Butch

The players no longer have the manager to hide behind. Not saying Fernandez and Cucurella were right to say what they did or act in the way they did, but this is when they have to show us that they are leadership material. This is when they are most needed.
There was a time when we were known for showing up for the big occasion. I'm not sure we have that type of player anymore. We are a young team desperately needing leadership.
I almost don't care too much about tactics. It is getting into the players' heads that I have to hope that Callum can somehow do. To appeal to their pride.
We must want this more than Leeds or it will end in failure. That is the bottom line.

Derby match ... for the directors. A loss would reflect poorly on them more directly than usual. How can a club, from whom we've taken their best players and their sporting directors, beat us?! Hopefully, Caicedo and Cucurella are up for it because we need leaders on the pitch. Joao Pedro would also be useful right about now.
To be honest, I don't know if the current lack of form is down to the manager's inability to manage or the players losing all faith in him. I'm thinking it is the latter that is having the bigger impact but the former doesn't help.
I just don't think we're getting the best out of the players we have. If, say, a Gus Hiddink came in, I bet you'd see a difference immediately. Just from the way he sets up the team. When you have a striker like Delap up front, I'd argue that you should know you need to get the wingers to the byline to cross in. Instead of playing exactly the same as when you have Joao Pedro up there.
Taking about wingers, Neto has completely lost it. Ineffective. Runs a lot but does very little. Garnacho should just not get any further game time. I know it will hurt his resale value but it is painful to watch. Surely we have players from the youth team who can come in. They won't do any worse. At the moment, it is about application.
It is so embarrassing that at a time when Spurs are playing badly enough to be relegated, we're only slightly better than they are. Seriously; they are the ONLY team in worse form than us!
Not sure if there have been managers coming into a team in mid-season that have been sacked but I don't think I've seen anyone more fitting. Four defeats in a row, three of them coming at home, with no goals scored. I don't need to tell you what Abramovich would've thought of that!
I apologize for the negativity. We have the youngest squad in the premier league. I wish I could say it with optimism for the future. Instead, I say it with a lot of frustration.

Derby match ... for the directors. A loss would reflect poorly on them more directly than usual. How can a club, from whom we've taken their best players and their sporting directors, beat us?! Hopefully, Caicedo and Cucurella are up for it because we need leaders on the pitch. Joao Pedro would also be useful right about now.
To be honest, I don't know if the current lack of form is down to the manager's inability to manage or the players losing all faith in him. I'm thinking it is the latter that is having the bigger impact but the former doesn't help.
I just don't think we're getting the best out of the players we have. If, say, a Gus Hiddink came in, I bet you'd see a difference immediately. Just from the way he sets up the team. When you have a striker like Delap up front, I'd argue that you should know you need to get the wingers to the byline to cross in. Instead of playing exactly the same as when you have Joao Pedro up there.
Taking about wingers, Neto has completely lost it. Ineffective. Runs a lot but does very little. Garnacho should just not get any further game time. I know it will hurt his resale value but it is painful to watch. Surely we have players from the youth team who can come in. They won't do any worse. At the moment, it is about application.
It is so embarrassing that at a time when Spurs are playing badly enough to be relegated, we're only slightly better than they are. Seriously; they are the ONLY team in worse form than us!
Not sure if there have been managers coming into a team in mid-season that have been sacked but I don't think I've seen anyone more fitting. Four defeats in a row, three of them coming at home, with no goals scored. I don't need to tell you what Abramovich would've thought of that!
I apologize for the negativity. We have the youngest squad in the premier league. I wish I could say it with optimism for the future. Instead, I say it with a lot of frustration.

