Ferran and Txiki

[john@staustell]

I've seen a thread or 2 criticising them in the summer, possibly because they are obviously on very large salaries and therefore have to deliver. But let's look what they have done:

1) Never made any big noise about going to do this, that and the other, quietly and slowly planning the stadium expansion.
2) Decided the previous manager had the wrong style, both playing wise and personality-wise. Although this wasn't a universally popular decision at the time, subsequent word from players and evidence is they were 100% right.
3) Decided on an actual change of playing style and hired Pellegrini specifically with the brief of a high-pressing, high-tempo, slick passing, direct goal-scoring game - like tney brought in with Guardiola at Barca.
4) Very quietly moved out anyone who brought a bad name to the club in any way - Balotelli, Tevez (his request to leave was granted in about 4 hours), possibly Mancini. But maybe most significantly of all refused to hire Mourinho at Barca (source, Spanish press) and subsequently at City as his behavioural standards are poor, and Madrid feel a little dirty after their Jose experience (Calderon).
5) With Tom Glick are over-seeing an incredible growth in the commercial business of the club which I believe will be awesome within the next 3 years. Taken Gary Cook's business up another 2 levels.
6) Out-done everyone in the summer. Quietly executed 4 in-deals without any fuss or the need to broadcast it on SKY. Kept all the bad crisis press at United, Arsenal and other clubs. Just a summer of calm, quiet preparation.

They cant actually influence over the white line, but I'm starting to believe the Sheik made the right appointments to make us the biggest and best.

[Piccsnumberoneblue]

No, they are quite clearly a pair of bastards and are "to blame" for things.

[Nigels Tackle]

No, they are quite clearly a pair of bastards and are "to blame" for things.

where are the 'i told you so' mob this morning?

[Piccsnumberoneblue]

No, they are quite clearly a pair of bastards and are "to blame" for things.

where are the 'i told you so' mob this morning?

it's a bit early for that yet. But it was a decent start.
Under our former manager we'd have finished that game with five defenders and three defensive midfielders on, 'just in case'

[kinkylola]

Bunch of suits who don't know shit about the game. They will be the ruin of our club.

[Goaters 103]

It was a decent start last night but lets not get too carried away. Newcastle were toss and if we don't win at Cardiff next week the viewpoint will be entirely different.

The CL draw and subsequent campaign will also be the biggest barometer for us; lets hope for a draw that at least gives us a chance. Knowing our luck we'll end with Barcelona, Dortmund, City and Brazil (circa 1970).

[Tokyo Blue]

OK, I'll play devil's avocado for a change.

1) Never made any big noise about going to do this, that and the other, quietly and slowly planning the stadium expansion.

I refer you to the "5 trophies in 5 years" comment.

2) Decided the previous manager had the wrong style, both playing wise and personality-wise. Although this wasn't a universally popular decision at the time, subsequent word from players and evidence is they were 100% right.

Any quotes to back this up? What evidence? One game? Believe me, I'll be screaming from the rooftops how wonderful everyone at the club is if we carry on like we did last night for the next nine months, but I think the players have to actually do that first. Which has kind of been my whole point during the summer: nothing has really happened yet, good or bad.

3) Decided on an actual change of playing style and hired Pellegrini specifically with the brief of a high-pressing, high-tempo, slick passing, direct goal-scoring game - like tney brought in with Guardiola at Barca.

One game we've played. I don't think I can actually say what changes there are in our style after one single game against ten men. To take one example, it is better having a wide player in the team, though just about everyone here said that would improve things last season. And how much of Jesus's introduction was down to the manager? I don't know but he must have had some input and influence and what credit there is up to now (not a lot - yet) should go to him as well.

Did they pick the manager? Probably but I am not sure. It remains to be seen whether he is the right choice or not, but I hope he is. I like him. And if he is, I'll buy them a pint for bringing him in. Point is we don't know yet. There's a long way to go.

4) Very quietly moved out anyone who brought a bad name to the club in any way - Balotelli, Tevez (his request to leave was granted in about 4 hours), possibly Mancini. But maybe most significantly of all refused to hire Mourinho at Barca (source, Spanish press) and subsequently at City as his behavioural standards are poor, and Madrid feel a little dirty after their Jose experience (Calderon).

I didn't want Mourinho either, I have to say, but again whose decision was this? The internal workings of the club are basically a black box to me.

I wanted tevez to leave the club after munich. So I think you are right about him. But Balotelli is a different matter.

