23 Mar 2021 16:06:10
Nice to see the deano debate trundling along, for all of you who are saying that we've gone from mid-table in the championship to mid-table in the prem, your 100% right, but to me that's NOT as impressive as getting a club promoted with a small squad and very limited funds, we have been blessed with owners who poured money into the club;I'm more impressed we the likes of Sheffield United and Burnley, they've done it the hard way, yes Sheffield. United are going down because of lack of investment, as have Burnley in the past, but the difference for me is those clubs have an identity for being grafters who play for a manager they believed in, how many of our buys were more inclined to have joined us for the money rather than feeling an affinity with the club, don't misunderstand me, we're blessed to have had good, wealthy owners, so we don't really understand the other side of the coin (and why other teams hate us so much), but I think deano has done a good job, but to take a team to the next level the players have to buy into the managers' vision for the club, and I honestly believe deano has not got that belief at the club from the players, put it this way, since Kopp joined the scouse, they have attracted great players ranging from seasoned professionals to youth team wannabes, now they can't compete on salary, or on prestige with the likes of real Madrid or barca, or man cited, do what's the secret, simple, players want to come and play because it's Klopp, deano is not that type of manager, remember when Martin O'Neil came to us, players joined because of him, or when Ron Atkinson was manager, the players gave that extra 20% and so did the fans, BECAUSE everyone bought in to the cause, deano will more than likely do a good job for us, we'll be mid-table and maybe win a cup years to come, we'll buy young players with potential, develop and sell them at the right time, and everything will nice and safe, but if we want more, at some point you need to invest in a manager who excites and inspires you and the players, is deano that man? -and again just to say if he stays then good, but will I go to a game like an excited school kid to be entertained with passion, or will I go to watch us and come away thinking it was another okay game and knowing another mid-table finish will be nice again? -I know which I'd PREFER.


1.) 23 Mar 2021
23 Mar 2021 16:53:43
I actually said before the season that I'd be delighted with a thoroughly boring mid table finish after the last season! It was sort of tongue in cheek but also true. Well imo we've had a very good season and for most of it we've been highly entertaining and exciting to watch. Admittedly now is not that time, but over the season in general we've been great. People have short memories. Smith has brought some very good players to the club (and some poor acquisitions too), and kept players like Grealish and Mcginn. Jack stayed exactly because of Smith's vision for the club, the very thing you suggest he can't achieve. I'm not accusing you specifically but I really feel far too many people think of managers of champions league clubs as some kind of 'level above' anyone else; some kind of herows, when in reality a lot of these managers have never achieved anything of great pride at a smaller club or without a tonne of money. As I said before, let's see how Mourinho does with a mid-table championship team. He might do well, but he'd have equal chance of doing bugger-all impressive imo. Smith has done well at every club he's ever managed yet he's not appreciated because he's never won a champions league or whatever. If you don't give managers a chance to show how good they are then how will they ever get the 'top' jobs? I believe in Smith and I think this summer we will see quite a mix up. Players leaving and some real quality joining. I don't love everything Smith does, mainly his stubborness in playing Wesley when imo he's been terrible for us, and making subs very late. But for what he's done for this club I'll allow him as many mistakes as he wants, providing he learns and improves as a result. I'm absolutely sick of this short-term, impatient sack-the-manager mindset. I don't think anyone could have got us into a better position than we are in now considering where we were 2 seasons ago. Did people think we'd be challenging for top 4 this year?! Deluded if so.


2.) 23 Mar 2021
23 Mar 2021 17:31:56
Just to clarify. 1)'If you don't give managers a chance to show how good they are then how will they ever get the 'top' jobs? '. Reading that back sounds like I'm contradicting myself, but I know what I meant!

And 2) I know not all'top team' managers get an easy job because of who they are/ were as a player, but randomly picking 3 'top' managers like Mourinho, Pep, Anchelotti etc. They walked into the biggest clubs almost immediately. A year or 2 and then they walk straight into Barca, Juve and Porto. As a result they are seen as amazing managers but they've been so lucky to have that opportunity at such good clubs with amazing players and tonnes of money. Even people like Lampard and Gerrard have jumped into relatively big clubs with little prior experience. Smith has never had that luxury.