Derby match ... for the directors. A loss would reflect poorly on them more directly than usual. How can a club, from whom we've taken their best players and their sporting directors, beat us?! Hopefully, Caicedo and Cucurella are up for it because we need leaders on the pitch. Joao Pedro would also be useful right about now.
To be honest, I don't know if the current lack of form is down to the manager's inability to manage or the players losing all faith in him. I'm thinking it is the latter that is having the bigger impact but the former doesn't help.
I just don't think we're getting the best out of the players we have. If, say, a Gus Hiddink came in, I bet you'd see a difference immediately. Just from the way he sets up the team. When you have a striker like Delap up front, I'd argue that you should know you need to get the wingers to the byline to cross in. Instead of playing exactly the same as when you have Joao Pedro up there.
Taking about wingers, Neto has completely lost it. Ineffective. Runs a lot but does very little. Garnacho should just not get any further game time. I know it will hurt his resale value but it is painful to watch. Surely we have players from the youth team who can come in. They won't do any worse. At the moment, it is about application.
It is so embarrassing that at a time when Spurs are playing badly enough to be relegated, we're only slightly better than they are. Seriously; they are the ONLY team in worse form than us!
Not sure if there have been managers coming into a team in mid-season that have been sacked but I don't think I've seen anyone more fitting. Four defeats in a row, three of them coming at home, with no goals scored. I don't need to tell you what Abramovich would've thought of that!
I apologize for the negativity. We have the youngest squad in the premier league. I wish I could say it with optimism for the future. Instead, I say it with a lot of frustration.

Derby match ... for the directors. A loss would reflect poorly on them more directly than usual. How can a club, from whom we've taken their best players and their sporting directors, beat us?! Hopefully, Caicedo and Cucurella are up for it because we need leaders on the pitch. Joao Pedro would also be useful right about now.
To be honest, I don't know if the current lack of form is down to the manager's inability to manage or the players losing all faith in him. I'm thinking it is the latter that is having the bigger impact but the former doesn't help.
I just don't think we're getting the best out of the players we have. If, say, a Gus Hiddink came in, I bet you'd see a difference immediately. Just from the way he sets up the team. When you have a striker like Delap up front, I'd argue that you should know you need to get the wingers to the byline to cross in. Instead of playing exactly the same as when you have Joao Pedro up there.
Taking about wingers, Neto has completely lost it. Ineffective. Runs a lot but does very little. Garnacho should just not get any further game time. I know it will hurt his resale value but it is painful to watch. Surely we have players from the youth team who can come in. They won't do any worse. At the moment, it is about application.
It is so embarrassing that at a time when Spurs are playing badly enough to be relegated, we're only slightly better than they are. Seriously; they are the ONLY team in worse form than us!
Not sure if there have been managers coming into a team in mid-season that have been sacked but I don't think I've seen anyone more fitting. Four defeats in a row, three of them coming at home, with no goals scored. I don't need to tell you what Abramovich would've thought of that!
I apologize for the negativity. We have the youngest squad in the premier league. I wish I could say it with optimism for the future. Instead, I say it with a lot of frustration.

Derby match ... for the directors. A loss would reflect poorly on them more directly than usual. How can a club, from whom we've taken their best players and their sporting directors, beat us?! Hopefully, Caicedo and Cucurella are up for it because we need leaders on the pitch. Joao Pedro would also be useful right about now.
To be honest, I don't know if the current lack of form is down to the manager's inability to manage or the players losing all faith in him. I'm thinking it is the latter that is having the bigger impact but the former doesn't help.
I just don't think we're getting the best out of the players we have. If, say, a Gus Hiddink came in, I bet you'd see a difference immediately. Just from the way he sets up the team. When you have a striker like Delap up front, I'd argue that you should know you need to get the wingers to the byline to cross in. Instead of playing exactly the same as when you have Joao Pedro up there.
Taking about wingers, Neto has completely lost it. Ineffective. Runs a lot but does very little. Garnacho should just not get any further game time. I know it will hurt his resale value but it is painful to watch. Surely we have players from the youth team who can come in. They won't do any worse. At the moment, it is about application.
It is so embarrassing that at a time when Spurs are playing badly enough to be relegated, we're only slightly better than they are. Seriously; they are the ONLY team in worse form than us!
Not sure if there have been managers coming into a team in mid-season that have been sacked but I don't think I've seen anyone more fitting. Four defeats in a row, three of them coming at home, with no goals scored. I don't need to tell you what Abramovich would've thought of that!
I apologize for the negativity. We have the youngest squad in the premier league. I wish I could say it with optimism for the future. Instead, I say it with a lot of frustration.

