KaKa

Leicester bottled it

Dean Smith man ... down they go.

1 minute ago, The Butcher said:

Sorry

All good man 

1 minute ago, Pata said:

 

Pretty sure he said it was life-changing money to his team of assistants, I don't blame him at all for taking the job.

It was a boat load of money, yeah.

It was also a project where they wanted him to restructure the whole club from top to bottom and even re-design their training ground and stuff like that from what I recall.

And so it was something quite different and unique.

4 minutes ago, The Butcher said:

Shut up, Kaka.

1 minute ago, The Butcher said:

Expected more from him. Expected him to stay at the highest level and not to go after the money. He'd already earned hundreds of billions during his time in football.

 

Might sound daft, but I've never looked at the man the same after that.

He can maange where the hell he wants to man. What are you on about 

Not as if he couldn't then come back whenever he pleased. 

4 minutes ago, astraguy said:

I'd love him back as a dof, the man can spot a bargain

Yup. Under Ashley I remember him even saying he didn't care about the size of the budget, he just wanted the freedom to bring in who he wanted with it. And still Mike Ashley was pissing him about. Just a phenomenally stupid man.

3 minutes ago, Kimbo said:

It seems he’s insisting on getting another premier league job. The fact he seems to only be an option for panicking relegation fodder is depressing. It also seems that coach Marsch was preferred over him. Go back to la liga man.

Leicester have the talent for him to be easily have them top half and pushing for Europe if he keeps them up.

It's a good job for him. Also has already stated eh prefers to stay in the UK near his family.

Not going to have to deal with the uproar and pants pissing from the Everton fans this time around. He's going to make people look silly IMO.

1 minute ago, The Butcher said:

Absolutely adored the man when he was here, but then he left for fucking China and that left a stain that never washed away.

 

Would've had no problem with him leaving for a top club, but the fact that he had China lined up hurt a lot.

 

 

He left because Mike Ashley was messing him about, and he got a great offer from China so he went over there and made some good money.

Just now, Optimistic Nut said:

 

Second half of that season when we had Lejeune and Schar playing out either side of Lascelles and Almiron and Perez off Rondon, the football was enjoyable.

Unreal we just posted the same thing at the exact same time 

Good to see someone else still remembers how well things were coming together!

Just now, andycap said:

The football we played in the last season under him was exciting once he had almiron at the club. I really enjoyed watching our games. Longstaff was on par with rice under his tutelage at the time. 

That Almiron, Rondon and Ayoze trio was looking good towards the end of that season man. My God.

Also had that back three of Schar, Lascelles and LeJeune that was looking really good. Longstaff was flying and getting bids from Man Utd coming in.

And then of course Mike Ashley as usual had to go and ruin everything again. 

8 minutes ago, andycap said:

He might struggle I can't recall them having a great defense. 

He'll have them very organised and compact, just like he did with us.

They have good enough players that just need organising and a bit more discipline in their play. Two hallmarks of Rafa.

Can't see him going down with a team that features Ndidi, Maddison, Barnes, Kelechi, Vardy, Perriera and Castagne. He'll get them right.

This season two of our best players have been Rafa signings too, in both Almiron and Shar. Put some respect on Rafa's name!

1 minute ago, Gawalls said:

This is why I never a said it - we all have opinions. His football just bored me

He wasn't supported and so set us up as best as he could, with the players he had, to get the results we needed. You should know this though. This is all very strange.

2 minutes ago, magvicar said:

I think Rafa is a poisoned chalice for any club to be fair.

I wasn't too keen on him at Newcastle as time went on. 

 

I don't like his style of football and I don't think players do.

I also don't think he has any man management skills.

 

But most of all I don't like the way he left the club, regardless of whether people hated Ashley.

His utter bull crap of saying that Chinese club was just the project he wanted was laughable. I mean it had nothing to do with the 12 million contract or so he was offered to do absolutely nothing more than any average Joe could've done.

 

I feel sorry for any club that takes him on, on the wages he would be asking.

I just don't like the bloke.

Yikes. Crazy stuff. This Rafa slander is terrible.

You do realise he was the one that first contacted Staveley and so actually even has a hand in our current situation.

Rafa is a huge reason we are currently where we are man. Stop it.

Rafa is definitely keeping that Leicester team up.

4 minutes ago, STM said:

I hope we are like a vulture feeding off their carcass in the summer. Maddison, Tielemans or Barnes please.

The Tieleman's rumours have resurfaced again recently.

On a free I think it's a very strong signing. Very similar to Bruno too in that he can play in both the 6 and 8 positions, and if Bruno is ever out we'd not lack creativity to the extent we do currently. Was also quite surprised at how decent his defensive numbers are.

