I was merely pointing out that had our team been more consistent this season then we'd all be happier as fans and not have to rely on luck quite so much. If you disagree that's fine but say why at least. Unless you do nobody will know whether you are disagreeing with my view that we've had some lucky breaks occasionally or my assessment that Monk has done a very good job overall. Are you suggesting we have been consistent? For me Monk has been just like the team - up and down, but on balance I'd say he's done pretty well so far.
I've critisised Monk during the season and felt it would be in the best interests of the club if he left. I was wrong, the facts prove that, he got everthing spot on yesterday. Initially I couldn't understand why he brought on Montero when we were up against it. Proved to be a master stroke as soon as he came on that was the last we saw of Valencia as an attacking force, he had to spend the rest of he match trying to constrain Montero. As a result the pressure was relieved. 37 points from 26 games says it all, can't argue with that. Safe from relegation with 12 games to go if that's not success for our club thenwhat is?
Hopefully once we get 40 points we can see a more relaxed approach to games with more emphasis on developing an attacking plan for the rest of the season and ready for next year too.
I agree with that Valley, and your post too Mr Sbulby. He usually brings Montero on at that stage but it was effective yesterday because Valencia had his hands full as you say.
I think Monk has set the goal to amass as many points as possible this season and try achieve the most points ever in the prem. So I'm expecting more of the same with the mix of styles to continue; against top ten Plan B, conservative, narrow, defensive, which has reaped rewards. Against bottom ten Plan A; liberal (passing), expansive, wider attack oriented game; with tweaks dependent on home or away. I'll be so happy if we get anywhere near 47pts as all I wanted from this year was for us to continue our recovery from the traumas suffered from the annual 'will he, wont he' managerial stayings, comings and goings with everything that entails. Survival and stability was all I wanted so I'm a very happy camper indeed.
I sincerely hope your opening statement is not true. Any manager who sets up a team for the benefit of his personal reputation should be sacked on the spot. An element of pride and arrogance certainly but self promotion? That said it could well be what Monk is aiming for. What's with the Plan A plan B stuff? It is basically the same every week - attack when we can defend when we can't. Cork and Ki do a better job than atone with Shalvey, we play narrow, we over play long balls, we gift away possession. The only difference is based on what the opposition do. That will be good enough in many games. TBH after doing so well in the Europa Cup I was hoping for more than just survival. Happy with just survival, but hoping for more. Counting on one hand the number of entertaining games we've played with quality football doesn't float my boat.
I wrote "I think Monk has set the goal to amass as many points as possible this season and try achieve the most points ever in the prem". Simple enough observation, he's almost said so himself that he'll challenged the team all the way to the end of the season. Oddly, bob the slob took issue with this and wrote: "Any manager who sets up a team for the benefit of his personal reputation should be sacked on the spot......." Quote - Bob the slob, post: 7641893, member: 1023949" So bob the slob you believe Monk has set up the team (training the squad, picking the team, setting the tactics) for the sole purpose of enhancing his own personal reputation, a stunningly obtuse belief you have there bob the slob. Bob the slob didn't stop there, he went on: ".......An element of pride and arrogance certainly but self promotion? That said it could well be what Monk is aiming for" I'm not biting bob the slob, I'm not going to mention him. What I will say is that you've let yourself down bob the slob and your opinions are reduced.
I tend to agree Mr Stumpy. If you are right about Monk setting such a target then it's only Bob's tendency to think the worst of people (sorry Bob) that can put that spin on it. I'd like to know how he comes to that conclusion. In fairness, Monk has repeatedly mentioned 'making history' in his interviews and I see nothing wrong in setting those targets for the betterment of the team. If he enhances his reputation along the way then he would have deserved it.
..and if my aunty had balls she'd be my uncle, but she hasn't. Because my Uncle told me of course. My Uncle also told me that when you do the double over Manchester United you should celebrate a fantastic achievement, not dwell on petty negatives and things that may/may not have happened. He harked back to the Manchester United 1999 treble winning side and Ryan Giggs' incredible goal in the FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal. He said some people would say that Giggs' goal was Alex Fergusons get out of jail card, but do you know what? No one will give a **** because it's in the record books forever.
