Claridge

[Guest Col city fan]

There were several other City games (away at QPR, Reading and Forest) which all featured heavily on the Football League Show towards the end of last season and which Claridge would have seen in detail. In none of those matches did the outcome reflect well on us. Is it any wonder his perceptions of us may be slightly skewed?

It should also be remembered that in English football to date (with England and Manchester City) Sven hasn't exactly fulfilled expectations. While he appears to have

been shrewd with his summer signings to date, the proof of this will only come with results.

Ultimately these results are the only means Sven and City have of silencing the critics.

You won't win on here mate... Unlike most I agree with you that some of the games when we went on that stinky run were poor performances... Naaaarch, Cardiff, reading we were truly shocking defensively. HOWEVER, as previously stated, interspersed with that dross was some amazing turn-outs and, as I said at the time, we played some of the best football under Sven that I has seen in years..

What I'm now hoping is that, given money and a pre season, Sven is able to sort the squad out to be able to deliver CONSISTENTLY solid, attractive football, rather than this amazing one week, shite the next stuff... Only with consistency will we gain promotion. This is neither hating nor loving Sven.. It's just what I think.

[Guest Col city fan]

We were by no means disgraced at QPR, many feeling we should've come away with a point, possibly even three.

Don't fall folly of that 'should' rubbish... Football is a points business.. We didn't beat qpr, end of

[accessory]

From what I have seen of Claridge, he is a very poor pundit, that phone in show on Sky he does, (used to do, not sure if its still on) was unwatchable, I realise a phone in is never going to be compelling viewing, but he was really awful there. Following on from that, he is a very weak link on an otherwise decent Football League show. His opinions seem to me to be, ill thought out and based on little or no tangible subject knowledge at times, just an assumed kind of, know it all attitude, which I find insulting and often hit the mute button till the action comes back on. This can be traced to his phone in show as well, where I have seen him bristle with intolerance if anyone actually challenged him properly, with proper detailed knowledge on a subject. Very quick to dismiss those who havent played as not worth hearing out, which is not always the case, and gives a glance at his personality that doesnt paint him in a good light.

Leicester are an easy target, so he took a cheap shot, again with gaps where the facts should be, on fees etc. But it will suit him, the division is littered with former favourites so he may be proved correct, and he knows this, even if he doesnt know enough to properly speak about this club at this moment in time. The best thing would be to ram it down his throat by winning the divison at a canter, which would be nice, with us ganging up on the **** through the season online through the show in an attempt to make it nice and uncomfortable for him, and bring to the attention of those who pay him, how badly spent that money is.

I find these personal jibes at a City legend to be both unwarranted and incredibly distasteful. Have you any idea how fickle you make us look?

If he was as weak as you imply, why have so many media organisations, including the beeb and the Guardian, been so keen to use his services at every opportunity?

I don't endorse his latest remarks on Sven by any means. I think Sven has made a number of shrewd signings who will enhance the club just as Claridge did. Let's also remember that Claridge himself first joined, many City fans were incredibly and notoriously dismissive of both him and the manager who signed him, a certain Martin O'Neill.

But Claridge and MON have a record of achievement for us which gives them the right to make judgements. To date Sven doesn't have that record.

[accessory]

‘Detail’ is very much open to interpretation – I wonder if Claridge watches more than edited highlights played on the FLS?

TV pundits (at least the ones at the beeb) tend to spend hours on matchdays in the studio watching footage of games. It isn't as if they turn up from the pub five minutes before the show goes live.

Despite the outcome at QPR, we were the more accomplished team that day. The Reading and Forest games were characterised by poor defending rather than being ‘outplayed’. Given the changes to the starting eleven, in particular to the back four, it’s no wonder we ended up losing games against teams of a more stable nature.

At QPR and Forest we could and should have had at least a point. But Young and Stringer (as well as other eyewitnesses) were openly critical of our display at Reading, where the weaknesses of our then team (in both defence and attack) were ruthlessly exposed and exploited.

