Let's face it, every time we dispose of a manager the media have to re-adjust to the fact that we don't implode over finding another. Truth is, we've already sounded out the replacement. It's just a case of choosing. They're coming round to our way of thinking, but it's like changing the direction of the Titanic.
Perfectly happy with Puel, but does raise an interesting point of where we would have been with Koeman. We might have continued our impetus with a familiar style, but we'd still have lost Mane, Pelle and Wanyama. Presumably the youngsters would have still struggled to get in the team. Would Romeu have been as good because RK would have had to use him, but would he get the best out of him. My guess would be not far off where we are or perhaps a few points more, but with less hope for the future as the heavy toll from so many games kicked in.
... and ManUre are the Titanic caught in a Groundhog Day ... Moyes sunk ... Van Gaal sunk ... Jose "what's that big white thing we're heading for" Can I award this thread a special prize for being the most 100% positive thread I've ever read on 606? ... and can I add that I always said the diamond needed time before being assessed so critically If Ron had styed we would have started the season better as the system would have been the same, but we are in a better situation now with special mention of Oriel, an improving JWP and the youth players coming through. When we played Sunderland we had 5 full backs not available (Pied, Cuco, Cedric, Matt, Ryan) and played our 4th choice RB who is actually a CB!
But the media seem unable to accept that we have a genuine depth of talented players, so beating Sunderland will not be seen as a big deal, just Sunderland having a bad day/not getting the rub of the green, etc, etc. With any luck, all other football club managers will believe the same old story, and every team we play will have an 'off day' when they play us. I suspect that the only reason Inter Milan beat us was because the British media doesn't get translated into Italian, otherwise their manager would have realised that we have lost all of our good players/managers/groundsmen/tea ladies to 'bigger' teams, mostly Liverpool
We'd almost certainly have lost Tadic and it wouldn't surprise me if Matty had been fishing for a move. Vin
Agreed - perhaps Reed as well. Plus I think Koeman would have pushed for more first teamers. Another CM to replace Victor being a good example (whereas Claude was happy with Romeu).
Fran, it's not so much that they doubt our quality, they just fail to believe that we have a workable system of developing academy players, combined with intelligent scouting abroad, and genuine business acumen in transfer deals, both in and out. After all, the other clubs have spent more money, so they must have better players. It stands to reason
