this can, and will be, construed as a bit over-reactionary and undeservedly harsh I believe there is some merit in it. By this final the team was more Rafa's, the players fully immersed in his way of doing things and we were up against what, if I recall correctly, was a Milan weaker than we faced in 2005, and there for the taking according to many people's opinions. And Rafa went for some smart-arse formation that failed.
It feels like we've been on a downward spiral since then, with last season's title challenge being the highlight, with many, many lowlights littering the road along the way. Even the title challenge has been afforded an over-rated reputation in my view since we blew it in the mid-season (as usual) but that fact was somewhat blurred by the fact we remained ahead of Utd by some distance due to their games in hand. Once it all unwound we were left chasing and closed in when it was a little too late.
So yes, Athens 2007 can reasonably be put forward as the moment we went over the top and started on the down slope.
[/quote]
*cough* 2nd place finish last year *cough*
[/quote]
*cough* when it should have been 1st but for his play-not-to-lose-rather-than-to-actually-win tactics and formations *cough*
[/quote]
regardless of that, 2nd place is hardly a step backwards from 3rd (the position we finished the year we reached the final).
[/quote]
I wanted to post this yesterday with regards to this. Did it actually feel like a title challenge? As my memory serves me, we got ourselves into a healthy position in the league and we started to believe and then we went tits up by drawing too many games against mediocre opposition. We were excellent in the 2nd half of the season though it all felt like to little too late as we were constantly playing catch up. I don't really remember feeling in March or April that we would win the league. Though it was an improvement so it'd be harsh to play it down too much, but Chelsea and Arsenal were out of sorts last season too.
As I said in my post the other day, Rafa's spent years playing well when he's known what he has to do, when playing catch up, when trying to win a two legged tie, etc. When leading from the front we've spluttered because he's lacked the confidence and decisiveness to keep us there.
Now you could argue that with time and experience this might come, but it's not 1990 anymore, this is years down the line of failings and falling short as a club domestically. And the financial implications for the club are alot different to when United decided to stick with Fergie.
As Vlad said, we need a manager who will stick to the basics. As much as I hate Moyes, he's a perfect example of this and it's proven in getting the best out of a team assembled on a limited budget. They're a 'team' and they've actually got a reasonably good squad now. We need a manager who can do similar in the transfer market with it comes to compromising financially. Rafa has proven far too hit and miss, especially when it's come to identifying the creative edge of a side.
Has he resigned yet?
[quote author=mark1975 link=topic=39654.msg1082388#msg1082388 date=1270455297]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=39654.msg1082312#msg1082312 date=1270424872]
[quote author=Whaddapie link=topic=39654.msg1082311#msg1082311 date=1270424486]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=39654.msg1082217#msg1082217 date=1270410817]
[quote author=Tal link=topic=39654.msg1082185#msg1082185 date=1270406756]
[quote author=Le Chacal link=topic=39654.msg1082160#msg1082160 date=1270405148]
The end was Athens 2007.
[/quote]
Although this can, and will be, construed as a bit over-reactionary and undeservedly harsh I believe there is some merit in it. By this final the team was more Rafa's, the players fully immersed in his way of doing things and we were up against what, if I recall correctly, was a Milan weaker than we faced in 2005, and there for the taking according to many people's opinions. And Rafa went for some smart-arse formation that failed.
It feels like we've been on a downward spiral since then, with last season's title challenge being the highlight, with many, many lowlights littering the road along the way. Even the title challenge has been afforded an over-rated reputation in my view since we blew it in the mid-season (as usual) but that fact was somewhat blurred by the fact we remained ahead of Utd by some distance due to their games in hand. Once it all unwound we were left chasing and closed in when it was a little too late.
So yes, Athens 2007 can reasonably be put forward as the moment we went over the top and started on the down slope.
[/quote]
*cough* 2nd place finish last year *cough*
[/quote]
*cough* when it should have been 1st but for his play-not-to-lose-rather-than-to-actually-win tactics and formations *cough*
[/quote]
regardless of that, 2nd place is hardly a step backwards from 3rd (the position we finished the year we reached the final).
[/quote]
I wanted to post this yesterday with regards to this. Did it actually feel like a title challenge? As my memory serves me, we got ourselves into a healthy position in the league and we started to believe and then we went tits up by drawing too many games against mediocre opposition. We were excellent in the 2nd half of the season though it all felt like to little too late as we were constantly playing catch up. I don't really remember feeling in March or April that we would win the league. Though it was an improvement so it'd be harsh to play it down too much, but Chelsea and Arsenal were out of sorts last season too.
As I said in my post the other day, Rafa's spent years playing well when he's known what he has to do, when playing catch up, when trying to win a two legged tie, etc. When leading from the front we've spluttered because he's lacked the confidence and decisiveness to keep us there.
Now you could argue that with time and experience this might come, but it's not 1990 anymore, this is years down the line of failings and falling short as a club domestically. And the financial implications for the club are alot different to when United decided to stick with Fergie.
As Vlad said, we need a manager who will stick to the basics. As much as I hate Moyes, he's a perfect example of this and it's proven in getting the best out of a team assembled on a limited budget. They're a 'team' and they've actually got a reasonably good squad now. We need a manager who can do similar in the transfer market with it comes to compromising financially. Rafa has proven far too hit and miss, especially when it's come to identifying the creative edge of a side.
[/quote]
Rafa's conservatism did for our title challenge around Christmas last year. That said, our impressive run of form towards the end of the season (with some champagne football along the way) led me to believe that we might just do it.
I particularly remember late on in the season, Man Utd losing to Villa with about 20 minutes to go before Macheda came on and rescued them. Had they lost that game (they hadn't deserved to win it) they'd likely have had to win the last game of the season to win the title (I think we'd have been 2 point behind or something).