The extent of our transfer activity in recent weeks suggests that Sven recognises the need to rebuild the side and ensure greater consistency. And he deserves more credit for that than some in the national media have given him.

[Guest Bilo]

Oh, this 'Sven has never met expectations in England' drivel returns again.

With England he had the best win record of any England manager since Alf Ramsey, we qualified comfortably for three tournaments losing only one qualifier in Sven's FIVE YEAR tenure. What exactly was he expected to achieve? Winning the World Cup? Only in the redtops and among the deluded fans who are willfully blind to the shortcomings of English football. In 2002, we were put out by the eventual champions, in 2004 under decidedly dodgy circumstances after penalties by the host nation and after dominating for long periods. Only 2006 was a disappointment but he was on his way out by then and McClaren was being groomed to replace him. Look at how that replacement turned out, not to mention McClaren's successor who took us to our worst World Cup finals performance in living memory. Both had essentially the same players as Sven had at his disposal and nobody would claim England have gone anywhere but backwards since 2006.

As for Manchester City, they completed their first double over Manchester United for over 30 years and was so popular with the players that they had to be dissuaded from going on strike when his sacking became imminent. Try telling Manchester City fans he was a failure there too after they arranged the Save Our Sven protest movement when Shinawatra decided he wanted him out, watch some of the videos of their fans at our place in the cup last season STILL showing their admiration for Sven. Many believe the progress they made under Sven was a big part of the reason the Abu Dhabi group decided to invest in the club, thus leading to their current success.

Failure? Not even close.

[accessory]

Oh, this 'Sven has never met expectations in England' drivel returns again.

With England he had the best win record of any England manager since Alf Ramsey,

Part of that record consisted of wins against the likes of Andorra and Liechtenstein. In the final stages of tournaments Sven's record was less impressive.

we qualified comfortably for three tournaments losing only one qualifier in Sven's FIVE YEAR tenure. What exactly was he expected to achieve? Winning the World Cup? Only in the redtops and among the deluded fans who are willfully blind to the shortcomings of English football. In 2002, we were put out by the eventual champions , in 2004 under decidedly dodgy circumstances after penalties by the host nation and after dominating for long periods.

Brazil in 02 were a class apart and would probably have beaten us in any conditions. But we made it easier for them by failing to win our group (due to tepid draws with Sweden and Nigeria) and thus met Brazil in soaring afternoon temperatures (which obviously favoured them) rather than in the semi which would have been played in the evening.

Whatever the quality of the refereeing in 04, we squandered a lead in agonising circumstances against France which again cost us top spot in the group and thus a quarter-final against Greece, a team which we would have expected to beat given the talent at Sven's disposal. That same Greece side, though, comfortably saw off Portugal TWICE in that tournament - which begs the question of why we couldn't do so.

Only 2006 was a disappointment but he was on his way out by then and McClaren was being groomed to replace him. Look at how that replacement turned out, not to mention McClaren's successor who took us to our worst World Cup finals performance in living memory. Both had essentially the same players as Sven had at his disposal and nobody would claim England have gone anywhere but backwards since 2006.

This is like justifying Craig Levein's record with us by noting that Holloway and Sousa were worse.

As for Manchester City, they completed their first double over Manchester United for over 30 years and was so popular with the players that they had to be dissuaded from going on strike when his sacking became imminent

.

Many of those players were signed on VERY lucrative contracts by Sven. Is it any great surprise they were hugely sympathetic towards him?

Try telling Manchester City fans he was a failure there too after they arranged the Save Our Sven protest movement when Shinawatra decided he wanted him out, watch some of the videos of their fans at our place in the cup last season STILL showing their admiration for Sven. Many believe the progress they made under Sven was a big part of the reason the Abu Dhabi group decided to invest in the club, thus leading to their current success.

