Jump to content

Recommended Posts

I remember reading something when Rafa was at Liverpool that he couldn't rely on Gerrard to hold down a position he just kept wandering out of position so he just gave him a free role in the team

 

Rafa moved him to the right of midfield which Gerrard didn't like but he had his most productive season in that position since he emerged at Liverpool.

 

Gerrard was a tactical nightmare. Shelvey has that side of Gerrard's game with less ability and mobility.

 

Gerrard was a great player, but as you said tactically he wasn't the best and I always considered his technique suspect at times as well. He often over ran the ball when running with it for example and that meant he was charging around after it, tackling into players etc. which looked good on MOTD, but it was to the detriment of his all-round game. I think its an English disease, we like to run with the ball, but don't seem to have much control over it. Barkley is similar and Oxlade-Chamberlain at Arsenal. They just need to relax more. Now compare the likes of Scholes and Lampard on the ball and when moving with it. Different players of course, but far more technical.

 

Agreed, the issue is also off the ball and general football intelligence. It speaks to the understanding English players have of the game and their education. Cabaye has no more ability and barely anymore mobility than Shelvey but he thinks quicker on and off the ball. His positioning, tracking runners etc is much better. Someone like Santi Cazorla (or Giggs, Scholes tbf) can play a majority or a lot of their career out wide, second striker, #10 then play CM at a very high level. The ability is there of course but so is the mental know-how. The understanding of the game.

 

We produce very few intelligent players and we often don't rate the ones we have. Players are encouraged to play with little discipline. Ramsey in Spain would be a totally different player - he had the skillset for a really cultured game but the focus on goals and assists for a cm has made him a different (liability) of a CM. I've said it before but playing in England at a pivotal age meant Fabregas couldn't play the Barca style. Another one - off the ball nightmare. It's generally ok as Cesc Fabregas but for the average English clogger - not so much.

Link to post
Share on other sites

So, Steve McClaren essentially got told how the opposition and Twente were going to play by the 21 year old captain and the coaching staff. Just happened to coincide with the biggest success of his career.......

Now to the curious question  Who was this 21 year old captain?

 

Likely it could have been Douglas who was 21 or so at the time. He was not captain of the 2008/9 side though.

Link to post
Share on other sites

So, Steve McClaren essentially got told how the opposition and Twente were going to play by the 21 year old captain and the coaching staff. Just happened to coincide with the biggest success of his career.......

Now to the curious question  Who was this 21 year old captain?

 

Likely it could have been Douglas who was 21 or so at the time. He was not captain of the 2008/9 side though.

O0
Link to post
Share on other sites

Not really sure what the story is there like.

 

A coaching team informs a manager of how the other team is likely to set up. I mean, that's just normal practice isn't it? Shock horror that McClaren assigned some of his staff to work on how the opposition play.

 

The captain part is a nothing story too, of course someone who has played regularly in that league will share information to the manager who is from a different country. I mean, I'm sure John Terry may occasionally tell Conte how English teams are likely to set up.

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • 3 months later...

Carver went to Cyprus and fucked up there.

 

McClaren went to Derby fucked up and now he's about to fuck up with Maccabi.

 

The state of the managers, sorry I mean head coaches, appointed by those gastropods running the club.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Gotta remember that Benitez approached the club and not the other way round.  Not in a million years would egg and fatter egg have gone after a coach in Rafa's league.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Guest neesy111

I'm not sure that's correct.  Apparently there had been some contact between the parties for a few weeks before McClaren was binned.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Gotta remember that Benitez approached the club and not the other way round.  Not in a million years would egg and fatter egg have gone after a coach in Rafa's league.

 

Is that true?

 

Yes

Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm not sure that's correct.  Apparently there had been some contact between the parties for a few weeks before McClaren was binned.

 

I've read it somewhere, possibly a Louise Taylor article? 

Link to post
Share on other sites

Gotta remember that Benitez approached the club and not the other way round.  Not in a million years would egg and fatter egg have gone after a coach in Rafa's league.

 

I think that is true. The reports that I read were that Rafa approached us. As if Charnley would have the foresight to approach Rafa. Ashley probably didn't even know who Rafa is.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Why on earth didn't we bin this c*** after the 5-1 Chelsea mauling. Almost 3 weeks to prepare for 2 winnable games in Stoke away and Bournemouth at home at a training camp would've been perfect for Rafa...mongs.

 

Think it's Charnley's worst decision (that we know about). We probably would have stayed up.

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • 3 months later...

Did Anne Robinson in front of him do the same as well? Looks fairly empty for an oversold flight.

 

Eh? There's clearly someone in every seat in the photo other than those in McClaren's row.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...