Fresh start with us and I think he'd be back to his best. We could benefit from Leicester's poor season wish has seemingly turned off some suitors for him apparently.

2 minutes ago, Froggy said:

@KaKa Osimhen, Kane, Ramos in that order.

 

I'm a little worried about spending the money touted on Kane given his age, but he's proven in the league. Osimhen and Ramos both look like beasts though.

 

It's dependent on cost. Apparently Spurs wanting £100m for Kane, Napoli wanting €150m for Osimhen and I'm sure Ramos won't come cheap after what Nunez went for last year.

Interesting, didn't think you'd mention him. In my opinion Ramos is the guy best suited if you are unable to get Kane. He's probably the most similar type of striker to him you can get.

Drops into space and links play very well and can even play in the number 10 like he often did off of Nunez last season. Great finisher and fantastic in the air. Think someone that can drop and create spaces for Rashford to run into would be dangerous.

Think you'll bottle it and do something silly though.

1 minute ago, Smal said:

If we make Europe I don’t think we need to think in terms of a first XI. Everyone will get plenty of game time and there’d need to be more rotation.

 

 

 

Yeah, for sure. If we are in the Champions League and going up against top competition, I was just more thinking who we'd be most likely to start with in those most difficult games that's all.

It's going to be very interesting to see how the squad shapes up over the summer. Looking forward to it.

@Froggy

I'm actually really intrigued by who you guys sign upfront in the summer.

If you can't get Kane in, who would you like to see signed up front for you?

12 minutes ago, Rich said:

This is where I've got us as it currently stands, coming into the summer:

 

Pope

Dúbravka

Karius

--

Trippier

Krafth

Schär

XXXXX (centre-back capable of playing right-back if needed)

Lascelles

Botman

Burn

XXXXX (pure left-back)

Targett 

--

Joelinton

S. Longstaff

Guimarães

XXXXX (defensive-minded central midfielder)

Willock

XXXXX (offensive-minded central midfielder/number ten)

Anderson [U21]

--

XXXXX (goalscoring winger, ideally capable of playing up front)

Almirón

Murphy

Saint-Maximin

Gordon

--

Isak

Wilson

Kuol [U21]

 

----

 

If we qualify for the Europa League/Conference League instead of the Champions League, I'd keep Ashby here and give him all of our cup games. If we qualify for the Champions League, which I think we will, we probably need to get him out on loan somewhere that he can play week-in, week-out. Probably top-end Championship, bottom-end Premier League.

 

This would also mean I wouldn't bother signing another centre-back, as Ashby takes a squad place, unless it was an U21 that didn't need to be registered next season.

 

Kuol obviously needs a better loan, and I suppose more depth would give Anderson the chance to get out to somewhere decent if we qualify for the CL.

 

----

 

Have I missed anything?

Ah, so you'd like to see Willock remain in the first 11 then?

I love what he's done this season, but wonder if we could do with someone more clinical in the first team, by either pushing Bruno up there with a top DM coming in, or bringing in a top 8 that gets goals and assists more consistently with Bruno staying deep.

Taking a bit of pressure of Willock and allowing him a couple more seasons to continue to grow into a more permanent first team role.

18 minutes ago, Froggy said:

 

Frogman, it's clear you had no idea what type of player Isak was and had not seen him play, and just went off recent stats.

It's in line with your club's level of scouting and analysis. Just buying players off recent stats with no consideration of their play style, fit for the team or fit for the league.

It's why you've ended up with an £80 million squad player in Sancho, and a future £90 million squad player in Antony.

Crazy stuff.

If we make the Champions League how do you lot see our midfield three going into next season?

I think I'd like to see Joelinton, Bruno and a new top central midfielder in the main first 11.

With Willock, Longstaff and a new younger Bruno alternative as the rotational guys.

Thoughts?

6 minutes ago, toon25 said:

As an aside...it seems Chelsea paid off their former board member and Abramovic henchwoman Marina Granovskaia to the tune of £36 million 

2 minutes ago, Wolfcastle said:

I used to think it'd make a change to have someone other than Man City  - but when its gone down to the last day between Liverpool and Man City, my feelings have been all in on Man City, so now I know better

Are you sure you guys don't support Man City? My God 

1 minute ago, midds said:

Jut heaps more and more pressure on Arsenal as the games tick down. Every mistake, every decision will crank it up higher and higher as they get closer to the title. 

 

Then they play us, already livid from doing the same things to see the game out that they do. Away from home against a team that absolutely dicked them just a year ago. Gonna be wild 

Yeah ... think they lose to Man City and us and blow the title.