My Blood Is Blue

26 minutes ago, Floyd25 said:

Sure, but he got plenty of red cards, certainly a lot more than James and missed far too many games through suspension. I know it’s a completely different era, but I saw an interview with Gullit and he said that he had a falling out with Wise over his discipline. He convinced him to tone it down and Wise ended up in the England squad, good man management and maybe Poch needs to do something similar with James. 

Wise 5 red cards in 278 PL matches - 1 every 55 matches.

James 3 red cards in 108 PL matches - 1 in every 36 matches.

My main issue with James’ red card is that it was completely unnecessary. I understand the frustration of watching a match where the ref gives nothing for your side and everything and anything for the opposition, but you need to be able to control those emotions during a match, especially when you’re captain and have just come on the pitch after returning from missing a large chunk of the season through injury.

Teams will target him to get under his skin and at the moment, everything points to them being able to do it and him reacting. Imagine it happening in a crucial semi final, final or during a title race?

It’s also so frustrating, because he misses so many games through injuries and then comes back and does something like that, the first time he’s fouled. Silly and petulant and he needs to sort it out.

edit - @Floyd25 I know you’re not defending the James red card, I’m just quoting you as I included the Wise stats.

Reece James has the joint most red cards this season, despite only playing 419 mins of football. Ha!

2 minutes ago, boratsbrother said:

Alonso is one who looks like he could become a great manager. I thought he was staying in Germany though? If he ever comes to England it will probably be to Liverpool.

Arteta is obviously another young manager  doing a fine job. 

Yeah, he's staying there next season, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him take over from Ancelotti in Madrid for the following season.

Arteta, sadly, yes he does look like a good manager.

58 minutes ago, boratsbrother said:

And who are the managers who are top level who will come here and take us to glory? 

Imho, there's just three in the entire workd who are still elite - Pep, Ancelotti and Klopp. The rest are either levels below, once great but well past  their best or play football which is too negative to win the league in this era.  We won't ever get Pep or Klopp and Ancelotti is a manager of great teams but not a builder of great teams.  I honestly don't see anyone out there who I'd be confident of doing a better job than Poch is doing.

Alsi, nobody is taking this into account. Poch might just be reaching his peak as a manager. Might just have learned enough from his past shortcomings which stopped him from going up a level to being a top manager rather than a nearly man.  

 

 

Yeah, it's a very fair point. Elite managers seem few and far between these days. Alonso has the potential to be one, but my guess is that he is off to Madrid next summer anyway.

Just now, Mark Kelly said:

We know this is exactly what is going to happen don't we ? 

One team that win very little but dominate everything because nobody likes getting their windows bricked 

This is what baffles me the most, he actually hasn’t won that much. He has improved them, clearly, but when you hear some of the names he gets compared to, it’s embarrassing. A top manager, no doubt, but the coverage is pathetic as ultimately he’ll go down as the manager who ‘took Man City close’ the most times.

22 minutes ago, martin1905 said:

If he's got anything about him, anything at all he will walk if he doesn't get an extension. 

 

Or, he sticks with it, makes a very strong start to the season and gets himself a nice extension and pay rise.

9 hours ago, CarefreeMuratcan said:

 

Newcastle not shown, even though they are in a race for Europe. Liverpool are in no race at all.

I imagine the build up to the title decider will all be about Klopp. Gross and I hate it.

Just now, kev61 said:

Are the two paragraphs not contradictory?

If he's not potentially good enough to bring us glory then why not sack him? 

He’s building the foundations of a new team, ready to be taken over by the next man, who will hopefully be the manager that is good enough to bring us glory.

4 minutes ago, ROTG said:

What are you basing this on the last 4 games - or the season?

The development over the season. Yes the last 4 games will be painting a prettier picture than it may be, but I don’t think we can deny the progress over the season as the players have learnt to play with each other etc. A lot of them have had plenty of shockers over the season, but the brain farts are happening less and less, IMO.

Last nights performance was tactically smart and professional, which indicates they are learning and listening and therefore progressing.

Im not saying the players I listed are all going to be world class players, but they’re starting to look like a good set of players and once you add some experience and a couple of ‘elite’ players to the squad, we could be on to something.

To be clear, I’m also not saying, wow they have built a great squad, I’m just suggesting our opinions may need to shift if the progression of these players and squad continues into next season.

Also, quick question RE an elephant in the room we all seem to be ignoring/not seeing… have they actually put together a good young squad and are we going to need to put our hands up and say that maybe we got it a bit wrong in terms of those that built this side?

I’m not suggesting they got it all right or that we paid market value for each player, but the list of players that are looking like good signings/potential to be good signings is growing (appreciate some of these are still up for debate)…

Petrovic (24 years old)
Gusto (20)
Cucurella (25)
Badiashile (23)
Caicedo (22)
Nkunku (26)
Chukwuemeka (20)
Palmer (22)
Madueke (22)
Jackson (22)

Good result and a good, professional performance. Progress has clearly been made and Poch deserves credit for that, however, I still remember the really bad days we’ve had this season and they can’t happen again… we lose, but we don’t lose how we’ve lost some of the matches this season, that’s never ok.

Last night was good and cemented this run of form and results, just 1 more to go and Europa should be ours (unless City mess up the final). I can’t see Sheff Utd getting a result against Spurs on Sunday, but finishing within 3 points of them highlights the turn in form for both clubs. Europa will be good for this squad though.

We have to have much more confidence going into next season, we just have to keep players fit!

Just now, Proud-Blue said:

 

No way...

Impressive when you consider how few minutes he’s actually played. 

Just now, NoblyBobly said:

He’s club skipper too. Twice he’s done that on his return. 

Yep, let’s himself down a lot and really needs to learn from it. I understand the frustration, but cannot be doing things like that. Luckily, it didn’t cost us, but he now misses a bunch of matches. 

Europa in our hands, 1 last win to really finish the season off in serious form and style! Let’s go!

Oh god, Newcastle goal, 3-2 now 

Just now, My Blood Is Blue said:

Man United 3-1 up, we’re going into the final game of the season in 6th. We found form at the right time and actually a very good second half of the season.

Poch gets his second season.

I spoke too soon… I’m behind!

Man United 3-1 up, we’re going into the final game of the season in 6th. We found form at the right time and actually a very good second half of the season.

Poch gets his second season.

Just now, Holymoly said:

Actually I'm pleased Gallagher will captain the side on Sunday as he's led us through the second half of the season. Also it would be so Spursy if we overhauled them for 5th after all this.

Going to be Silva

The refereeing has been shocking and the inconsistencies are so frustrating to see, but James is an idiot, absolutely no need for that.

What the hell is James doing?! Nobody should be doing that, but especially not our captain. Petulant.

1 minute ago, johnnybozo said:

Good performance only "marred" by our resident sprinter going off with a boo boo... Oh wait. Might have the Enzo effect and push us to new heights 😂

By ‘boo boo’ do you mean concussion?

Just now, Chelsea_Matt said:

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

BTW Gusto has made 6 assists this year. I think he’s been a pretty smart signing tbh 🫡

Absolutely. Gusto would be signing if the season if it wasn’t for Palmer