Tough decisions to take

[MFletcher]

Looking at the wreckage of this season, it is evident that tough decisions need to be taken in the coming months to rectify what is fast becoming one of the swfitest falls from grace I can recall.

 

The owners, the manager, the players, the coaching staff. All have had the finger of blame pointed at them this season. Suffice to say it's probably a combination of several factors that have combined to make this a season I'd rather was over tomorrow, never mind in two months' time.

 

In order to keep this half-realistic, we'll work on the premise that transfer funds will be limited to what the manager raises in sales.

 

What decisions would you take in the final games of the season and this summer to turn the situation around?

[Benzo-13]

Just hope the owners go and we'll take if from there.

 

So at last then we can talk about football again, not net spends, not we could've got him etc....

Edited March 22, 2010 by Benzo-13

[pipnasty]

 

What decisions would you take in the final games of the season and this summer to turn the situation around?

 

Rafa stays. He has one more season to work this out.

 

I'd play Aquilani in every single game for a start. A midfield of Gerrard, Aquilani and Masch seems like a dream to me.

 

Babel should start every game too.

 

Pacheco and Kelly to come off the subs bench as often as is possible. I wouldn't really start them yet for any period of time.

 

In terms of transfers, well we are probably looking at the lottery of freebies again so f*** knows.

 

If Rafa is able to spend what he makes in sales then I would sell Kuyt and Skrtl which should raise us about 12 million (?)...........f*** this is depressing.

 

With this 12 million, we need a CB and a striker. f*** knows where we are going to get them from.

 

A freebie left back to at least take the pressure off Insua would be good to give the lad a rest now and again. I still think he is eventually going to make the left back spot his own on merit and not because we haven't got anybody else.

 

And I think the players need to be encouraged to become proper hard drinkers too.

[Falconhoof]

I've said in another thread that we need to be quietly sounding out Mourinho now.

Finishing outside of European qualification will leave the relationship between the holy trinity of manager, players and supporters somewhat fractured. The players have played most of a season of dross now, brief highlights notwithstanding. Its now not too fanciful to suggest that the relationship between the players and staff isn't quite what it should be and that they might welcome a fresh approach. This doesn't mean a clearout and it may well be the thing that keeps our best players from wanting to flee the 'sinking ship', if we can get the right replacement for Rafa. Mourinho isn't to everyone's taste but I bet you anything that the players would love playing for him.

If its not Mourinho then I don't know, there'll be candidates and we'll have to hope that Kenny has some idea of who'll make a good manager because there's nobody else at the club even part qualified to choose a new man.

Wish it had turned out better with Rafa, but thats football and it has to be ruthless sometimes.

We have to hope that Purslow is doing the business in bringing in investment that means there's a reasonable transfer kitty.

 

Transfer ins and outs are up to the new manager but i'd say we need a top class centre half, a LB, a striker and a playmaker if Aquilani isn't going to be trusted to play enough.

[Coyler]

I'd play Aquilani in every single game for a start. A midfield of Gerrard, Aquilani and Masch seems like a dream to me.

 

Babel should start every game too.

 

Pacheco and Kelly to come off the subs bench as often as is possible. I wouldn't really start them yet for any period of time.

 

And I think the players need to be encouraged to become proper hard drinkers too.

I like these.

 

I also think we shouldn't be above throwing the Chelsea match.

[CarraLegend]

Not really arsed. We cant afford to sack this manager, and if we did any new manager will face the same problems.

 

Theres problems on the pitch but whether Insua is good enough or not is a million miles away from being as big a problem as the cancer that is ripping this club apart. And scum like Muse arent the answer either.

[CaptainXabi]

What decisions would you take in the final games of the season and this summer to turn the situation around?

Good topic that should hopefully bring an interesting discussion.

 

I think we need to eliminate as much uncertainty as possible on the pitch heading into next season. Being realistic, we can only change 2, maybe 3 of our first 11 going into next season. So I think it is imperative to really start nailing down who the 9 "survivors" are. From there we can start looking to add one or two players based on the funds we get from sales and any other sources.

 

I would play Aqua and Babel as much as possible to see if they can provide what we need in their respective positions. Hopefully they can, and then we stick with them next season. If not, we can start looking to sell (this is more for Babel than Aqua) and try another option. I would give Pacheco 30 minutes per match to see if he can be counted on to make an impact from the bench next season. Same with Kelly.

