Ensil would doubtless freak, and once again say that the Arab world has never done anything for the rest of mankind, contrary to what the most rudimentary of Google searches would tell him...
Was listening to the interview with Bilic after the Ireland game last night.... Brought home a) what a good manager he could be for us and b) what a waste for the PL that he will be languishing (in his pile of Roubles) in Moscow. His knowledge of both domestic and international games is excellent and I cannot understand why - other than a pile of cash, which admittedly is a damn good reason - he would want to stall his career in a relative footballing backwater when he could be preparing to take the reins at a top PL club. Don't know the details of his Moscow contract, but maybe a year in the Wilderness and back in the frame for us 2013/14?
The Russian league seems to have had some serious investment recently, though. It might become a real force over the next couple of years. Who knows?
Difficult to see that in my opinion. No matter how much money they throw at the league and clubs there, they will still have to deal with the political and criminal instability that still pervades the region. Best example is that of Samuel Eto'o who plays for Anzhi in Dagestan, but has to commute from Moscow as the local area is too unstable!! It is hard to see their league becoming less isolated and more popular while such situations exist.
I wanted him as my number one replacement as i felt he will be refreshing..hes young...hes knowledgeable....and i think he is the type of manager..almost guardiolaesque in that he can be one of the lads but they all know whos boss..in Bilic's case more so than Pep even..however i was thinking with regards Pep G.......i get the feeling at times that he will be like AVB...the guy had it on a plate i feel at Barca..a smooth transition..id like to see him actually build a team..a squad..i always felt as though the players he added at Barca were not really Barca type of players as a whole..yeah thre were some that were..but the likes of Sanchez up front...not a worldbeater but just ina good team..and also Fabregas..all this ****fest about his boyhood club and he has a right to return there..about 4 seasons of tapping up just to appease the romantics led to that...take away the 3 obvious world class players in that team he inherted and i can see Fabregas being hit and miss at best..them 3 carry that team..take Messi away and you take away 60 goals!! thats right...60..id say thats about 50% of their goals.
Well I guess the next 12 / 24 months will prove or disprove that theory. I tend to agree that the fawning of Guardiola was OTT and that many managers could have achieved a similar outcome from the riches that he inherited. The only difference was that he brought a degree of continuity to the position - and as there was a clear development plan at Barca over the last 10 years, I guess he was the right man at the right time. Bilic - more than Guardiola - is a true internationalist: multi-lingual and keen to embrace a variety of cultures and ideas. Yes, Pep unlike some other significant Spaniards, speaks English ( and French?) but he is otherwise very 'domestic-oriented'. Long term, I think that makes Bilic a better bet.
Didn't know about Stretford, doesn't look good is my first impression, you could say that DL's and HR's pals relationshp is broken looking at that, and is Harry trying to get the best compensation package?...the suspense!
http://sport.uk.msn.com/football/spurs-calm-over-redknapp-contract Latest on the Redknapp saga - quotes from a source 'close to proceedings' suggests that failure to clarify HR's situation (for that read 'provide a new long term contract') will cause problems in the dressing room. This has Stretford or similar agent tactics all over it and at the very least is a source firmly in the Redknapp camp. I have been one to support keeping HR for at least another year, but the more public and factionalised this becomes the more I am inclined to say 'thanks Harry, think its time to move on'.
Harry going to he press, well there's a surprise!! I can't see that doing anything but pissing Levy off even more.
Just seen his interview on SSN, go's round in circles saying its not good for players to see a manager in the last year of his contract and its up to the club if he's the man to take us forward. I feel this rather ill conceived public pressure on Levy could blow up in his boatrace.
Enough is enough! If it was my decision I would employ Chris Houghton(if its spelt wrong oh well) as no:2, keep the rest of the managerial team with the understanding that he will be the next manager of Tottenham, offer Harry a 1 year extention with an option of a year's extention dependant on measurable factors. This would ease the transition for Chris even though he knows most of the players already. If your looking for a younger manager to me he's the guy. We tend to forget each time he became caretaker manager he had to perforn a rescue act. Look at what he did with Newcastle after they asset stripped the squad and he still took them up. Imagine what he could do with our transfer budget.
This bloke never learns does he! A seven minute plus interview on Sky Sports News harking on about players, how the Champions League is "overrated", his relationship with Levy and his contract talks. Can't he just go on holiday, keep his fat mouth shut and just deal with matters behind closed doors like a professional; handsomely paid by a great club? No, he has to go public on everything. Gets right on my nerves.
Chrissie Hughton is a good shout - and you are right that he previously held the reins during difficult period. The down side is that he may not have the reputation / pulling power of HR or a more high profile manager which might affect the destination of certain players in the short term. Either way, my patience with HR has just about been eroded completely.
He did have a perfect platform to say something like I want to put last season behind us and really give it a crack next year and get CL football for Tottenham, but didn't.
I voted to keep Redknapp but am starting to feel that decision was very premature. There's stupid me thinking it's the close season so he will be out of the spotlight. My mistake... this is Redknapp we're talking about. Always craving the limelight. With so much time in front of the cameras, I'm convinced all of this is just a dress rehearsal for his future punditry career; sadly at our expense. No wonder Levy has lost patience with him. We all have too. Can we have Ancelloti please?!
To be fair to Redknapp and play Devil's advocate, he was responding to a question about how qualification for the Champions League affects a club's ability to sign players. He went on to point out that Chelsea's spending on wages and how that shows 'ambition' would've attracted top players, even if they hadn't qualified. ""I think if the contract's right and they earn enough money, Premier League football is big enough." - HR I'd have to agree with him on that matter, though it didn't need saying.
but it was ok for the players to see the manager flirting with another job undoing all the hardwork in superb fashion and record breaking time and almost costing us 4th spot aswell. what is up with this guy...it's always about himself. honestly only last week i was saying im ready to put last season behind us so long as he remains focused...some will say he is...but this guy does not seem to pipe down...he should tell the chairman what he thinks...in which case i would agree..the world does not need to know...and especially when we have some good signings waiting in the wings. i thought he was told to shut it by Levy..with regards the press.
Sorry PNP but can't see the relevance here regardless of what he's said. Most of us just get wound up because he always seems to accept an invitation to speak to the cameras when most would just go on vacation. When's the last time you saw SAF, Wenger, Moyes, Mancini or any other PL manager gives a lengthy 7 minute interview to Sky Sports News for no real reason at all? It rarely happens. Most would walk on or offer no comment. I haven't checked but I bet the most interview videos of any manager on the Sky website are Redknapp. He just loves the attention. Grrr.....
