I was about half aware of Newcastle's injury problems, but hadn't thought much about their extra games. I'm keeping Pardew on my blacklist though, for having the nerve to have a good, healthy squad playing well on opening day.
Impressive: AVB, even many Spurs fans were saying between 6th and 8th, Classy start. Hate to say this but Wenger, but still in with a chance of top 4 with the squad that he's got must be classed as impressive. I expected mid table at best. Laudrup. After Rogers left I expected to see Swansea fail but they have improved. Unimpressive: O'Neil...should have done better. Martinez.....Expected better Mancini......has peaked, on a downward spiral Pulis.......Should move to rugby league, more his style.
I think I might have been one of those who predicted a 5-7th place finish, but it wasn't due to AVB. It was the overall transition that had to be made which included a lot of different factors. For me, that prediction (if i did make one) was based on the sale of VDV and Modric, signing players late in the window again, and not getting in enough firepower. How do you feel Martinez should have done better? For me, his situation is a bit like Moyes'. No money, yet continually does well with everything stacked against him.
Impressive Villas-Boas - Got the papers, which were begging for him to fail, to support him and has done a good job toughening up a team missing some key components Laudrup - Slotted straight into Swansea's system and has raised them to new heights Moyes - As he is every season Clarke - Hodgson leaving could've crippled the club, but he's kept them competitive in mid table Lambert - Villa would've gone down by now if it wasn't for him Pochettino - Could've been a Benitez-esque appointment, but he's silenced the backlash with some impressive performances Unimpressive O'Neill - Tarnished his reputation Mancini - Lost the plot with Tevez last season, lost his way this season Rodgers - Reliant on penalties when the game is level - like so many Liverpool managers before him Benitez - Seems to be running the club to spite the supporters rather than advertise himself to his next employer Redknapp - Spent several weeks before the transfer window opened slagging off the players he had, with predicable consequences to performances and morale
As soon as I saw your post HBIC, I just knew there would be yet another of your digs at Redknapp. How boring.
Might be surprising to some, or perhaps a lot of you, but I've been impressed with Rogers. He stuck to his philosophy and over the last couple of months it's really started to pay off. I remember the fans' patience wearing a bit thin at one point as they didn't know if he had what it would take, but he can hold his head high, IMO. Liverpool were an absolute mess after the dalglish stint, paying fortunes for overrated talent. Rogers has come in and got them playing attractive football, as well as getting the best out of Henderson and Downing, for example. I know the general consensus on here seems to be to mock Liverpool, but credit where it's due.
Rodgers has done just o.k. IMO. Anything would have been an improvement on the ultimate double act of "King Kenny" & Comoli!..
Rodgers: Over-reliant on Suarez and Gerrard for goals and conveniently-timed penalties Dalglish: Over-reliant on Suarez and Gerrard for goals and conveniently-timed penalties Hodgson: Over-reliant on Gerrard for goals and conveniently-timed penalties Benitez: Over-reliant on Torres and Gerrard for goals and conveniently-timed penalties Noticing a pattern there...
I am undecided on him Roo. He certainly talks a good game, so either he knows his stuff, or he talks ****e. His time at Liverpool hasn't really convinced me one way or the other. I can't get out of my head just how crap he was at Reading, so for the time being I prefer to reserve judgement on him.
What, that they are class players who any manager would rely on? We can't exactly talk HBIC, Bale is the only person capable of winning us a game. I'm Far from convinced either spurcat, but I was just applauding what I've seen so far. I'm also very familiar with the reading situation (being a "berk" like you). The same goes for Pardew on that one too, for the same reasons.
Ah yes, they still talk in these parts about how many players' wives Alan Pardew shagged when he was at Reading.
It would be wrong to judge Rodgers too early into his career at Liverpool, but he needs to address their defending to progress beyond 7th. In his haste to play the style he likes, he has overlooked their vulnerability when the opposition have the ball. Conceded 2 & 2 goals v in games (h) and (a) v Utd, ditto City, Arsenal & Spurs!! 3 against WBA (a), Stoke, Villa, Southampton (& Swansea, Udinese, Young Boys (a) and Oldham in Cup games), 2 again v Norwich, WBA (h), Everton, West Ham, Youngs Boys (h) & Zenit. Not impressive.
I know exactly where he lived when he was manager of reading. It was about 3 streets from me and directly next door to one of my old school mates. Unfortunately I never saw any fit wags being brought back