 

As for summer signings, we need to solve the striker problem. If we can't get a striker who is good enough to replace Fernando, but will still happy to be 2nd fiddle, we may need to reconsider 4-2-3-1. We can't afford to be in a position where we live and die by Fernando's fitness to the degree we do, as good as he is. Next we need a first choice left back. I would keep Insua as 2nd choice, and get rid of Aurelio because his body is not dependable.

 

Agger needs to be scanned seven ways from Sunday by independent experts this summer so that we can make a decision on whether or not this injury thing is chronic or he's just had an unlucky 2 years. If the news comes back negative, I'd sell and bring in a replacement.

[Kite]

I think Rafa needs to be told to take it easy, take a break, stay at home basically, and allow someone else to start picking the team.

 

He's had an absolute shocker of a season. Stubborn at the most inappropriate of times, unadventurous, repetitive tactics, likewise with team sheets, its been an absolute nightmare of a performance from the man in charge. Bloodying Insua to extinction whilst simultaneously refusing to bloody other young players for the seasons ahead, there's hardly a single positive thing to be taken from his direction this season. At this stage, I'd even allow Kev to pick the team it has got so bad.

 

Like others, I'd like to see Kelly playing (even if it means at left back) regularly, Pacheco alternating with an established player (eg Gerrard), Babel starting most games. Aqualani should play every minute to the end of the season so we can see if there was a point to his purchase at all. We need to know the real strength of this squad before we head into the summer window and start changing things.

[dalennie]

We need new owners who are prepared to invest immediately in the club (players and new stadium). I would be prepared to give Rafa one more year. But how much cash do you give a manager who may need to be sacked in 12 months time? So in saying that, I think it's best to start afresh and get a new manager in. I'd go for Mourinho or Hodgson.

I'd keep 7 players. Reina, Carragher (sub), Agger, Aquilani (needs more time), Mascherano, Gerrard, Torres. The rest are not good enough to win a league title.

[McBain]

Short term

 

f*** the defensive style off (still waiting)

 

Drop Lucas. Drop Kuyt. Keep them dropped.

 

Long term

 

Sell the owners. Infact, shoot the owners.

 

Probably would relieve Rafa of his duties either way. I feel a lot of sympathy for him but also i dont believe the ownership issue is an excuse for his shortcomings

 

New manager. Clean sweep in the summer with at least 8 players being sold.

[Red Kent]

I think Rafa needs to be told to take it easy, take a break, stay at home basically, and allow someone else to start picking the team.

 

He's had an absolute shocker of a season. Stubborn at the most inappropriate of times, unadventurous, repetitive tactics, likewise with team sheets, its been an absolute nightmare of a performance from the man in charge. Bloodying Insua to extinction whilst simultaneously refusing to bloody other young players for the seasons ahead, there's hardly a single positive thing to be taken from his direction this season. At this stage, I'd even allow Kev to pick the team it has got so bad.

 

Like others, I'd like to see Kelly playing (even if it means at left back) regularly, Pacheco alternating with an established player (eg Gerrard), Babel starting most games. Aqualani should play every minute to the end of the season so we can see if there was a point to his purchase at all. We need to know the real strength of this squad before we head into the summer window and start changing things.

 

Kinell, things must be bad.

[Epic Swindle]

It's time for a change at managerial level and a new approach. It's not in our make up to sack managers and we tear ourselves up about it but we can't keep putting it off in the hope that he'll suddenly change. It's not going to happen, even with new owners.

[Red Kent]

It's time for a change at managerial level and a new approach. It's not in our make up to sack managers and we tear ourselves up about it but we can't keep putting it off in the hope that he'll suddenly change. It's not going to happen, even with new owners.

 

That's it. Say if Rafa is given another year, do you really think he will change his stance over selection and tactics?

 

If he stays I can only see it getting worse.

[pipnasty]

Say if Rafa is given another year, do you really think he will change his stance over selection and tactics?

 

 

We bought Johnson and Aquilani last season - both, in theory, much more attacking options than we had previously. From what we can gather it appears that the likes of Tevez and Silva were spoken to also until the plug was pulled on their possible transfers. There was a clear move to a more attacking game this season.

 

So, the answer to both is 'yes'.

