kyle04

Ajax have long been about football rather than just business, the fact that Tadic appears to be thriving there is no surprise really. Yes they inevitably lose their talent at some point but just turn around and develop more. It's something SFC have done in the past to some extent : Bale, Walcott, Ox, Shaw,Lallana, Schneid, Fonte, Lovren, Clyne, Mane,VVD - we have had some serious talent at this club, what a team this would be :

+1 For a season and a half nearly he has been a good player in a poor team. I think his fitness levels have dropped and he's lost a bit of heart, but his body language sometimes is not acceptable. He is good enough to be a regular international IMO, one thing he is not is captain material however. If he does stay maybe RH will get the best out of him. We do have genuine quality in the squad (Bertie, Ings, Lemina, Redmond, even Romeu), just not enough of it.

Clearly our CB problem is whats going to kill us I think, we have 5 players who have been tried in various combinations this season, none of which has worked effectively. There was a clamour for Yoshi to play, and he has lately and has looked as poor as any of them. All 5 I think would make reasonable "junior" partners alongside a class senior player (VVD, Fonte and the like), but we no longer have a player of that calibre. The Cardiff game was a defensive shambles at times, as was Fulham. Arsenal will be a severe test, they are developing into a serious top 4 side. If we're not in their faces for 90 minutes they will pick us apart at will. I'm glad that we have RH now after 2 previous managerial disasters. It's been hinted that he may leave if we go down which would be a shame. If we do go down, which I think we will, he should stay and develop the team even if it means a couple of seasons in the Championship.

A financial bonus is implied if we stay up, I think if he manages that this season he deserves a f******* statue !

Probably a comment or two taken out of context I suspect. Given where we are in the league , as a player, you'd have to be a bit of a tit to openly complain about a higher work rate. Outside of the celebrity insanity, generally top earners in this country have exceptional talent and work the hardest. I think RH is just what this club needs, even if it takes a little time to bear fruit. Liverpool and Citeh aren't where they are just because they have more talented players. ...."scnell Austin, scnell !"

.....well the scoreline could be the same...

Despite the injuries, the weather conditions and an energetic cardiff side, that was as bad a display as anything witnessed under Hughes. The commentator at one point described our defense as a shambles, which it was. We were no better going forward either, not one shot on target AFAIK. We gave the ball away so many times it was embarassing. Nobody really put in a performance, maybe Lemina. Redmond and Armstrong largely anonymous, Targett and Vest were woeful, Valery no match for Murphy and was rightly subbed. This game could have gone either way in reality but you just knew we would make the crucial error at the back, and we did. I really can't see us getting much from our next 5 games. Arsenal, Citeh and Chelsea will tear us apart, and WHU are much better than us on their day, so at best I'd say 4 points , at which point we could be 6 points+ adrift. We're in trouble , and RH will know it.

Sell Austin

There was a definite upturn in the players attitude (perceived or not) when Hughes stepped in, but it was a close run thing thats for sure, and hinged on the Gabbi goal v Swansea. Might have gone the other way but didn't. We got the win and stayed up, they didn't. Hughes gets slated for poor results so conversely must be due some credit when it goes our way. Right now I don't think he cares either way, he's tried his best and failed, got his money, although his reputation is severely dented. He may well blame the board and players, the players blame the manager, the fans blame both and so on....

Although not expecting an instant turnaround, I'm quite excited by RaHa (as he seems to be known as here). I don't think we have quite enough pace in the squad to play the fast counter that RB displayed under him at times, but on it's day our midfield can be as good as any outside the top 6. I think Redmond will be key this season, assuming we can sort out our excuse for a defense, with the right coaching. This is a positive, aggressive (to quote Klopp) aquisition. COYR !

That sounds a bit rude.....

Well it's certainly not a given that whoever comes in will improve results. It's a little ironic as maybe the penny finally dropped with Hughes regarding certain players (Austin et al ) he gets the boot. The timing is a little comical also, "sacked for failing to beat Man Utd" . I can picture Jose and Hughes bumping into each other at a run down Salford dole office in the near future, both wearing Smiths T-shirts under grubby long overcoats....

Be careful what you wish for, Pep may have an eye on him ! I've been impressed with Redmond all season, he seems to have woken up under Hughes and is a rare positive in what is turning out to be another turd of a season. Lets not forget he's had Long and Austin around him for most of the games. Our first goal yesterday showed how effective he can be when running at defences, together with Obi - quick feet and vision to put Armstrong in, bang 1-0 easy.

