8 minutes ago, Richard P said:

I don’t remember any fuss when an average right back in Bolorouz had the number 9 shirt.

Probably because the vast majority of people weren't on a forum to discuss it, however i remember a lot of banter about it within my household at the time.

16 minutes ago, RIP Mourinho said:

Constantly sacking managers, sold our best player, landed us with a transfer ban, rewarding dud ageing players with new contracts. We can ignore all the bad because a little bit of good comes out of it. Open your eyes and recognise that stupid sh*t goes on at this club far too often.

5 sackings in the last 10 years is below average in the modern era. For perspective in the same timeframe Liverpool are on 4, Spurs are on 4 and United are on 3 and this is despite all 3 clubs having long term manager's in the hotseat for almost half of the period.

1 hour ago, Argo said:

5 sackings in the last 10 years is below average in the modern era. For perspective in the same timeframe Liverpool are on 4, Spurs are on 4 and United are on 3 and this is despite all 3 clubs having long term manager's in the hotseat for almost half of the period.

Lets be honest, we have a much higher manager turnover than most clubs. Also, all my other points still stand.

2 hours ago, Richard P said:

I don’t remember any fuss when an average right back in Bolorouz had the number 9 shirt.

There were plenty of eyebrows raised at Bolorouz and Sidwell wearing the #9.

The #10 shirt is generally reserved for one of your star players, someone who scores lots of goals, is a creative focus of the team.

That description matches Mata, Hazard, Joey Cole.

Willian? Not so much.

Does it matter in the grand scheme of things? Not really. Symbolically it’s a bizarre move by the club if true.

 

Playing the false number 10 then.

10 hours ago, Argo said:

Ultimately Willian will be gone next year (he will want more than one year extension while the club won't budge on one), I don't particularly agree with him getting it but I think him getting the 10 for a year is a sort of thankyou for his service to the club while we work out who out of CHO and Pulisic get it in the long run.

Sounds about right, on reflection it might send the wrong message to young players to step into a big number without earning it. This I can understand. Saying numbers don’t matter however (not you) is absolute ignorance, whether people agree or not numbers matter to players. 

10 hours ago, Argo said:

5 sackings in the last 10 years is below average in the modern era. For perspective in the same timeframe Liverpool are on 4, Spurs are on 4 and United are on 3 and this is despite all 3 clubs having long term manager's in the hotseat for almost half of the period.

Only problem with that mate is we have had 12 managers since 2009 not 5 we aren’t  close to being on parity with other clubs when it comes to changing managers...however it’s worked, not a long term strategy but it has worked, I think we have probably only sacked about 6 of them, sarri left and the rest were interim, I think other clubs probably wait for replacements then move the managers on, we want them out the second it’s not going our way. 

Edited July 23, 20196 yr by WalterWhiteCFC

The dislike here is real it's like he hurt someone of you personally

42 minutes ago, Brutos said:

The dislike here is real it's like he hurt someone of you personally

Don't think anyone dislikes him, just realise he's not as good as his ego thinks.

7 hours ago, WalterWhiteCFC said:

Sounds about right, on reflection it might send the wrong message to young players to step into a big number without earning it. This I can understand. Saying numbers don’t matter however (not you) is absolute ignorance, whether people agree or not numbers matter to players. 

Willian’s performances haven’t earned it either other than Jose last season when we came 10th. He’s not done anything to justify getting such a key squad number, he’s not a good enough player for it and in my opinion will be the 4th choice winger this season.

 

So was Willian just making it up and that was his way of campaigning for the number?

3 hours ago, EdinburghBlue said:

Willian’s performances haven’t earned it either other than Jose last season when we came 10th. He’s not done anything to justify getting such a key squad number, he’s not a good enough player for it and in my opinion will be the 4th choice winger this season.

I agree he hasn’t earned a big number I think it’s purely in a seniority, time served basis he has got it, he has all the makings of a top player but just fails to deliver time and time again bar that season you pointed out. 

Only logic I can see is them not wanting to pander too much to CHO but as the other guy said it’s not bad leverage in a contract, I certainty think if he stays he will get it, I’m hoping this isn’t a sign that CHO isn’t signing...maybe that’s reading too much in to it 

5 minutes ago, WalterWhiteCFC said:

I agree he hasn’t earned a big number I think it’s purely in a seniority, time served basis he has got it, he has all the makings of a top player but just fails to deliver time and time again bar that season you pointed out. 

Only logic I can see is them not wanting to pander too much to CHO but as the other guy said it’s not bad leverage in a contract, I certainty think if he stays he will get it, I’m hoping this isn’t a sign that CHO isn’t signing...maybe that’s reading too much in to it 

Frank confirmed today that a decision on the 10 shirt has not been made, and now there are reports that CHO has agreed to an extension

2 minutes ago, mwblue10 said:

Frank confirmed today that a decision on the 10 shirt has not been made, and now there are reports that CHO has agreed to an extension

Good news all round then, just the fact he has said there is no decision probably indicates they are close.

problem is Willian has shown to be a diva in the past, Frank has played with him so I think if he is wearing it now he will probably see out his contract in it with it promises to CHO next year 

3 hours ago, mwblue10 said:

 

So was Willian just making it up and that was his way of campaigning for the number?

Don't rush yourself back from an injury. Early January should be about right. 

27 minutes ago, Skinnedy said:

Don't rush yourself back from an injury. Early January should be about right. 

A nice little sabbatical

1 hour ago, Skinnedy said:

Don't rush yourself back from an injury. Early January should be about right. 

Yeah, it's not like we need players due to a transfer ban or anything.... 

I think the the Number 10 thing is more driven by international football with Brazil and the history with the number

1 hour ago, dkw said:

Yeah, it's not like we need players due to a transfer ban or anything.... 

I don't think whether we have Willian or not would really change where we finish this season.  Pulisic, Pedro, and CHO when he is fit will all, at the very least, offer equal affect on games.  That being said, I'd rather have him but not as a starter game in and game out.

On 22/07/2019 at 01:56, rtwelch said:

Getting the number 10 shirt. You’ve gotta laugh sometimes.

doesn't he wear that for Brasil?  I wouldn't read too much into it anyway, as numbers are somewhat insignificant any longer, like Kante wearing a 7 for example.

I remember squabbling over shirt numbers with my school team mates....I was about 9 years old at the time.

Edited July 24, 20196 yr by Blue Exile

I'm expecting indignant responses to Tammy Abraham taking #9, a young man who hasn't shown anything yet to make him deserve it 

On 22/07/2019 at 15:19, RIP Mourinho said:

Why would i go support another club when i've supported this one for nearly 24 years? Weird mentality, you must be a yank.

Just because you seem so unhappy.  If not a new team, then at least a hug.

P.S.  I'm English, living in England. 

Cheers

1 hour ago, LampardsRightFoot said:

Just because you seem so unhappy.  If not a new team, then at least a hug.

P.S.  I'm English, living in England. 

Cheers

cheers

19 hours ago, Valerie said:

I'm expecting indignant responses to Tammy Abraham taking #9, a young man who hasn't shown anything yet to make him deserve it 

That number is a curse number for us these days, so no, I don't think he deserves it