Premier League 2024/25

[Stevosevic]

Genuinely think it’s only between us and Wolves for that 18th spot. 

[Jobyfox]

28 minutes ago, foxfanazer said:

I do think O'Neil will go on to be a decent manager but just seems to have gone really stale. I don't think it's always as simple as the manager being shit

To be honest I think that’s true for most managers. Those that have initial success eventually run out of ideas and the players get complacent. A change is often needed just for a recharge and fresh impetus. Past performance isn’t a guarantee of future success, which pundits often fail to miss.

 

It’s a very rare breed of manager that has longevity and can keep recycling teams with new players. They usually end up at the very top teams. Obvious examples are SAF at Man Utd and Wenger at Arsenal, but it helps when you’re backed by vast resources. Pep is a modern day version, but again it’s easier with the revenue from Arab state ownership 

[foxfanazer]

5 minutes ago, Jobyfox said:

To be honest I think that’s true for most managers. Those that have initial success eventually run out of ideas and the players get complacent. A change is often needed just for a recharge and fresh impetus. Past performance isn’t a guarantee of future success, which pundits often fail to miss.

 

It’s a very rare breed of manager that has longevity and can keep recycling teams with new players. They usually end up at the very top teams. Obvious examples are SAF at Man Utd and Wenger at Arsenal, but it helps when you’re backed by vast resources. Pep is a modern day version, but again it’s easier with the revenue from Arab state ownership 

It happened with Rodgers here. Sometimes players just stop being motivated by the same old voice. I've said it before but except for the rare examples that you've given I think after 3 or 4 years you should be thinking about the next appointment 

 

Brighton do it perfectly, albeit their managers are poached due to how well they do. But unlike us with Brendan, they don't move heaven and earth to keep them as they have a contingency plan already in place 

Edited 10 December 2024 by foxfanazer

[JimJams]

30 minutes ago, Stevosevic said:

Genuinely think it’s only between us and Wolves for that 18th spot. 

Everton as well for me.  I get the whole turd won't flush thing but they're scoring at a rate of less than a goal a game and unless they sort that out they're well in the mix.  Palace are in a similar state but I think they've just got better players all over to sort that out.

[The Bear]

1 hour ago, moore_94 said:

Even if they stay up I expect there will be bidding wars for Cunha and Ait-Nouri from all the top clubs

Man Utd have apparently been sniffing around Joao Gomes too. Andre will be next after that as he looks a class above us too. 

 

Unbelievable that we're sticking with O'Neil. Boggles the mind. 

[Mike1983]

3 minutes ago, The Bear said:

Man Utd have apparently been sniffing around Joao Gomes too. Andre will be next after that as he looks a class above us too. 

 

Unbelievable that we're sticking with O'Neil. Boggles the mind. 

Steve Cooper's available.

[Chelmofox]

37 minutes ago, JimJams said:

Everton as well for me.  I get the whole turd won't flush thing but they're scoring at a rate of less than a goal a game and unless they sort that out they're well in the mix.  Palace are in a similar state but I think they've just got better players all over to sort that out.

Everton have a nasty run of games coming up. 'If' we can beet Wolves we can jump Everton and they may find it hard to not get sucked in to the bottom 3. 

 

I still have a gut feeling Palace go down with Ipswich and Southampton though. But the 2nd half of the season is going to be fascinating and will be dependent on what teams sack their managers and the replacements they get.

Edited 10 December 2024 by Chelmofox

[Lambert09]

54 minutes ago, Chelmofox said:

Everton have a nasty run of games coming up. 'If' we can beet Wolves we can jump Everton and they may find it hard to not get sucked in to the bottom 3. 

 

I still have a gut feeling Palace go down with Ipswich and Southampton though. But the 2nd half of the season is going to be fascinating and will be dependent on what teams sack their managers and the replacements they get.

Curious what makes you think palace? I’d have said they look the most likely to pull away. Good quality in the squad and seem to have a decent manager as well. 

[Chelmofox]

6 minutes ago, Lambert09 said:

Curious what makes you think palace? I’d have said they look the most likely to pull away. Good quality in the squad and seem to have a decent manager as well. 

14 goals scored? Everyone saying too good to go down but they aren't scoring enough. They have managed to eek out some decent draws recently though, but they have played Villa when they were at their worst and a Man City side that seem to be imploding.