Derby match ... for the directors. A loss would reflect poorly on them more directly than usual. How can a club, from whom we've taken their best players and their sporting directors, beat us?! Hopefully, Caicedo and Cucurella are up for it because we need leaders on the pitch. Joao Pedro would also be useful right about now.
To be honest, I don't know if the current lack of form is down to the manager's inability to manage or the players losing all faith in him. I'm thinking it is the latter that is having the bigger impact but the former doesn't help.
I just don't think we're getting the best out of the players we have. If, say, a Gus Hiddink came in, I bet you'd see a difference immediately. Just from the way he sets up the team. When you have a striker like Delap up front, I'd argue that you should know you need to get the wingers to the byline to cross in. Instead of playing exactly the same as when you have Joao Pedro up there.
Taking about wingers, Neto has completely lost it. Ineffective. Runs a lot but does very little. Garnacho should just not get any further game time. I know it will hurt his resale value but it is painful to watch. Surely we have players from the youth team who can come in. They won't do any worse. At the moment, it is about application.
It is so embarrassing that at a time when Spurs are playing badly enough to be relegated, we're only slightly better than they are. Seriously; they are the ONLY team in worse form than us!
Not sure if there have been managers coming into a team in mid-season that have been sacked but I don't think I've seen anyone more fitting. Four defeats in a row, three of them coming at home, with no goals scored. I don't need to tell you what Abramovich would've thought of that!
I apologize for the negativity. We have the youngest squad in the premier league. I wish I could say it with optimism for the future. Instead, I say it with a lot of frustration.

Honestly, unlike against City where they were just clearly better once they stepped things up in the second half, United should be about our level at the moment (as arguable as that may sound). IF we were showing some sort of form, I'd say we would be favorites to win. And win we must, if we want to remain in contention for a Champions League finish, which is looking less and less likely.
I'm more focused on our own form and our own performance. I'm not seeing what Rosenior has brought to the table. We seem to be playing the same boring possession football but with even less penetration than during Maresca's reign. I don't mean to be unfair but I'm very unconvinced that he is the right man for the job at Chelsea. And despite our players being relatively young, I don't see the respect or faith needed from players like Palmer, Fernandez, Caicedo and Cucurella to unite us under him.
So, back to the game: at home and considering both clubs' rebuilding phases, I expect us to win. However, until our key men wake up and all pull in the same direction, it will always feel like an uphill struggle. Palmer is a worry. It started off being physical and I'm not sure he is over his groin issue. I fear he has decided against what he should have had (surgery) because he doesn't want to miss out on the World Cup this summer. But regardless, he has become hesitant, especially in his passing, and that severely blunts us up front. I'm also feeling some kind of conflict among certain players, for example Garnacho hardly gets the pass when it is on. Thank goodness for Joao Pedro because he is holding it together up there. The players need to look at themselves and step up to the challenge. Too many are looking faithless and clueless.

Honestly, unlike against City where they were just clearly better once they stepped things up in the second half, United should be about our level at the moment (as arguable as that may sound). IF we were showing some sort of form, I'd say we would be favorites to win. And win we must, if we want to remain in contention for a Champions League finish, which is looking less and less likely.
I'm more focused on our own form and our own performance. I'm not seeing what Rosenior has brought to the table. We seem to be playing the same boring possession football but with even less penetration than during Maresca's reign. I don't mean to be unfair but I'm very unconvinced that he is the right man for the job at Chelsea. And despite our players being relatively young, I don't see the respect or faith needed from players like Palmer, Fernandez, Caicedo and Cucurella to unite us under him.
So, back to the game: at home and considering both clubs' rebuilding phases, I expect us to win. However, until our key men wake up and all pull in the same direction, it will always feel like an uphill struggle. Palmer is a worry. It started off being physical and I'm not sure he is over his groin issue. I fear he has decided against what he should have had (surgery) because he doesn't want to miss out on the World Cup this summer. But regardless, he has become hesitant, especially in his passing, and that severely blunts us up front. I'm also feeling some kind of conflict among certain players, for example Garnacho hardly gets the pass when it is on. Thank goodness for Joao Pedro because he is holding it together up there. The players need to look at themselves and step up to the challenge. Too many are looking faithless and clueless.

