5 hours ago, Ernie_blue said:

Stupid football? 

Stats are generally pointless, Man Utd have scored more goals than Chelsea this year so that must make Mourinho offensive like Conte 

The only reason Utd have scored more than us this season is because for a period of time Lukaku was on fire + they have a lot more attacking options - Sanchez, Rashford, Martial, Lingard.......

Think you're getting a bit too wrapped up in this "offensive" thing. I'm not saying he is - not sure anyone is? I'm saying that his football just isn't as dull and negative as some are trying to make out.

 

Edited May 9, 20188 yr by Nibs

13 hours ago, atomis said:

You cant compare.....it was evident the players did not want to fight for him, with Conte its the opposite. You Guys sound like we have this uber coach lined up with immense transfer backing......

By the sounds of things we have a manager lined up that will actually manage what is at his disposal and not moan about only spending £250m and not £400m like he wanted. Bring in Sarri.

Even arsenal fans don't believe they play good football, they haven't for a decade. All fart and no pooh.... 

12 minutes ago, RIP Mourinho said:

By the sounds of things we have a manager lined up that will actually manage what is at his disposal and not moan about only spending £250m and not £400m like he wanted. Bring in Sarri.

Would you be happy with him if we had a season like this one, just without the moaning?

1 minute ago, Stim said:

Would you be happy with him if we had a season like this one, just without the moaning?

With Sarri? Too many variables to consider. Like for like with the exact same results just without moaning i would be 'happier' but i wouldn't be happy. Unless however, i can see us building something and playing some gorgeous football at the same time. 

Didn't Sarri say something like "I would rather lose while playing football the right way, than win and not play football" 

I really didn't like that comment. I think overall Conte has done a fantastic job here despite this poor season, I just hate a lot of the decisions he's making and his attitude on the sidelines. Not sure what I want next season to be honest, so I don't think the board have any easy job regardless.

We sack Conte then we'll sack the next manager, then we'll sack the next, and people on here won't even notice the pattern. 

Don't really get all the fuss on Sarri. His record is far from spectacular and up until fairly recently if you mentioned his name the response was, Who?

7 minutes ago, Nibs said:

Don't really get all the fuss on Sarri. His record is far from spectacular and up until fairly recently if you mentioned his name the response was, Who?

All managers have to start somewhere though. Hiring high profile managers come with their own issues. I'd like a change and hire somewhere that has a point to make and won't take what he's given for granted. What he has done with Napoli from when he took over to where they are now is fantastic. Same with someone like Jardim. 

25 minutes ago, RIP Mourinho said:

All managers have to start somewhere though. Hiring high profile managers come with their own issues. I'd like a change and hire somewhere that has a point to make and won't take what he's given for granted. What he has done with Napoli from when he took over to where they are now is fantastic. Same with someone like Jardim. 

I agree, if we get rid of Conte, I'm not really for another high profile manager. Would much prefer we went for someone younger, like we did with AVB. Would love us to promote from within - in a few seasons time have a Joe Edwards or Jody Morris, if they were up for it. I don't wish to be ageist, but Sarri is not far off 60 and I just don't see that as a positive.

12 hours ago, Ernie_blue said:

I regard Mourinho's first team as the best the PL has seen, better than Utd's, Invincibles and this year's City team. It was compact, strong, tactical the best in Europe, pace up front and just a powerful unit which could give any team a run for there money including Barca and the ref. I might be biased in my thinking but I'm not that biased to believe they played better football than the other 3. At the end of the day I don't really care, with Mourinho as long as he brings trophies to the club he manages I don't think you can question his style. I dont care about Conte's style but he isn't offensive whatever anyone believes, I'm more worried about all the managerial errors he has made this year.

Very well put. Some of the most sterile stuff I've seen served up has been Mourinho towards the end of his first spell, and most of this year under Conte.

Arsenal under Wenger have been over elaborate at times, but generally played " prettier" football than us.

Ive done my bit over the years and go on a when it suits me basis now, but I'm always amazed by fans who aren't that bothered if we play generally dull football providing there's some silverware come May.

( The " sh*t game but we got 3- points which is the main thing innit"  brigade)

 Surely watching your team for 90 minutes is supposed to be enjoyable, not just some stepping stone towards glory?

 

 

3 hours ago, Nibs said:

The only reason Utd have scored more than us this season is because for a period of time Lukaku was on fire + they have a lot more attacking options - Sanchez, Rashford, Martial, Lingard.......

Think you're getting a bit too wrapped up in this "offensive" thing. I'm not saying he is - not sure anyone is? I'm saying that his football just isn't as dull and negative as some are trying to make out.

 

Someone did say he is an offensive manager and his football is beautiful. 

