The Footie Thread

[road2ruin]

Big shout out to Lammens who had an excellent game especially with the number of corners. On that topic though, you would have thought that after corner number 6 Everton would have tried a different tactic and actually give their attackers a little more space and see if that works rather than trying to get 10 people into the 6 yard box.

 

[clubchamp98]

Must admit...I've only seen 10 minutes of it and its had more drama than the 90 odd minutes of the football.

Watched the first half and the only exciting thing was some very dodgy decisions by the ref.

 

[Slime]

Sorry, my lift never arrived.

@Slime - did you get lost in the one way system?

I turned back when I heard Big Ben strike!

 

[irip]

That was a game United would have lost earlier this season.
They look like a team putting the effort in at the moment.
The big question is can they also provide the quality needed, either with the players they have or the right transfers.
For the United fans would you be happy if Carrick was given the job full time?

 

[Slime]

That was a game United would have lost earlier this season.
They look like a team putting the effort in at the moment.
The big question is can they also provide the quality needed, either with the players they have or the right transfers.
For the United fans, would you be happy if Carrick was given the job full time?

If the trend continues, absolutely, but I'd always reserve judgement until the end of the season.
The two big things for me is that he appears to have all the players on board and he's also backed up by a very good coaching team.

 

[PaulMdj]

As much as Carrick has taken the job with his eyes wide open, you’d hope the board have given him some realistic targets to be offered the job full time, ie, finish 6th or above the job is yours, regardless of finishing position we want to see the players playing a certain way with everyone moving forward, or, it doesn’t matter what you do we are replacing you.

If he has no guarantees and keeps going well, who’s to say he wouldn’t get offered a long term contract by another Club and leaves Utd back at square one.

I know we as supporters don’t know what is going in behind close doors, but I don’t think having any uncertainty around your manager is good for any club.

 

[Swango1980]

That was a game United would have lost earlier this season.
They look like a team putting the effort in at the moment.
The big question is can they also provide the quality needed, either with the players they have or the right transfers.
For the United fans would you be happy if Carrick was given the job full time?

If he does very well and we finish in top 4 or 5, it will be very difficult to give the job to anyone else I think. Fans and players will end the season on a high. Even if you get one of the world's most highly regarded managers, the first sign of a struggle, there will be many voices saying "you should never have got rid of Carrick".

As Slime says, I'll reserve judgement until end of the season. But if he gets the job, I will expect I will have finished the season very well, and thus I'll be a happy fan. If we finish poorly, then the club need to be ready to go in a different direction. It isn't just Carrick, but there could be some really positive things coming from the new coaching staff as well. The board, hopefully, will be able to take into account everything, including what goes on behind the scenes that we don't see.

 

[Slime]

If the trend continues, absolutely, but I'd always reserve judgement until the end of the season.
The two big things for me is that he appears to have all the players on board and he's also backed up by a very good coaching team.

When you say, reserve judgement, what’s the criteria you’ll use?

I'd just like to see how the end of the season pans out.
When we get to the pointy end of the season we really see what coaches/managers are made of, particulary regarding the motivation of the players.

 

[PaulMdj]

I'd just like to see how the end of the season pans out.
When we get to the pointy end of the season we really see what coaches/managers are made of, particulary regarding the motivation of the players.

That’s the issue though isn’t it, surely there must be a target for him, ie, if its CL or nothing, is that fair when he’ll only of had 15 games to prove himself.

I doubt any manager in the World could of guaranteed that, also, you don’t want to be sitting around during a World Cup summer/year either trying to find a manager (unless one is lined up) and then expect them to start the recruiting process.

I’d hope Carrick if worthy, gets a decision early to mid April at a minimum to allow him or the Club to be looking at the future.

 

[Billysboots]

United can’t do anything until the end of the season, and would be mad to leap in with an appointment based on one run of games.

For me, if we finish in the European places, playing decent football, then Carrick deserves a chance. I’m sure I said it previously, we’ve had the big name managers and the up and coming coaches - neither has been truly successful, so I’m happy to see them appoint on merit, especially if Carrick has a dressing room behind him, which seems to be the case.

