Kasper interview on sky

[volpeazzurro]

People know nothing exactly , just the odd comment that supposedly gets spilled out of the dressing room and before you know it, it's great copy for selling newspapers and keeping hacks and pundits in a job. Whilst most fair minded people were excited and pleased for what we achieved last year, there were also the few elite who resented it and in typical English fashion, there were individuals who were sharpening their knives and couldn't wait to knock us down. Many contributory factors have conspired to see us in this position, some obvious like preseason and transfers but quite a lot of pure supposition by people that don't know what's going on, but nevertheless fill the gaps with their oh so expert opinions, because we're all armchair experts. From a look from a player to Ranieri pitchside with an exchange of words nobody can hear, to the fact Schmeichel didn't look directly look into a camera during an interview all must overwhelmingly and logically mean that Ranieri has lost the dressing room . Except that it doesn't does it. The pressures on, will there have been disagreements and spats? You could perhaps bet your life on that one,  it would be entirely normal wouldn't it, it happens in every family household when under pressure let alone a bunch of competitive blokes with ego's. 

 

Schmeichel is hurting and said a certain amount about how he felt, good for him, but he's acutely aware every word will be analysed.  Now  Gray supposedly comes out and backs the manager, but that can't be true can it because the conspiracy theorists have to be right don't they, but just perhaps there is no great rift albeit some of the press are dying for it to be true for the scandal and intrigue. Ulloa is upset, tough, grow up, do you think Ranieri cares? I wouldn't. If Ulloa had a brain cell he'd understand that of course the club would be willing to let him go as supposedly promised, but not if it was going to potentially cost them millions of pounds or risk strengthening a relegation rival.

 

I have my doubts about certain players efforts and motives this year from what I see on the pitch, but I don't know. I can agree with Schmeichel that they are lacking confidence because he said it and I can see it therefore it is coroborated. I also would like to have seen certain players coming in but they didn't and I'm disappointed but, I don't know why and nor does anyone else, just pure supposition yet again.  I say again, you can't get what won't come or won't be sold. Who knows who they tried for and how competent they are, but if we didn't get who we wanted they must be crap is the childish logic on here based on nothing.

 

We are where we are. Last year was last year, the best ever. Don't kill the dream it's not over, plenty of time and points to play for yet. Knee jerk reactions I don't think in our circumstances can help. I see absolutely no one out there willing,  able and available who would be a better option than Ranieri. I hope he has a cooler head on his shoulders than many on here who would chose a dozen different managers and 20 new players they probably wouldn't be able to get anyway. Keep the Faith, it's all we can do. 

 

 

[shen]

3 hours ago, volpeazzurro said:

 I see absolutely no one out there willing,  able and available who would be a better option than Ranieri. I hope he has a cooler head on his shoulders than many on here who would chose a dozen different managers and 20 new players they probably wouldn't be able to get anyway. Keep the Faith, it's all we can do.

Have you analyzed who is available and willing then?

Don't misunderstand me, I like Ranieri and I understand your frustrations at hyperboles and emotional outburts on here. But Ranieri and the players have as much as admitted that they do not know how to stop this dreadful run.

 

It is blatantly obvious to anyone with a shred of insight into psychology that the team is suffering from mental problems. What do you do about lack of confidence? What do you do when players lose belief and become complacent?

 

Ranieri has not been saying the right things that indicates he knows how to deal with this. The article that was posted on here about the sports psychologist who was dismissed in September, and our worsening form, underlines how Ranieri is not able to turn this around.

 

All we keep hearing are, frankly, insulting platitudes like 'man up', 'stand up and be counted' and 'work harder' or straight up admissions that 'we don't know why things are going so bad' followed by the anger-inducing 'but sooner or later our fortunes will turn'.

Nobody is addressing the multitudes of elephants in the room: lack of motivation, lack of belief in eachother, discontent among players, poor match preparation, lacklustre playing style and confusing tactics, etc.

 

Ranieri has had ample time to address these issues and rectify them and he hasn't succeeded. In fact, I'd argue he's overlooked our team performing gradually worse (God knows how) over the course of the season and he still selects the same underperforming players, trots out the same shìt after every game and looks increasingly disconsolate on the touchline.

I would simply love it if he stays and our performances take a turn for the better again, but I've come to the point where I no longer believe this is possible before it is too late.

[volpeazzurro]

3 hours ago, shen said:

Have you analyzed who is available and willing then?

Don't misunderstand me, I like Ranieri and I understand your frustrations at hyperboles and emotional outburts on here. But Ranieri and the players have as much as admitted that they do not know how to stop this dreadful run.

 

It is blatantly obvious to anyone with a shred of insight into psychology that the team is suffering from mental problems. What do you do about lack of confidence? What do you do when players lose belief and become complacent?

 

Ranieri has not been saying the right things that indicates he knows how to deal with this. The article that was posted on here about the sports psychologist who was dismissed in September, and our worsening form, underlines how Ranieri is not able to turn this around.

 

All we keep hearing are, frankly, insulting platitudes like 'man up', 'stand up and be counted' and 'work harder' or straight up admissions that 'we don't know why things are going so bad' followed by the anger-inducing 'but sooner or later our fortunes will turn'.

