Premier League Thread 2015-16

Would you like it if an opposing English manager swung a leg at him and said, That's for 1998.!

 

Yeah I do totally hear you, and I know that even in my post there's contradictions in thought. I think there's just a lot of will toward Swansea (as their is to Saints) and I'd like to see them (and him) do well and not fall into that trap of the revolving door.

 

I would remove Fergie from your list as he took little Aberdeen to the summit of European football and then sadly re-built United to the glory days, from a side that was pretty pants!

 

Yes, I know what you mean. I would have liked to have seen him do it, that's all. ManU weren't that bad, back in the 1980's, to be honest. They were achieving well under their abilities as a team of good players, I think. I was never an admirer of Ron Atkinson. Too much champagne and not enough attention to football for ManU. The formation of the Premier League was very timely for that club, in my opinion, and they were the quickest out of the blocks to get the right things established for the long term. That is credit to everyone there, importantly Ferguson.

I think Brian Clough stands out. As does Shankly. OK, Ferguson as well.

 

Is always a shame when someone like him is sacked. But I just feel for all the arguments against this manager-go-round, it's becoming more obvious these days why it needs to be that way. So there is little time for sentiment. As much as it's great to see a manager promoted form within a club, Swansea I think have been pretty fair - they could have gone for a bigger name post-Laudrup (and fair enough, they probably preferred Monk's salary to that option), but Monk has been given a phenomenal opportunity, and done well for the most part. He can't be too upset about that side of things.

But they're not playing close to their potential, and must be pretty close to the bottom of the form league going into the tough Christmas period. This seems repetitive of last season for them, and unfortunately clubs need to improve on their last success - rather than appreciating how lucky they are in the context of where they were five years ago. Managers can build a stronghold, as Wenger has, as Moyes did at Everton (but was unable to do at Man U) and in some form as Koeman is doing here - shaping large parts of the club and it's player policy, transfer targets etc. Monk hasn't the personality to do this at Swansea imo, and they can't really be accused of treating him unfairly.

I personally would give him the full season and then appraise, but would probably change that opinion if I held a financial or managerial stake in the club itself. I appreciate that he took over halfway through last season, so did well with an inherited side. And this season has not been given enough time to work with what he's got.

His problem may be he finished too well last season, and started too well this season, proving that he has the players and knows what to do with them. Unfortunately he now can't get them playing. Think where they'd be in this new guard had they won some of their recent, very winnable games. Their win against the top dogs earlier on have more or less gone to waste in terms of giving them any advantage over Leicester, West Ham etc. That's got to be frustrating. I have no doubt he'll turn it around, but I get why they're getting twitchy.

 

And what better opportunity to turn it around than two easy games next. Bournemouth followed by Liverpool at Anfield. That's a fair move from Swansea to allow him to pick up six points there and see if he can turn it around.

 

And my favourite tweet......

 

Moyes has been sacked - wonder where he'll go next...

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/34756773

 

Won't be long before he's back plying his trade in the prem. Swansea or Toon perhaps.

 

Really worried about Monk now with Moyes available

 

What on earth happened to Michu? Saw he's left Swansea now. But why did Swansea not play him after his first season? It's never been explicitly said what the problem was, as far as I'm aware. Was it an attitude issue?

 

Dimitri Payet is facing up to three months out with an ankle injury. That will leave a massive hole in their team as he as been nothing short of outstanding. Feel a little sorry for them as it was a poor challenge from McCarthy. On the other hand, looking forward to leapfrogging them! #tooSoon

 

That's a shame. He has looked a great signing.

 

Return of the Brenda at Swansea? Hope they stick with Monk though, all they need is a striker and they'd be about 10th.

 

Yep, Payet a MASSIVE loss for the WH. That's a lot of goals and assists gone for 3 months.

Moyes to Swansea? Probably not. What with the Sunderland and AV jobs gone he'll probably bide his time. Ashley likes British managers, might be an opening up there at some point this season.

 

I know we're all incredibly youthful on this forum, but i'm surprised no one has mentioned Lawrie Mac when looking for examples of sticking with managers.

I'm not a regular watcher of Swansea, but they were definitely a shadow of their former selves compared to last season in our comfortable victory over them

 

That's the nicest thing anyone has said to me all day.

 

That would be the equivalent of us losing Mane. That's a huge blow for them. Mind you, glad we get to play them without him.

EDIT: Yes! We play them twice in the next 3 months!

 

He's been the revelation of the season for me. Delighted (sort of) that we'll play them without him as a result!