Oh ok then.... another trip to Wembley and 8th place Ps. Puel’s football wasn’t that bad. It still annoys me that people appear to remember that run in. Up to Christmas was ok. We weren’t free flowing but we were creating chances and it would appear that fans wanted to ignore the message issued by Puel pre-season. He told us it would be a slower placed football because of the number of games. Fans ignored that and gave up on him.
You know that I was pro Puel Fats (or anti sacking him) and I fully understood his reasons for adopting a slow possession style before Xmas to guard against burnout to key players with the packed fixture schedule. The football we played in the first few months of 2017 was encouraging until the team lost its' way around about Easter.
The football most of that season was poor. He had s far better team than we have now and I for one saw our slide coming and he was the bloody start. Boring one paced conservative football. The **** we have been served up since is worse, but he started the rot. And any manager stating pre season to basically expect what followed should be taken with heed. Exactly the same tactics as JM at Utd and someone in those positions should be inspirational and leading, not getting in their excuses early. Not sure why you mention about people going on about the run in, most people I recall thought he was pretty **** all year. I recall the game we got knocked out of Europe and his tactics were appalling. Each opinion to their own though mate, just don’t see it the same
I was always on the fence with Puel. I struggled to forgive him for not playing our strongest line up in the Europa league, but overall it was an alright season. I think we all trusted the clubs managerial decision making at that point though, so assumed we could find someone up to the task.
I think Puel learnt from the mistakes of his first season with us. Unfortunately, as we (allegedly some of the squad too) never gave him a second chance, it was Leicester who benefited. I for one have no idea if a new manger has actually been lined up, I just hope that if they have, the team can gel well with them, and fast.
It is indeed about opinions. I thought we were hard to beat and were showing signs or sparks of nearly looking very good. Fans did give up though way too early. Some booed the team of at half time of the Watford game, the first game of the season. Nuff said? As for European tactics, battered Prague at home, battered Inter at home and were perhaps too cautious at home in the last game. We were very unlucky away to Milan and away in Israel the tactics were spot on for Europe - two missed sitters stopped us winning. Away in Prague we were awful. It really wasn’t that bad.
Puel was the modern day Chris Nicholl, he was on a hiding to nothing after Poch and Koeman. He lost key players (VVD, Austin) to long term injuries and Mane, Wanyama and Pelle were sold. He was the first manager not to benefit from Paul Mitchell's recruitment also. He integrated quite a few youth players into the first team squad and brought us our first major cup final for nearly forty years and a creditable top 8 finish, absolutely no grounds to be sacked at a club of our stature.
No, those comments were on the Europa games, of which we played well in 4/6... as I stated. I’ll go through the league games later if you reallly want me to?
Wtf has that got to do with anything. Oh yeah, it’s really relevant taking over a much better side, that the majority of which won the Premier League a few season back. Well done you.
You can do if you like. The facts are 8th place, so what, we were close to about 26th also so it wasn’t like we were outstanding. I get you finish where you deserve, but we weee still uninspiring. Glad to see you don’t disagree with all my other points though Anyhow, we all agree we’re going to beat Utd and see Hughes sacked tomorrow. What a great weekend it will turn out to be.
He is average, no more, no less. And you never said he was very competent manager, you were being sarcastic about being **** in 7th place. With that squad he is where they should be, not much higher or lower. So average. Unless you think he is very competent, meaning above average. I’m ehich case, where do you think their squad is at in terms of expected finish? I’d also argue we were the better side midweek against them, and whilst they won at St Mary’s, they were more than average then.
Puel was a little dull compared to Koeman and Pochettino, but solid at the back. Since we have been dull in attack and porous at the back.
Puel did/has divided opinion. With saints, normally our managers are so good, they get poached by bigger teams or they are so crap and get sacked. I don't think Puel was in either category and deserved longer. Who knows but fair to say I don't think we would have been worse off if we stuck with him.
I agree, but we’re wete still poor to average. I thought he should have started the next season, but never mind!
I agree: Puel was neither a very good nor a bad manager. I had no issue with him remaining, even though I didn't like the style of football we played, but I had no issue with him being sacked either if we had a good replacement waiting in the wings. We did not have a good replacement waiting in the wings.
