2014/2015 Premier League Thread v73: Stingy Arsene Edition

One of my observations about football, after growing up watching baseball, is football seems to put a little too much stock in a manager. The overall american (baseball) mentality is that players win games, which I think proves true to an extent. When Rogers has Suarez and Sturridge scoring 50 goals he's MOTY, when he loses high quality players like that he's average. Same could be said for Wenger and the invencibles. Wenger isn't a worse manager now, but his players sure are different. etc etc
I think the job has just evolved over the years into delegating over many role specific specialists. It had to initially because the Managers of the Golden Era were all embezzling out of the transfer market lol. And even Fergie was barely ever seen on the training pitch further into his Utd tenure, despite being a formidable tactition in his earlier years.

Still a very important role in English football, not sure about on the Continent. I'd much prefer an iron willed Fergie/Mou type of Manager who is controlling to the point of dictatorship Managing my Teams than say a Pardew type who takes the cheque knowing he's powerless to affect any consistent success under such narrowing restrictions.

The embezzling years ruined the job, tbh. Taking the whole 100% transfer control aspect out of the job lessened it's majesticness massively, imo. Although Fergie was still a great recruiter, tbf, even after they took his personal Utd cheque book away. Now we've got a bunch of Diet-Jerry Jones owners who think they know better than the Pros lol

Prem is a circus. Unfettered Capitilism gone wild. City's treatment of Mancini lost them a Title. I lay that squarely at the feet of the owners for letting Balo make a mockery of Roberto..
 
Not far off from 4th. Judge more when or if sturridge is health. 50/50 right now.
I think a fully fit Lallana along with Sturridges return will have you right back up there again challenging for a Cl spot.

Sissoko, Sakho & Cech are the players i'd be after this Jan if i were Brenton or Arsene.
 
Someone make new thread. I'm on mobile
 
Casey Smith - Is Didier Drogba on your radar?

MP: There is a unique guy who despite his age is uniquely skilled to clean up in MLS. The league almost signed him a couple years ago and I know my coach would love him to be a Timber but I highly doubt it at this point.


For Tules, MP is our owner
 
Drogba would be a good buy
 
Although Fergie was still a great recruiter, tbf, even after they took his personal Utd cheque book away.

SAF had a pretty terrible record in the transfer market in his last 5-8 years or so........hence the squad he left Moyes.
 
Are you still a big fan of Martinez? Everton seem lost at the moment.
I am yes.

Everton have never been blessed with depth & they have had an horrific injury log, taking out very key spine players.

Honestly think he's just having some rotten luck. Current Lg position is unacceptable though. Very interested to see how he handles this adversity.
 
Drogba would be a good buy

We've had bad luck with aged strikers but Drogba would definitely benefit. Gonna lol if we land Altidore doe. He'll fit in our system tho
 
I am yes.

Everton have never been blessed with depth & they have had an horrific injury log, taking out very key spine players.

Honestly think he's just having some rotten luck. Current Lg position is unacceptable though. Very interested to see how he handles this adversity.
That defense is just poor. Barkley turns the ball over a lot in bad positions as well. Going to be interesting to see if they can get out of the slump
 
One of my observations about football, after growing up watching baseball, is football seems to put a little too much stock in a manager. The overall american (baseball) mentality is that players win games, which I think proves true to an extent. When Rogers has Suarez and Sturridge scoring 50 goals he's MOTY, when he loses high quality players like that he's average. Same could be said for Wenger and the invencibles. Wenger isn't a worse manager now, but his players sure are different. etc etc

The English do love the idea of a Manager but Americans have plenty of Coach worship. I agree with the main premise though, elite players will cover up a lot of sins for a Manager but I guess it depends how closely you look to determine how much influence a Manager is having on a successful team. It’s hard to decipher at times because there are a lot of variables.

I find baseball a baffling sport from a managerial perspective. The amount of stats available you might as well have robots deciding when to make a pitching change or a pinch runner etc, it seems more prudent than a Manager deciding when to make changes based on his gut instinct. To me Managers in baseball are used more as locker room morale boosters. Would you agree with that or not?
 
SAF had a pretty terrible record in the transfer market in his last 5-8 years or so........hence the squad he left Moyes.
Completely agree.

I've been SAF's biggest critic in here regarding the transfer dealings of his last few years, much to Zer's chagrin.

I should have clarified, i meant in that he was a very convincing salesman. I know the Club by itself helps but Fergie was always a stone cold closer.
 
I find baseball a baffling sport from a managerial perspective. The amount of stats available you might as well have robots deciding when to make a pitching change or a pinch runner etc, it seems more prudent than a Manager deciding when to make changes based on his gut instinct. To me Managers in baseball are used more as locker room morale boosters. Would you agree with that or not?

Mike Scioscia ruined the game for me. Constant tinkering just fucked the natural ebb & flow of a game. My best mate had a suite at Angels stadium but it spoiled me. When he passed on i quit going.

Game just lasts too long & i found myself groaning every time Scioscia hit the mound to argue the toss with the ref over bullshit petty calls.

Haven't been since. Buying Pujols & Hamilton since hasn't tempted me back neither.

All the guys i really liked got inducted into HoF yesterday. Randy, Pedro, Scholtz etc fuck i'm getting old lol
 
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