The New Football Thread

[Fox3WheresMyBanana]

I have never understood why football managers choose to play first team players out of position instead of bringing people up from the reserves who CAN play that position.

England managers are typically even worse - they pick a 'Best XI players', then try to build a formation, like all those years playing Gerrard and Lampard, who never gelled and never would.

That said, the basic play of the Tottenham back four was absolutely dire. Their attitude was defeatist from the start, always evidenced by unwillingness to challenge.
And from a tactical point of view, I have also never understood why defenders stick to their positional zones when they have a big numerical advantage over the attackers.
They should switch to man-to-man, plus extras to cover, for that play.

The ball control and positional running of the Newcastle team was excellent. Some days, you can't do anything wrong.

[Woody]

Anyone else get the Emergency Alert

[4mastacker]

The Spurs head coach has definitely been plucked. He didn't last a month in the job!!

[Woody]

Allow me to update the spreadsheet of Super Frank Lampard
P5 : W0 : D0 : L5
Your welcome.

[Fox3WheresMyBanana]

Frank Lampard is doing this for his personal bank spreadsheet, which probably works out at at least 50 G's per game, and probably a lot more.

[Woody]

[tango15]

My local team, Northampton Town, where I sometimes do a bit of stewarding, played Bradford a couple of weeks ago. I discovered that their manager is no less than Mark Hughes, whose autograph was much sought-after before the game. Perhaps because Bradford are a lower-league team, the tragedy is largely forgotten, but what makes it particularly poignant is the fact that in many cases, several members of the same family died that day.

[Woody]

Happy Istanbul Day

[Woody]

The Neville’s aren’t the most successful football managers ever

Major League Soccer side Inter Miami have sacked coach Phil Neville with the club bottom of the Eastern Conference after 15 games.

Wednesday's 1-0 loss at home to the New York Red Bulls was their 10th defeat in their past 13 league games.

[tango15]

I can't help thinking that a lot of these so-called managers are just journeymen. They get lawyers to write a neat little clause into their contract, to say that if they're sacked they get a payout. 'Not my fault, guv. I inherited a lousy team and you won't spend money on new players, so what can I do?' Collect severance money, go on holiday, put a few feelers out, answer all your telephone calls, and wait for the next job offer. A large detached house in the suburbs, the same as the players have? No problem.

[Woody]

David Moyes winning a European trophy in England before Pep Guardiola.

What were the odds of that happening

[Fox3WheresMyBanana]

Well, at least it didn't happen whilst he was managing you-know-who

T15

'Not my fault, guv. I inherited a lousy team and you won't spend money on new players, so what can I do?'

Since these ARE usually the problems, not the previous manager, you can hardly blame them for such a clause.

It may well be true that all Fat Sam, for example, does is beef up the defence and yell at people, but at least this has worked on a couple of occasions.
And, indeed, what else can one do with a lousy team and no money?

[1DC]

Some years ago my local team Grimsby Town hadn't won a game and then due to injury and illness they were left with eleven fit players. The manager fielded them in a team they won and that was the start of a run and eventually they were promoted at the end of the season, sod all to do with the managers talents he just used what was left.

[llondel]

Some years ago my local team Grimsby Town hadn't won a game and then due to injury and illness they were left with eleven fit players. The manager fielded them in a team they won and that was the start of a run and eventually they were promoted at the end of the season, sod all to do with the managers talents he just used what was left.

If he managed to motivate them and get them to perform at their best then he did a good job. The manager is supposed to come up with creative plays and plan things to do to counter opponents' strong points, it's not just picking the team.

[Fox3WheresMyBanana]

My only personal experience of great sports management was playing veterans' hockey, and our player/manager was also the team manager of the current World Vets' champions.
Llondel is quite right, that's exactly what he did. We beat teams much better than us on paper because he found the gaps in the opposition whilst countering their strengths.
In one game, we were losing 1-3 when, with 6 minutes left, we got a player sin-binned for 5 minutes. He came up with Plan B on the fly, all out attack with 10 men and several position shuffles. We won 4-3.
We got promoted every season.
And he did it using the talent he had. All of us had several weak points in our play, but he correctly assessed us all and put us where we would be of most use that match, and indeed at that time in that match. Over 3 seasons, I was played in every position on the pitch except goalie at one time or another.
Now, he did have the advantage that almost all of us were serving/former officers or SNCOs, so he didn't need to yell or motivate, and we were all used to making a rapid plan work.
And 4 of us were active coaches, so we knew how every position was supposed to be played.

I found watching him at work tremendously useful with my own schoolgirl hockey coaching and managing.

[Woody]

110 years ago today, the greatest Football manager ever was born

[Woody]

Breaking...

Al Lttihad have given up their chase for Salah and have turned their attention to Harry Maguire..

They have offered Man Utd a camel in a straight swap for the player...

[1DC]

Don't forget that Grimsby Town sacked Bill Shankly before he came to Liverpool!!

[Woody]

https://x.com/haveigotnews/status/17037 ... 47264?s=20

[Wodrick]

Sir Bobby Charlton ManU and England great died this morning at 86.