The "do they mean us?" thread pt 2

[Cecchini1976]

50 minutes ago, Koke said:

 

As good BR is, he does get an easier ride here than he would at at Arsenal or United. Would Arsenal tolerate bottling a 15 point lead and allow United to leapfrog them to 4th? Would Arsenal or United tolerate losing home games to Fulham, Villa, West Ham etc? I just think Rodgers has a perfect gig here where bad home losses and horrific run of firm isn't heavily scrutinised by the media as it would be at bigger clubs. 

 

Rodgers gets praise by the media for beating Guardiola, Bielsa & Mourinho but they don't show the same energy when he loses to Dean Smith, Scott Parker and David Moyes.

Of course he will get an easier ride, but he also finished above all the managers you mentioned above apart from Guardiola. The clubs you mention are huge clubs and until Leicester can finish top 4 for 3-4 years in the bounce and pay salary’s and transfer fees like the big 6, then he will get the criticism, but whilst we don’t have them things he won’t be criticised as he is doing an unbelievable job.

[filbertway]

Arsenal are a club that have been and will continue to regress under their current ownership. No manager will make a blind bit of difference to the club, they need refreshing behind the scenes. Why any manager worth their salt would want to go to that toxic hell hole I have no idea. As their stock continues to fall they'll stop getting the bigger commercial revenues. If they don't have a big change in the how the club operates I wouldn't be shocked to see them relegated in the next 10 seasons.

 

 

[Gerard]

Just looking at Arsenal's incoming transfers over the last three years:

 

Pepe at £72m but his fee was so high because he was bought on the never, never.

Partey at £45m.

 

These are the only two players they've bought who would have probably been out of our range.

 

In the last three years they've also bought five players over £20m but below £27m who would all have been in our range if circumstances dictated in Gabriel, Saliba, Tierney, Torreira and Leno.

 

I don't think BR would go to Arsenal for a number of reasons:

 

1) Leicester probably have a better squad than Arsenal

2) I'm sure BR thinks we haven't hit our ceiling yet 

3) Less pressure at Leicester to succeed

4) I'm sure BR would like to manage an elite club again at some point but he's probably best positioned to do that by staying here and being successful and then picking his moment more carefully when a Man City, Chelsea, etc become available.

5) He could quite easily leave for Arsenal and struggle for 18 months to get them back as a top six side and get the sack when he is expected to outperform clubs like Leicester, Everton, etc but without a much superior budget or squad.

 

You only have to look at Arsenal's transfer business and they're more fishing for players in similar pools to us than they are with the Manchester clubs, Chelsea or Liverpool. Bottom line is Arsenal will expect a silk purse from a sow's ear and that doesn't make it an attractive job for a manager with options.

[goody2028]

Even an idiot wouldn’t go to arsenal at the minute. Club in a real bad place at the minute, can’t believe there’s people that think Rodgers would actually leave for them. 

[CosbehFox]

1 hour ago, filbertway said:

Arsenal are a club that have been and will continue to regress under their current ownership. No manager will make a blind bit of difference to the club, they need refreshing behind the scenes. Why any manager worth their salt would want to go to that toxic hell hole I have no idea. As their stock continues to fall they'll stop getting the bigger commercial revenues. If they don't have a big change in the how the club operates I wouldn't be shocked to see them relegated in the next 10 seasons.

 

 

Will say again it's really worth looking into how Arsenal operate at director level now. Signings are largely made on the basis of their agent. The next manager will be a client or closely linked to Kia Joorabchian. 

[Jimbo]

2 hours ago, Sharpe's Fox said:

I always said since he came I wouldn't have any gripes with Rodgers moving on to what he feels is a better project because he did it when he came here. Obviously we can all have our own opinions about what is a better job but I wouldn't knock the man for doing something that is so obviously in his character to do. Fool me once.

IF Arsenal came in for Rodgers and IF he turned them down it would be a massive statement.

Rodgers is rightly seen by many as one of the best coaches in the country and probably Europe, a manager of his calibre choosing to stay with us (even in the relative short term) instead of going to an "elite" club would raise a few eyebrows, even with Arsenals current situation. 