[foxfanazer]

We're not out of the woods by any means and I can see us being in the mix for relegation all season but our ability to consistently score goals gives us a real edge imo. Sounds a bit obvious I know but I'd rather be in our situation than the like of an Everton or Palace 

[Fear Of The Fox]

37 minutes ago, foxfanazer said:

We're not out of the woods by any means and I can see us being in the mix for relegation all season but our ability to consistently score goals gives us a real edge imo. Sounds a bit obvious I know but I'd rather be in our situation than the like of an Everton or Palace 

If Vardy stays fit we'll most likely continue to score goals. Even when this legend just walks he's a threat and creates gaps for all his teammates. 

If we also manage to fix our defense we'll probably pull away easily from the zone. Big if ofc because even Man City can't sort out their defense. 

[foxfanazer]

1 minute ago, Fear Of The Fox said:

If Vardy stays fit we'll most likely continue to score goals. Even when this legend just walks he's a threat and creates gaps for all his teammates. 

If we also manage to fix our defense we'll probably pull away easily from the zone. Big if ofc because even Man City can't sort out their defense. 

Not sure if it's a nostalgia thing but I feel like the art of defending has completely gone out of the window. Every club wants ball players but there's very few players who look like they love to defend 

[Lambert09]

1 hour ago, Chelmofox said:

14 goals scored? Everyone saying too good to go down but they aren't scoring enough. They have managed to eke out some decent draws recently though, but they have played Villa when they were at their worst and a Man City side that seem to be imploding.

yeah fair enough  but I think it seems like they are improving at both ends of the pitch recently.   I think they should be in the conversation but just can’t see it personally. 
 

I’m still pretty firmly in the Everton or us camp, we just need them to ditch dyche.
 

my guess would be that wolves will get a new manager and hit the standard bounce and pull to safety with that squad. Hopefully, not the case though. 

Edited 10 December 2024 by Lambert09

[Number 6]

Three way scrap between us, Wolves, and Everton sounds about right to me. Personally fancy us to finish ahead of these two too. I

 

If I was picking who would drop then I'd say Wolves currently. The way they imploded against Everton in particular was shocking and it sounds like they're still not making a change after last night.

[suffolk fox]

4 hours ago, Stevosevic said:

Genuinely think it’s only between us and Wolves for that 18th spot. 

Everton and West Ham neither of which are that good.

[FrankieADZ]

 

[Lionator]

People thinking Wolves are will quickly get out of it need to look at their fixture list. Two big games against us and Ipswich but after that it’s an absolute nightmare. 

[The boy Linacre]

4 hours ago, foxfanazer said:

It happened with Rodgers here. Sometimes players just stop being motivated by the same old voice. I've said it before but except for the rare examples that you've given I think after 3 or 4 years you should be thinking about the next appointment 

 

Brighton do it perfectly, albeit their managers are poached due to how well they do. But unlike us with Brendan, they don't move heaven and earth to keep them as they have a contingency plan already in place 

Though TBF, Fergie, Klopp, Pep, seem to get the message through a number of years down the line????  But I think you are right about Bodgers

[FoxTimmy2]

Brentford have now beaten every side who have been in the PL since they were promoted - now who does that remind you of? 

[Fox92]

6 minutes ago, The boy Linacre said:

Though TBF, Fergie, Klopp, Pep, seem to get the message through a number of years down the line????  But I think you are right about Bodgers

I think it's about moving players on and getting new players in, not necessarily the manager staying for a long time. Doesn't matter what players have won, the team has to change. Pep is good at that, I think, as was Fergie. 

[fox_up_north]

Fergie was always looking to refresh. It's how he also kept control. Nobody got bigger than him or the club. 

[foxfanazer]

26 minutes ago, The boy Linacre said:

Though TBF, Fergie, Klopp, Pep, seem to get the message through a number of years down the line????  But I think you are right about Bodgers

Yeah there are definitely examples of it working but on the whole I think they're exceptions to the rule. And Liverpool were very patient with Klopp for the first few years, same with United with Fergie if  I remember correctly (might be wrong)

 

 

Edited 10 December 2024 by foxfanazer

[moore_94]

 

[Bilo]

Wolves are in all sorts of trouble. Astounding that O'Neil is surviving.

 

If they lose at our place, that gap becomes a chasm before a horrid run of games.

 

[jayfox26]

Surprised Wolves are sticking with O'Neil. As others have said, he's not necessarily a bad manager but it's gone a bit stale for him and he doesn't seem to be able to find an answer for their defensive issues. Be interesting in January as both us and Wolves will be in the market for a new defence.