The City fans attach rather too much importance to the two wins over their neighbours, ignoring the fact that, despite having one of the largest transfer budgets in the league, Sven could still do no better than a NINTH place finish. With United winning a Premier/Champions League double that year, the club owners were less than happy.

Failure? Not even close.

Well it certainly wasn't success..

[B52]

........

Many of those players were signed on VERY lucrative contracts by Sven. Is it any great surprise they were hugely sympathetic towards him?

The City fans attach rather too much importance to the two wins over their neighbours, ignoring the fact that, despite having one of the largest transfer budgets in the league, Sven could still do no better than a NINTH place finish. With United winning a Premier/Champions League double that year, the club owners were less than happy.

Well it certainly wasn't success..

Well, what players had Man City before Sven bought players for 50 mill that was PL-players?

Man City was stripped of quality.

Sven bought foreign players cheaper than english, much cheaper, and made them click at once.

Last fact for you is that Man City dropped because a lot of injuries. Thoose injuries forced Sven to play with what normal people call reserve team and was only suitable for the reserve league, not PL

[smudger63]

Part of that record consisted of wins against the likes of Andorra and Liechtenstein. In the final stages of tournaments Sven's record was less impressive.

Brazil in 02 were a class apart and would probably have beaten us in any conditions. But we made it easier for them by failing to win our group (due to tepid draws with Sweden and Nigeria) and thus met Brazil in soaring afternoon temperatures (which obviously favoured them) rather than in the semi which would have been played in the evening.

Whatever the quality of the refereeing in 04, we squandered a lead in agonising circumstances against France which again cost us top spot in the group and thus a quarter-final against Greece, a team which we would have expected to beat given the talent at Sven's disposal. That same Greece side, though, comfortably saw off Portugal TWICE in that tournament - which begs the question of why we couldn't do so.

This is like justifying Craig Levein's record with us by noting that Holloway and Sousa were worse.

.

Many of those players were signed on VERY lucrative contracts by Sven. Is it any great surprise they were hugely sympathetic towards him?

The City fans attach rather too much importance to the two wins over their neighbours, ignoring the fact that, despite having one of the largest transfer budgets in the league, Sven could still do no better than a NINTH place finish. With United winning a Premier/Champions League double that year, the club owners were less than happy.

Well it certainly wasn't success..

I take it your not a fan of sven then!

As for Claridge, he has an opinion, and he`s entitled to it, and it certainly doesn`t take away from what he helped us achieve, while he was with us.

Personaly, i think he`s being a tad harsh, and hope that come the end of the season, claridge is left eating his words.

[Guest Bilo]

Andorra and Liechtenstein are easier wins than Brazil and France shocker! The fact is you can only beat what is put in front of you, and Sven's England did so with ruthless efficiency on the whole. This around the same time as similarly major sporting powers were showing that international football is not as easy as you're implying. Holland failed to qualify for WC2002 altogether and needed a playoff to do so for Euro 2004.

My point is that with largely the same players as Keegan had at his disposal in 2000, where we failed miserably at Euro 2000 and at the start of the WC2002 qualifying campaign, we ended up winning 5-1 in Germany and going on to the World Cup quarter-final, our best finish in any World Cup since 1990. With largely the same players that made a creditable if underwhelming quarter-final appearance in successive tournaments in 2004 and 2006, Steve McClaren failed utterly to take us to Euro 2008. Our finals results were disappointing because we quite frankly haven't the personnel to match the very best nations, haven't since the early 90s and may well be waiting a generation for again. WC2002 was dominated by Brazil and we were never coming close, Euro 2004 was a missed opportunity in my opinion but even the most strident of England's detractors would admit we had some rotten luck as well and WC2006 was a huge disappointment, that much I will grant you. That Greek side you allude to in 2004 was nothing more than extremely well organised defensively and I would be amazed if a side as limited as that even came close to lifting a trophy again, a total fluke unlikely ever to be repeated.