 

The one thing is with Rodgers, for me, he doesn't seem the most loyal. If Arsenal came in for him I would fear that he would go. They are a bigger club, and arguably a better project than we are right now. We'll just have to wait and see what the next few weeks hold

[filbertway]

14 minutes ago, Cardiff_Fox said:

Will say again it's really worth looking into how Arsenal operate at director level now. Signings are largely made on the basis of their agent. The next manager will be a client or closely linked to Kia Joorabchian. 

Yeah, I was reading about that. The reason they sacked off a large portion of scouting staff is that they plan to mainly do deals via Kia Joorabchian (I feel I need to confess that if you hadn't already written it, I wouldn't know how last name and would have typed Jorkabashien or something haha)

 

We're actually running the way Arsenal used to run, signing highly rated youths and turning them into quality top level players. I really hope they continue this way, it'd be amazing if they went down.

[UpTheLeagueFox]

49 minutes ago, Jimbo said:

The one thing is with Rodgers, for me, he doesn't seem the most loyal. If Arsenal came in for him I would fear that he would go. They are a bigger club, and arguably a better project than we are right now. We'll just have to wait and see what the next few weeks hold

Just because he hasn't always been loyal it doesn't mean he always will be.

Look at the way he's changed his tactics at times this season, often going against the way he's always played.

Maybe he's settled family-wise, loves the owners, new training ground, exciting young-ish squad, enjoys the lack of goldfish bowl pressure etc.

Another couple of years of doing grand things with us will open even bigger doors for him.

We won't keep him forever of course - imagine if we finished outside the top ten one season, fans would be calling for his head.

In fact a fair few were in the summer...

[Guest Chocolate Teapot]

1 hour ago, Cardiff_Fox said:

Will say again it's really worth looking into how Arsenal operate at director level now. Signings are largely made on the basis of their agent. The next manager will be a client or closely linked to Kia Joorabchian. 

Hed get nowhere near the control gets here at Arsenal. Hes had everything he wanted - staff, training ground, signings, massive new contract.

 

I can't see him going yet.

[SkidsFox]

Hard to guess what another person is really thinking, but I do get the impression that BR wants to manage a big European club at some point. Maybe a Real, Barca or Milan. And (again my logic may be in error) he probably stands a better job of doing that by staying here and getting our team a top four finish. Arsenal are a bit of a basket case at the moment, and his reputation may be damaged terribly if he went there and failed to turn them around.

[Guest kristianity77]

Just a thought, but maybe when Brendan looks at some of the signings we've made, then looks at the frankly ridiculous training facilities that we've just opened, then knows we are just around the corner from upping our stadium for more fans.....he might just think he's on to a winner here? 

[splinterdream]

8 hours ago, Jimbo said:

IF Arsenal came in for Rodgers and IF he turned them down it would be a massive statement.

Rodgers is rightly seen by many as one of the best coaches in the country and probably Europe, a manager of his calibre choosing to stay with us (even in the relative short term) instead of going to an "elite" club would raise a few eyebrows, even with Arsenals current situation. 

 

The one thing is with Rodgers, for me, he doesn't seem the most loyal. If Arsenal came in for him I would fear that he would go. They are a bigger club, and arguably a better project than we are right now. We'll just have to wait and see what the next few weeks hold

If Top is so convinced by the man, he may need to buy his loyalty with another payrise, unless we think we can get as good a replacement for £10m salary

[Gamble92]

8 hours ago, UpTheLeagueFox said:

Just because he hasn't always been loyal it doesn't mean he always will be.

Look at the way he's changed his tactics at times this season, often going against the way he's always played.

Maybe he's settled family-wise, loves the owners, new training ground, exciting young-ish squad, enjoys the lack of goldfish bowl pressure etc.

Another couple of years of doing grand things with us will open even bigger doors for him.

We won't keep him forever of course - imagine if we finished outside the top ten one season, fans would be calling for his head.

In fact a fair few were in the summer...

I think its more the latter that is my biggest fear of him leaving. He'll know a crash like last season or a bad finish here will stop his career progression dead in its tracks. Right now his stock is as good as any. It isnt a given this team will finish top 7 this season.

