It simply can't be all ...

[AW?]

Harry has done wonders for us but I can't blame people for being angry at the way he's gone about things of late. You can blame the players but if the manager isn't loyal and his mind is on the England job then he's basically fucked us over in my view. His comments of late have been scandalous and any respect for him that was built up (as I was never truely sure about him) has been destroyed for me. Just ask a Southampton fan about his loyalty. I knew this Harry/England thing would come back to bite us on the arse. I wanted him gone at the end of last season because it was a pivotal time for the club and we needed a settled manager in place. It's pretty fucking obvious he isn't otherwise the last 2 months wouldn't have happened. What else could it possibly be?

 

[nidge]

Reckon I'd probably win a cup or two at United.

Fucking simple at Bournemouth too. Yeah, let's get Fergie in charge of Bournemouth. Maybe West Ham. Or Portsmouth. Or Southampton. THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME CAPABILITY AS MANCHESTER UNITED. WITH THEIR 80,000 SEATER STADIUM. AND MILLIONAIRE BACKERS.

That's exactly the same that is. The same. I'm not sure I've ever come across a better description of something that's "the same" as I have done the various capabilites of the clubs that Ferguson and Redknapp of managed.

You do realise that Ferguson took an Aberdeen side that hadn't won the league in Scotland for 25 years and took it to 10 titles.

They didn't have millionaire backers and an 80,000 seater stadium. How do you explain that? Even if Fergie had done nothing after leaving Aberdeen his record there is amazing considering where Aberdeen came from. Could you honestly see Harry doing some similar? I can't.

I do agree however that Harry isn't the only one to blame and that the players should be professional enough to go out and perform to their best even if they have lost faith in the manager.

 

[sigurdl]

The ONLY question mark on the selection was Carlo. the rest of the team picked itself.

if the players cannot be motivated by themselves over a FA Cup Semi final then they are to blame.

I find it hard to believe that the players were not motivated for the game. In fact its absurd. If you are not up for a semi final at wembley against a local rival, then you're occupation cannot possibly be professional football player. The players on the pitch yesterday were professional football players, concequently they were motivated.

 

[InOffMeLeftShin]

I find it hard to believe that the players were not motivated for the game. In fact its absurd. If you are not up for a semi final at wembley against a local rival, then you're occupation cannot possibly be professional football player. The players on the pitch yesterday were professional football players, concequently they were motivated.

Agree, they looked motivated and played pretty well first half. The heads dropped and we opened right up in the last 20 minutes but for sure they seemed up for it from the beginning.

 

[Mr Pink]

I still don't get this thread, nobody was ever saying it was entirely Harry's fault and I certainly didn't take kindly to someone accusing me of just wanting to hate, and hate some more.

The amount of obsequious responses as well are cringe worthy.

 

[pablo73]

Firstly, I can't see the point of this thread. Just look through this forum and you'll see plenty of threads and endless comments about players underperforming and in some cases (eg Modric), being a disgrace to the shirt. So arguing that it's not all Redknapp's fault is (a) obvious and (b) preaching to the converted. However, as the manager, he has to be accountable. That's his job - he gets paid vast sums to take that responsibility. Except he doesn't accept the responsibility that goes with the post, does he? I mean, like, ever?

It's very clear to me that he would get a lot more leeway from fans if it wasn't for his shamless self promotion, embarrassing defensiveness and constant blame shifting (the comments after the Norwich game apportioning responsibility for the defeat to a mysterious 'they' was a new low for me). Personally, I d don't think Redknapp needs anyone to defend him, he does a good enough job of that himself. I also think he's getting a very easy ride of it (in the media at least) given the complete capitulation this season which exactly mirrors the one last season.

 

[Stoof]

Drunken fool. Sorry if I offended anyone.

FWIW, I take on the points from everyone - it sounded like (to me) that the players were getting a bit of a get out of jail free card with all the blame being pushed to Redknapp.

