shen

Surprised this topic has been dormant for so long. Surely there are a number of boardgame/ttrpg enthusiasts put there? Has anyone been trying Daggerheart or any of the new competing systems to (One)D&D?

Hmm never thought of that. It's only partly true however with changing nationalities possible and bigger countries having more resources, bigger talent pools and bigger pull.

I can hear the gritted teeth all the way over here. Why this need to belittle Maresca? Comes across as really butthurt...

Yeah, his first few months here were a huge, huge relief. Regardless of the aesthetics of his playstyle, the man is a competent manager and got our club pointing the right way. It's easy in hindsight to make assumptions that 'any decent manager' would have gotten the same result. But in those words lies the actual compliment - 'decent'. Thanks Enzo, short but sweet acquaintance.

As long as our next manager is Italian, we are odds on to blitz the league again. An 8-point penalty is just to keep it interesting.

You could argue that the time we were rescued from folding was an even more defining moment. Famous no, but without the consortium that kept us afloat we would not have seen the highs we have since. As fans we tend to remember only the players that we've seen, but I'm sure the local fans will have heard stories of yesteryear of legendary players passed on from their parents and grandparents. Also, Vichai, Top, Mandaric and many previous owners/chairmen should absolutely be considered legends of the club. Not to mention staff that have left a positive mark on many people throughout their time (i.e. groundsmen, physios, coaches, tea ladies, mascots etc.)

Oddly enough he doesn't strike me as club manager material at all. I could see him becoming a coach though. He's so nerdy about his position and I think the role of Lars Høgh, the now-deceased Danish NT GK coach and close family friend, has had a profound effect on Kasper. Either that or some Sporting Director or NT manager type where his leadership can shine.

It's Perez though. I'm certain if the positions were switched he'd have done the same. In a way I feel sorry for Magnussen who's a good driver and he's had some poor luck so far this season. But he does seem to be far too affected by his misfortune and gets increasingly desperate and reckless with every race. Why you'd risk shunting your car in Monaco in the first lap when you have no chance of making the points anyway, is really the big question here. All his 'team work' of stepping over the line in Emilio Romagna and Jeddah to help Hulk is easily undone by wrecking both cars in one swoop with nothing to gain.

With good reason. He's now a solid bet for the first XI that starts in the Euros. He's played a blinder if you ask me.

Summerville is good and Gnonto is an FM god. Surely Will Still would like him when he replaces Enzo

Of Tuchel, Pochettino, Potter, Lampard, Sarri, Conte and Hiddink, whose reputation has notably suffered? None, really. You could argue that Lampard and Potter haven't enhanced it, but it's not exactly a poisoned chalice. And it's been the reality for most top club managers that time is not an afforded luxury - and in turn it's also a lucrative cycle to get fired and rehired on a yearly basis, so I don't see the catch here. it's just more ironic you mention United when that has been a graveyard for managers and players far longer than Chelsea. But conversely, why should Enzo show much loyalty? If the top HAD been upfront with him (and I think it's even more important to be frank with your managers and employees than your supporters) he would feel less likely to leave. It's not at all pertinent to compare Enzo's position as an employee to that of a fan. Also bizarre to hold him solely accountable for two subpar signings. Firstly, that's not on him alone - if at all on him. Secondly, it discounts the other solid signings made. Thirdly, we achieved promotion which was far more important long term than this outlay.

A bit of sour grapes on show here. You could easily argue that Enzo owes us nothing - he achieved what the club wanted and was by all accounts misled to some extent by management about our PSR situation. Chelsea with Boehly at the helm should not be sniffed at despite their questionable transfer dealings - it's still a big club with wealthy owners and of course Maresca should be interested.

It's just that Kasper has done a good number of interviews on lots of different platforms addressing the exact same questions (The Great Escape, Pearson, his own career up to Leicester, Sven, his dad and upbringing, the PL win obviously, but within that topic Kanté, Mahrez and Vardy specifically, even Denmark to some extent). I was surprised Gary couldn't be more original. As an avid follower, surely he wouldve seen at least one or two of those interviews. And to then feel he should repeat the same questions on his own platform feels wasteful. But at least we got to see Gary be a genuine Leicester fan with another club legend.

Yeah, but this was Gary who followed it all closely. I know TRIF is a general podcast, but like the Henry interview had some unique insights despite him being an even bigger star and been interviewed a lot more over the years. In 1,5 hours, I expected to hear something new, anything really.

He's obviously not going to ask about Rodgers, but there's so much more he could've queried about. I.e. why did Leicester feel like 'home' to him from day one? What about the unsung heroes of the PL winning squad (I swear Kanté, Mahrez and Vardy get 95% of the credit)? His post-Leicester career, his future plans, some insights into modern goalkeeping training, his 'dual' nationality and differences between club and international football, untold dressing room/behind the scenes insights etc

Always enjoy a longform interview with Kasper. My only criticism is that he's answered the exact same questions multiple times before - the fact he could finish most of Gary's questions shows how bored of them he must be by now. Opportunity missed to ask interesting questions. Expected a bit more from Gary tbh.

I was thinking Will Still, but you've won me over! #FinneganOrTomFM4Manager #lcfc

Let's get that FM manager in. He'll no doubt unearth some unknown gems from South America, Scandinavia and Mali and win the PL within 2 years.

But he's had to compete against other elite managers with similar or bigger budgets and still won. So it's not like he's had it easy per default. Why have a dig at McKenna? By all accounts, achieving what he has at Ipswich is extraordinary. I have joked consistently about their luck this year, but behind that assessment is easily the hardest working team in the league with the best balance and above average quality. It's not really fair to suggest he'll be out of his depth in the PL, especially when he'll have the lowest budget in the league and be competing with us, Leeds/Soton, Everton, Forest etc who will have spunked million upon millions on players for several years. Luton performing the best out of the three promoted sides was not on the cards either.

They would bite anyone's hand off for that much. His stock will never be higher.

To be fair it's been a three-horse race all since New Year...

We agree on the time then - only 8pm in three countries. And by 9pm (or later for 15+ countries) kiddies have gone to bed. Honestly though, I find much of today's commercial and abundant children's TV content far more problematic than some of the risqué acts of Eurovision.

Who suggested it was for such a young audience? It doesn't start before 9pm CET, by which time most kids are sleeping. If anything I thought the entries this year had a decent variety of acts that had different appeal. There was rock/metal, pop ballads, dance, techno, avantgarde, chansons, 80s/90s/00s vibes, hip hop/rap/urban, several with traiditional local musical flavours as well - pretty ecclectic, if not great quality. I'm not a fan, but I just accept Eurovision for what it is.

Was saying before the show that I think Rammstein would win it if they were to take part. Finland's entry last year and Croatia's poundshop effort this year winning the public vote suggests to me they would win.