Challenge or not, 86 points was an impressive haul - one good enough to win the title this year.
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=39654.msg1082312#msg1082312 date=1270424872]
[quote author=Whaddapie link=topic=39654.msg1082311#msg1082311 date=1270424486]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=39654.msg1082217#msg1082217 date=1270410817]
[quote author=Tal link=topic=39654.msg1082185#msg1082185 date=1270406756]
[quote author=Le Chacal link=topic=39654.msg1082160#msg1082160 date=1270405148]
The end was Athens 2007.
[/quote]
Although this can, and will be, construed as a bit over-reactionary and undeservedly harsh I believe there is some merit in it. By this final the team was more Rafa's, the players fully immersed in his way of doing things and we were up against what, if I recall correctly, was a Milan weaker than we faced in 2005, and there for the taking according to many people's opinions. And Rafa went for some smart-arse formation that failed.
It feels like we've been on a downward spiral since then, with last season's title challenge being the highlight, with many, many lowlights littering the road along the way. Even the title challenge has been afforded an over-rated reputation in my view since we blew it in the mid-season (as usual) but that fact was somewhat blurred by the fact we remained ahead of Utd by some distance due to their games in hand. Once it all unwound we were left chasing and closed in when it was a little too late.
So yes, Athens 2007 can reasonably be put forward as the moment we went over the top and started on the down slope.
[/quote]
*cough* 2nd place finish last year *cough*
[/quote]
*cough* when it should have been 1st but for his play-not-to-lose-rather-than-to-actually-win tactics and formations *cough*
[/quote]
regardless of that, 2nd place is hardly a step backwards from 3rd (the position we finished the year we reached the final).
[/quote]
I wanted to post this yesterday with regards to this. Did it actually feel like a title challenge? As my memory serves me, we got ourselves into a healthy position in the league and we started to believe and then we went tits up by drawing too many games against mediocre opposition. We were excellent in the 2nd half of the season though it all felt like to little too late as we were constantly playing catch up. I don't really remember feeling in March or April that we would win the league. Though it was an improvement so it'd be harsh to play it down too much, but Chelsea and Arsenal were out of sorts last season too.
As I said in my post the other day, Rafa's spent years playing well when he's known what he has to do, when playing catch up, when trying to win a two legged tie, etc. When leading from the front we've spluttered because he's lacked the confidence and decisiveness to keep us there.
Now you could argue that with time and experience this might come, but it's not 1990 anymore, this is years down the line of failings and falling short as a club domestically. And the financial implications for the club are alot different to when United decided to stick with Fergie.
As Vlad said, we need a manager who will stick to the basics. As much as I hate Moyes, he's a perfect example of this and it's proven in getting the best out of a team assembled on a limited budget. They're a 'team' and they've actually got a reasonably good squad now. We need a manager who can do similar in the transfer market with it comes to compromising financially. Rafa has proven far too hit and miss, especially when it's come to identifying the creative edge of a side.
[/quote]
Rafa's conservatism did for our title challenge around Christmas last year. That said, our impressive run of form towards the end of the season (with some champagne football along the way) led me to believe that we might just do it.
I particularly remember late on in the season, Man Utd losing to Villa with about 20 minutes to go before Macheda came on and rescued them. Had they lost that game (they hadn't deserved to win it) they'd likely have had to win the last game of the season to win the title (I think we'd have been 2 point behind or something).
Challenge or not, 86 points was an impressive haul - one good enough to win the title this year.
He won't resign.
[quote author=DHSC link=topic=39654.msg1082395#msg1082395 date=1270456673]
[quote author=Rafa4PM link=topic=39654.msg1082394#msg1082394 date=1270456512]
[quote author=Sheik Yerbouti link=topic=39654.msg1082389#msg1082389 date=1270455492]
Has he resigned yet?
[/quote]
Not yet.
[/quote]
Does anyone honestly think Rafa will resign?
[/quote]
No but I'm just looking for something to blow away the 'back to work tomorrow' blues.
[quote author=Rafa4PM link=topic=39654.msg1082394#msg1082394 date=1270456512]
[quote author=Sheik Yerbouti link=topic=39654.msg1082389#msg1082389 date=1270455492]
Has he resigned yet?
[/quote]
Not yet.
[/quote]
Does anyone honestly think Rafa will resign?
[/quote]
No but I'm just looking for something to blow away the 'back to work tomorrow' blues.
[quote author=Sheik Yerbouti link=topic=39654.msg1082400#msg1082400 date=1270457274]
[quote author=DHSC link=topic=39654.msg1082395#msg1082395 date=1270456673]
[quote author=Rafa4PM link=topic=39654.msg1082394#msg1082394 date=1270456512]
[quote author=Sheik Yerbouti link=topic=39654.msg1082389#msg1082389 date=1270455492]
Has he resigned yet?
[/quote]
Not yet.
[/quote]
Does anyone honestly think Rafa will resign?
[/quote]
No but I'm just looking for something to blow away the 'back to work tomorrow' blues.
[/quote]
Hope springs eternal Sheik.
[quote author=DHSC link=topic=39654.msg1082395#msg1082395 date=1270456673]
[quote author=Rafa4PM link=topic=39654.msg1082394#msg1082394 date=1270456512]
[quote author=Sheik Yerbouti link=topic=39654.msg1082389#msg1082389 date=1270455492]
Has he resigned yet?
[/quote]
Not yet.
[/quote]
Does anyone honestly think Rafa will resign?
[/quote]
No but I'm just looking for something to blow away the 'back to work tomorrow' blues.
[/quote]
Hope springs eternal Sheik.
- Status