44 minutes ago, Nibs said:

I agree, if we get rid of Conte, I'm not really for another high profile manager. Would much prefer we went for someone younger, like we did with AVB. Would love us to promote from within - in a few seasons time have a Joe Edwards or Jody Morris, if they were up for it. I don't wish to be ageist, but Sarri is not far off 60 and I just don't see that as a positive.

I wouldn't be completely against Jokanovic at Fulham. Seems to be doing a grand job there.

I'll always appreciate what Conte did for us last season but in all honestly he needs to go in the Summer. 

Conte quite clearly doesn't want to be here anymore, the passion from last season is gone, he's moaned his way through the season and his the relationship with the board has appeared to have broken down. He also failed to actually commit his future when he signed a new contract as it wasn't even an extension

I've said this multiple times but we need to change our direction as a football club, we need to slowly build a team, a philosophy, integrate youth and create an identity, Conte is someone who want's to win at all costs like Mourinho who will focus on the present and not the actual future. With a new stadium being built, FFP and Roman tightening the purse strings we simply can't afford to spend large sums of money to help us reach instant success

Also I'm getting tired of this style of football we've become accustomed to, it's slow, pragmatic and defensive. Our youth teams generally play a more open attacking style of play so surely our first team should as well? It would make the transition from youth team to first easier if the styles of football were the same or similar

That match against Man City was unforgivable for me, we basically went into that match as still Champions of England and looked absolutely frightened, it appeared our goal was to stop City scoring many goals. The only time City have looked uncomfortable this season is when teams have gone at them, we sat back and basically allowed City to do what they want and played right into their hands

3 hours ago, Slojo said:

Didn't Sarri say something like "I would rather lose while playing football the right way, than win and not play football" 

I really didn't like that comment. I think overall Conte has done a fantastic job here despite this poor season, I just hate a lot of the decisions he's making and his attitude on the sidelines. Not sure what I want next season to be honest, so I don't think the board have any easy job regardless.

We sack Conte then we'll sack the next manager, then we'll sack the next, and people on here won't even notice the pattern. 

he did once say (apparently) that if he ever saw his team playing counter attack after 30 mins he would leave football and return to banking. it's just not his style, and to be fair his teams have done well using that style. his napoli side has had one of, if not the best defences and empoli who was favourites to go back down after being promoted to serie a, ended up staying in the serie a comfortably while playing lovely football.

you can find videos on the way he sets up his defence while not in possession. people think you can't play good football and defend, there has to be a compromise on defending which is not true. to be fair to liverpool as an e.g, since van dijk has came in their defence has looked a lot more assured than before january. maybe they would be challenging if van dijk was at pool sooner. 

Edited May 9, 20188 yr by enigma

2 hours ago, Nibs said:

I agree, if we get rid of Conte, I'm not really for another high profile manager. Would much prefer we went for someone younger, like we did with AVB. Would love us to promote from within - in a few seasons time have a Joe Edwards or Jody Morris, if they were up for it. I don't wish to be ageist, but Sarri is not far off 60 and I just don't see that as a positive.

2

The same people who are saying this are also the same impatient posters that want managers/players gone after one glimpse of underperforming. 

If Sarri came here, finished 6th in his first season, do you really think the same people who are screaming for Conte out now will want Sarri around? I bet not. 

people also talk about sarri having not won anything, but with napoli being his first major job it's no surprise. even the successful managers don't do what he has done with that napoli side. he took over from benitez (a successful coach) and turned them into a team which wasn't looking much of a threat, to a team that now is one of the best in europe playing a style which is admired. i liken him coming to chelsea as similar to pellegrini to man city. pellegrini didn't win much other than some trophies in south america. he can to england and won the premier league. of course the competition is tougher here, but to write sarri off because he hasn't won anything is ignorant. 

Could be Conte's last game at Stamford Bridge tonight.

Hopefully gets plenty of acknowledgement from the supporters for his achievements. 

Still don't think we can rule out him being here next season though. 

 

2 hours ago, Nibs said:

I agree, if we get rid of Conte, I'm not really for another high profile manager. Would much prefer we went for someone younger, like we did with AVB. Would love us to promote from within - in a few seasons time have a Joe Edwards or Jody Morris, if they were up for it. I don't wish to be ageist, but Sarri is not far off 60 and I just don't see that as a positive.

ferguson was 70 when he retired and wenger is 68. pellegrini wasn't far off 60 when he took over at city. age isn't a problem and sarri is still relatively new to football. his career has been different to other coaches his age. 

 

8 minutes ago, Slojo said:

The same people who are saying this are also the same impatient posters that want managers/players gone after one glimpse of underperforming. 