Honestly, unlike against City where they were just clearly better once they stepped things up in the second half, United should be about our level at the moment (as arguable as that may sound). IF we were showing some sort of form, I'd say we would be favorites to win. And win we must, if we want to remain in contention for a Champions League finish, which is looking less and less likely.
I'm more focused on our own form and our own performance. I'm not seeing what Rosenior has brought to the table. We seem to be playing the same boring possession football but with even less penetration than during Maresca's reign. I don't mean to be unfair but I'm very unconvinced that he is the right man for the job at Chelsea. And despite our players being relatively young, I don't see the respect or faith needed from players like Palmer, Fernandez, Caicedo and Cucurella to unite us under him.
So, back to the game: at home and considering both clubs' rebuilding phases, I expect us to win. However, until our key men wake up and all pull in the same direction, it will always feel like an uphill struggle. Palmer is a worry. It started off being physical and I'm not sure he is over his groin issue. I fear he has decided against what he should have had (surgery) because he doesn't want to miss out on the World Cup this summer. But regardless, he has become hesitant, especially in his passing, and that severely blunts us up front. I'm also feeling some kind of conflict among certain players, for example Garnacho hardly gets the pass when it is on. Thank goodness for Joao Pedro because he is holding it together up there. The players need to look at themselves and step up to the challenge. Too many are looking faithless and clueless.

Honestly, unlike against City where they were just clearly better once they stepped things up in the second half, United should be about our level at the moment (as arguable as that may sound). IF we were showing some sort of form, I'd say we would be favorites to win. And win we must, if we want to remain in contention for a Champions League finish, which is looking less and less likely.
I'm more focused on our own form and our own performance. I'm not seeing what Rosenior has brought to the table. We seem to be playing the same boring possession football but with even less penetration than during Maresca's reign. I don't mean to be unfair but I'm very unconvinced that he is the right man for the job at Chelsea. And despite our players being relatively young, I don't see the respect or faith needed from players like Palmer, Fernandez, Caicedo and Cucurella to unite us under him.
So, back to the game: at home and considering both clubs' rebuilding phases, I expect us to win. However, until our key men wake up and all pull in the same direction, it will always feel like an uphill struggle. Palmer is a worry. It started off being physical and I'm not sure he is over his groin issue. I fear he has decided against what he should have had (surgery) because he doesn't want to miss out on the World Cup this summer. But regardless, he has become hesitant, especially in his passing, and that severely blunts us up front. I'm also feeling some kind of conflict among certain players, for example Garnacho hardly gets the pass when it is on. Thank goodness for Joao Pedro because he is holding it together up there. The players need to look at themselves and step up to the challenge. Too many are looking faithless and clueless.

Honestly, unlike against City where they were just clearly better once they stepped things up in the second half, United should be about our level at the moment (as arguable as that may sound). IF we were showing some sort of form, I'd say we would be favorites to win. And win we must, if we want to remain in contention for a Champions League finish, which is looking less and less likely.
I'm more focused on our own form and our own performance. I'm not seeing what Rosenior has brought to the table. We seem to be playing the same boring possession football but with even less penetration than during Maresca's reign. I don't mean to be unfair but I'm very unconvinced that he is the right man for the job at Chelsea. And despite our players being relatively young, I don't see the respect or faith needed from players like Palmer, Fernandez, Caicedo and Cucurella to unite us under him.
So, back to the game: at home and considering both clubs' rebuilding phases, I expect us to win. However, until our key men wake up and all pull in the same direction, it will always feel like an uphill struggle. Palmer is a worry. It started off being physical and I'm not sure he is over his groin issue. I fear he has decided against what he should have had (surgery) because he doesn't want to miss out on the World Cup this summer. But regardless, he has become hesitant, especially in his passing, and that severely blunts us up front. I'm also feeling some kind of conflict among certain players, for example Garnacho hardly gets the pass when it is on. Thank goodness for Joao Pedro because he is holding it together up there. The players need to look at themselves and step up to the challenge. Too many are looking faithless and clueless.