Redknapp is not faultless in all this. He has made some monumental mistakes - as a lot of managers do (if not all). But it is perplexing how one week they can be world beaters and the next midtable also-rans.

Anyways, sorry team. I'm not having a drink for a good while following yesterday's antics.

 

[pablo73]

no need to apologise, feelings were running high all round (still are really) - anyway, can't imagine you offended anyone.

 

[nidge]

Redknapp is not faultless in all this. He has made some monumental mistakes - as a lot of managers do (if not all). But it is perplexing how one week they can be world beaters and the next midtable also-rans.

This is the most frustrating thing for me. It's clear we have some very good players but they all seem to blow very hot and cold.

 

[$hoguN]

You are correct that it is not all Redknapp's fault my blue friend, however him constantly taking our best player Van Der Vaart (who is probably our most likely outlet for a goal) while we are chasing a game and putting on Defoe who unbalances the team clearly does not help.

 

[Spurvert]

Of course it isn't all Redknapp's fault. Players, the FA, media intrusion, John Terry (somehow), bad refs and dodgy knees. You can't blame it all on one man but let's have a look at the top of the league table, who is sitting there? A very ordinary (by their high standards) Man Utd team. On paper I don't think they're much better than us, man for man, 11 v 11. Or at least I didn't think they were. In second place Man City have the best squad by a mile. But they don't have a) the experience Utd have or b) the manager. If SAF held the reigns at City they'd have won the league by March 1st. That is how important a manager is. SAF is steering a very average Utd side to another title because he is a superb manager, both tactically and as a man manager.

I'm not comparing Redknapp to SAF in order to highlight his shortcomings, but to understand Utd's success this season is largely down to the manager in charge surely underlines how much Redknapp is responsible.

Imo it's 60% manager, 30% players and 10% everything else. Success and failure.

Even when we were all laughing at Arsenal did Wenger panic? No! Is Harry panicking now? I think so. Unless he really has gone i his head.

 

[mattstev2000]

You are correct that it is not all Redknapp's fault my blue friend, however him constantly taking our best player Van Der Vaart (who is probably our most likely outlet for a goal) while we are chasing a game and putting on Defoe who unbalances the team clearly does not help.

This. What is the freaking obsession with Van Der Vaart being taken off after 60-70 minutes and Defoe coming on? It makes no sense.

 

[adiepf]

Drunken fool. Sorry if I offended anyone.

FWIW, I take on the points from everyone - it sounded like (to me) that the players were getting a bit of a get out of jail free card with all the blame being pushed to Redknapp.

Redknapp is not faultless in all this. He has made some monumental mistakes - as a lot of managers do (if not all). But it is perplexing how one week they can be world beaters and the next midtable also-rans.

Anyways, sorry team. I'm not having a drink for a good while following yesterday's antics.

this games all about opinions m8 & tbf.....even pissed your more articulate than me so

 

[mpickard2087]

This is the most frustrating thing for me. It's clear we have some very good players but they all seem to blow very hot and cold.

Again though, you can argue that this comes back to the manager. He is the one who builds the culture and mentality within the club that makes such inconsistency unacceptable, eg. Fergie at Utd, sure there is always going to be a blip but not on the levels that we are accustomed to. The manager is the one who has to drill it into the players about certain standards and levels of performance that are expected of them, and if they arent reaching that... then get in others who can and will reach what is expected of them.

 

[ItsBoris]

Of course it isn't all Redknapp's fault. Players, the FA, media intrusion, John Terry (somehow), bad refs and dodgy knees. You can't blame it all on one man but let's have a look at the top of the league table, who is sitting there? A very ordinary (by their high standards) Man Utd team. On paper I don't think they're much better than us, man for man, 11 v 11. Or at least I didn't think they were. In second place Man City have the best squad by a mile. But they don't have a) the experience Utd have or b) the manager. If SAF held the reigns at City they'd have won the league by March 1st. That is how important a manager is. SAF is steering a very average Utd side to another title because he is a superb manager, both tactically and as a man manager.

