Foot Long Hot Dog
Player Valuation: A packet of pork scratchings
If we finish bottom half again for the second season running, he'll have failed, it really is that simple.
The only reason he's escaped the flack that our league form has merited, has been due to the cup runs.
He's an egotist, always has been. I remember sitting there watching his awful Wigan side at Goodison in 2011, and the way he was trying to get those yard dog defenders he had at the time to play was embarrassing. His 'philosophy' was all he was interested in. The players he had at his disposal, simply weren't good enough technically to play the way he wanted his side to play. So any manager worth his salt would have held the 'philosophy' as an end goal - UNTIL such times that he had the personnel capable of delivering it.
But not Roberto, he put the 'philosophy' first, front and centre, and that told me way back then, that he wasn't pragmatic enough as a manager, and it was all about him, and his vanity project, as opposed to what was best for the club he was being paid to lead.
That 'philosophy' eventually took them down, albeit with the bonus of the Cup run that left Wigan with some silverware (and yes that win at Goodison along the way). His football can win games, but you'll always be vulnerable to defeat with this bloke, he's career shows just that. His lack of defensive focus and the lack of pragmatism when it's needed will always make him a manager who flatters to deceive imo.
The only reason he's escaped the flack that our league form has merited, has been due to the cup runs.
He's an egotist, always has been. I remember sitting there watching his awful Wigan side at Goodison in 2011, and the way he was trying to get those yard dog defenders he had at the time to play was embarrassing. His 'philosophy' was all he was interested in. The players he had at his disposal, simply weren't good enough technically to play the way he wanted his side to play. So any manager worth his salt would have held the 'philosophy' as an end goal - UNTIL such times that he had the personnel capable of delivering it.
But not Roberto, he put the 'philosophy' first, front and centre, and that told me way back then, that he wasn't pragmatic enough as a manager, and it was all about him, and his vanity project, as opposed to what was best for the club he was being paid to lead.
That 'philosophy' eventually took them down, albeit with the bonus of the Cup run that left Wigan with some silverware (and yes that win at Goodison along the way). His football can win games, but you'll always be vulnerable to defeat with this bloke, he's career shows just that. His lack of defensive focus and the lack of pragmatism when it's needed will always make him a manager who flatters to deceive imo.