Moving these players out could possibly be more to do with the owner than the two blokes you are accrediting it to. It could also have been financially motivated as they were on very big wages, even for us, and it doesn't look like we are going to be the ones to challenge FFP. I don't really know though. However, you could argue that selling Balotelli contributed to the problems of last season. Aguero being injured as often as he was and Dzeko not having the best of times meant Mario should have been replaced and wasn't. I do wonder why he wasn't replaced, and more to the point why a replacement wasn't lined up before he was sold.

5) With Tom Glick are over-seeing an incredible growth in the commercial business of the club which I believe will be awesome within the next 3 years. Taken Gary Cook's business up another 2 levels.

I have got little knowledge of (or interest, to be honest) in the business side of things. I have enjoyed the thread you made about the commercial expansions though.

6) Out-done everyone in the summer. Quietly executed 4 in-deals without any fuss or the need to broadcast it on SKY. Kept all the bad crisis press at United, Arsenal and other clubs. Just a summer of calm, quiet preparation.

Again, all I have seen of the new players is one game against ten men so I'm going to wait and see and hope we carry on like this against everyone. I hope we do and I hope the new players turn into worldbeaters. But if we do sweep all before us, I want the manager to get the credit he deserves as well. Not to mention the players themselves, who I think owe the fans something after their shithouse performance in the Cup Final.

Ah yes, that reminds me, the Cup Final. Is it unreasonable to apportion any of the blame for that little gem of a situation to Senors Beguiristain and Serrano, or are we concentrating only on the positives? If we are being reasonable, I think the shoddy way in which Mancini was sacked (the news being leaked to the Spanish media first, the Spanish media, note that well) does not exactly show the best of behavioural standards and certainly affected the Cup Final.

It would be nice to be able to point out things which are less than perfect (in my opinion) in a reasonable discussion.

ANyway, good post, John, and thanks again for the financial thread.

[maxxi]

What a load of dogshit, never read so much bs in one post.

Apparently it was my mother who said the 'five trophies in five year....


Very quietly moved out anyone who brought a bad name to the club in any way - Balotelli, Tevez - BUT then again it was my mother who insert a buy back option in Balotelli's sale agreement contract.... make sense


go on then....................

[Slim]

Didn't we start the 11/12 season at home with a 4-0 win and looking devastating?

Wasn't this under Mancini?

[Dameerto]

Didn't we start the 11/12 season at home with a 4-0 win and looking devastating?

Wasn't this under Mancini?

The difference is that it surprised Mancini as much as it surprised us.

[zuricity]

Bunch of suits who don't know shit about the game. They will be the ruin of our club.

You might be onto something there!

[Slim]

Didn't we start the 11/12 season at home with a 4-0 win and looking devastating?

Wasn't this under Mancini?

The difference is that it surprised Mancini as much as it surprised us.

All I am saying is, it's one game. It was a good win and very enjoyable to watch, but I am not getting a 13/14 Champions tattoo across my chest just yet, and whether it was a surprise or not, Pellegrini has done nothing yet that Mancini didn't do already.

Let's see if he struggles to overcome Cardiff(next game for Mancini was the 3-2 away win against Bolton).

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

I've seen a thread or 2 criticising them in the summer, possibly because they are obviously on very large salaries and therefore have to deliver. But let's look what they have done:

1) Never made any big noise about going to do this, that and the other, quietly and slowly planning the stadium expansion.
2) Decided the previous manager had the wrong style, both playing wise and personality-wise. Although this wasn't a universally popular decision at the time, subsequent word from players and evidence is they were 100% right.
3) Decided on an actual change of playing style and hired Pellegrini specifically with the brief of a high-pressing, high-tempo, slick passing, direct goal-scoring game - like tney brought in with Guardiola at Barca.
4) Very quietly moved out anyone who brought a bad name to the club in any way - Balotelli, Tevez (his request to leave was granted in about 4 hours), possibly Mancini. But maybe most significantly of all refused to hire Mourinho at Barca (source, Spanish press) and subsequently at City as his behavioural standards are poor, and Madrid feel a little dirty after their Jose experience (Calderon).
5) With Tom Glick are over-seeing an incredible growth in the commercial business of the club which I believe will be awesome within the next 3 years. Taken Gary Cook's business up another 2 levels.
6) Out-done everyone in the summer. Quietly executed 4 in-deals without any fuss or the need to broadcast it on SKY. Kept all the bad crisis press at United, Arsenal and other clubs. Just a summer of calm, quiet preparation.