Your Craig Levein analogy would only have made any sense if Sousa and Holloway had managed the same players but as they ran three completely different teams, it's rendered utterly irrelevant and is arguably the weakest point made here. If a team with a set of players had come close to the playoffs under Levein, Levein had left and been replaced by two managers who failed to even come close to emulating this position I daresay most would have hankered after the return of Levein and realised just how much he had overachieved. That would be a more appropriate analogy to make but your anti-Sven bias again clouds your judgement.

Manchester City under their Thai administration was, you seem to forget, a mess thanks to huge political upheavals and human rights related charges that saw Shinawatra's tenure adversely affected. They threw considerable amounts of money initially but you need to remember the side Eriksson inherited was very weak indeed. It was a side that had scored a record low number of home goals the previous season under Stuart Pearce, had finished just four points above the relegation zone and had been put out of the League Cup by Chesterfield. He walked into a shambles (sound familiar?) and it was patently obvious that serious surgery was needed to get the club anywhere near Europe. They made a very good start and where as high as third at one point, but ultimately fell away to ninth, thanks largely to injuries as B52 points out, and ironically enough qualified for Europe through the backdoor. Shinawatra's knee jerk sacking of Eriksson said far more about his lack of knowledge of the Premiership than Eriksson's supposed lack of ability. This is borne out by the fact that it has taken three more seasons and over £200m more on players to bring about the Champions League spot Shinawatra wanted Eriksson to achieve on a fraction of that in one season and from a points return the previous season of 42.

I can't help thinking that your obvious doubting of Eriksson is based on absolutely nothing he has done here, but a media constructed prejudice carried over from his England years that even promotion might not dampen. His record isn't Mourinho, Wenger or Ferguson rivalling but it's better than pretty much any manager in this division. His only real failure I can think of is at Mexico, seeing as Notts County cannot fairly be counted as we all now know Munto Finance were never a serious consortium anyway. Also, the team he helped construct there won the league in spite of all the upheaval.

[Guest MattP]

I realise the England record looks good nowadays but you have to remember that was the worst standard of international football in our liftimes...I dont think a side as poor as Greece will ever win a major tournament again and one of the world cups had Senegal an Turkey in the semis.

He did an OK job but that was it, same as Ivory Coast, the Mexico job was embrassing as he was on course to fcuk up the easiest qualification route in world football.

He has generally done a good job in domestic football though the success has always came when he has had serious money to spend or been the biggest club in the league. Man City fans did a SOS campaign but that was pretty much killed off by the end of the season that culminated in losing 8-0 to Middlesboro.

I can;t understand people criticising Claridge though, he is supposed to bum us if he doesnt think we will go up? Course not, I remember him saying similar last season when he mentioned he couldnt understand the upheavel and the same MM ass kissers were on everywhere stating "wait until we have gone up with Paulo and playing sexy football, he will be eating his words"

The man is a legend whatever he says, he was a major reason I could watch the proudest team I have seen for 5 years and actually managed to go away to Vienna and Madrid to watch my team play in europe. For anyone to call him a willy puller after doing that for us that is an idiot.

[Guest MattP]

I can't help thinking that your obvious doubting of Eriksson is based on absolutely nothing he has done here, but a media constructed prejudice carried over from his England years that even promotion might not dampen..

I think a lot of that also comes from his despicable behaviour whilst manager.

[Bluefoxtim]

Sven Sven Sven Goran Eriksson

He's got Jimmy Saville's haircut so how'd he get a lovely girlfriend

He tried so many players for the Holland game

Yeah how'd he forget Collymore, they say he's insane

Sven Sven Sven Goran Eriksson

He's a lovely geezer but don't forget that he's from Sweden

[Guest ttfn]

Andorra and Liechtenstein are easier wins than Brazil and France shocker! The fact is you can only beat what is put in front of you, and Sven's England did so with ruthless efficiency on the whole. This around the same time as similarly major sporting powers were showing that international football is not as easy as you're implying. Holland failed to qualify for WC2002 altogether and needed a playoff to do so for Euro 2004.

