Badger

Hope he makes a full recovery. Thought he was a great player for us, never a dull moment … and now good at rallying the crowd pre-match.

His leaving also helped to undermine it when he left, leaving Koeman facing a rebuild.

Although Koeman gets my vote, there were a few things from Poch that I liked , notably the fitness and discipline he seemed to install. Time will tell how good Poch is and if he lives up to reputation and expectation. A lot depends on how things go for him at Old Trafford, it may be that he really cements his place as a great manager but to date, his career is a bit chequered as only being nearly successful. Spurs, yes he elevated them but nothing won, PSG winning their domestic trophies not enough (and didn’t they finish second to Fonte’s Lille) for them. Chelsea, one of many just to fall off the treadmill. USA , was under heavy criticism at one point, no idea how his time there measures up, is it any better than Jesse Marsch in Canada?

Would we have lost Pelle if RK stayed ?

It’s also fair to give credit to Erwin Koeman, and the other coaching staff Ronald Koeman brought with him. No idea if true, but I read from several sources that his team weren’t looking to leave. Often wonder if we should have offered Erwin the job.

Really don’t know what to make of this, and typical of the modern footballer. It’s a shoulder for fuck sake. Doesn’t kick or head the ball with it, and barring an over enthusiastic shoulder charge, or unlawful assault into the opponent’s GK at a corner isn’t going to get much bother. Bet John McGrath and the Alehouse would just have a couple of pints, a stiff chaser for medicinal purposes, and still take to the field. Didn’t Bert Trautman play on with broken neck ? Expected stronger stuff from a German player.

Koeman, no real debate for me. Poch’s time should be recognised though. Very few had heard of him before he was announced, and even fewer wanted him. He did turn it round quickly and got players on board immediately . Despite that it was difficult to warm to Poch in his time with us, his reluctance to conduct interviews in English didn’t help. By the time people were warming he was buggering off. Koeman took on a club potentially in freefall, stabilising it and more ! He was instrumental in the signings (although Les wanted the credit). Shame he and Reed seemed to fall out, and he left as and when he did.

Yes, I’d also accept his part in our rise, but it did seem he was overtaken by his own ego. Which as you say Turkish coincided with Koeman’s departure (perhaps also a factor in it).

Reed also believed his own publicity too much. Praised for the conveyor belt of talent coming through and media talk of it being like Ajax. Completely glossing over the fact Ajax have breakthrough players year after year, not a Shearer in 1987 and Walcott in 2005, and Bale a few years later. He believed both he and his system/black box was invincible and clearly better placed than some random Dutch geezer (no matter what he achieved as a player) to take the club forward. Despite the fact it was largely Koeman’s connections that helped rebuild in 2014.

Seaside B&B….

Certainly opens up the game time for Abbot. Remains to be seen if Wood - according to rumour - will now collect his toys from around the place and put them back in the pram.

Needs the beard to go full Lego

Palace fans on phone-in getting quite impatient for them to announce the replacement. Franks been mentioned but last caller asked “is he cumin or what ?”

Sage also now gone at Palace.

IF available I’d expect it to be a phased return. Perhaps building up to being available to start at home to Middlesbrough.