You know, Rafa clearly IS a good manager, but he's a million miles short of their hero worship. He's done very little since Valencia, he left Liverpool in the same place he found them, he did a solid job at Napoli but spent outrageous sums to get them there, although undeniably he set Napoli up for where they are now, they are a genuine threat to Juve this season. He took the Toon job as his frighten remains in Liverpool, no other reason, with Ashley now pulling backing it's always gonna end badly. I'm confused by it, Rafa surprised me by making very astute signings to get out of the Championship, to not back him now seems baffling, if wholly amusing. They look absolutely awful, not just short but short by a huge distance, I don't get Ashley's plan here, maybe he wants out but you'd surely try and stay in the league and maximise sale price. It's odd.
You would think that of any owner, or sensible businessman, but I think shorts already proved that's not the case.
You'd think if he was a genuinely good manager he'd leave teams better off when he leaves them wouldn't you? His main success was Valencia but that was over ten years ago and I think the team he took over was already doing very well. He's managed good teams but I don't rate him as any better than an upper end championship quality manager.
In being fair we have to say he did a good job at Napoli, probably level par for what he spent in a poor league but they are the real deal now and it's predominantly a team he built. They are far better since he's went mind, he was about to sell Mertens, new gaffer gives him a new deal and plays him, he scores 34 from midfield. Moves Insigne out wide and he's suddenly one of the best players on the planet at minute. He can spot a player Rafa, but he doesn't always seem to get how to use them best, that's his failing.
I think he's a cagey negative manager in his style of football. Vastly over hyped. He's not a bad manager but I wouldn't say a good one. Not sure how he ever got the Real Job. Baffling.
Oh that's easy. He was a stop gap and fall guy, they thought it was too soon for Zidane and wanted to put someone in first to soften the fans for the move. They knew the fans wouldn't be keen on Rafa and after that Zidane being moved up despite inexperience didn't ruffle a feather. It was genius, and has turned out more that reasonable for Real!
Ashley does the bare minimum in the hope we survive! He was never going to back Rafa. With respect to Rafa, some of the hero worship that goes on is cringey but he's certainly above what I would usually expect us to attract managerially. He's a negative manager but given we are one of the weakest squads in the league I don't mind that. We are not going to blast the PL apart with our current strike force. It's a case of wait and see for me. We can survive this season but it's going to take some doing. If we manage it, Rafa will have done well.
I agree on that cos ou are way, way short. You need tactical genius to survive, not a Rafa trait at all.
The potential saving grace (and we will know better at the end of he transfer window) is our competition for survival isn't exactly amazing either. What we are seeing though is the chasm is transfer fees between ourselves and those around us due to the extra year of bumper PL money. We can't/won't compete with that. It could conversely blow us right out the water and we break derbys points record!!!
I agree to a point but Huddersfield and Brighton have bought very well. You're looking at Swansea the minute but after that it's a tough call.
Swansea, Bournemouth, Burnley, Huddersfield, Palace and Brighton. To be fair, Palace have a cracking squad. I just don't think De Boer is the right man. Brighton and Hudds have bought well. Their activity has impressed me.
I can't see Burnley or Bournemouth being anywhere near, I do agree on palace, players wise they should be well up but he doesn't seem to have a clue de Boer. He won leagues at Ajax, not hard to do in truth, he was ****ing woeful at Inter. Nothing yet to suggest he will bring them on.
He spent 50m last season and about 40 million so far this window. He's had more than enough to make them competitive this season but the majority of his signings have been duds. It's mainly his fault but the toon will always point fingers at Ashley.