My point is that with largely the same players as Keegan had at his disposal in 2000, where we failed miserably at Euro 2000 and at the start of the WC2002 qualifying campaign, we ended up winning 5-1 in Germany and going on to the World Cup quarter-final, our best finish in any World Cup since 1990. With largely the same players that made a creditable if underwhelming quarter-final appearance in successive tournaments in 2004 and 2006, Steve McClaren failed utterly to take us to Euro 2008. Our finals results were disappointing because we quite frankly haven't the personnel to match the very best nations, haven't since the early 90s and may well be waiting a generation for again. WC2002 was dominated by Brazil and we were never coming close, Euro 2004 was a missed opportunity in my opinion but even the most strident of England's detractors would admit we had some rotten luck as well and WC2006 was a huge disappointment, that much I will grant you. That Greek side you allude to in 2004 was nothing more than extremely well organised defensively and I would be amazed if a side as limited as that even came close to lifting a trophy again, a total fluke unlikely ever to be repeated.

Your Craig Levein analogy would only have made any sense if Sousa and Holloway had managed the same players but as they ran three completely different teams, it's rendered utterly irrelevant and is arguably the weakest point made here. If a team with a set of players had come close to the playoffs under Levein, Levein had left and been replaced by two managers who failed to even come close to emulating this position I daresay most would have hankered after the return of Levein and realised just how much he had overachieved. That would be a more appropriate analogy to make but your anti-Sven bias again clouds your judgement.

Manchester City under their Thai administration was, you seem to forget, a mess thanks to huge political upheavals and human rights related charges that saw Shinawatra's tenure adversely affected. They threw considerable amounts of money initially but you need to remember the side Eriksson inherited was very weak indeed. It was a side that had scored a record low number of home goals the previous season under Stuart Pearce, had finished just four points above the relegation zone and had been put out of the League Cup by Chesterfield. He walked into a shambles (sound familiar?) and it was patently obvious that serious surgery was needed to get the club anywhere near Europe. They made a very good start and where as high as third at one point, but ultimately fell away to ninth, thanks largely to injuries as B52 points out, and ironically enough qualified for Europe through the backdoor. Shinawatra's knee jerk sacking of Eriksson said far more about his lack of knowledge of the Premiership than Eriksson's supposed lack of ability. This is borne out by the fact that it has taken three more seasons and over £200m more on players to bring about the Champions League spot Shinawatra wanted Eriksson to achieve on a fraction of that in one season and from a points return the previous season of 42.

I can't help thinking that your obvious doubting of Eriksson is based on absolutely nothing he has done here, but a media constructed prejudice carried over from his England years that even promotion might not dampen. His record isn't Mourinho, Wenger or Ferguson rivalling but it's better than pretty much any manager in this division. His only real failure I can think of is at Mexico, seeing as Notts County cannot fairly be counted as we all now know Munto Finance were never a serious consortium anyway. Also, the team he helped construct there won the league in spite of all the upheaval.

England were the best side at Euro 2004. Scored 10 goals in 4 games, and were only denied by a dodgy disallowed goal in the Quarter-Final despite losing their (and to that point the tournament's) best player after 15 minutes. They were also 2 minutes (and a David Beckham missed penalty) from beating the holders in the first game.

[B52]

He did an OK job but that was it, same as Ivory Coast, the Mexico job was embrassing as he was on course to fcuk up the easiest qualification route in world football.

He has generally done a good job in domestic football though the success has always came when he has had serious money to spend or been the biggest club in the league. Man City fans did a SOS campaign but that was pretty much killed off by the end of the season that culminated in losing 8-0 to Middlesboro.

I agree about Mexico but it was down to the players wanting a manager from Mexico........ They got him and I also think that a typical english shouting/barking mad manager suits Mexico better.