[Cheesecake]

If players in are funded by sales I'd sell

 

Riera £6m

Lucas £8m

Kuyt £8m

Skrtel £6m

Cavalieri £2m

 

Total £30m

 

I'd sign

 

Kjaer £12m

Use the rest to get either James Milner, Aaron Lennon or Stewart Downing to give us some width/pace/goal threat from out wide

Resign Aurelio - he could surely play 15 games next season which is his average so far with us assuming he wont play again this season so could give Insua a break from time to time

Jovanovic is already signed on a free...

 

1st 11

Reina

Goalkeeping cover provided by?

 

Johnson Kjaer Agger Insua

 

Defensive cover provided by Kelly, Carra, Kyrgiakos, Aurelio, Degen, Darby

 

Milner/Lennon/Downing Masch Aqua Babel

 

Midfield cover provided by Benayoun, Maxi, Plessis, Spearing, El Zhar with the option using Gerard or Aurelio in there too

 

Torres Gerard

 

Forward cover provided by Jovanovic, Ngog, Pacheco, Nemeth

 

Cover across midfield is unacceptably weak so we would need to get a few freebies in there.

 

depressing stuff

[Epic Swindle]

It's not his in nature to implement a more attacking game. Even with better players we'd still be tinged with fear. Look at his use of Aqualini and how we isolate a lethal striker like Torres. I don't hold that against him, it's just his way, but that mindset will never prove succesful in our league. He proved that to himself at the back of end of last season, yet here we are.

[Red Kent]

We bought Johnson and Aquilani last season - both, in theory, much more attacking options than we had previously. From what we can gather it appears that the likes of Tevez and Silva were spoken to also until the plug was pulled on their possible transfers. There was a clear move to a more attacking game this season.

 

So, the answer to both is 'yes'.

 

OK so why hasn't he changed it this season ?

 

Lucas and Mascherano has not worked yet he continues to select them even against lower teams at home. There has been other (attacking) options available but they are rarely chosen.

 

Ngog and Kuyt were often employed as lone striker which did not work as both of them needed a partner. The options have been available to him.

 

Torres is crying out for a partner. The options have been available to him.

 

This season has been crying out for a change yet he's continued to select tactics and players that have not worked or let him down. It's like hammering a square peg in a round hole.

[MFletcher]

If we could stick to the premise of the topic instead of turning this into Kev's latest 'Look at me!' thread that would be great.

[Red Kent]

If we could stick to the premise of the topic instead of turning this into Kev's latest 'Look at me!' thread that would be great.

 

Is there a spreadsheet about this ?

[Falconhoof]

If we could stick to the premise of the topic instead of turning this into Kev's latest 'Look at me!' thread that would be great.

 

People will have their say whether you like it or not.

[pipnasty]

OK so why hasn't he changed it this season ?

 

Lucas and Mascherano has not worked yet he continues to select them even against lower teams at home. There has been other (attacking) options available but they are rarely chosen.

 

Ngog and Kuyt were often employed as lone striker which did not work as both of them needed a partner. The options have been available to him.

 

Torres is crying out for a partner. The options have been available to him.

 

This season has been crying out for a change yet he's continued to select tactics and players that have not worked or let him down. It's like hammering a square peg in a round hole.

 

Well, both Johnson and Aquilani have been injured for the best part of the season for a start. As have Torres and Gerrard. We obviously didn't buy Tevez or Silva. Some of the players seemed to have started the season thinking we were beaten before a ball was kicked. Babel has acted the t***. Benayoun has not appeared to be fully fit all season either. Kuyt has been pretty dire for most of the season. And that, basically, is about all of our attacking options down the pan for most of the season.

 

Rafa is, above all, a pragmatist. Most of the great managers and teams are also pragmatists. His transfer dealings in the summer showed that he wanted to play the game further up the pitch in a more attacking manner but with most, if not all at some point, of his attacking options nullified he clearly hasn't been able to do this. So, he has chosen to play it safe.

 

Rafa's choice during the summer was to play more attacking football but for various reasons he has not been able to do so. And before you think that he gets away scot free, I think his inability to deal with a crisis on and off the pitch has also contributed to this.

 

And if he is allowed to do his job properly, I have no doubt that players that allow us to attack more effectively (and I include pacey defenders in this) would be sought in the summer.

