One Step Forward One Step Back

[StartingPrice]

I agree for our long term health we should look to the youth and I think the club want to do that and they want AVB to be the man to bring them through but I suspect not at the cost of CL football.

I'm not too sure on that - Levy was always quite open about the fact that he had budgeted for not qualifying for CL in the season after we had, and he stood by RatKnip when we subsequently finished fifth. I really don't think he will react harshly if we don't make the top 4* this season, just so long as it isn't a total cluster-feck.

*for the record, I think we will make top 4, anyway.

 

[Mullers]

I'm not too sure on that - Levy was always quite open about the fact that he had budgeted for not qualifying for CL in the season after we had, and he stood by RatKnip when we subsequently finished fifth. I really don't think he will react harshly if we don't make the top 4* this season, just so long as it isn't a total cluster-feck.

*for the record, I think we will make top 4, anyway.

Last season he didn't though. Well I hope you're right I know Levy and the board have done some good stuff but I don't fully trust them.

 

[StartingPrice]

Last season he didn't though. Well I hope you're right I know Levy and the board have done some good stuff but I don't fully trust them.

Do you mean:
Last season he didn't stand by Ratknip - by dismissing him this Summer?
or
Last season he didn't stand by RatKnip - by not supporting him in the transfer market?

No-one ever fully trusts the Board/Chairman
I suppose the best hopen is that ENIC have always been clear that they are in this to make a profit. Our best hope, as fans, is that their desire for a profit comes form making the club genuine challengers and then selling for a massive mark-up, because, then, we will get what we want, too.

 

[Mullers]

Do you mean:
Last season he didn't stand by Ratknip - by dismissing him this Summer?
or
Last season he didn't stand by RatKnip - by not supporting him in the transfer market?

No-one ever fully trusts the Board/Chairman
I suppose the best hopen is that ENIC have always been clear that they are in this to make a profit. Our best hope, as fans, is that their desire for a profit comes form making the club genuine challengers and then selling for a massive mark-up, because, then, we will get what we want, too.

The first option, not that I was sorry to see Redknapp go.

 

[StartingPrice]

The first option, not that I was sorry to see Redknapp go.

Right.
But we finished 4th last season. So he wasn't dismissed because we didn't finish in the top 4. And he wasn't dismissed because we failed to get CL due to Chelsea's improbable victory. He was dismissed for a large number of factors, not least of whihc was his whoring himself out, his taking his eye off the ball during England-Gate, the fact that he had probably reached his level (at this unforgiving level losing to Norwich at home because they said we play best with a 4-4-2 but I don't think that - well why did you fecking play it then, you twitchy imbecile basket - is quite unforgiveable), and, I'm sure, a host of other considerations, but most importantly, I feel, because Levy felt that they weren't pulling in the same direction, just not on the same wavelength, amongst other things, in regard to the all important youth policy.

 

[Mullers]

Right.
But we finished 4th last season. So he wasn't dismissed because we didn't finish in the top 4. And he wasn't dismissed because we failed to get CL due to Chelsea's improbable victory. He was dismissed for a large number of factors, not least of whihc was his whoring himself out, his taking his eye off the ball during England-Gate, the fact that he had probably reached his level (at this unforgiving level losing to Norwich at home because they said we play best with a 4-4-2 but I don't think that - well why did you fecking play it then, you twitchy imbecile basket - is quite unforgiveable), and, I'm sure, a host of other considerations, but most importantly, I feel, because Levy felt that they weren't pulling in the same direction, just not on the same wavelength, amongst other things, in regard to the all important youth policy.

Personally I think he was sacked because we failed to get to the CL, he did take his eye off the ball but just one point more and we would have made the CL and there is no way he would have been sacked.

 

[StartingPrice]

Personally I think he was sacked because we failed to get to the CL, he did take his eye off the ball but just one point more and we would have made the CL and there is no way he would have been sacked.

It is possible.
I do think he would have earned the right to lead us into the CL, and we did only miss out by one point - but the explanation I offered does not preclude overlap. Taking his eye off the ball during EnglandGate did, for instance, lead to a total loss of form, without which we would have finished third.
Also, hiring someone to push for a new three year contract after the above, and spouting off in the meeja in the week the Chairman's mother die can't have helped.

 

[Mullers]

It is possible.
I do think he would have earned the right to lead us into the CL, and we did only miss out by one point - but the explanation I offered does not preclude overlap. Taking his eye off the ball during EnglandGate did, for instance, lead to a total loss of form, without which we would have finished third.
Also, hiring someone to push for a new three year contract after the above, and spouting off in the meeja in the week the Chairman's mother die can't have helped.

That wouldn't have helped but had we qualified he probably wouldn't have taken those tactics and let's face it would take a brave chairman to sack the manager when he's taken them to CL qualification. The media reaction was bad enough when he was sacked imagine what Lineker, Lampard and co would be like if he was sacked after qualifying for the CL

 

[StartingPrice]

That wouldn't have helped but had we qualified he probably wouldn't have taken those tactics and let's face it would take a brave chairman to sack the manager when he's taken them to CL qualification. The media reaction was bad enough when he was sacked imagine what Lineker, Lampard and co would be like if he was sacked after qualifying for the CL

Maybe not...but tact doesn't seem his strong suite.
Like I said at the time, and against since, in spite of my misgivings about RatMuff, I personally would have felt that he deserved the chance to lead us into the CL again if we had been in it this season.
I've never been wholly anti RouteMap, but I do think Levy made the decision to dismiss him at the right time for the club, because he is basically a reactive manager and that was what we needed at the time, but now we need someone who is more proactive )and hopefully AVB is that).

Feck dee meeja.

 

[sim0n]

not sure about steps, but the game today definitely reflected some distinct growing pains...​