Was indeed. One of my cousins, a BS, was a ticket agent for Everton at that time. Met him several times, even though he was a 'nobody' really (his words) Said he was a total gent. RIP.
I've heard he's put in a transfer request this morning. Wants to join Spurs before the weekend, for some reason.
Being egyptian he wants to emulate the giddy heights of Hossam Mido obviously. Swap deal with Kane? Go on, you know you want to
Strange conundrum - your team is substandard dross, but your players, in the main, are not. The exact opposite of the phrase 'The whole is greater than the individual parts". My greatest hope for you is that the Glazers panic again and spend another half billion in the next two windows to get you at Barca-like levels of debt. Then again, if they keep doing that, there'll come a day when they think of selling the club.
I think Souness and Hansen were in that boat some time back when FSG had had enough of Kenny's stabilising the ship turn after Roy, realising he was never going to another level (and secretly, so some insiders said, thought he mis-handled the Suarez malakey) and kicked him upstairs to be an ambassador. And FSG, much as I despise them, were right, and Souness and Hansen were wrong: the world had changed since Kenny was at Blackburn, and he couldn't outspend everyone except United anymore. Sad, really.
They're sub the standard they should be with those players, Trebs. I know I'm sticking the knife in, but if you think that TEAM is up to scratch, then carry on. With Ole.
At least he won you a league cup iirc. But then after that it was 8 years without a trophy. Nobody batted an eyelid.
But that's my point. Ole isn't the team. He's the problem. If we carry on without him, there's nowt wrong with the team... except a decent defensive midfielder, but I dare say a better manager would have the likes of McTominay and Fred playing better as well.
Think they did bat an eyelid. There was patience for Rogers, as everyone could see what he was trying to do, and the style of play he was building (I still think he's a fine manager, btw, and if the board had allowed him to buy Williams as he wanted, I think we'd have edged 2014 title). But ultimately they were always building up the club for a Klopp-type coach. Don't know who they have in mind to succeed him - Gerrard isn't ready, and will be another Rogers at best if we employ him within the next decade, IMO.
I have little knowledge of what the management in your club looks like except for Michael Edwards who I am very envious of tbf. There's no magic solution, but I know where we failed after Fergie, and that was failing to build capacity for leadership within the club in order to prepare for life after Fergie and David Gill who pretty much knew and ran the whole club inside and out. It's made me believe more than ever (especially looking at City too tbf) that as long as it's being run well at the top, by proper football men, then by and large you'll bring the right man in and it'll be run properly. I don't know how much control Klopp and Edwards have in comparison to Fergie and Gill at United, but you need to build that capacity in leadership now to plan for time after Klopp (if indeed he does do what he usually does and leave when his contract's up).
Fred for you is a bit like Lucas was for us, and is the epitome of your problem. He just shouldn't be in your starting 11 for big games unless you have injuries or suspensions. Hey, I think it was the game in 2019, when we desperately needed three points, and you lost half your team to injuries in the first half hour, IIRC, and he played a blinder. He's a bit of a cult figure. But first choice for your midfield? Never. McTominey is as good as Hendo was at that age, so I'll not throw stones there. Just needs to play alongside a better player. But hey ho - you wish to play 4-2-4. Either those midfield 2 have to be world class, and/ or your wingers need to start putting in a shift (and Bruno needs to work like Bobby or De Bruyne or Mount). But I have some sympathy for Ole in that Klopp is inflexible that the only way we play when we have the ball is 2-5-3, but we couldn't do that as we had no cb's with pace last season. He just wouldn't change the formation to accommodate what cb's we actually had though. So the point - Ole has a style of play, he has some terrific players, but he doesn't have the players to play the system he wants. I still think you'll beat Spurs though. If your guys aren't motivated for that they need horse-whipping. Essay over - walking the dog now.
THAT is precisely why they haven't sacked Ole. I have no doubt that's what our Board are thinking, and hoping it all blows over with a win
