General Premier League Thread 2020-21 - Mod Notes in 1st post. [Updated 17/12/20]

RasTa wrote: »

The problem is, that there are too many games. Straight back into CL and Europa this week. PL again the following week and repeat with another midweek CL and Europa. Whilst the mighty Leeds, Villa and Everton get a nice rest.

If only United had funds to afford a big squad that would make it a bit easier

PhlegmyMoses wrote: »

Right but this happens all of the time, particularly at big clubs. Pirlo is manager of Juve, Arteta at Arsenal, Zidane at Real, Lampard at Chelsea. And if Klopp was to leave tomorrow, would anybody bet against Gerrard taking over there?

None of this makes Ole the right man for the job, but it just seems trite to say that he wouldn't have been in with a chance of the job if it weren't for his association woth the club, as that is how so many managers have gotten those jobs in the first place. Yeah, no **** he wouldn't have been in with a sniff of the job with his CV, but this isn't unique to Ole or some weird thing that happened.

Your claim of many mangers getting positions in big clubs because of this is completely untrue. It's only recently that this has become a thing that I'm aware of? Pep the first that I recall?

Pirlo - People said he only got the job because of his time at the club.
Zidane - People said the same. He went on to be one of the most successful managers ever at Madrid

There is less noise about those two as they are not in the premier league.

Lampard - EVERYONE is saying he's out of his depth etc.

Arteta - Not as much noise about this because he was an assistant manager for so long in the PL and also he's won a trophy.

Edit: In regards Gerrard, would I be surprised if he got the job? Nope, would it be a terrible appointment? Yup.

Shanotheslayer wrote: »

Your claim of many mangers getting positions in big clubs because of this is completely untrue. It's only recently that this has become a thing that I'm aware of? Pep the first that I recall?

Pirlo - People said he only got the job because of his time at the club.
Zidane - People said the same. He went on to be one of the most successful managers ever at Madrid

There is less noise about those two as they are not in the premier league.

Lampard - EVERYONE is saying he's out of his depth etc.

Arteta - Not as much noise about this because he was an assistant manager for so long in the PL and also he's won a trophy.

Edit: In regards Gerrard, would I be surprised if he got the job? Nope, would it be a terrible appointment? Yup.

How can my claim be untrue when 6 current managers of big clubs have gotten their starts that way to varying degrees of success? Also a new thing? How do we reckon Graeme Souness and Kenny Dalglish got the top jobs at the best team in the league in the 80s? Ancelotti had one season at Reggiana before moving to a prime Parma team. Where did he start his career as a player? You guessed it.

There is no magic path for a manager to turn out to be the right fit. But claiming that having an association with the club isn't a well trodden path is crazy.

Getting back to the crux of this conversation about Solskjær and his appointment. To the posters suggesting it was madness etc I don’t get you at all?

He was a club legend as player who throughout his career as player displayed great football intelligence. Added to that on his retirement he was actively involved at the club managing the reserves very successfully. He then went into managing professionally in his home country winning 2 league titles & a cup. His Cardiff experience blots his cv alright but seems to be all anyone remembers.

And as has been said loads of examples of ex players getting these positions for years. Some fail miserably, some are runaway successes and some fall in between just like regular appointments.

Do I think there were better candidate’s around when he got the top job? Of course I do, but this snarky attitude towards his appointment as if it was some outrageously dumb move is without foundation in my opinion.

RasTa wrote: »

Imagine we had no debt though, we could have blown everyone out of the water and all the money would have been generated by the club itself. Glorious, the way football should be.

And the only difference that may have happened is you waste even more money on players.

Club need to sort out the structure from the top down.

PhlegmyMoses wrote: »

Liverpool are the only major outlier here. Klopp is a great manager and is getting great value for money out of his players. United came 3rd last year and are being outset by two other teams. The rest of the teams are all performing around where their money spent dictates barring Pool. Good job Klopp.

Everton are definitely not performing considering the money they've spent recently.

The money they spent would indicate challenging top 4 and that hasn't been the case at all unfortunately.

PhlegmyMoses wrote: »

Liverpool are the only major outlier here. Klopp is a great manager and is getting great value for money out of his players. United came 3rd last year and are being outset by two other teams. The rest of the teams are all performing around where their money spent dictates barring Pool. Good job Klopp.

That was last year, at that point only City had spent more over the previous 4/5 years. The year before United didn't get top 4.

19/20 - 3rd - 66 points.
18/19 - 6th - 66 points.
17/18 - 2nd - 81 points.
16/17 - 6th - 69 points.

That's United finishes for the same time period I put the transfer spending up for. Average points were 70.5. The average points total that the winners got over that period was 97.5. Average points of the fourth place team was 72, so United haven't been miles off top 4 but that 81 points from Jose really is the outlier.

James fit for the game thankfully

Iwobi and Siggy tho

Redmond should have scored there or at least hit the target

JWP with a good finish that

1-0

Shanotheslayer wrote: »

JWP with a good finish that

1-0

2-0 at HT and Ings hasn't even scored yet.

This has to be the most unpredictable start to a season in a long time. Although it was generous to consider Everton genuine title contenders especially with Richarlison out.

thelad95 wrote: »

This has to be the most unpredictable start to a season in a long time. Although it was generous to consider Everton genuine title contenders especially with James and Richarlison out.

James is playing.

TitianGerm wrote: »

James is playing.

Ninja edit and frankly he could have fooled me!