Cricket-Match-Special ... A forum for discussion

Sarri's time is almost up

Go on Roman, bring back Jose.

Sarri would have been sacked sometime ages ago had anyone half decent wanted to take over. I doubt very much that any manager worth his stock would want that job.

The keeper is an out of control prat, hazard clearly has lost interest and wants off, they need a goal threat and a huge squad revamp but can't buy anyone for two years....

Lots of good players seen better days (Pedro, William, Cahill, etc).....

Even if they avoid a ban the club needs a new ground and bags of transfer cash....but the owner clearly doesn't want to invest anymore.

It's tough job...younger guys won't want to wreck a career, a top manager wouldn't go, so you're left with damaged names.

sussexpob wrote:they need a goal threat and a huge squad revamp but can't buy anyone for two years....

I thought that was Man C..... Chelsea too?

Durhamfootman wrote:

sussexpob wrote:they need a goal threat and a huge squad revamp but can't buy anyone for two years....

I thought that was Man C..... Chelsea too?

Chelsea have been banned....City are under investigation

thanks

it would rub salt into the wounds if PSG weren't also on the banned list. They seem to break every fair play rule under the sun

Huddersfield are relegated! Joint quickest relegation in prem history!

Fulham can't be far behind, then

andy wrote:Huddersfield are relegated! Joint quickest relegation in prem history!

I read today that only one player has scored more than 2 goals this season for them, Mathias Jorgenson their centre back, with 3 goals. Mounie has 2, but apparently scored both within minutes of each other in a game they lost 5-2 (and which at the time they were 4-5 goals down already in, so goals that were next to useless). No one else has scored more than one.

Simply cannot survive at this level scoring a goal every other game as a team. They spent 10 million on a forward from Monaco in the summer, and havent even started him in a game. Bought a highly prized youngster from Charlton too, and guess what, hardly had a minute. How can you not give players you buy a chance when your striker has 2 goals in 32 games!!!

Not hard to see why they are going down.

It does look like this year might be indicative of the jump in quality that is being established between Championship and Premier League teams, as the costs of transfers esculate ever more as TV revenue goes up, and that purchasing power increase the quality of the higher league in comparison to others due to them affording to compete far harder with other European teams. Fulham have been smashed apart all year.... they spent something crazy like 120 million, and were seen as having a couple of very good youngsters who could take the leap up a division to build on.

Wolves have made an impact, but they have spent ridiculous money in the last few years. Something like 200-250 million...... if thats what is required to stay in the league, then we will see a lot of yo-yo clubs emerging.

sussexpob wrote:

andy wrote:Huddersfield are relegated! Joint quickest relegation in prem history!

I read today that only one player has scored more than 2 goals this season for them, Mathias Jorgenson their centre back, with 3 goals. Mounie has 2, but apparently scored both within minutes of each other in a game they lost 5-2 (and which at the time they were 4-5 goals down already in, so goals that were next to useless). No one else has scored more than one.

Simply cannot survive at this level scoring a goal every other game as a team. They spent 10 million on a forward from Monaco in the summer, and havent even started him in a game. Bought a highly prized youngster from Charlton too, and guess what, hardly had a minute. How can you not give players you buy a chance when your striker has 2 goals in 32 games!!!

Not hard to see why they are going down.

Huddersfield's striker signings have a poor goals to games ratio, with the exception of Mounie or Depoitre, though the latters goals have come from 2nd tier Belgian clubs. They were really better off keeping Nahki Wells and sign someone like Peter Crouch.

Bournemouth and Burnley have achieved Premier League status by signing British based players who are hardened to play a grueling season. Overseas signings used to playing in a 18 team league with no winter break are having to acclimatise. Huddersfield's team nucleus consists of signings from European leagues and average ones at that.

I watched a fair bit of last night's match. I came away with a real appreciation of how big the gulf in quality is between Newcastle and Arsenal. Some of Arsenal's attacking play was sumptuous and Newcastle struggled to keep up with it, relying on missed shots, goal line clearances and good goalkeeping to stay in the game. Whenever Newcastle attacked their play was continually punctuated with missed passes and clumsy control.

Still.... that's what you get when your record signing was Michael Owen, £16.8M in 2005, with current transfer fees escalating at an extraordinary rate.

If Benitez signs a new contract he can expect another 'marquee' signing... that's one signing... of a similar value as Almiron who cost £16M up front with up to £5M more based on appearances and such like. Arsenal would probably pay that for a new tea lady, so it's hard to see how Newcastle ever improve enough to go on a long cup run or make it into Europe, let alone win the league

Alviro Patterson wrote:Bournemouth and Burnley have achieved Premier League status by signing British based players who are hardened to play a grueling season. Overseas signings used to playing in a 18 team league with no winter break are having to acclimatise. Huddersfield's team nucleus consists of signings from European leagues and average ones at that.

I think a lot of teams simply get scared about expressing themselves early in the season, then get into a slump. If you arent (like your example, Burnley) really solid at the back and hard to break down, then you have to throw the dice and be prepared to attack teams. Just resting on a ropey back 4 and never being prepared to go toe to toe with anyone is just a slow way to guarantee you lose. Bournemouth were a good example of that in a successful way, they have always been willing to play a bit of football and try to win a few games. But yes, they havent seemed to sign very well at all, Huddersfield that is.

Maybe they will take the disaster season and be competitive at another level with a solid financial sheet courtesy of that Premier League money, and can jump back and give it another go.... the Championship seems weaker than its been in years, this season, so no reason they cant.

Durhamfootman wrote:I watched a fair bit of last night's match. I came away with a real appreciation of how big the gulf in quality is between Newcastle and Arsenal. Some of Arsenal's attacking play was sumptuous and Newcastle struggled to keep up with it, relying on missed shots, goal line clearances and good goalkeeping to stay in the game. Whenever Newcastle attacked their play was continually punctuated with missed passes and clumsy control

Rafa has got Newcastle to be organised and disciplined, but you have a feeling without a Champions League winning manager at the helm, the team doesnt strike you as one that could survive in the top tier of English football. He's doing miracles at Newcastle, and if it werent for a passionate fan base getting behind him and connecting with him on a personal level, he would have walked ages ago.

Be nice if he stayed, got a soft spot for the toon.... love to see that prat Ashley bugger off and let someone who cares have a go at bringing what I think is one of the most loyal, brilliant set of fans in world football, something that resembles what their support deserves.

Mind, id say the same of your neighbours to the South.... different subject, but anyone seen that Sunderland documentary out recently? Its hard to watch at times! As an example of what a joke the management at the club seemed to be, on his first chat with his scouting team, the new CEO gets given a list of players that are cheap and ready for League 1.... the first name is Zlatan

Fulham have to win tonight or they are gone too!