Positives : Well we were mostly predicting a loss, so taken in isolation a draw against Man U is a positive result. We are starting to score some goals, Armstromg, Lemina and Redmond are looking the business, and Ings set to return soon. Obi a handful for the opposition, doing what Austin is supposed to do but never has this season. Liked the line up, no Austin , Long and Heodt. Hope Hughes sticks to this at least. Great strike from Cedric, we need to set this up more if we can. Didn't capitulate 2nd half when Man Utd expected to go on and win. Negatives : Man Utd looked as poor as I've ever seen them and were there for the taking. Goals conceded again from defensive mistakes. Vest and Yoshi the culprits this time. The Citeh game skews it a little but we're averaging 2 goals a game conceded. If we don't put this right we've had it. At the moment Vest looks a liability, slow (forgivable for a CB) and poor positioning sometimes, nowhere near Lukaku for their first. Obi injured. Our next 6 games may define our season. If we can get 8+ points we have a chance. The teams around us are picking up wins here and there, we need to do the same.

I think the OP was referring to players ability/performances, rather than whether we think they're a jolly good chap or not. Regarding Hoedt for example, IMO his ego far exceeds his footballing ability, someone needs to tell him he's not the Keiser and just get rid of the f****ing ball when necessary. Historically, since past players have been mentioned, anyone remember Terry Curran? The most inept player I ever watched, but will probably be remembered for the winner v Leeds in the LC semi 2nd leg. Funny old game....

... and I thought my prediction was far fetched !

... or maybe : D) It's clear that I'm not up to this PL manager lark, so, after reflection, and in fairness to the club and the fans, I've decided to render my resignation. It's the only honorable thing to do. Furthermore I don't think it's right that I take the remainder of my contracts salary, as receiving money for nothing is tantamount to theft in my book. I would also like to state for the record that myself and Charlie Austin are in a relationship and will remain so for the the foreseeable future (chuckles)... I hope !

It'll be our 10 v 12 with a goal deficit. Austin starts = 10 men Ref bias = v 12 men 1 goal deficit = another Hoedt/Cedric cock up.

I wonder if anybody at all involved in the SFC setup has ever said to Austin this season, "we need more from you matey". It looks as though no one has, or if they have he's incapable of upping his game, in which case why does he start so many games ? The training is clearly an issue, half an hours light jogging and a game of 6-a-side then back to the golf course or PS4 seems the order of the day. Regardless of talent Pep or Poch would not tolerate players not being fully fit, they just wouldn't get a game. The fans don't expect to see Man City mk2 at SMS, but do expect a high level of effort and fitness to compensate. This is a basic starting point in any sport in any league and we don't have it. That is down to Hughes alone, there are no excuses. As for the players caring I think they do but not nearly enough. If I was a player feeling leggy after 70 minutes I'd want to improve on that. Get on the treadmill Charlie...

True. By the end of the year, with our fixture list we will be rock bottom and on the way to being adrift. I expect Hughes to get the bullet when we need to win 8 of our last 10 games. I just cant understand why we don't act until it's virtually too late. We're marketed as an established PL club and blunder on like a first time promoted club just happy to be there (like Fulham who have, er, just appointed a new manager)...

I think our best chance would be an early red card for Leicester, which will balance out our 10 men when Austin inevitably starts....

Bookies have us at around 5/2 to go down. I honestly feel this is a giveaway. Of the other candidates, I'd say only Fulham are on a par with us in terms of general ineffectiveness at this level. The rest either have more quality, or are better managed and motivated. We are on course for around 24 points, and even the most optimistic supporters surely can't see us getting more than this. The result will be a humiliating relegation finishing bottom by some margin. What money we did have to improve the squad has largely been wasted and there is no more available. We have a manager who consistently selects players who cannot do the job required of them. We have a board that gives a 3 year contract to a journeyman when no manager since Chris Nichol has lasted that long at the club. My attitude may be criticised , fair enough. But make no mistake, this season will be among the worst in SFC history.

It's just possible we could go down with less than 20 points, at the moment I can't see any other outcome....?

Oh well, Skate derby next season......

Yes, he's obviously a genius at everything he may try and must be kept on a leash. The PL would not be where it is today without the influence if a handful of extremely wealthy club owners, and the slick marketing of Sky, BT Sport etc. That the guts have been ripped out of the "English" game matters not to these b*****ds, as long as the cash keeps rolling in and kids in Asia keep buying the shirts. It's obvious from the crass reply to the above email that SFC will hand over the money, they may as well have added ..." and don't bother us again with this you little pleb". The whole idea stinks, if it was felt that the non compete bribe was necessary why don't the PL just stump up the readies and avoid the controvercy ?