Bit of a strange one, to be honest. If anyone says we deserved our 3rd place finish in the league, well, I'm not sure I'd agree. It seemed a bit fortunate on the run-in for me. We were the least awful of the group. So on paper, yes, 3rd was acceptable (Champions League was important), but we were in no way anywhere close to the top two, and not looking like we'd be bridging that gap in one summer (or two). And yes, the Europa League was a good way to end the season, but it is the Europa League after all (I mean no malice, I celebrated it too).
I've never supported a club's decision to sack its manager, and have cringed at the Jose (twice), Carlo, and Conte sackings of late, and I certainly wouldn't have supported Sarri's sacking, even though I wasn't happy with our football (in general). It was rather Hazard-heavy, and the recent quotes attributed to Sarri about his tinkering with his favored tactics to accommodate Hazard, to the detriment of the team and "his football" were a bit ironic, to be honest. But I digress. In the end, it seemed like Sarri wanted to go and the club, all things considered, decided not to stand in his way. Basically, both sides decided a parting of ways was best. I haven't seen fans openly deriding the football they were seeing on the pitch for quite a while now. It's just not healthy anyway you look at it. To be fair, I think it is more than the football. Part of it is the frustration with Sarri - playing Kante out of his favored position (one he is supposedly the best in the world at), which is not helped by Jorginho's iffy patch mid-season, and then his strange comments that don't sit well with fans. Imagine basically saying he won the Europa League for the Napoli fans (not in so many words, of course)!
I, personally, was OK with the season. Again, I thought we were a bit fortunate in our run-in (Man Utd and Le Arse losing it more than us winning 3rd place) but third place is third place in a long league season. I wasn't optimistic about catching the top two BUT it was a solid start for Sarri. Still, am I dismayed or disappointed Sarri has left? Not in the same way I was dismayed with Carlo's and Conte's dismissals, to be honest. Can't even compare to Luca Vialli's dismissal all those years ago, or Jose's dismissal despite the much worse results. But I did feel for him (when he was ridiculed by fans) although he is going to Juventus, so I don't feel sorry for him now.
As for Lamps, well, hold on my heart. I love, nay revere the bloke. Do I have reservations? You bet I do. Will he bring the feel good factor back to the Bridge? Heck yes. Will he have enough substance about him that he can get us soldiering on once that feel good factor wanes? That's the million quid question isn't it. Our situation would be challenging for any manager, maybe except Gus, who would be used to it. Coming in and having to do a job but without new signings, having just lost the key club player that carried us on his shoulder for much of the season, means he'd be on a hiding to nothing. But he, and people around him like Jody, are going to be much more aware of the jewels in our academy, not only because they have to, but because they are just that way. Considering the situation, he (they) could be the best equipped to see us through this (and more).
So, do I want Lamps here as manager? Heck yes.
Oh, and Loz, I'm here to pull your leg, so [yank]. Now, tell me to pull the other one!
Cheers,
Butch

Bit of a strange one, to be honest. If anyone says we deserved our 3rd place finish in the league, well, I'm not sure I'd agree. It seemed a bit fortunate on the run-in for me. We were the least awful of the group. So on paper, yes, 3rd was acceptable (Champions League was important), but we were in no way anywhere close to the top two, and not looking like we'd be bridging that gap in one summer (or two). And yes, the Europa League was a good way to end the season, but it is the Europa League after all (I mean no malice, I celebrated it too).
I've never supported a club's decision to sack its manager, and have cringed at the Jose (twice), Carlo, and Conte sackings of late, and I certainly wouldn't have supported Sarri's sacking, even though I wasn't happy with our football (in general). It was rather Hazard-heavy, and the recent quotes attributed to Sarri about his tinkering with his favored tactics to accommodate Hazard, to the detriment of the team and "his football" were a bit ironic, to be honest. But I digress. In the end, it seemed like Sarri wanted to go and the club, all things considered, decided not to stand in his way. Basically, both sides decided a parting of ways was best. I haven't seen fans openly deriding the football they were seeing on the pitch for quite a while now. It's just not healthy anyway you look at it. To be fair, I think it is more than the football. Part of it is the frustration with Sarri - playing Kante out of his favored position (one he is supposedly the best in the world at), which is not helped by Jorginho's iffy patch mid-season, and then his strange comments that don't sit well with fans. Imagine basically saying he won the Europa League for the Napoli fans (not in so many words, of course)!
I, personally, was OK with the season. Again, I thought we were a bit fortunate in our run-in (Man Utd and Le Arse losing it more than us winning 3rd place) but third place is third place in a long league season. I wasn't optimistic about catching the top two BUT it was a solid start for Sarri. Still, am I dismayed or disappointed Sarri has left? Not in the same way I was dismayed with Carlo's and Conte's dismissals, to be honest. Can't even compare to Luca Vialli's dismissal all those years ago, or Jose's dismissal despite the much worse results. But I did feel for him (when he was ridiculed by fans) although he is going to Juventus, so I don't feel sorry for him now.
As for Lamps, well, hold on my heart. I love, nay revere the bloke. Do I have reservations? You bet I do. Will he bring the feel good factor back to the Bridge? Heck yes. Will he have enough substance about him that he can get us soldiering on once that feel good factor wanes? That's the million quid question isn't it. Our situation would be challenging for any manager, maybe except Gus, who would be used to it. Coming in and having to do a job but without new signings, having just lost the key club player that carried us on his shoulder for much of the season, means he'd be on a hiding to nothing. But he, and people around him like Jody, are going to be much more aware of the jewels in our academy, not only because they have to, but because they are just that way. Considering the situation, he (they) could be the best equipped to see us through this (and more).
So, do I want Lamps here as manager? Heck yes.
Oh, and Loz, I'm here to pull your leg, so [yank]. Now, tell me to pull the other one!
Cheers,
Butch

