The College Dropout

One thing I find interesting is how managers are perceived and it's difficult for them to change it. Think everyone thought Emery did a very good job at Valencia. Fans didn't like him much. They've not been CL regulars since he left. Good job at Sevilla, strengthened his rep. Then gone to PSG and lost all credibility with the players walking all over him.

Don’t want to compare Wenger to Pardew but there’s a big chance the board will finally get the grief they deserve. It’s the Arsenal board that have mandated 4th as their maximum target. This signing just exposed their lack of ambition imo. Arsene got the stick but he wasn’t the main problem. If things go bad it could get ugly. Not that I think Emery is a bad manager. It’s just not an exciting appointment. A specialist in 4th.

They saw all those 4th place finishes and licked their lips. Not an exciting appointment at all. Arteta might’ve been better.

Felt sorry for Riviere. It was clear early doors he wasn't cut out for this.

I don't think Neuer is as great a shot-stopper as Kahn or a number of top keepers imo. But he's revolutionised the position.

Just seen Nobby on Sky. It was like seeing a beloved uncle you've not seen for several years. I love him. I miss him. Could still do a job at RB i'm sure.

LOL It is very West Ham. He’s not suited to playing for a team that won’t have the majority of the ball.

Seems like he just gets picked because he’s a good egg.

Doesn't matter when western/central European countries do it, like when Germany allegedly bribed their way to get the World Cup in 2006 Basically.

Was better off challenging Benzema it seems for World Cup aspirations.

I was a big Viana fan too. But that season when he got a rare chance he was piss poor. Looked a proper player in that first season.

Casillas was imperious during Spain’s dominant spell. I don’t think he made a big bollock in any of those competitions. Saved penalties. Dealt with one vs ones. Top notch from crosses. Around 2012/13 he began to lose it. Ended as a liability. That article is interesting. I do wonder if Hart was ever genuinely very good. Every England tournament he let himself down and was a key reason in England struggling to even make the QF’s. Torres and Casillas relied on physical abilities. When those went, so did the confidence. Casillas was a high risk goalie, coming out for crosses a lot. When the reflexes declined he lost his assuredness in other area. Rooney a physical decline. Then you have your Ramos and Ronaldos that keep going. Ramos has been around so long he was Zidane’s team mate for a season.

Drogb was the difference in that tie. Cut back goal. Then ended Viana’s Newcastle career. That’s the last good Newcastle side to run deep in a Cup competition. Souness fucked up the next year.

Yeah that’s a massive weapon to have in a team. Beautiful pass.

The demands of having the ball at your feet where so much less in Schmeichel's era. Every football team and coach in the era was brought up with legal backpasses. It took more than a decade for gk's ability on the ball to be a factor in attacking. Being able to pass it under a bit of pressure made you good on the ball in that era. GK and fullback has changed so much in the last 25 years. Shot stopping is probably the biggest constant factor.

I've got Ashley Stockholm Syndrome. I winced at £17m.

Colo - the best when pressed. Best first touch and ball control. A little like Rio on the ball - a good passer but generally just comfortable in possession and moving forward. Bramble - a two-footed long passer which is exceptionally impressive for an English defender. Would hit a lot in the stands. Woodgate - genuinely struggling to remember him. Was more in the Colo/Rio bracket of being a great footballer but maybe not as impressive range of passing. That composure under pressure to just bring the ball out. Think Lejeune is more in the long passer type. Maybe not so good at relieving pressure by just carrying out but better at starting attacks. Having a centreback that can ping the ball from LCB to an advanced RW or even over the top is a great option. Is it Barzagli that did it a lot for Italy at the Euros?

So wait.. De Gea isn't a better shot-stopper and passer of the ball? Schmeichel's impact might only be superseded by Ederson in the PL. At the time he was the most comfortable with the introduction of the backpass rule. He was a key part in a dominant side. Ability wise, he commanded his box better/dealt with aerial balls better. But that was a bigger part of goalkeeping in his era. FWIW I don't think either goalkeeper looks as good if they swap era's and Man United teams.

Aye, owners/managing directors are the most important people at football clubs. They set the ambitions of the club.

De Gea is better than Schmeichel was imo. De Gea might be the best shot stopper I’ve ever seen. Commands his box. Great with his feet, Schmeichel played in an era when that was less important. The Dane seemed moe likely to save penas and score goals. Of course Peter played in a better team and his big moments accounted in bigger trophies. Buffoon’s longevity marks him as the best I’ve seen. No hidden weaknesses exposed. Not overly reliant on reflexes. Demands of the modern game never got the better of him. You don’t want to go out like Casillas. Feel like Schmeichel was shit at Villa iirc.

Colo’s heart failed him.

They also made some fantastic signings. Luka Modric Gareth Bale Berbatov Defoe Keane But they also played Alan Hutton. SO kudos where it's due.

If it were only Pep better than Mourinho, that would be great for Jose.

Lascelles should be going for the power in his fists to turn form around. If Kane has a slow start to the WC, let Jamaal deal with him. Granted he’s got experience. But Cahill’s had a bad season and will be going. He’s been out the side a fair bit. Lascelles has captained a Side and played well at a fairly young age. Get him in the squad as an emerging leader.