If we are going to criticise foreign managers, then start with Pep and Jose. Bags of money and talented players but still below par seasons. Jose isn't even new to English football.
Retain Puel next season, we will go down. I don't think there is any doubt about this. This season, I've seen two matches at home where we have put a shift in and been hugely impressive. The first was against Milan and the second in the semi final against Liverpool. Everyone seems to have forgotten the disaster zone performance in the FA cup against Arsenal. I don't expect Saints to smash every team but if I am going to pay £600 to watch football for the best part of 9 months, I can surely expect to see something that is remotely entertaining? In contrast with what Koeman and Pochettino produced, the football this season has been massively under-whelming. Too often, we have struggled against the smaller clubs such as Bournemouth, Hull and Swansea. These are the games we need to win yet Claude seems to be technically outfought and outthought by opposition coaches. This board constantly amazes me. This is the only place where I have encountered fans who are content with the style of football that has been served up this season. Today was just about the worst. You expect the odd , poor performance at home but this season has seen a litany. I have no axe to grind with anyone on this board although I love provoking the equally opinionated FLT when I post. To be honest, imagining the smoke pouring out of his ears when I post my observations is frequently more entertaining than watching the football. I have no ill feeling towards him even though my head constantly hurts through banging my head on the table whenever I read his paeans to Calamity Claude. He must surely be the easiest person on this board to rattle his cage.
I don't think he's implying anything. Are you implying we should get rid of him? Then allow me to imply that you are talking bollocks
I read the first line of that and stopped right there. What utter complete crap. Unless you have a time machine you have no idea what is going to happen next season.
Really Ian, you are making yourself look stupid....quit while you still have a semblance of credibility left.
The ignore button does exist, people. I think it's fair to say that Ian won't be changing his views anytime soon.
Now you've just made me feel really important. You should come to the pub for a drink and a chat Ian. You'd see then what a reasonable and laid back bunch of people we are. I'd say some of us are maybe guilty of defending our club, that's all.
I'd also say that we need to realise we are not Man U, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Barcelona, PSG etc. You know what, we will lose a few, win a few and draw a few. I still think back to 2008 and only nine years later we have had a season where to repeat myself, I have been to Milan to see us play and Wembley. Puel won't send us down. He is still learning this league and has done IMO ok for a premier league rookie. Actually more than ok. Next year with this experience, we'll be millionaires Rodney. EDIT: I forgot and Johnstone's paint trophy you'll never win that. And to quote X-Factor finalists the 'journey' we've been on. From the bottom of League One on minus 10 to beating former European Champions Inter Milan for real. In my lifetime. Actually in my dog's lifetime it has happened so quick.
At the risk of making myself even more stupid by adding another post as Tom has so kindly suggested, I will gladly meet up with you in the pub for a drink. This will probably be difficult before the Arsenal and Liverpool evening matches as I will need to get down the A34 from Andover where I work. This is ;always a nightmare. As I said, I have no axe to grind. It is quite strange reading some of the comments as you assume that the names used by people on this board have some indication of their age group (Channon fodder, etc, etc.) Must admit that I didn't twig until tonight that St Brendy is not St Bendy - always had him down as someone who was this board's equivalent of Sting with all that tantric sex stuff! I am going to put some posts on the jazz message board before I start watching the football on Channel 5.
I've just spent the afternoon talking to two Sunderland fans who wish they had our set up. A superb academy system, a great recruitment policy, the ability to cope with constant personnel turnover and the ability to get good managers to come from good teams. They have had a record of no academy input, poor recruitment of players and managers. This season had a mixture of highs and lows, but I remember the successive seasons in the past when we had lows and lowers. Nobody forces fans to spend their money or support a particular team. If you want constant success then support Bayern or Barcelona. Oh! Poor examples of constant success.
I just think some fans forget that if we finish in the Top 10 again this season it will be the first time we have done it 4 times consecutively in the top flight ever! Injuries to Austin, Boufal, McCarthy, Van Dijk and Gabbiadini to extent, a Cup Final, and on course for another Top 10 finish has been a pretty damn good season all things considered. At the end of the season we will have played 56 games or so, with many teams in the league playing 40-42 maximum when you include Cup games. I'm hopeful that with a good Pre Season and no Europe to contend with we will have something to build on for next year.
I am jesting. I actually think it would be good and clear the air. Written word is so many times misinterpreted.
A few of us regularly do. None of us mates before "meeting" on this forum. I'd consider those people mates now. If you posted a little more regularly, or even read stuff that you don't post on, you'd see that we regularly meet. It's open invite on here, mostly the match threads. Pop along. Ps. I'll make the pub before the United game (the Liverpool one is away) and that's travelling from Northampton
Dear god, I've found something more boring and predictable than one of Claude's interviews. *slow hand clap*