Bit of a strange one, to be honest. If anyone says we deserved our 3rd place finish in the league, well, I'm not sure I'd agree. It seemed a bit fortunate on the run-in for me. We were the least awful of the group. So on paper, yes, 3rd was acceptable (Champions League was important), but we were in no way anywhere close to the top two, and not looking like we'd be bridging that gap in one summer (or two). And yes, the Europa League was a good way to end the season, but it is the Europa League after all (I mean no malice, I celebrated it too).
I've never supported a club's decision to sack its manager, and have cringed at the Jose (twice), Carlo, and Conte sackings of late, and I certainly wouldn't have supported Sarri's sacking, even though I wasn't happy with our football (in general). It was rather Hazard-heavy, and the recent quotes attributed to Sarri about his tinkering with his favored tactics to accommodate Hazard, to the detriment of the team and "his football" were a bit ironic, to be honest. But I digress. In the end, it seemed like Sarri wanted to go and the club, all things considered, decided not to stand in his way. Basically, both sides decided a parting of ways was best. I haven't seen fans openly deriding the football they were seeing on the pitch for quite a while now. It's just not healthy anyway you look at it. To be fair, I think it is more than the football. Part of it is the frustration with Sarri - playing Kante out of his favored position (one he is supposedly the best in the world at), which is not helped by Jorginho's iffy patch mid-season, and then his strange comments that don't sit well with fans. Imagine basically saying he won the Europa League for the Napoli fans (not in so many words, of course)!
I, personally, was OK with the season. Again, I thought we were a bit fortunate in our run-in (Man Utd and Le Arse losing it more than us winning 3rd place) but third place is third place in a long league season. I wasn't optimistic about catching the top two BUT it was a solid start for Sarri. Still, am I dismayed or disappointed Sarri has left? Not in the same way I was dismayed with Carlo's and Conte's dismissals, to be honest. Can't even compare to Luca Vialli's dismissal all those years ago, or Jose's dismissal despite the much worse results. But I did feel for him (when he was ridiculed by fans) although he is going to Juventus, so I don't feel sorry for him now.
As for Lamps, well, hold on my heart. I love, nay revere the bloke. Do I have reservations? You bet I do. Will he bring the feel good factor back to the Bridge? Heck yes. Will he have enough substance about him that he can get us soldiering on once that feel good factor wanes? That's the million quid question isn't it. Our situation would be challenging for any manager, maybe except Gus, who would be used to it. Coming in and having to do a job but without new signings, having just lost the key club player that carried us on his shoulder for much of the season, means he'd be on a hiding to nothing. But he, and people around him like Jody, are going to be much more aware of the jewels in our academy, not only because they have to, but because they are just that way. Considering the situation, he (they) could be the best equipped to see us through this (and more).
So, do I want Lamps here as manager? Heck yes.
Oh, and Loz, I'm here to pull your leg, so [yank]. Now, tell me to pull the other one!
Cheers,
Butch

