***Official*** English Football Season 2020-21

[duffer]

So the Kroenke's brought in Tim Lewis, a respected lawyer to investigate all the internal dealings at the club. Upon investigation of transfers it seems the Pepe, Leno, Mari, Soares and Luiz signings were all dodge as **** and lined the pockets of intermediaries far beyond what is considered normal. Even the Emery appointment when the board had decided to give it to Arteta but then flipped at the last minute is suspicious. Our dismal league performances the cherry on top and Raul booted out of the club.

What the **** has happened to this club?

 

[grecian]

So the Kroenke's brought in Tim Lewis, a respected lawyer to investigate all the internal dealings at the club. Upon investigation of transfers it seems the Pepe, Leno, Mari, Soares and Luiz signings were all dodge as **** and lined the pockets of intermediaries far beyond what is considered normal. Even the Emery appointment when the board had decided to give it to Arteta but then flipped at the last minute is suspicious. Our dismal league performances the cherry on top and Raul booted out of the club.

What the **** has happened to this club?

Hey at least you got rid of Wenger and as Sages Like Piers Morgan said that was the way to the land of milk and honey.

 

[duffer]

Hey at least you got rid of Wenger and as Sages Like Piers Morgan said that was the way to the land of milk and honey.

I mean, it was obvious Arsene's race was run when we let him go but I guess we as a fanbase were optimistic new ideas could turn it around.

KSE prefer to be hands off as owners of their sports teams, allowing the experts in their field to do the job for them. Tbf they do tend to make good appointments at the exec level (at least with their NBA team who constantly have front office staff poached or head hunted by wealthier and more prestigious teams). They just made the wrong appointments with Arsenal and have seen our league position nose dive despite spending good money on transfers and wages.

Hopefully with the reviews they are doing now they can get it right and we can move back up in the world. I wouldn't call them dream owners but they definitely aren't the worst and hopefully they are ready for the fight to climb back up.

 

[Pothas]

Koeman over Pochettino would seem a pretty Barcelona thing to do. They don't really hire elite coaches.

 

[Furball]

Hey at least you got rid of Wenger and as Sages Like Piers Morgan said that was the way to the land of milk and honey.

Subsequent decisions being bad doesn't mean the decision to get rid of Wenger was a mistake.

 

[grecian]

Subsequent decisions being bad doesn't mean the decision to get rid of Wenger was a mistake.

It wasn't but it was never a cure-all, and it neglected that for many years Arsenal had performed above themselves compared to the finances that they had, Wenger created unrealistic expectations, I mean Arsenal could, and look to be shifting into being Everton now, serves a lot of the whiny gits (not on here btw) right.

Arsene should have gone on balance, but there was a complete disrespect to a club legend, IMHO, often by miniscule but loud people..

 

[JOJOXI]

Just feel obliged to smugly mention that Brentford made a profit last year despite our wage to turnover numbers.

Like the way you go about your transfer business but not many clubs can match you in terms of selling high value players in recent years - its good its worked up until now although I wonder how things will go with Brentford in next 2 or so years if they don't get promoted. Will clubs negotiate harder with Brentford the more there recruitment is shown to be impressive on the whole. Although in the short term will deals be easier to achieve and cheaper if some clubs are more desperate for money. Sympathy for you not going up wanted you to get promoted, liked the data-led approach to signings and the fact its more interesting seeing a new team with an intriguing transfer policy in the PL then a Fulham/WBA - although I've always warmed to Bilic since seeing an interview from him after a CL game with Besiktas so happy for Bilic although would've preferred Brentford went up automatically.

 

[JOJOXI]

Koeman over Pochettino would seem a pretty Barcelona thing to do. They don't really hire elite coaches.

With Pocchetino he does have the Espanyol link as a player and a manager - if they don't hit the ground running I can imagine Pocchetino wouldn't be well received and Pocchetino has said he would never manage Barca - easier said if you don't have a Barca job offer on the table but I wouldn't be surprised if Pocchetino stuck to his word.

I don't think Koeman is that much of a downgrade, helped revive the Netherlands (although international football is different) and improved on Pocchetino's league finishes at Southampton - had the likes of Mane and Tadic join in his time but also lost influential players like Shaw, Lallana and Lambert. If given a choice I'd pick Pocchetino over Koeman but in effect Pocchetino is being judged on 1 job - not that he hasn't done well elsewhere. Whilst he has done well at Spurs he hasn't won a trophy - don't think its fair to expect Spurs to win the PL (although the year Leicester won it was his big chance) but no domestic cups had a couple shots at the Europa League - knocked out by Fiorentina in last 32 in his first season there, beaten comfortably in a tough game v Dortmund in last 16 of Europa League in his 2nd season, knocked out in 16/17 Champions League group stage in a group containing Monaco, Leverkusen and CSKA Moscow, subsequently knocked out by Gent in Last 32 of Europa League. Had made Spurs much more competitive in the league but when you consider the financial dominance of Spurs I'd argue there have been some poor results in Europe. The 17/18 season for me their best, once again good in the PL, not much change in domestic cups but a good CL group stage and then lost to Juve - I felt some of the criticism of Spurs there was harsh. The 18/19 season had the great run in the CL but their away form in the league dropped off massively (no away league win after January) and that arguably was the beginning of the end when you consider this season Pocchetino drew 3 and lost 3 of his 6 league away games.