[nnickn]

37 minutes ago, Gamble92 said:

I think its more the latter that is my biggest fear of him leaving. He'll know a crash like last season or a bad finish here will stop his career progression dead in its tracks. Right now his stock is as good as any. It isnt a given this team will finish top 7 this season.

thing is  in football, nothing is a given, but top 7 for Leicester is as near as it  gets

Edited 24 December 2020 by nnickn

[Gamble92]

1 hour ago, nnickn said:

thing is  in football, nothing is a given, but top 7 for Leicester is as near as it  gets

Well we need to sort the complete lack of ability to break anyone down at home when we go a goal dowm for that to happen.

[TheStig]

13 hours ago, UpTheLeagueFox said:

Just because he hasn't always been loyal it doesn't mean he always will be.

Look at the way he's changed his tactics at times this season, often going against the way he's always played.

Maybe he's settled family-wise, loves the owners, new training ground, exciting young-ish squad, enjoys the lack of goldfish bowl pressure etc.

Another couple of years of doing grand things with us will open even bigger doors for him.

We won't keep him forever of course - imagine if we finished outside the top ten one season, fans would be calling for his head.

In fact a fair few were in the summer...

Just shows how far we´ve come

 

[1972 Fox]

7 hours ago, splinterdream said:

If Top is so convinced by the man, he may need to buy his loyalty with another payrise, unless we think we can get as good a replacement for £10m salary

Big Sam is no longer available. 

[Adster]

Can we all stop referring to Arsenal as an Elite Club please? 

 

"Elite clubs" would never occupy 15th spot in the Premier League.

 

Arsenal are a nothing club. 

[Japanfox]

I laughed at your  post S I can imagine what our neighbours Forest and Derby and even Cov are saying about us, regardless of 2015/6......

[Buce]

 

Jamie Vardy makes Guardian 100 Best players in the World:

 

https://www.theguardian.com/football/ng-interactive/2020/dec/21/the-100-best-male-footballers-in-the-world-2020

 

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/dec/18/how-the-guardian-ranked-the-100-best-male-footballers-in-the-world-2020

 

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/dec/24/the-100-best-male-footballers-2020-see-how-every-judge-voted

[Leeds Fox]

19 hours ago, SkidsFox said:

Hard to guess what another person is really thinking, but I do get the impression that BR wants to manage a big European club at some point. Maybe a Real, Barca or Milan. And (again my logic may be in error) he probably stands a better job of doing that by staying here and getting our team a top four finish. Arsenal are a bit of a basket case at the moment, and his reputation may be damaged terribly if he went there and failed to turn them around.

Exactly.

 

Southampton are a good side but Hassenhuttl is seen by many (even on here) as better than Rodgers. That maybe true but I don’t think there is anything to suggest that it is. It’s close and they’re both very good managers.

 

I just feel Rodgers really needs to use us to assert himself as a top manager and get a big job. Going to Arsenal and gambling his standing in the game that he’s rebuilt would be a very poor choice. Failing there would probably chalk him off every top clubs list. 

[davieG]

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/dec/24/leicester-dogged-defence-sets-stall-to-attack-manchester-united-on-boxing-day

 

 

Leicester's dogged defence offers platform to attack Manchester United
Brendan Rodgers has been well-served by veterans but Wesley Fofana and James Justin have particularly impressed

 

 @Paul_Doyle
Thu 24 Dec 2020 18.00 GMT

 

 Tottenham’s Harry Kane is crowded out by Leicester’s James Justin (left), Wesley Fofana and Wilfred Ndidi during Leicester’s 2-0 win last Sunday. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/NMC Pool/the Guardian
Lesser teams than Leicester City would have tumbled down the table by now, with excuses and recriminations soundtracking their fall. Brendan Rodgers could have gone into the festive season wailing about the merciless schedule, players could have howled about being deployed out of position and fans could have decried regular formation changes as evidence of a team with no identity or plan.