Bit of a strange one, to be honest. If anyone says we deserved our 3rd place finish in the league, well, I'm not sure I'd agree. It seemed a bit fortunate on the run-in for me. We were the least awful of the group. So on paper, yes, 3rd was acceptable (Champions League was important), but we were in no way anywhere close to the top two, and not looking like we'd be bridging that gap in one summer (or two). And yes, the Europa League was a good way to end the season, but it is the Europa League after all (I mean no malice, I celebrated it too).
I've never supported a club's decision to sack its manager, and have cringed at the Jose (twice), Carlo, and Conte sackings of late, and I certainly wouldn't have supported Sarri's sacking, even though I wasn't happy with our football (in general). It was rather Hazard-heavy, and the recent quotes attributed to Sarri about his tinkering with his favored tactics to accommodate Hazard, to the detriment of the team and "his football" were a bit ironic, to be honest. But I digress. In the end, it seemed like Sarri wanted to go and the club, all things considered, decided not to stand in his way. Basically, both sides decided a parting of ways was best. I haven't seen fans openly deriding the football they were seeing on the pitch for quite a while now. It's just not healthy anyway you look at it. To be fair, I think it is more than the football. Part of it is the frustration with Sarri - playing Kante out of his favored position (one he is supposedly the best in the world at), which is not helped by Jorginho's iffy patch mid-season, and then his strange comments that don't sit well with fans. Imagine basically saying he won the Europa League for the Napoli fans (not in so many words, of course)!
I, personally, was OK with the season. Again, I thought we were a bit fortunate in our run-in (Man Utd and Le Arse losing it more than us winning 3rd place) but third place is third place in a long league season. I wasn't optimistic about catching the top two BUT it was a solid start for Sarri. Still, am I dismayed or disappointed Sarri has left? Not in the same way I was dismayed with Carlo's and Conte's dismissals, to be honest. Can't even compare to Luca Vialli's dismissal all those years ago, or Jose's dismissal despite the much worse results. But I did feel for him (when he was ridiculed by fans) although he is going to Juventus, so I don't feel sorry for him now.
As for Lamps, well, hold on my heart. I love, nay revere the bloke. Do I have reservations? You bet I do. Will he bring the feel good factor back to the Bridge? Heck yes. Will he have enough substance about him that he can get us soldiering on once that feel good factor wanes? That's the million quid question isn't it. Our situation would be challenging for any manager, maybe except Gus, who would be used to it. Coming in and having to do a job but without new signings, having just lost the key club player that carried us on his shoulder for much of the season, means he'd be on a hiding to nothing. But he, and people around him like Jody, are going to be much more aware of the jewels in our academy, not only because they have to, but because they are just that way. Considering the situation, he (they) could be the best equipped to see us through this (and more).
So, do I want Lamps here as manager? Heck yes.
Oh, and Loz, I'm here to pull your leg, so [yank]. Now, tell me to pull the other one!
Cheers,
Butch

Bit of a strange one, to be honest. If anyone says we deserved our 3rd place finish in the league, well, I'm not sure I'd agree. It seemed a bit fortunate on the run-in for me. We were the least awful of the group. So on paper, yes, 3rd was acceptable (Champions League was important), but we were in no way anywhere close to the top two, and not looking like we'd be bridging that gap in one summer (or two). And yes, the Europa League was a good way to end the season, but it is the Europa League after all (I mean no malice, I celebrated it too).
I've never supported a club's decision to sack its manager, and have cringed at the Jose (twice), Carlo, and Conte sackings of late, and I certainly wouldn't have supported Sarri's sacking, even though I wasn't happy with our football (in general). It was rather Hazard-heavy, and the recent quotes attributed to Sarri about his tinkering with his favored tactics to accommodate Hazard, to the detriment of the team and "his football" were a bit ironic, to be honest. But I digress. In the end, it seemed like Sarri wanted to go and the club, all things considered, decided not to stand in his way. Basically, both sides decided a parting of ways was best. I haven't seen fans openly deriding the football they were seeing on the pitch for quite a while now. It's just not healthy anyway you look at it. To be fair, I think it is more than the football. Part of it is the frustration with Sarri - playing Kante out of his favored position (one he is supposedly the best in the world at), which is not helped by Jorginho's iffy patch mid-season, and then his strange comments that don't sit well with fans. Imagine basically saying he won the Europa League for the Napoli fans (not in so many words, of course)!
I, personally, was OK with the season. Again, I thought we were a bit fortunate in our run-in (Man Utd and Le Arse losing it more than us winning 3rd place) but third place is third place in a long league season. I wasn't optimistic about catching the top two BUT it was a solid start for Sarri. Still, am I dismayed or disappointed Sarri has left? Not in the same way I was dismayed with Carlo's and Conte's dismissals, to be honest. Can't even compare to Luca Vialli's dismissal all those years ago, or Jose's dismissal despite the much worse results. But I did feel for him (when he was ridiculed by fans) although he is going to Juventus, so I don't feel sorry for him now.
As for Lamps, well, hold on my heart. I love, nay revere the bloke. Do I have reservations? You bet I do. Will he bring the feel good factor back to the Bridge? Heck yes. Will he have enough substance about him that he can get us soldiering on once that feel good factor wanes? That's the million quid question isn't it. Our situation would be challenging for any manager, maybe except Gus, who would be used to it. Coming in and having to do a job but without new signings, having just lost the key club player that carried us on his shoulder for much of the season, means he'd be on a hiding to nothing. But he, and people around him like Jody, are going to be much more aware of the jewels in our academy, not only because they have to, but because they are just that way. Considering the situation, he (they) could be the best equipped to see us through this (and more).
So, do I want Lamps here as manager? Heck yes.
Oh, and Loz, I'm here to pull your leg, so [yank]. Now, tell me to pull the other one!
Cheers,
Butch

