One problem with saying Poch was "running scared" from Dortmund: the same argument would also say that Harry Redknapp "ran scared" from Rubin Kazan and Shamrock Rovers...
I was definitely one of Harry's biggest fans during his time here but what Poch has done has been a greater achievement in my eyes. Harry came in when we were down in the dumps, 2 points from 8 games you know!? Spent a bit of dough on great players and got us playing some of the best football I've ever seen, the CL run was the highlight but you could argue that with a squad that consisted of the likes of Bale, van der Vaart, Modric, King, Parker, Adebayor, Gallas, Woodgate, Dawson, Lennon etc, we really should've done far better than finishing 4th place. Pochettino came in to the club at a time where we'd had an average season under AVB and Sherwood, the loss of Bale hit us hard that season and the big money signings with the exception of Eriksen didn't adjust well. Under Poch he began to shaft out under-performers and bring the best out of young players, ending up finishing 5th with the youngest squad in the league. This season he done similar but to new levels, Alli and Dier shone, Kane proved he was no one season wonder and we finally had a defence to be proud of for the first time in years with a lot of thanks to Toby's arrival, we again had the youngest squad in the league and up until the final few games, were in a title race with Leicester City that brought the club together as one, there's a real affinity around the place now and it's great to be a part of. Both managers brought loads of excitement to the club with their styles of play and so many players shone under them but I think Poch's work has been better sheerly down to the fact he's worked with a lot less experienced players, spent less money and has got them playing like a team that's been together for years while finishing in our highest Prem position.
I doubt they'll offer treble. Whilst bearing in mind OSs point about not really knowing wages being paid/offered the consensus seems to be he'll go from £80k/wk to £120k/w. He's only just signed this contract as well. The big point is your latter one about systems. Arsenal's tippy tappy style will not suit him at all, so will Wenger break the habit of a lifetime and change their style. I can't see him being great for them personally, but will be interesting to see how it develops.
Wenger trying to sign Vardy reeks of desperation. Unfortunately, it probably signifies the beginning of the end for Wenger's time at the scum. It's not a long term fix, it's an attempt to sign off on a winning note. It might work, but it will leave a major task for whoever follows him, perhaps that's what he wants, the goons to fail for five or six years after his departure giving him Fergie style status.
The most telling thing is Shinji Okazaki saying that Vady can adapt to Arsenal's game. He's pushing thirty, FFS, the odds of him adapting are longer than the odds of seeing Half-Life 3 announced at E3.
This was my initial thought when I saw the headline. Vardy will be Wenger's Van Persie. We have to remember that he is out of contract as of May 31st 2017. A week or so ago there were all sorts of rumours flying around suggesting he'd been offered a new contract, but no-one could agree if it was 2 or 3 years and besides - it's all gone very quiet on that front since then. There's every chance he'll step down at the end of next season, but will ultimately want to do that on his own terms with one final PL trophy, just as Fergie did when he made Van Persie his £25m personal vanity project. Targeting Vardy makes sense; every other 'big' team faces a transitional season next year, meaning that the road could be relatively clear of obstacles for Mr Wenger for one more season before Pep, Conte, Klopp and Jose really get their feet under the table. The only thing left to do is to significantly weaken the one team who finished above you by signing their star striker and QED...the title is back in London. Sound logic if you look at it that way. Arsene even has the bit about the title returning to London right. With one tiny inconsistency... He thinks it's going to N7. We know it's going to N17
Personally, I don't think it will happen. If Vardy was set on going, it'd be done and dusted now. The delay suggests to me that he doesn't really want to go.
Not the first time that anyone has used the word toilet to describe Fellaini. The addition of the word brush is a new one, though.
... me neither ... whatever happens in the transfer window our 'squad', come the opening game is likely to be far superior (in reputational terms) than the one that started last season ... bigger fish may well gobble up our best ... but the rest of the Prem beware ... because we can offer Champions League to your players ... look to your own release clauses ...
A lot of clubs in England don't actually have release clauses, but being able to offer the Champions League is overrated anyway. Players look to join prestigious clubs who can pay them lots of money. Barring that, they look to join other clubs that can pay them lots of money. Things like European and Champions League football come way, way down the list, I'm afraid. Leicester's best bet is to continue with what you've been doing. It's difficult to maintain the signing of obscure players with quality once people know about it, though. People will be monitoring your scouts and potential signings now.
I would think he's trying to get Leicester to match the offer from The Goons. But if he was that keen on the move, why delay?
... don't fully agree on the Champions League - it's by far the best shop window for young ambitious players to display their talent in - yes that means they use us another stepping stone - but I'm happy enough with that .. ,,, but we do have one more ace in the pack .. Ranieri ... nemphalys Mendy has played for him before and is now rumoured to have agreed 'personal terms' citing that he has bought into Ranieri's vision .. Ranieri does have an eye for good young players and developing them and that seems to be both widely known and respected ..
Moved these comments into a more appropriate thread for them. The Champions League can be good for a player's career, but the Premier League is already an enormous shop window. No offence, but I'd suggest that a lot of neutrals could miss your group games, depending on how the draw goes. You'll be seeded, so you'll avoid a lot of big names and most people won't care about Leicester v Club Brugge, for example. The same is true of most of the usual clubs that qualify. I'm not singling you out. I'm not familiar with Mendy, but that's the sort of deal that I'd expect you to make. Clubs like Liverpool and Chelsea will be in a better position to pick up bigger names, despite their lack of European football. The same applies to us. It's about money first and prestige a poor second.
Eva Carneiro has settled her claim against the Chavs. Given it was revealed that she'd already turned down an earlier offer of £1.2m, it's probably at least double that.
I had just posted in the Bill Nick: Chelsea's defence of Eva Caneiro's claim folds in a manner similar to their capitulation as Champions and ends in the same result - Jose Mourinho's services no longer being required. No chance Chelsea or United were going to let Mourinho give evidence. He'd end up locked up for contempt.United's manager would end up holed below the water line and it would reveal Chelsea as the scumbag organisation they are. As the fragrant then Ms Caneiro refused £1.2m and Sex Discrimination damages are unlimited, I'm guessing £3m minimum to £5m max. That's my girl!