They cant actually influence over the white line, but I'm starting to believe the Sheik made the right appointments to make us the biggest and best.

What evidence? Outdone everyone how? By spending more money? Decided about changing the playing style how? That was Pellegrini's very own 4-2-2-2 last night. Fuck all to do with them.

Buzzing about last night but no need to go overboard.

[Piccsnumberoneblue]

Didn't we start the 11/12 season at home with a 4-0 win and looking devastating?

Wasn't this under Mancini?

we were struggling for quite some time in that game and were hardly devastating. Once we opened the scoring it was a different matter.
And Tokyo, you do know that Newcastle started the match with eleven players? Not forgetting they were already getting a bit of a chasing by the time Taylor was sent off.

[brite blu sky]

Pellegrini has done nothing yet that Mancini didn't do already.

He put Nasri on in the centre as second striker. Bob played him once centrally and not as second striker.

[brite blu sky]

I've seen a thread or 2 criticising them in the summer, possibly because they are obviously on very large salaries and therefore have to deliver. But let's look what they have done:

1) Never made any big noise about going to do this, that and the other, quietly and slowly planning the stadium expansion.
2) Decided the previous manager had the wrong style, both playing wise and personality-wise. Although this wasn't a universally popular decision at the time, subsequent word from players and evidence is they were 100% right.
3) Decided on an actual change of playing style and hired Pellegrini specifically with the brief of a high-pressing, high-tempo, slick passing, direct goal-scoring game - like tney brought in with Guardiola at Barca.
4) Very quietly moved out anyone who brought a bad name to the club in any way - Balotelli, Tevez (his request to leave was granted in about 4 hours), possibly Mancini. But maybe most significantly of all refused to hire Mourinho at Barca (source, Spanish press) and subsequently at City as his behavioural standards are poor, and Madrid feel a little dirty after their Jose experience (Calderon).
5) With Tom Glick are over-seeing an incredible growth in the commercial business of the club which I believe will be awesome within the next 3 years. Taken Gary Cook's business up another 2 levels.
6) Out-done everyone in the summer. Quietly executed 4 in-deals without any fuss or the need to broadcast it on SKY. Kept all the bad crisis press at United, Arsenal and other clubs. Just a summer of calm, quiet preparation.

They cant actually influence over the white line, but I'm starting to believe the Sheik made the right appointments to make us the biggest and best.

I agree with all this to varying degrees. Refreshingly balanced.

[Beefymcfc]

The only thing I criticised the Spaniards for was the manner in which Mancini went out of the door, the main point being the FA Cup Final.

Nothing more to say really, just let's see where we are after the CL Gp stages, New Year in the league and again at the end of the season.

I hope is rosey at each of them points and we can say it's been a huge success. Until then, I'm keeping powder dry.

[Piccsnumberoneblue]

Pellegrini has done nothing yet that Mancini didn't do already.

He put Nasri on in the centre as second striker. Bob played him once centrally and not as second striker.

And sent out a team with the emphasis on pace and width.
And resisted the temptation to try and shut up shop once in the lead.

It is an encouraging start, maybe not much more yet, but you can't deny it was a little more entertaining.

[maddog fenton]

The only thing I criticised the Spaniards for was the manner in which Mancini went out of the door, the main point being the FA Cup Final.

Nothing more to say really, just let's see where we are after the CL Gp stages, New Year in the league and again at the end of the season.

I hope is rosey at each of them points and we can say it's been a huge success. Until then, I'm keeping powder dry.

I'm just as a bigger of a fan of bobby manc but the stuff I've heard since is beyond any manager, I've heard theAt Mancini never stepped foot in the dressing room at half time for the final and if he did their were at least 5 players ready to hand in a transfer request there and then

[Beefymcfc]

The only thing I criticised the Spaniards for was the manner in which Mancini went out of the door, the main point being the FA Cup Final.

Nothing more to say really, just let's see where we are after the CL Gp stages, New Year in the league and again at the end of the season.

I hope is rosey at each of them points and we can say it's been a huge success. Until then, I'm keeping powder dry.

I'm just as a bigger of a fan of bobby manc but the stuff I've heard since is beyond any manager, I've heard theAt Mancini never stepped foot in the dressing room at half time for the final and if he did their were at least 5 players ready to hand in a transfer request there and then

I think we've been through the lot on this mate from players sending texts to the media to there being a full on rebellion. Either way, the whole team (top to bottom) should've put things aside and given us the best chance to win the cup. Those who'd paid their dues deserved that.