There's definitely an element of the sides above you, and around you, having very strange seasons. It's been a very strange season if you look at the seasons the 'top' clubs have had, Liverpool, Chelsea, Everton and Villa started like dogs, but have turned it around since January. City and Arsenal started out great and have faded away badly since January. United are on track to have the worst away record in the league since 1978, but also to equal Mourinho's home record with Chelsea in 2006. Spurs have just been plain inconsistent all season - every time they come close to the top 4 they immediately lose and drop back. It is gonna make next season very interesting - it's hard to believe that all eight of those clubs are going to be as inconsistent as they were this year. Actually there's an interesting study which shows that the 'honeymoon' performance for EPL managers can last around 7-12 games: http://www.wbs.ac.uk/downloads/news/2009/10/what-is-the-impact-of-changing-football-manag.pdf That may indicate it's too soon to tell whether this is a honeymoon period or a geniune long term turnaround - I'm not making any implications either way before you lot start shouting me down!
Swarbs Did you actualy just go out and research for that article? My word Moscow must be quiet this time of year! Unless you have some sort of background in that field of course?
Massive game today lads... a win and we're in pole position to nick 5th spot, as Spurs have got to come to Anfield and they also have a couple of tough matches elsewhere. Are Spurs gonna bottle it? Quite remarkable considering we were at the bottom not so long ago. Long live the KING
If we can nail 5th,I'll be convinced Kenny will within 3 years take us back where we belong and thats top of the tree.
I would tend to agree. These last few games and the summer signing are key to what direction we take in the next few years. We need a few big statement of intent.
Not really research - I remember reading about it a couple of seasons ago when there was a record number of managerial chances in the PL. I have a good memory for facts and stats and stuff like that, and my job involves specific research so I can usually find whatever I'm looking for on Google in a couple of minutes. And right now my wife's having a nap, and my daughter's watching a film so I have nothing better to do whilst my 4 year old laptop chugs along processing pre season in FM2011...
The team sheet is up: Reina, Johnson, Flanagan, Carragher, Skrtel, Lucas, Spearing, Maxi, Meireles, Kuyt, Suarez. Subs: Gulacsi, Kyrgiakos, Robinson, Shelvey, Cole, Ngog, Carroll. Johnson is back, Carroll on the bench, Maxi keeps his place. Should be good for the 3 points
The summer is all about the owners.If they do as they say they would,then Liverpool will rumble next season.Kenny has done his bit.
I cannot see the board not giving Kenny the job to be honest. They wouldnt be too popular with the fans if they didn't. A two year deal would be fair I think, after all it can always be extended. I think not giving it until the season finishes is also a good motivator for Kenny, I though I doubt thats the reason why it hasnt been finalised now.
Imagine the uproar if they don't give him the job. Surely, even from a business point of view that is just plain stupid.
He should get it for a number of reasons.And one of the most important ones is that he's like Jose Mourinho,Ferguson is terrified of him. If there is a title challenge going on between Liverpool and United and Ferguson starts spitting bile,don't for one minute think Kenny will launch into a long winded attack.It will be short and sweet and painful.Thats how Kenny launches his put-downs.It would be similar to his ''Talk to this child,you will get more sense out of her than you will out of him'' put down he launched in 1988.
This 5th place chase looks even better now after today's result. We are now 5th, level on points with Spurs but they have a game in hand. We do have better goal difference though. It's going to be very interesting indeed.
They are friends.......out of the job. But Kenny would love nothing more than to kick him in the balls.And kicking him in the balls would be leading Liverpool to the title.He wants to see Liverpool ruling the roost,and if that means destroying Man United then so be it.Ferguson won't mess with Kenny in the same way he has done with others as Kenny won't take bullshit off him.He as I said will be slammed down with a short and painful put-down.
Looking a lot better now. We badly need City to beat them, and then we play them the week after. I always knew playing in the Champs league would hurt Spurs' league form. Would be a great achievement it we got 5th considering the first half of the season. We have gone from the English League's laughing stock to a dangerous team again. If we can keep this high going to the end of the season, we can go into the next with confidence.
Agreed. We are currently the most dangerous team in the premiership. And Kenny hasn't changed much in terms of personel. What he has done is injected confidence into the squad.If he is allowed to add flair and greasy fast speed.God knows what he can achieve. The aggression is a back,that old swagger seems to have returned,since the introduction of Suarez,Kuyt has looked a different player.The nasty streak that was last seen in 2009 seems to have returned.It all bodes well for the future.
Regardless of the link, I disagree simply from a perspective of the players. 12 games, lmao, that is just complete nonsense. The honeymoon period is the morale boost from the change of management, the change to prove oneself to the new manager is also a factor. This has nowt to do with the players instantly falling in love with Kennys management. Todays game against Newcaste was a perfect honeymoon breaker, but that was not what we saw. I will grant you that all this has affected the performances of Flanaghan\Spearing as t is Kenny that has brought htem to the fore, the others are playing too long now to be having honeymoon periods. A honeymoon period is making the prem from the championship getting 30 points from your first 15 games and collap[sing. Blackpool had what you would call a 15 game honeymoon with the prem. Kenny has raised confidence, big difference between that and a honeymoon period. Owning Fergie at Anfield like they did with Kennys tactics made them believe he has what it takes to bring them forward, not a honeymoon in any sense, I thought that was our cup fnal, thats how we won?
BBF. When I was refering to the ''Honeymoon period''.I was refering to what Swarbs was implying that its the return of a popular manager that has brought a short term change in fortune,and short term being the key word. I completely disagree with that.He's implying that over the course of a full season,Kenny can't do exactly the same thing.I again completely disagree with that.Maybe Kenny has a point to prove to himself,that he himself has ''unfinished business'' at Liverpool.That the ''beast'' is unsettled and the only way to settle the beast is to succeed again as Liverpool manager.He's a winner and that never leaves a person no matter how long he's out,He knows better than most how to win titles,He knows exactly whats necessary.He's setting down the foundations,the keystones are in place,its down to the owners to give him the tools to make what he wants to achieve a reality.Okay it won't happen over-night,and as I said a while back it may take 3 years,which I'm willing to accept.However I do believe under Kenny,Liverpool will be champions within 3 years.