Four great signings have made a massive difference to this side, and we currently have a manager getting the best out of them and the rest of the squad.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Going to be a tough call for Man Utd

Carrick is doing well , doing the simple thing of playing the players in the position that suits them best and they have some very talented forwards

But the ghost of OGS will haunt


Summer will be a huge decision for them

it’s a good run at the moment but bigger tests are ahead

It is always good to see ex players given a chance

 

[Billysboots]

Going to be a tough call for Man Utd

Carrick is doing well , doing the simple thing of playing the players in the position that suits them best and they have some very talented forwards

But the ghost of OGS will haunt


Summer will be a huge decision for them

it’s a good run at the moment but bigger tests are ahead

It is always good to see ex players given a chance

Not sure the ghost of Solskjaer will haunt them, any more than the ghosts of LVG, Moyes, Mourinho, Ten Hag or Amorim.

As I said, United need to appoint on merit. Do their due diligence thoroughly, and get the right person for the job. After over a decade of cock-ups that could be the biggest managerial name going, or Michael Carrick. If he does a good job, as I described, then there is no reason not to give him a shortish contract - a couple of years maybe.

The biggest mistake United made with Solskjaer was giving it him during his interim tenure. They got away with it because the Premier League at that time did not have quite the strength it does now, in my view. He was a lovely guy, but the suggestion always was that he left the coaching to others - you only had to listen to his superficial post match interviews to know that he really never was up to it.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

He was a lovely guy, but the suggestion always was that he left the coaching to others - you only had to listen to his superficial post match interviews to know that he really never was up to it.

You think Fergie took training? He always had a number 2 to take the sessions. It's the same at many clubs now. Running the football side of a team is too big for the manager to run everything. I agree that the job was too big for OGS but the coaching side was not his issue, imo.

 

[Billysboots]

You think Fergie took training? He always had a number 2 to take the sessions. It's the same at many clubs now. Running the football side of a team is too big for the manager to run everything. I agree that the job was too big for OGS but the coaching side was not his issue, imo.

Ferguson at least set foot on the training ground. Solskjaer had a reputation for never going anywhere near it.

 

[PaulMdj]

United can’t do anything until the end of the season, and would be mad to leap in with an appointment based on one run of games.

For me, if we finish in the European places, playing decent football, then Carrick deserves a chance. I’m sure I said it previously, we’ve had the big name managers and the up and coming coaches - neither has been truly successful, so I’m happy to see them appoint on merit, especially if Carrick has a dressing room behind him, which seems to be the case.

Four great signings have made a massive difference to this side, and we currently have a manager getting the best out of them and the rest of the squad.

Not sure the ghost of Solskjaer will haunt them, any more than the ghosts of LVG, Moyes, Mourinho, Ten Hag or Amorim.

As I said, United need to appoint on merit. Do their due diligence thoroughly, and get the right person for the job. After over a decade of cock-ups that could be the biggest managerial name going, or Michael Carrick. If he does a good job, as I described, then there is no reason not to give him a shortish contract - a couple of years maybe.

The biggest mistake United made with Solskjaer was giving it him during his interim tenure. They got away with it because the Premier League at that time did not have quite the strength it does now, in my view. He was a lovely guy, but the suggestion always was that he left the coaching to others - you only had to listen to his superficial post match interviews to know that he really never was up to it.

I don’t agree Billy, Utd are one of the biggest Clubs in the world and can’t afford to hang around. Players will be returning late after the WC and this will only add to any pressure.

I’d expect most Clubs will already be looking at summer signings and if they’re not sure of the manager or style of play they’ll be asking for trouble.

I do agree with you about not rushing in to any decisions, but even if Carrick gets you CL Football next season there’s nothing to go on him taking yous to 4 Comps, playing twice a week to say he’d cope.

He may a bit lucky that he only has the PL to worry about and not the amount of games others around yous are playing.