Do you know why Man City lost by 8-1 against Middlesboro?

The players had strict orders to play nice because Sven didn't want to jeopardise the fair play european league spot he got. Then one player got a red card and the circus started. The players didn't dare to tackle(much like Ipswich game). They lost 8-1 but got into Europe.....

Man City then lost two years of planning because they hired Hughes as manager and he doesn't know how to utilise foreign players....

[Conscript Fox]

I find these personal jibes at a City legend to be both unwarranted and incredibly distasteful. Have you any idea how fickle you make us look?

If he was as weak as you imply, why have so many media organisations, including the beeb and the Guardian, been so keen to use his services at every opportunity?

What are you worried about looking fickle to a guy like Claridge for? I mean, is he demonstrating any loyalty at present stemming from his time here, with this ill informed, factually inaccurate, rent a quote tripe he's made a livelyhood out of peddling of late?

And to answer your second question, maybe an extension of the same cosy old boy network which sees the same handful of failed managers repeatedly re-employed by clubs in this country.

So he shinned one in the top corner a generation ago, and now can say or do no wrong? Is that it? Because he clearly doesnt retain the same affection or loyalty in return.

Bit of an arse biscuit actually.

[smokey]

Of course you are correct in terms of pundits and 'punditry'... Effectively the art of reporting on something mundane to make it sensational.

However.. With clagger I believe that he has always been a bloke who speaks his mind. I remember we signed him from Brum because he was having major fallings out with Barry Fry and was publicly vocal about his dislike of him.

I would be surprised if Claridge does not believe what he has written here... And he is entitled to his opinion..

Don't forget that we have yet to see whether Sven can bring success to the club with his new squad of players, HIS own squad of players. He has IMO made some great signings, but he's gotta make them gel and play together.

I must be one of the only ones on here who usually thinks that Claridge talks some sense when I hear him. It's a shame that he's not backing Sven, but for some reason he's not..

Give it till Christmas and the picture will be clearer.

I completely agree, give him till Christmas and judge from then onwards!

I was one who moaned last season but i was right too, i said Sven tinkered far too much and picked and loaned the wrong players and i said the good thing about us not going up and Sven staying was that he would of learned a lot from the poor finish and the way Norwich and QPR went about there business and the type of side/squads they had.

He as brought well i think, getting fairly young but experienced Championship players who are ready to prove themselves and make the next step up.

I think 2 or 3 players in and a few sold and loaned out and we should have the balance about spot on, let hope he sets us up right and we hit the ground running in a few weeks.

[accessory]

What are you worried about looking fickle to a guy like Claridge for? I mean, is he demonstrating any loyalty at present stemming from his time here, with this ill informed, factually inaccurate, rent a quote tripe he's made a livelyhood out of peddling of late?

And to answer your second question, maybe an extension of the same cosy old boy network which sees the same handful of failed managers repeatedly re-employed by clubs in this country.

So he shinned one in the top corner a generation ago, and now can say or do no wrong? Is that it? Because he clearly doesnt retain the same affection or loyalty in return.

Bit of an arse biscuit actually.

Who's the arse biscuit now, eh?

[Basil Brush]

Who's the arse biscuit now, eh?

arse bisucit?

[accessory]

Conscript Fox has gone VERY quiet..

[Babylon]

Conscript Fox has gone VERY quiet..

3 games? You really think that's early enough to be acting billy big bollocks?

[Tuna]

Looks like Claridge is right,

[Dr The Singh]

Conscript Fox has gone VERY quiet..

Too busy eating arse biscuits???

[Corky]

Looks like Claridge is right,

Has the season finished?

[B52]

Who's the arse biscuit now, eh?

A tiny bit obcessed, are you?

Thracian being a doom merchant after one loss and now there are quite a few jumping the band wagon.......

[Babylon]

Thracian being a doom merchant after one loss and now there are quite a few jumping the band wagon.......

It's always the same bunch, you can set your clock by it.