Listen. There is nothing like that to be heard, at least not from anyone worth hearing. And look. Leicester go into the Boxing Day match with Manchester United sitting second, the same position that City were in this time last year. Such consistency does not quite amount to a miracle but is mighty impressive considering that Leicester have had to cope with more upheaval than most this year.

Their defensive record has been particularly admirable. At times during a season in which, unlike in 2019-20, they have had Europa League exertions on top of domestic duties, they have been missing their entire first-choice defence. Yet they go into the match against United having conceded four goals fewer than Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s team in the league despite having played a game more.

Two reasons stand out. First, Rodgers has adapted cleverly. When the casualties were piling up in the second half of last season, he switched to a back three. If that move was practically forced on him, he coached the team in it so well that he can now use it when he pleases, such as in the 5-2 victory at Manchester City in September. Leicester still tend to be at their best with a back four but have demonstrated a versatility that enables them to switch depending on opponents and circumstances.

The second reason is that certain players have filled gaps so well that it is no longer clear who will be first-choice when everyone is available. While veterans such as Christian Fuchs (age 34), Wes Morgan (36) and Marc Albrighton (31) have stepped in to show they can still be counted upon, the most heartening surprises have come from young defenders, especially Wesley Fofana (20) and James Justin (22).

It has become so common to praise Fofana that one could grow blase about the young Frenchman arriving in a new league and country at the age of 19 and performing like the wiliest of Premier League campaigners. He has not missed a minute of league action, and barely erred, since his debut against Aston Villa in mid-October two weeks after being sent on as a substitute in a 3-0 defeat by Rennes in his last appearance for Saint-Étienne.

Thanks to Caglar Soyuncu, Leicester got over the loss of Harry Maguire almost as soon as they sold him in August 2019 but it is interesting, nevertheless, to compare Fofana’s statistics this season with those of the United captain. Not only has Fofana made more clearances and interceptions on average per league match, he has averaged twice as many tackles and – showcasing his nimble footwork and his ability to do what Rodgers describes as “defending forwards” – has completed more passes than Maguire and three times as many dribbles. He plays with such a rare combination of efficiency and audacity that one has to congratulate Leicester for luring him to the Premier League before anyone else, and helping him to flourish.

Justin’s improvement this season has been just as pleasing. He has filled in so well in a variety of positions that there have been few reasons to grumble about the sale of Ben Chilwell or, even more improbably, about the injuries to first Ricardo Pereira and then Timothy Castagne. Justin, signed last year from Luton, seems to get better in every game regardless of whether he plays on the right or left or in a back four or five. “From a manager’s perspective he’s just a dream,” Rodgers has said.

In last Sunday’s win at Tottenham the Leicester defence benefited from the protection of one of the league’s best midfield screeners, Wilfred Ndidi, who was able to complete 90 minutes for only the fourth time in a season interrupted by injury and complicated by the occasional need for him to slot in at centre-back owing to absences.

The Nigerian will almost certainly start in midfield on Boxing Day, when his intelligence and dynamism will be critical in attempting to neutralise Bruno Fernandes. “His reading of the game, his agility, all the numbers show how good he is at covering the space,” Rodgers said. “It’s also about the confidence he gives other players. It’s great to have him back and getting his fitness up.”

While Ndidi’s place is guaranteed, fitness permitting, it is difficult for Solskjær to predict how Leicester will line up in defence, especially as Castagne and Daniel Amartey made long-awaited returns against Tottenham and Soyuncu is due for a fitness check to see whether he can make his first league appearance since October. United won at the King Power Stadium on the final day of last season to wrench Champions League qualification from Leicester’s grasp. But the. home side are stronger and have more options now, despite their problems.

[ARTY_FOX]

You'd have to be an absolute moron to take the arsenal job now. Its career suicide. The whole club needs ripping apart and you arent going to be allowed to do it. 

[Koke]

If anybody is interested in John Sitton talking about us. Apparently he's not a fan of Evans cos he is easily turned and he once saw Evans having a row with Ferguson on the touchline at the Emirates  ok then John.

 

He does love Fofana, Maddison and Vardy though.

 

 

Edited 24 December 2020 by Koke

[don_danbury]

the black kid from france  and evans like going round a roundabout. he's a bean pole