Also seen rumours of Xavi as the long-term manager not sure about whether that's a great move but if they are looking for a transitional manager then Koeman is likely to be a safer bet then Pocchetino I'd argue.

 

[Pothas]

That he is a former player who would probably only be there one year is exactly what would make it a very Barcelona appointment. He has a very patchy managerial career as well.

 

[Lillian Thomson]

Joe Hart is allegedly joining Spurs. Must be keen to play as little as possible or win a League Cup medal.

 

[wpdavid]

Joe Hart is allegedly joining Spurs. Must be keen to play as little as possible or win a League Cup runners up medal.

Corrected to allow for Man City's annual win.

 

[Uppercut]

That he is a former player who would probably only be there one year is exactly what would make it a very Barcelona appointment. He has a very patchy managerial career as well.

The squad is unsalvageable and Barca can't abide sticking with a manager through short-term failure. Maybe they're going with Koeman so they don't waste a good manager like Pochettino on a hopeless situation.

 

[Pothas]

As I said before they don't really seem to go in for big name managers generally. Poch would seem like a great fit if they recognise it will take a while and maybe need to use more young players, but it just does not seem to be the way they work.

 

[duffer]

Joe Hart is allegedly joining Spurs. Must be keen to play as little as possible or win a League Cup medal.

Spurs winning a trophy? Cmon man

 

[Lillian Thomson]

Corrected to allow for Man City's annual win.

Spurs winning a trophy? Cmon man

I didn't say winners medal, I just said win a medal.

 

[JOJOXI]

That he is a former player who would probably only be there one year is exactly what would make it a very Barcelona appointment. He has a very patchy managerial career as well.

I think very patchy is harsh but it hasn't been all plain sailing for Koeman fair enough and would agree he isn't an elite manager I just think hiring a player who has managed and played for rivals and said he would prefer to work on a farm then manage Barcelona (he was at Spurs at the time too so less pressure to show loyalty to Espanyol) immediately puts the pressure on Pocchetino - a side in need of a rebuild - could things get more toxic with fanbase if he doesn't get off to a good start and that is assuming Pocchetino has any interest in taking over - he may be true to his word re not managing Barca and given the Espanyol-Barca rivalry is it even that good a job to get from his perspective - ageing squad, extremely high expectations, not really got the finances to fund a new generation of talent - is this a case of Barca choosing not to hire an 'elite' manager or having little choice - Allegri is out of football at the moment but has been linked to PSG and Inter - does he have interest in Barc I dont know. if I was Pochettino I'd probably try to angle for the Inter job - it would probably suit him more I think an ambitious young manager with an ambitious Inter side looking to get back to top of Italian game rather then a Barca dressing room which doesn't seem a nice one to handle, he won't have much goodwill and he hasn't got the trophies to demand respect of the players.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Not sure how I'd feel about it but I think there's probably a decent chance that Poch is coaching us next season.

 

[Pothas]

I think very patchy is harsh but it hasn't been all plain sailing for Koeman fair enough and would agree he isn't an elite manager I just think hiring a player who has managed and played for rivals and said he would prefer to work on a farm then manage Barcelona (he was at Spurs at the time too so less pressure to show loyalty to Espanyol) immediately puts the pressure on Pocchetino - a side in need of a rebuild - could things get more toxic with fanbase if he doesn't get off to a good start and that is assuming Pocchetino has any interest in taking over - he may be true to his word re not managing Barca and given the Espanyol-Barca rivalry is it even that good a job to get from his perspective - ageing squad, extremely high expectations, not really got the finances to fund a new generation of talent - is this a case of Barca choosing not to hire an 'elite' manager or having little choice - Allegri is out of football at the moment but has been linked to PSG and Inter - does he have interest in Barc I dont know. if I was Pochettino I'd probably try to angle for the Inter job - it would probably suit him more I think an ambitious young manager with an ambitious Inter side looking to get back to top of Italian game rather then a Barca dressing room which doesn't seem a nice one to handle, he won't have much goodwill and he hasn't got the trophies to demand respect of the players.

When did they last hire one? It is not necessary always a bad thing.

 

[Lillian Thomson]

Plymouth v QPR first game of the season on September 5th in the League Cup. I know people who haven't missed a competitive home match for over 40 years, and I assume all clubs have similar fans.

 

[GIMH]

Yep. I know of a father & son who've not missed a competitive match full stop since the 80s.