Edited March 22, 2010 by Pipnasty

[dl2009]

Short term, play the following team as often as possible until the end of the season:

 

- - -- - - - Reina

 

Johnson - Carra - Greek/Kelly - Agger

 

- - - - - - Masch

 

- - Maxi - Aquilani - Babel

 

- - - - - - - - Gerrard

-----------Torres

 

Longer term:

 

I believe that a change of system is in order; a flexible 4-3-3 is what will become more and more prominent for successful teams in for the next 3-4 years, imo. If Rafa stays and contractual terms oblige, he should be moved to more of a head coach role and other people brought in to manage other important aspects of the club, such as scouting, youth development, contracts and general management. I've maintained for a while now that Rafa's biggest achievements and most successful spells in his career came when he was a Head Coach and not as a manager (in the traditional English sense).

 

Transfers:

 

[FM2010 Mode Engaged]

Sell Riera, Babel, Skrtel, Degen, Benayoun, Aurelio, El Zhar, Spearing, Plessis and Itandje. That's what, £40m? Buy the likes of Turan (who would swim the Bosphorus to play here), Krasnic, Kjaer, Pocognoli (Belgian LB), Humberto Suazo on a freebie (at least I think he's on a Bosman)

[/FM2010 Mode Disengaged]

[Red Kent]

Well, both Johnson and Aquilani have been injured for the best part of the season for a start. My opinion is that Aquilani has only become match fit over the past couple fo weeks. As have Torres and Gerrard. We obviously didn't buy Tevez or Silva. Some of the players seemed to have started the season thinking we were beaten before a ball was kicked. Babel has acted the t***. Benayoun has not appeared to be fully fit all season either. Kuyt has been pretty dire for most of the season. And that, basically, is about all of our attacking options down the pan for most of the season.

 

Rafa is, above all, a pragmatist. Most of the great managers and teams are also pragmatists. His transfer dealings in the summer showed that he wanted to play the game further up the pitch in a more attacking manner but with most, if not all at some point, of his attacking options nullified he clearly hasn't been able to do this. So, he has chosen to play it safe.

 

Rafa's choice during the summer was to play more attacking football but for various reasons he has not been able to do so. And before you think that he gets away scot free, I think his inability to deal with a crisis on and off the pitch has also contributed to this.

 

And if he is allowed to do his job properly, I have no doubt that players that allow us to attack more effectively (and I include pacey defenders in this) would be sought in the summer.

 

Quite a few reasonable arguements there, and with some of them I cannot really counteract.

 

All this season I have been asking if Amoo, Eccleston, Spearing, Darby, Pacheco be given a chance, only once or twice have we seen them, but nothing of Amoo. I know they all are not the answer long term, but you never know until you try. Pacheco looks the best bet yet continues to be overlooked. I would have loved to see him get the games and chances Ngog has been given this season.

 

But it's all about opinions, and ours is quite a few yards apart.

[Gunga Din]

two scenarios

 

if Rafa stays, for the love of God ditch the defensive bulls*** cowardice tactics. Lucas and Mascherano should never again be on the same pitch. we need to invest in pace and width, and as we might not see enough money to give the squad a complete over haul, Pacheco and Kelly should be getting reglalr games, Riera to leave, no one else to go unless we get a replacement in.

 

 

If Rafa goes, which i think is the likliest scenario, i think, and i know this annoys Fletch, but money will be found for a new manager. i think at this point, if its available, we rip it up, keep the spine of the squad, and add a left winger, a left back, and another centre forward. Babel stays and gets a run at right mid, its not ideal, but i think he can do a job there while we stregthen in areas that need it more

[Red Kent]

two scenarios

 

if Rafa stays, for the love of God ditch the defensive bulls*** cowardice tactics. Lucas and Mascherano should never again be on the same pitch. we need to invest in pace and width, and as we might not see enough money to give the squad a complete over haul, Pacheco and Kelly should be getting reglalr games, Riera to leave, no one else to go unless we get a replacement in.

 

 

If Rafa goes, which i think is the likliest scenario, i think, and i know this annoys Fletch, but money will be found for a new manager. i think at this point, if its available, we rip it up, keep the spine of the squad, and add a left winger, a left back, and another centre forward. Babel stays and gets a run at right mid, its not ideal, but i think he can do a job there while we stregthen in areas that need it more

 

No, he'll like it, it's on topic unlike my 'look at me' posts.

 

Oops I've done it again.