While Ronaldo and Messi have more natural ability, Lewandowski has the intelligence to counter that skill gap.
Pulis had Stoke and West Brom set up to play in a militaristic kind of way, so any individualistic player would suffer under such a regime. It did ensure WBA and Stoke survived as PL clubs until the fans and board got tired of such regimentation.
A Stoke supporting friend of mine, hated Pulis with a passion and was “over the moon” when he left. He even started to get quite excited because he said that Mark Hughes had got them playing football. What he never realised that once Pulis left, their defence started to weaken and lost that rigidity that had often frustrated teams. He was an effective manager, but not the sort of manager I would like down here.
He was the "right" manager at the right time for both clubs, but for both clubs to move on, he had to go. These days a manager has a varied shelf life. How long has Hughes been in management since he retired - 20 to 25 years {?} and he seems past it. I suppose the really top managers have a shelf life of 20 to 25 years, lesser ones are lucky to make 10. This is where Klopp and Guardiola are clever - when things begin to go stale, they move on. I suppose it is like us. When things become routine in the job we either try to get internal promotion or move on- if you are 50+ then a sideways move is more likely than an upward one. A friend of mine was 50ish when he applied for a senior management post in a school where he was employed. The position was given to someone a decade younger, so he applied for a Head of Department job in another school and he got that one. .
Anyone watching the Europa League? 2-2 after 36 mins. I'm not watching yet, but about to turn it on, so don't bother if you aren't as I am the kiss of death to a good game.
“ According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, #Banega walked over to Conte, holding his hair to make fun of his supposed “wig”. Response from the Inter coach: “I'll be waiting for you at the end of the match outside” #SevillaInter “
I've always thought that really devalues the Europa League. It's like letting a team from the Prem who go out of the FA cup in the 3rd round, straight into the Carabou cup in the 6th round or similar. As a player, I'd feel pretty cheap and dirty winning that. I'd take the pay bonus, don't get me wrong, but it wouldn't feel right.