I think you'll find that Arsene Wenger, Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourhinio would also have set the goal to amass as many points as possible in any given season and try to achieve the most points ever in the prem.
A success has to mean a successful team and manager or is that too simplistic ,or would some prefer to limp over the line to safety and then suck it and see ,
I'm not sure what point you're trying to make Boundy. I thought it would be every managers job to amass as many points as possible in any given season.
I agree PG. I'm also celebrating the achievement. If you check my posts I've been very supportive of Monk and have praised the performances when deserved. But you cannot deny the accuracy of my points, though I'm sorry if you find them 'petty'. They aren't meant to be. Easy to lose sight of where we need to improve when we've done so well but I bet Monk hasn't.
This ^, . Bobs view is it's for personal glory only , I see it as you do but you put it so much more eloquently than I ever could .
"but it can't be denied that Shelvey's get out of jail speculative shots have helped us as a team and him as a manager". This comment is beyond belief. What do you think would have happened if David Beckham, Bobby Charlton, Alan Shearer, Matt le Tissier etc, hadn't hit speculative shots??? Is Shelvey under orders NOT to hit speculative shots? Do you NOT use someone who can hit speculative shots? If you have someone who can put the ball in from 25 yards do you tell him NOT to shoot? Shelvey's lucky ricochets (one from Ki, the other from Gomis) and blockbusters (an undeserved win at Saints) that have had little to do with tactics have given us 12 points at least. We'd now be in 12th without those. Not quite so great What about the Rob Green handball? What about the Stoke dive? What about all the lucky goals that have been scored against us? How many red cards shouldn't we have had How many players were suspended when they shouldn't have been Your comments are negative, one sided and laughable.
Then I'm glad to have brightened your day. If 'one sided' means that I didn't acknowledge that we've had some bad luck too then fair enough. If you can't see the point then I'm wasting my time. If you don't think that the Ki and Gomis deflections were fortuitous then fair enough. I've credited Shelvey with actually preventing us from being in 16th ( I was actually wrong when I said 12th) but you seem to be a bit selective, babe because you've also forgotten to mention my praise of Monk and the team. If you don't want to hear others' views then fair enough. But I think it's all about opinions, hon. If we all agreed we'd be pretty bored wouldn't we? Chill. No need to be nasty. I guess I'm a glass half empty person and that's the way I am. You're a rose tinted kinda guy, just like Mr Miggins. That doesn't make my comments less valid than his or yours.
GM and the team have delivered a magnificent double over THE Premier League giant that is Manchester United! Only seven other clubs have managed the same feat in the Premier League era! Let's enjoy that for a minute. In fact, this is the third time in two years we have overcome the world's so-called biggest club. This was a triumph for Garry Monk and HIS team; GM altered the customary 4-2-3-1 formation and played more numbers in the midfield, with a narrower shape; this left our fullbacks a little exposed at times but the result justified the shape; if it hadn't worked I'm sure that he would have been criticised, but it did so let's give him the credit he deserves! And I don't think we were lucky either - we had six shots on target, Manure had 3 (and just one in their 'dominant' second half display) - yes they dominated possession in the second half, but how many times have we been criticised for dominating possession yet losing the game; Southampton at the Liberty being a case in point! For all their possession Manure were absolutely toothless - we had better chances in the second half FFS! As for our second goal being 'lucky', that is beyond laughable - hit the ball goal-ward and anything can happen; De Gea may have saved the undeflected shot, he may have parried it into the path of one of ours for a tap in - who knows! Again we have been criticised on here in the past for not being direct and trying to pass the ball into the net - seems that when we smash the ball toward the goal we are still criticised! It is not lucky, it is putting the ball into the 'danger zone', it will result in a goal now and again as it did yesterday and I was amongst the majority urging Jonjo to SHOOOOOT! And remaining on the subject of 'luck' I would say Monk has had his fair share of the negative sort! Red cards that never should have been; penalties that resulted from simulation and games we have dominated slipping away from us! Yesterday we showed a 'steel' and 'never say die' attitude that made me proud to be a JB! And yes!!! 'Double' is now my favourite word of all time!!!
You're right luv, you're wasting your time. You make you're own luck in football and take it when it comes along. Unless you can construct a League table which accounts for the if's, but's and what if's, try concentrating on the actual League table and see where we actually are.
