Theregulars

I think some credit is due also for doing something important in tournament football - making the team hard to beat (h/t @LFEE). England don’t look like conceding many, and have had control of most of the games without doing much useful with it. The thing that stops me going past lukewarm for him is that it has never passed the naked eye test, both in terms of football as entertainment but also in terms of just looking like an effective unit who know what they’re trying to do. 4 tournaments in, if there’s such value in his man management and shire wellbeing holiday instructor vibe (and clearly there’s some value in it), could we not have got in some offensive strategic savant as an advisor to work with him?

Love Miggy, would not be sad to have him in the squad at all, can obviously be upgraded in some key ways but can never be upgraded for effort and willingness to learn in my view. Fact that both Rafa and Howe rate him is a good indication.

Stop

Unreal

Shameful. A coward’s exit.

To be fair, we have had enough of experts.

It’s more than obvious what the clubs are doing.

I don’t see how it’s patronising at all. It’s in plain sight for you to see how transparent it is.

That’s why I said in theory, but Brighton in my opinion have an eye for a talented young player with a high ceiling and able to play in England on the comparative cheap.

This is literally the exact situation a sporting director directs and achieves

On a serious note, it does in theory confirm he has a high ceiling and is probably ready to compete now. It’s a real shame.

Well crikey who’d have seen that coming

They literally offered the job to somebody and he turned it down….

But it’s really not that mad if you take the view that buying clubs know we literally have to sell. Of course they will wish to negotiate from the inevitable cliff edge we have to stand on. It’s quite logical.

Was Forest’s conduct the same - did they offer Johnson directly to Spurs?

You’d hope some might temper the instant “cunt” with “you know, he’s occasionally right or spot on”. To me it suggests lazy confirmation bias.

No idea; more commenting on the strength of the argument. I don’t think we’re trying to sell him.

But if they have to show they’re actively trying to sell, your approach wouldn’t work, because it would look like you’re turning down opportunities to comply

ABSOLUTELY

Reflects well on him that big competitive clubs are interested, may ultimately contribute to harder-to-rebuff demands for better salary

I reckon it’s mutually beneficial misinformation.

Imagine the players are fully briefed beforehand.

Divven’t believe it for a second

Absolutely. Everyone’s a cunt, everything’s a disaster and club is a walking embarrassment.

I don’t think anybody gives him credit when he’s correct or sticks their neck out to say good or I agree. Mildly antagonistic but quite a useful source of information.