He is definitely part of the problem, I don't know if he's the main one but it's clear that the board and working process needs rearrangement. It's no coincidence that we bought and sold so many players in such a short time. Talking specifically, people like Emenalo and Granovskaia have no credibility getting involved in any professional discussion, they're club workers from different reasons, nothing more than that. In the last two seasons Jose had to sell big to buy big and in the process trying to fix the imbalance that was in the squad before him. He mostly bought replacements in response, sometimes with lesser quality with the biggest example being this season.
 
The moment you see a clear pattern that the manager is getting players he doesn't trust and sells them after 6 months, you know there's a real problem from people who have no qualification to do their job unless their role is a clear go and do instruction from the manager. And if that's the case, they're failing anyway as the manager was organizing and sending his report months in advance just to get random last minute attempts in the final hours of the window.
 
Someone needs to go or something needs to change, give the manager full control over the professional side of the game and almost as important, give the manager full support financially because he didn't get it since he came back, especially if you look at his competition. If you don't invest according to your ambitions, don't expect to magically dominate every year. Mourinho led Chelsea to the most dominant PL title in history last season while making a profit, if someone in the board got carried away and forgot the reality of the football market in 2015, they need to wake up.

I have long stated he is a massive issue and cause of unrest behind the scenes , it is not something new and has been going on for a while . Do a google search of images Emenalo and Mourinho and some very interesting and telling pictures are returned.
Carlo booted him off the bench and froze him out of first team activates , that sums up all his coaching ability ................
He is not to blame for current players under performing on the pitch but I would ask questions about his conversations with players away from the manager and first team squad , he is to blame for not listening to the manager and finding the players he needs who are ready to play at first team level.
He offered to resign in June 2013 when Jose returned which was declined ..................that shows what the two think of each other and how one gets too involved in areas he shouldn't be.
I don't think this is clutching at straws but a massive internal battle that has now come to the surface in the summer of 2015

Willian is one of our hardest workers. One trick pony, without the goal threat, but his tireless running creates chances, just like when he won possession on the poor throw out by Begovic for our winner on the weekend. He had to have the vision and the work ethic to do it.
 
Cheers,
 
Butch

Willian is one of our hardest workers. One trick pony, without the goal threat, but his tireless running creates chances, just like when he won possession on the poor throw out by Begovic for our winner on the weekend. He had to have the vision and the work ethic to do it.
 
Cheers,
 
Butch

Willian - an average player
Maybe we did overpay, but I see great things from him.
Maybe we get frustrated with our wingers under Jose, but it may be the orders they are given?

No wonder Frank left.

Yeah, saw that and it did send shivers up my spine. Yet, I thought it would have been quite awesome, and would have involved some engineering clout to boot, to basically move two of the chimneys so that the four chimneys were actually the four corners of the stadium. Imagine a mostly blue stadium with the four white chimneys lit with spotlights at night.
 
OK, back to reality.
 
Cheers,
 
Butch

Yeah, saw that and it did send shivers up my spine. Yet, I thought it would have been quite awesome, and would have involved some engineering clout to boot, to basically move two of the chimneys so that the four chimneys were actually the four corners of the stadium. Imagine a mostly blue stadium with the four white chimneys lit with spotlights at night.
 
OK, back to reality.
 
Cheers,
 
Butch