If Sarri came here, finished 6th in his first season, do you really think the same people who are screaming for Conte out now will want Sarri around? I bet not. 

we are gonna finish 5th this season under conte though. if conte stays there's no guarantee we will challenge next season because our rivals will strengthen with champions league football and more money to spend. liverpool already looking like they will be a force with keita coming in and potentially that fekir fella. if they buy a competent keeper and another defender they're as good as ready. man utd will no doubt strengthen, so will city, and spurs may improve a little. i fear conte's tactics and lack of plan b or c would cost us. we've seen it this season how when we needed to freshen things up he hasn't done it often enough, if at all.  

1 minute ago, enigma said:

 

we are gonna finish 5th this season under conte though. if conte stays there's no guarantee we will challenge next season because our rivals will strengthen with champions league football and more money to spend. liverpool already looking like they will be a force with keita coming in and potentially that fekir fella. if they buy a competent keeper and another defender they're as good as ready. man utd will no doubt strengthen, so will city, and spurs may improve a little. i fear conte's tactics and lack of plan b or c would cost us. we've seen it this season how when we needed to freshen things up he hasn't done it often enough, if at all.  

That's not the point, Conte won the league then he finished 5th. If Sarri comes here and in his first season he finishes outside the top 4, I can bet my house a lot of the people who want Conte gone now will not be standing by him then, they'll be sick of him. 

Other than that I kind of agree with you, but you're just talking about all the positives of the other teams and the negatives of our team. It's no inevitability that Spurs will improve next season. If anything they could lose Kane or Eriksen, even their manager. United aren't clicking, Jose has disastrous 3rd seasons, he's already alienated a lot of players and Martial looks like he'll be out the door in the summer. Liverpool could also lose players, I don't think they'll lose Salah just yet but it's definitely a possibility. And Arsenal will need time with their new manager and have a long way to go before they can be in the discussion of top 4 nevermind the title.

Maybe stability is exactly what we need, give Conte breathing space, give him some more money to spend, let the players know he's not budging. Why does he need a plan b or c when he's already won the league with plan a. 

 

4 hours ago, RIP Mourinho said:

By the sounds of things we have a manager lined up that will actually manage what is at his disposal and not moan about only spending £250m and not £400m like he wanted. Bring in Sarri.

Yes Iknow, conte is an animal, a boring average manager WHO does nothing but moan, an evil man WHO has destroyed our Club, he should be ashamed and thrown to the Wind......

17 minutes ago, atomis said:

Yes Iknow, conte is an animal, a boring average manager WHO does nothing but moan, an evil man WHO has destroyed our Club, he should be ashamed and thrown to the Wind......

at least you finally agree.

28 minutes ago, Slojo said:

That's not the point, Conte won the league then he finished 5th. If Sarri comes here and in his first season he finishes outside the top 4, I can bet my house a lot of the people who want Conte gone now will not be standing by him then, they'll be sick of him. 

Other than that I kind of agree with you, but you're just talking about all the positives of the other teams and the negatives of our team. It's no inevitability that Spurs will improve next season. If anything they could lose Kane or Eriksen, even their manager. United aren't clicking, Jose has disastrous 3rd seasons, he's already alienated a lot of players and Martial looks like he'll be out the door in the summer. Liverpool could also lose players, I don't think they'll lose Salah just yet but it's definitely a possibility. And Arsenal will need time with their new manager and have a long way to go before they can be in the discussion of top 4 nevermind the title.

Maybe stability is exactly what we need, give Conte breathing space, give him some more money to spend, let the players know he's not budging. Why does he need a plan b or c when he's already won the league with plan a. 

 

Conte won't give us stability though. Refusing to sign a contract extension out of him proved that. Why stick with him for 1 more year for the sake of longevity when he's leaving after that anyway?

38 minutes ago, enigma said:

 

ferguson was 70 when he retired and wenger is 68. pellegrini wasn't far off 60 when he took over at city. age isn't a problem and sarri is still relatively new to football. his career has been different to other coaches his age. 

As I said, don't mean to be ageist but the glaring obvious difference is that Fergie & Wenger have had 25+ years at the top. Sarri is close to 60 and has achieved nothing in the game. As you say yourself - he is relatively new to football. At 60?

Forgive me for not getting too excited about him being our next appointment.

17 minutes ago, RIP Mourinho said:

Conte won't give us stability though. Refusing to sign a contract extension out of him proved that. Why stick with him for 1 more year for the sake of longevity when he's leaving after that anyway?

That's the problem, Conte has never looked like he will be here for the long term so surely we can all understand the board's reluctance to splash big money on players which might not be wanted by the new manager, some of these being around the age of 30 and losing value quickly. I admit the board have to show some backing towards the manager but I'm someone looking in from the outside and seeing your manager not sign an extension does not exactly show commitment, then the comedy year after with us watching Conte baiting the board to sack him, I certainly wouldn't give him more money and I'm looking at it from the outside.