We've played approximately 250 games since we moved to the new stadium. Based on that data, would you say we are moving forwards or backwards as a club?
Up until this season we've stayed more or less exactly the same. The games this season don't change that by much but I think it's more likely that we will have regressed a bit.
That's one of my big reasons for sticking with Ange. Burkinshaw stuck to his view of how football should be played even though we were relegated...and when we looked like blowing promotion...and when we struggled badly in the top division for the next 2-3 seasons. Think we came 12th in 1978/79 and 14th in 1979/80. When we won the FA Cup in 1981 we only came 10th. In today's world he have been sacked after 6 months
It is posts like this keeping me going! Just not 100% sure he is another Burkinshaw. He looked so down in the Sky interview tonight that I would not be surprised see him walk if no signings arrive by February....
Also started the Sky interview by nearly lamping the guy I mean, fair enough, but at least be consistent and start by lamping BILGE journos in the summer of 2023...
I'm still in the 'don't sack' camp, but not because I have any particular faith in Ange. And if he doesn't jump beforehand, defeat on Thursday will be it for him I think. So I'm all of a quandary... Despite his obvious flaws and poor decision-making, a big part of me wants to break with the knee-jerk trend of sacking the coach rather than apportioning the blame elsewhere. In our case this is especially true - and the blame should be well and truly at Levy's door. 6 years ago, we were in a CL final, regular top 3/4 playing exciting football, even if the cracks were already starting to show. 6 coaches later we are staring down the barrel of a relegation battle with an unbalanced and poorly motivated squad - despite having arguably the best physical infrastructure in European football. Something is seriously wrong in the club and has been for some time. So **** it, I say! Stick with him - even if that means relegation - and see how the club reacts! Things have to change and maybe it will take a decapitation, rather than a manicure to achieve that.
I’m not convinced sticking with him is wise. I just get the sense that the players are no longer playing “for” Ange. They may like him on a personal level but surely if we recognise that Ange is not the right man, surely they have a similar sense too. Surely they are questioning themselves why players are dropping with injuries. Surely they must have thought “wtf” when Ange discussed today’s formation and tactics. I suspect they have well and truly lost belief in him.
I agree, I think it’s counter productive. I fully understand the viewpoint of “**** Levy, time for him to learn” but nothing will change his end. He’ll operate in the same manner he’s done for 24 years. The one variable that’s changeable is the manager and the one employed right now is terrible. I tried giving benefit of the doubt and saying better players will negate his tactics but we won’t get said players so all that produces is a side heading down and down the table. Get him gone, and if we have to twist and twist and twist until we find another Pochettino, Redknapp or Jol then so be it.
I'm still 'Don't sack'. It's not that I don't care about the club, it's probably that I care too much...and the only thing that will really change things for the better is the root and branch removal of Daniel Levy from the club. Whilst he's still there, the thing is ****ed as a sporting concern. His influence has become toxic and all pervasive. If we have to go down again to see him off the premises, so be it. He isn't the majority share holder. The Lewis family trust can **** him off and offer Paul Barber whatever he wants to come in and run it properly. They should...immediately. The only good to come out of the last 5 years will be seeing the back of Daniel. Ange's continued reign just shows how ridiculous our plight has become.
To stop the rot even if prematurely means he has to be the one that goes init Yeh nothing might change in the long run and we will find ourselves discussing the replacements replacement soon enough but to plug the leak for now some new ideas are required but not Ryan Mason’s ideas thanks
I don’t believe this lot have the stomach for a relegation battle they don’t seem to have the required pride so it could get squeeky bum
This is where I’m seemingly differing to most others. I just can’t stomach the idea of relegation just to spite him. I don’t think anybody wins in that scenario, there wouldn’t even be a guarantee he would get removed from his role either. I’m genuinely shocked we’ve not had “club announcement” yet. My mind is blown.
I guess one of the differences is that a few of us (older?) fans have been through a relegation and seen how much better things ended up. It wasn't painless by any means, but it didn't herald the end of the World either. As I said yesterday, we keep changing managers - some proven, some not - but we end up in the same place. If relegation is the dynamite to shift Levy and/or ENIC then so be it.
