The Illicit Power of Our Overpaid and Underachieving Players

[BirkenheadBlue]

He lost his job because he's done a horrendous job.

His decisions didn't warrant giving him more time.

End thread.

 

[MrGrumpy]

We haven't had Richarlison and DCL as a pair for months until second half yesterday.

We had Grey who been player of the season and Gordon who playing well and a useless overweight slow slug up front who can’t do anything. He should have been playing Dobbin or Simms after 60 minutes while DCL was out but instead insisted on play Rondon for 90 even though he can’t hack it.

Look how Gordon flourished with game time. Simms and Dobbin would be the same

 

[kenada_blue]

So make the best of your resources.
Dont alienate the only left back you have.
Use youngsters up front rather than the unfit Rondon.
Dont continue to play two in midfield.

Carlo played Davies and Iwobi as wing backs once when we had an injury crisis.

 

[BlueStevie35]

It’s almost sad to see that it’s Benitez, of all people, that’s sent Dave off the deep. Don’t think he’s been this gutted since Martinez left

 

[kenada_blue]

We should be comfortably mid table, the players are no world beaters but they’re nowhere near this bad. Just going 3 in midfield more often, sorting out defending corners and less rondon and we’d be a few points better off alone

Spectacularly easy isn't it

He didn't even attempt to try it

 

[trueblue84]

Doesn;t matter what tactics were adopted they would have been ignored.

He had one chance: get through to the summer and replace the bulk of the first team squad with his own players he could trust.

He can't win matches though. You keep saying it's all on the players. They don't set up 442 and let the opposition dictate the possession and pace of the game. They don't do zonal marking from set pieces, which was Martinez's downfall. They don't play a has been (in fact rondon is not a has been, because that suggests he was a good player in his prime) player up front in all the matches.

Many players need replacing, no doubt. But a manager's job is to get results with the team you have, not the team you don't. He hasn't just failed to do that, he's failed miserably.

 

[MikeH72]

Oh my god are people still going on about injuries? We’ve just been beaten comfortably by Norwich City who have a player called Grant Hanley in their team and get relegated on purpose to rack up parachute payments.

 

[FrenchDarrenBent]

Did they perform for Carlos? I recall a large number of cowardly displays under him too.

Carlo Ancelotti and Benitez are (or were, in case of Benitez) two high calibre managers with pedigree. They're both held in high esteem at their former clubs. They both failed here.

Things went sour with Carlo in february.
With Benitez, it was probably the Watford game.
Before that distinct moment, we somehow knew how to defend, how to close out games, how to win. We looked like a top seven side. The Man Utd game should have been a preview of how he wanted us to operate.
There were issues of course, but most of us felt optimistic.

Maybe he overplayed his hand with the squad?

 

[Eggs]

….the injuries to key players are mitigating factors but that’s when a top coach gets the best out of what he has. Organisation, tactics, man management, game management.

Allowing teams the initiative, surrendering possession, stubborn selections, stubborn formation, no innovation, no freshness, no tempo, no intent, no set-piece defending. Conceding the first goal in 16 of 21 games and 1 win in 13 is not just down to injuries.

Management has been abysmal, now we have excuses from the Rafatonians.

 

[allen]

Doesn;t matter what tactics were adopted they would have been ignored.

Benitez is happy to throw anyone under the bus. Not once did he ever suggest the players were ignoring him.

The knots you tie yourself in just so you don’t have to say “I was wrong,” are significantly more embarrassing than the simple admission.

 

[MrGrumpy]

Carlo Ancelotti and Benitez are (or were, in case of Benitez) two high calibre managers with pedigree. They're both held in high esteem at their former clubs. They both failed here.

Things went sour with Carlo in february.
With Benitez, it was probably the Watford game.
Before that distinct moment, we somehow knew how to defend, how to close out games, how to win. We looked like a top seven side. The Man Utd game should have been a preview of how he wanted us to operate.
There were issues of course, but most of us felt optimistic.

Maybe he overplayed his hand with the squad?

He should of gone weeks ago but the 27 campaign started and we beat Arsenal as the players won the game for the fans. That kept him in the job

 

[trueblue84]

Carlo Ancelotti and Benitez are (or were, in case of Benitez) two high calibre managers with pedigree. They're both held in high esteem at their former clubs. They both failed here.

Things went sour with Carlo in february.
With Benitez, it was probably the Watford game.
Before that distinct moment, we somehow knew how to defend, how to close out games, how to win. We looked like a top seven side. The Man Utd game should have been a preview of how he wanted us to operate.
There were issues of course, but most of us felt optimistic.

Maybe he overplayed his hand with the squad?

Need to ask questions of moshiri as to why he appointed ancelotti, when it was clear we'd have no money to spend for a couple of seasons.

 

[BlueStevie35]

Oh my god are people still going on about injuries? We’ve just been beaten comfortably by Norwich City who have a player called Grant Hanley in their team and get relegated on purpose to rack up parachute payments.

This, the only injury we had in the squad before kick off was Davies, it was our strongest match day squad of the season and he still couldn’t get a result

 

[MrGrumpy]

….the injuries to key players are mitigating factors but that’s when a top coach gets the best out of what he has. Organisation, tactics, man management, game management.

Allowing teams the initiative, surrendering possession, stubborn selections, stubborn formation, no innovation, no freshness, no tempo, no intent, no set-piece defending. Conceding the first goal in 16 of 21 games.

Management has been abysmal, now we have excuses from the Rafatonians.

1 win in 13
Since Oct 2(3 months ago)Bottom of the league Norwich have gained 13 points..Everton 6

 

[MikeH72]

This, the only injury we had in the squad before kick off was Davies, it was our strongest match day squad of the season and he still couldn’t get a result

He had Richarlison on the bench who was fit enough to come on and score, he also had Townsend on the bench who scored in our last game, and he started Salomon Rondon.