I'm not comparing Redknapp to SAF in order to highlight his shortcomings, but to understand Utd's success this season is largely down to the manager in charge surely underlines how much Redknapp is responsible.

Imo it's 60% manager, 30% players and 10% everything else. Success and failure.

Even when we were all laughing at Arsenal did Wenger panic? No! Is Harry panicking now? I think so. Unless he really has gone i his head.

Great post, I'm sure SAF must be worth 20 to 30 points per season above what an average manager would achieve.

 

[Mullers]

Redknapp.

I'm very drunk right now. I've even put my McDonald's down to type this. (That's a pretty big deal). But this slump cannot possibly be all Harry Redknapp's fault.

It goes beyond reality to think so.

As much as he motivates and sends players out for the two sets of 45 minutes, they really honestly have to take some responsibility for the performances that they've put in since February.

If this is such a wondrous group of players that need very little management, then why the fuck have they been playing like they have for the last two months?

Today, I though Modric was terrible. I thought Parker was fantastic. But through various periods of the last number of games, you have to rationally think that actually there's only so much a manager can influence. There's a lot of a hit to be taken by the players.

Redknapp seems to be taking the most of the hit. Unfairly, in my opinion.

Players need to stand up and be counted and not hide under fans preconceptions of Redknapp's past.

Two cents from a boozy ol' blogger.

It's not all his fault but he has to take a large share of that responsibilty, I keep hearing about the two points from eight games and the wonderful job that's he's done and taken credit for it and, so it's fair enough they he takes the flack when the team playing badly. That's the way football is, Jol took the flack when the players played badly, Ramos took the flack when the players played badly, so why should it be any different with Redknapp?

 

[sunnydelight786]

Taking off VDV for Defoe yesterday was akin to commiting football suicide. In a already open game he made it even more open by bringing on a striker for a attacking midfielder hence making the game even more open. Surely if he had to replace VDV, I would have kept him on personally as he's a match winner, one of Livermore or Sandro had to come on. We could have pushed Modric forward and played with 4-2-3-1 formation or kept Modric and Parker as they were but add the extra midfielder and then push Bale and Lennon a bit higher and wider in a 4-3-3 formation. Just a truly shocking decision to bring his mate on imho when we were so very much in the game at that moment.....

 

[stemark44]

Again though, you can argue that this comes back to the manager. He is the one who builds the culture and mentality within the club that makes such inconsistency unacceptable, eg. Fergie at Utd, sure there is always going to be a blip but not on the levels that we are accustomed to. The manager is the one who has to drill it into the players about certain standards and levels of performance that are expected of them, and if they arent reaching that... then get in others who can and will reach what is expected of them.

I have said it before.............................you can't put a boat in the water with holes all over it and expect it not to sink.

Harry's formations are full of holes and no matter how much work the players do they are never going to keep us afloat.

Lets be honest DiMatteo is no great managerial genius but they were head and shoulder above us.
They had a plan,they all knew their jobs and they stuck to it.

 

[$hoguN]

Taking off VDV for Defoe yesterday was akin to commiting football suicide. In a already open game he made it even more open by bringing on a striker for a attacking midfielder hence making the game even more open. Surely if he had to replace VDV, I would have kept him on personally as he's a match winner, one of Livermore or Sandro had to come on. We could have pushed Modric forward and played with 4-2-3-1 formation or kept Modric and Parker as they were but add the extra midfielder and then push Bale and Lennon a bit higher and wider in a 4-3-3 formation. Just a truly shocking decision to bring his mate on imho when we were so very much in the game at that moment.....

Modric should have come off, he has been poor for weeks and Sandro should have come on to revitalise the midfield.

 

[eViL]

The players look very leggy to me.

You don't see Fergie, Wenger and Mourinho playing tired players. That is all.