Football 2013-2014

[eFestivals]

If moyes does stay beyond the summer(I think he will), I do think there will be a big over haul in the coaching set up.

PMSL - you mean like the big overhaul of the coaching set-up that Moyes did last summer when he arrived?

[t8yman]

Im not sure what to make of the Hull rebranding story. While I do think that owners shouldn't be able to come and piss on a clubs traditions. There is an element of hypocrisy with the fans of teams like Cardiff and Hull who moan about the owners but are happy to take the money. Would the traditionalists like to return to the lower leagues where both sides have traditionally spent a good proportion of their history.

[kaosmark2]

May not come as a shock to some but the telegraph is showing conclusive proof that Qatar paid bribes to win the world cup.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup/10704290/Qatar-World-Cup-2022-investigation-former-Fifa-vice-president-Jack-Warner-and-family-paid-millions.html

[DomDom1984]

I struggle to care about corruption in football. Hell, a pretty big percentage of folk felt the same way not so long ago. And then Qatar got the world cup and all of a sudden everyone was shocked and stunned and giving it "HOW COULD IT BE?!" instead of the usual sniggering.

[t8yman]

wasn't Warner implicated in something like this by Panorama recently?

The game is bent from top to bottom IMHO. From the cheating and diving, to £1.2m bribes for votes. Its a dirty sport.

[Wooderson]

Was the only other potential candidate to stand against Blatter the Qatari delegate?

He's a right peach is our Sepp.

[Wooderson]

And the 2018 WC is in.... RUSSIA.

As Neil is known to say - PMSL.

[LondonTom]

One thing leads to another which leads to another in football. One day fans across the world might join all the dots and see how their local level greedy eyes for their own clubs success lead all the way to mass corruption at the top.

Edited March 18, 2014 by LondonTom

[eFestivals]

loads of stuff around today about Moyes' days being numbered, which is the about the first time itr's happened I think.

I'm wondering why it's taken so long. According to what I read the other day (I've not actually checked it's right), Utd have played 14 games since the turn of the year, and they've won just three of them.

There's paper talk about Utd wanting Athletico's manager (I forget the name), plus a story about how Moyes has three games to convince the board he should keep the job.

If I was Moyes i'd get out now and drop a bomb on the club as a way to try and cover my arse, cos if he waits for the sack he's going to be almost unemployable as a manager.

[strummer77]

True. I expected Man U to be where Liverpool were a few years ago. Comfortably 4th every year, but points total nearer to bottom 3 than top and no chance of top 3.

Moyes must take some of the blame, but my main point is Fergie is far from blameless.

[thetime]

loads of stuff around today about Moyes' days being numbered, which is the about the first time itr's happened I think.I'm wondering why it's taken so long. According to what I read the other day (I've not actually checked it's right), Utd have played 14 games since the turn of the year, and they've won just three of them.There's paper talk about Utd wanting Athletico's manager (I forget the name), plus a story about how Moyes has three games to convince the board he should keep the job.If I was Moyes i'd get out now and drop a bomb on the club as a way to try and cover my arse, cos if he waits for the sack he's going to be almost unemployable as a manager.

[dentalplan]

The situation in Hull is quite interesting, I have been firmly in the "couldnt give a fuck" camp tbh. But I know loads of people who will argue the toss all day long.

Allam owns the club, and IMHO he can do pretty much whatever he wants with it. He claims changing the name from Hull City to Hull Tigers will help him attract big(ger) sponsors.

Something I hadn't considered (prior to today actually) is that the FA would be setting a precedent if they allowed this. If they allowed it, would we then have a slew of clubs contacting the FA wanting to change their names from "West Bromwich Albion" to "West Bromwich Nike" etc etc. That would be really nefarious, and would really cheapen our national sport.

The biggest shame of all of it, is that Allam has backed himself into a corner, he has said he will put the club up for sale within 24 hours if the name change is rejected, well official rejection looks like it will come on April 9th. So if he is putting the club up for sale by the 10th, we are at Wembley for the semi on the 13th, with a potential FA cup final place, hopefully BPL survival (fingers crossed), I don't think he will be short of potential buyers. His PR has been disastrous, telling "City Till We Die" (the fans opposition group) that they can "Die when they want to" was a massive gaff, even though I understand what he meant.

Most people don't want Allam to go, but he has painted himself into that corner.

[dentalplan]

loads of stuff around today about Moyes' days being numbered, which is the about the first time itr's happened I think.

I'm wondering why it's taken so long. According to what I read the other day (I've not actually checked it's right), Utd have played 14 games since the turn of the year, and they've won just three of them.

There's paper talk about Utd wanting Athletico's manager (I forget the name), plus a story about how Moyes has three games to convince the board he should keep the job.

If I was Moyes i'd get out now and drop a bomb on the club as a way to try and cover my arse, cos if he waits for the sack he's going to be almost unemployable as a manager.

[pink_triangle]

loads of stuff around today about Moyes' days being numbered, which is the about the first time itr's happened I think.

I'm wondering why it's taken so long. According to what I read the other day (I've not actually checked it's right), Utd have played 14 games since the turn of the year, and they've won just three of them.

There's paper talk about Utd wanting Athletico's manager (I forget the name), plus a story about how Moyes has three games to convince the board he should keep the job.

If I was Moyes i'd get out now and drop a bomb on the club as a way to try and cover my arse, cos if he waits for the sack he's going to be almost unemployable as a manager.