I’d genuinely like to see him do well, as without jumping the gun who’s to say he wouldn’t be a candidate for England in 15-20yrs time.

 

[Swango1980]

Ferguson at least set foot on the training ground. Solskjaer had a reputation for never going anywhere near it.

It is only because he thought he was a sub, and there was nobody there to tell him to go on and see a training session for the last 5 minutes.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Not sure the ghost of Solskjaer will haunt them, any more than the ghosts of LVG, Moyes, Mourinho, Ten Hag or Amorim.

As I said, United need to appoint on merit. Do their due diligence thoroughly, and get the right person for the job. After over a decade of cock-ups that could be the biggest managerial name going, or Michael Carrick. If he does a good job, as I described, then there is no reason not to give him a shortish contract - a couple of years maybe.

The biggest mistake United made with Solskjaer was giving it him during his interim tenure. They got away with it because the Premier League at that time did not have quite the strength it does now, in my view. He was a lovely guy, but the suggestion always was that he left the coaching to others - you only had to listen to his superficial post match interviews to know that he really never was up to it.

There has been mess up after mess up for a number of years when it comes to managerial appointments

The issue could well be the ones making the choices and their lack of experience of the sport

 

[nickjdavis]

Going to be interesting to see how Newcastle approach tonights 2nd leg against Quarabag....I'm expecting to see a small handful of players rested and maybe a couple of youth players given a chance...Sean Neave came on as a late sub in the first leg and if we are still several goals up at half time then it would be good for him to get a full half under his belt.

I dont expect however a gung ho approach to a tie that should be considered done and dusted but I'd like to think we could get ourselves on or close to the following leader board of biggest aggregate CL wins...


Season Round Aggregate Score
2008/09 Round of 16 Bayern Munich 12-1 Sporting CP
2024/25 Playoff Round PSG 10-0 Brest
2004/05 Round of 16 Lyon 10-2 Werder Bremen
2011/12 Round of 16 Barcelona 10-2 Bayer Leverkusen
2016/17 Round of 16 Bayern Munich 10-2 Arsenal
2018/19 Round of 16 Man City 10-2 Schalke

 

[irip]

Going to be interesting to see how Newcastle approach tonights 2nd leg against Quarabag....I'm expecting to see a small handful of players rested and maybe a couple of youth players given a chance...Sean Neave came on as a late sub in the first leg and if we are still several goals up at half time then it would be good for him to get a full half under his belt.

I dont expect however a gung ho approach to a tie that should be considered done and dusted but I'd like to think we could get ourselves on or close to the following leader board of biggest aggregate CL wins...


Season Round Aggregate Score
2008/09 Round of 16 Bayern Munich 12-1 Sporting CP
2024/25 Playoff Round PSG 10-0 Brest
2004/05 Round of 16 Lyon 10-2 Werder Bremen
2011/12 Round of 16 Barcelona 10-2 Bayer Leverkusen
2016/17 Round of 16 Bayern Munich 10-2 Arsenal
2018/19 Round of 16 Man City 10-2 Schalke

It would make sense where possible to rest those players who need it.
The tie is done and that’s all that matters.

I’m waiting for Eddie to give me a shout otherwise I’m round at 20.00 to help with plastering (I cant plaster but can help Billy with the tea).

 

[road2ruin]

I don’t agree Billy, Utd are one of the biggest Clubs in the world and can’t afford to hang around. Players will be returning late after the WC and this will only add to any pressure.

It'll be interesting to see how the summer window goes given the WC however my opinion is that very little will get done beforehand so if Carrick weren't offered the job there is time for a new manager to come in and sort out potential signings.

The window opens on the 15th June which is after the WC starts and the WC finishes on the 19th July although obviously players will return home before that. I guess the issue will be if United decide they want a coach of an international side and have to wait for them to get knocked out then it could have implications. Either way though you'd expect the board to have a shortlist of players that they want and they'll be bought regardless of the manager if he's not in place at that point.