{Ed077's Note - Mourinho isnt an ex player. He did all sorts of works to pave his way into management. BUT I do agree being an ex player for the big clubs does help people get top jobs. Some sink while others swim when they get the gig.}


3.) 23 Mar 2021
23 Mar 2021 18:52:44
Yes fair point Ed. I think Mourinho played 3rd tier or something, but you get my point, ex player or not.


4.) 23 Mar 2021
23 Mar 2021 19:36:55
Good points Dave, like you say, let's see what happens over the summer, I just hope we bring in a knarly, wizened defender or midfielder who's actually a leader on the pitch and the dressing room, we have a soft centre so I think we need some steel, and how about an experienced striker to score those goals and teach Ollie the dark arts, but if we buy Berkeley then I want him out, because he brings nothing to the table for me, and the 35 million (alledgedly) we 'd save could go to maybe bringing in a coach who'll teach the lads the rarest of skills, you know, the one where you're able to keep possession for more than 2 passes at a time.


5.) 24 Mar 2021
23 Mar 2021 23:35:43
I think everyone is frustrated by the current form with our new level of expectancy and players are clearly struggling for confidence at the moment, but I don't see how we have a 'soft centre' when we're one of the hardest teams to score against in the league?
Obviously we need improvements in our team but I'd say probably more in attack (arguably a top centre midfielder too) than anywhere else as its clearly been our lack of potency in the final third that's been costing us points.
We're building a very competitive team and setting solid foundations. I just think it's unrealistic to e pect it all to click into place this season, especially considering the journey the club has been on for the last 10 years.


6.) 24 Mar 2021
24 Mar 2021 07:17:58
Agree DBS. The scale of improvement in our defending compared to last season is massive. Last season we were the second worse team for shipping goals, this season we are the third best team. Teams scored against us for fun last season, but even during our poor period this season, we have only conceded 14 goals in the 13 games since the Man City game when we resumed.
Wasn’t it Brian Clough’s motto to build from the back and get the rest right afterwards. I wouldn’t swap our goalkeeper and back four for any other in this league now.
I’m sure with the 2 or 3 quality additions in the Midfield and attacking departments, the team will be a much greater force to be reckoned with next season.
PATIENCE has always been the key word, unfortunately the level of expectation has always been far too excessive at our club. I just wish some people would take a step back and consider what we have achieved in the last 3 seasons, instead of focusing on what we haven’t.


7.) 24 Mar 2021
24 Mar 2021 09:27:30
Well said Mark.
I think a lot of us fans just wanted the season to carry on like we were in the Liverpool/ Arsenal games, but reality is we are an improving project. Going forward I would like to see cover at LB, youth brought in or otherwise, Guilbert back as RB cover, a goalscorer of the highest calibre and a CM of better quality.
I haven't mentioned any wingers as I would see Jack and Ollie wide of a quality CF ( Aguero) . Mid park needs a boss in there with Sanson, Luiz, Mcginn, Ramsey playing to his tune.
I'd like to see the bench filled with some experience and youth, ie Barry, Bidace, Chumba on a regular basis.
To go would be Trez, Taylor, Davis, Barkley, Hourihane,


8.) 24 Mar 2021
24 Mar 2021 09:38:07
Forgot to say my midfield boss would be Arturo Vidal, Contact expires this summer with Barca. Why not aim high.


9.) 24 Mar 2021
24 Mar 2021 10:18:52
My thoughts on our midfield are that we have the players, but we don't play the tactics to allow us to have control, time and possession in midfield. We seem to counter a lot when we pick up possession, mainly bypassing the centre of the pitch. It's all a bit rushed and sometimes looks like we're panicking. I'd love to see us take our time a bit more and not have just a defence and an attack.


10.) 24 Mar 2021
24 Mar 2021 11:18:00
Dave - interesting perspective there but I'd disagree slightly in that I don't think we do have the players in midfield, at least not to push on to challenge for Europe. Obviously there's room for development and growth and Sanson might be that missing player when he beds in, but my gut instinct is that we'd need reinforcements to bring the level up to really dominate consistently and be able to both play through the lines and also counter. That said, I think an upgrade in the attacking third would take some of the pressure off the midfield who at the moment are finding the ball coming back too regularly or having to play backwards, at least when Grealish isn't there anyway.
Hopefully this summer will see some extra quality come in. personally I'd like to see Romeu from Southampton and Winks if he leaves Spurs. unless Lange can unearth a hidden gem.


11.) 24 Mar 2021
24 Mar 2021 11:43:38
Sorry again Vidals contract at Inter.