[t8yman]

You'll know a lot of people that just call them 'City' though, won't you? I'm certainly against it but I wouldn't really wish Allam to leave. He's invested that much in the area and the club that if this is rejected (I hadn't really got as worked up about it as some as I had always thought it was going to be rejected) I feel it can be swept under the rug and we can move on. If we survive and continue cup success maybe into Europe then I'm sure he wouldn't need to sell up or do anything drastic.

Also on the City note, I'm surprised Man Utd aren't casting their glances at Steve Bruce. I know he has a reputation as a manager of bottom half teams but he's been excellent this year, MOTY certainty if Rodgers didn't fancy having a blinder of a season. Not that I'd want him to leave but he's one of the better ex-Utd managers linked and the void left by Vidic could easily be filled by Alex Bruce.

[eFestivals]

Just the normal paper chit chat, I am sure the paper gossip will get far juicier next few weeks.

well, it's within the range of normal paper gossip, yeah. But that gossip is now focusing on Moyes' position, which it wasn't before. And that 'before' has been quite abnormal compared to other managers.

For example, AVB got hounded out despite Spurs doing better than Utd, while Moyes has been left alone.

And yes, it will get juicier in the next few weeks, cos Moyes is now a dead man walking.

[eFestivals]

Theres no way moyes is walking from a 6 year contract, nobody would five that money up.

Oh, I know. And I doubt he's the walking kind anyway. Stubbornly optimistic against the facts till the end, like most managers.

I was being flippant around me thinking that the only place he has to go is permanent unemployment.

[The Nal]

loads of stuff around today about Moyes' days being numbered, which is the about the first time itr's happened I think.

I'm wondering why it's taken so long. According to what I read the other day (I've not actually checked it's right), Utd have played 14 games since the turn of the year, and they've won just three of them.

There's paper talk about Utd wanting Athletico's manager (I forget the name), plus a story about how Moyes has three games to convince the board he should keep the job.

If I was Moyes i'd get out now and drop a bomb on the club as a way to try and cover my arse, cos if he waits for the sack he's going to be almost unemployable as a manager.

[thetime]

well, it's within the range of normal paper gossip, yeah. But that gossip is now focusing on Moyes' position, which it wasn't before. And that 'before' has been quite abnormal compared to other managers.

For example, AVB got hounded out despite Spurs doing better than Utd, while Moyes has been left alone.

And yes, it will get juicier in the next few weeks, cos Moyes is now a dead man walking.

[DomDom1984]

I can't see the City game ending in a hammering. Something just seems a wee bit iffy with City just now. They'll still win though.

Lots of rumblings about losing the dressing room about Moyes. If there's any truth to that, he's gone, and soon.

[eFestivals]

At least when Liverpool were struggling in the early BR era you could see they were evolving and trying to change, play passing football etc. There was obviously a plan there.

there was a plan, tho it seems to have long ago been abandoned. I've mentioned this earlier this season.

If you think back, there was clearly a concious thing going on of at least 2 players making themselves available to receive the ball. That's gone completely from their game now.

It's probably not a bad thing that it has because it's allowed Liverpool to play a less-considered but much faster game, and they've clearly got the players to manage to play that way.

And perhaps that passing-obsessed style might well have helped them get to what they're doing now.

I'm not making any criticism (what's to criticise? ), merely an observation.

[The Nal]

How is he a dead man walking though?

Written media? General football fans on twitter/forums? Or the united fans that go to the matches?

I've not heard to much booing at the matches that's for sure. Do managers get sacked because the hype the written media stir up? People can't be that stupid can they?

My feeling(today) is he won't get sacked or resign in the near future, certainly not before Christmas.

Edited March 18, 2014 by The Nal

[eFestivals]

How is he a dead man walking though?

he's shown enough for everyone to realise he's not got it (at least, as far as Utd right here and now is concerned).

It's not like Utd is a club like Cardiff with an unrealistic owner. Moyes took over a title-winning team, and chose to dismantle the behind-the-scenes staff for his own too. And spend £65M.

Everything was there for him to him to succeed to some extent - not the title, but not 7th and always playing dreadfully either.

I've not heard to much booing at the matches that's for sure.

I think the Utd fans have been excellent. I said as much about Sunday, with some nice words about 'Simon'.

Do managers get sacked because the hype the written media stir up? People can't be that stupid can they?

I don't know either way.

But I do know that managers get sacked because their time (in management at that club) has come.

It would take someone who is hopelessly optimistic to think there's going to be any turn-around - because there's nothing, absolutely nothing, to suggest the team is going to suddenly hit some form. They look lost and clueless, as does Moyes who doesn't have a clue who his best 11 might be.

My feeling(today) is he won't get sacked or resign in the near future, certainly not before Christmas.

You are 'Simon' and I claim my five pounds.

He might last till the summer. He'll only last beyond the summer if Utd suddenly start playing well (but they're not going to do that, no way).

Edited March 18, 2014 by eFestivals

[dentalplan]

I think its culturally ingrained in him to not back down. I've worked with many men with similar backgrounds to him (egyptians, syrians, libyans) and it is very much a part of their makeup to "be their own men". I honestly think he will put the club up for sale, it all depends on the manner of the withdrawal, wether he does it in a grown up fashion, or simply takes his bat and ball home. Believe me, he isn't averse to doing unthinkable things to get his own way. I dont know how old you are (I'm not being rude), but ask someone who is old enough to remember Jacksons Services and how he sent them bust a coupla decades ago.

people will always call them "city" anyway. Its in the local parlance as you will know - "going to city on saturday?"

Its a really unfortunate situation. And one I can't see being nice.

[The Nal]

He might last till the summer. He'll only last beyond the summer if Utd suddenly start playing well (but they're not going to do that, no way).

Edited March 18, 2014 by The Nal