Nobody is addressing the multitudes of elephants in the room: lack of motivation, lack of belief in eachother, discontent among players, poor match preparation, lacklustre playing style and confusing tactics, etc.

 

Ranieri has had ample time to address these issues and rectify them and he hasn't succeeded. In fact, I'd argue he's overlooked our team performing gradually worse (God knows how) over the course of the season and he still selects the same underperforming players, trots out the same shìt after every game and looks increasingly disconsolate on the touchline.

I would simply love it if he stays and our performances take a turn for the better again, but I've come to the point where I no longer believe this is possible before it is too late.

You've highlighted my 'willing, able and available' comment as if to make a point and suggest someone, yet fail to do so? Many names have been mentioned on here but most I would suggest, fail on one of those 3 grounds, so if you're going to sack Ranieri, your replacement is?

 

Yes the players have lost confidence you can see that and they admit it as does Ranieri, so no psychology degree needed there then. There are perhaps some more unsavoury traits from the odd player that may have come to the fore also that have also been done to death on here.

 

So what do we do,  get the players to pick a new manager? What if they want different ones? What if a new one comes and he says something they don't like and upsets the poor little mites again, get another one? Life and jobs and bosses in real life don't  actually work like that do they. Fergie himself, using present day time scales for hiring and firing bosses would have been history by now. What a mistake that would have been. Have you never had a boss you've disliked, despised and not got on with but later have to acknowledge that he/she was actually quite good? I have an ex City player friend who was terrified of Jock Wallace but with hindsight states that he was the best man manager in any job he'd had, but didn't necessarily think so at the time haha!

 

We are where we are.  Compared to some of our competitors, our players have faced and triumphed over this sort of adversity before. Compared to some of our competitors, we have not one but a number of talented individuals that can change a game. We have a wise manager who I think will steer us through this and whilst there may well have been some disagreements and upset along the way,  I don't think it's probably half as bad as the 'needy for a story' press make out.  

 

There's about 14 games and 40 odd points left to play for with plenty of twists and turns yet to come. A win against Derby would do us the world of good and is very doable. 

[shen]

7 hours ago, volpeazzurro said:

You've highlighted my 'willing, able and available' comment as if to make a point and suggest someone, yet fail to do so? Many names have been mentioned on here but most I would suggest, fail on one of those 3 grounds, so if you're going to sack Ranieri, your replacement is?

 

Yes the players have lost confidence you can see that and they admit it as does Ranieri, so no psychology degree needed there then. There are perhaps some more unsavoury traits from the odd player that may have come to the fore also that have also been done to death on here.

 

So what do we do,  get the players to pick a new manager? What if they want different ones? What if a new one comes and he says something they don't like and upsets the poor little mites again, get another one? Life and jobs and bosses in real life don't  actually work like that do they. Fergie himself, using present day time scales for hiring and firing bosses would have been history by now. What a mistake that would have been. Have you never had a boss you've disliked, despised and not got on with but later have to acknowledge that he/she was actually quite good? I have an ex City player friend who was terrified of Jock Wallace but with hindsight states that he was the best man manager in any job he'd had, but didn't necessarily think so at the time haha!

 

We are where we are.  Compared to some of our competitors, our players have faced and triumphed over this sort of adversity before. Compared to some of our competitors, we have not one but a number of talented individuals that can change a game. We have a wise manager who I think will steer us through this and whilst there may well have been some disagreements and upset along the way,  I don't think it's probably half as bad as the 'needy for a story' press make out.  

 

There's about 14 games and 40 odd points left to play for with plenty of twists and turns yet to come. A win against Derby would do us the world of good and is very doable. 

 

What does it matter who I suggest as a replacement? What good will that do? FYI, I have not analyzed who is willing and available, but I would be willing to bet there are quite a few that would find the prospect of managing the 20th wealthiest club, CL football, the reigning champions containing diverse players of the year a little bit enticing. When we hired Ranieri it wasn't exactly considered a swoop. Now it looks like the maybe the best appointment this club could make. Our reputation has probably increased a bit since, wouldn't you agree?

 

Secondly, I highlighted what you phrased as 'willing, available and able' exactly because Ranieri does not seem to fulfill those criteria. One thing is what is clear to all of us. Another thing is how the players and staff deal with it away from prying eyes. This season has had many alarming signs that things have derailed and Ranieri has had ample time and opportunity to change the course, but reality is things are getting worse. I do not like us sacking managers, I'm very much one for patient approaches and giving people chances, but you draw the line somewhere.

Around the same time in 2015 I was absolutely backing Pearson when plenty were ready to stick their knives in his back. The team looked committed, performances were professional if lacking in quality and should we get relegated, I thought Pearson would be the right man to bring us back up.

 

Your argument basically boils down to "How do we know a new manager will improve the situation?" You find it unlikely, in the current market. Hence you would like Ranieri to stay on, which is fair enough, but your belief feels borne out of desperation and emotion rather than what your senses are telling you. Am I completely wrong here?

My argument is that there is a very high risk (based on evidence and progress over the season) that things will go very, very badly come May if the owners do not react to the situation.

They have been very supportive as far as we know, to both players and manager, and have seen a very poor return from it so far.

And I am absolutely not sure Ranieri is up to managing us in the Championship should relegation actually happen...