Football 2011-2012

[kaosmark2]

he certainly looks fit enough at the moment, so it's probably not that likely to happen.

But then again, sometimes oldies drop dead unexpectedly, and I'd guess that that could happen to fergie just as it might anyone else. It's even a possibility I guess that there's some underlying health problem which both he and the club know about that makes it more likely than average.

Perhaps they have a plan to move him 'upstairs' to give things some continuity. That would negate much of the flack they might get from a change.

[thetime]

Perhaps they have a plan to move him 'upstairs' to give things some continuity. That would negate much of the flack they might get from a change.

[eFestivals]

I can't see Mourinho putting up with Fergie interfering in his management though. Possible generally, but not to make way for Mourinho surely?

I mostly agree with you - but there's another side to that.

And that's that Moaniho would probably accept interfering from Fergie but no one else in football. So I don't see it as an impossibility.

All the same I just don't see Moaniho managing Utd. Fergie and the moan are about equal with arrogance, but an ego-driven manager like Moaniho is something different and not something I see Utd going for.

[eFestivals]

They tried that when sir matt busby retired, the players just webt to sir matt al the time.

We got relegated within 4 years of his retirement.

That sort of thing is always a danger, whether Fergie is there or not.

The simple fact is that Fergie is leaving one way or another sooner or later, and the club have a choice to make about that.

Either they control events or they let events control them. I don't think there's many who'd disagree with the idea that the club would be better off controlling events than have events control them.

[Steve P]

He wasn't even that great for Arsenal until last season. Improving, but only last season did he actually look something special. I read an interview a few weeks ago where he put it down to settling in time, but Dzeko aside, the rest of the City squad haven't needed that, and a lot of them came from different leagues.

[The Nal]

that would have all the same issues with transfer budgets and player wages that would exist with Spurs, surely?

If the club are prepared to up their game on those sorts of things then surely they'd have done it last summer to keep Nasri?

[kaosmark2]

I mostly agree with you - but there's another side to that.

And that's that Moaniho would probably accept interfering from Fergie but no one else in football. So I don't see it as an impossibility.

All the same I just don't see Moaniho managing Utd. Fergie and the moan are about equal with arrogance, but an ego-driven manager like Moaniho is something different and not something I see Utd going for.

[kaosmark2]

To be honest it wasn't even a good season, he was great for us August-January but when it got to the business end of the season he went missing. The cynic in me say's he put in the effort until his agent told him that there were other clubs interested and then stopped bothering. Can't say i'm at all surprised at his performances for City

[thetime]

Well all the twitter lurid rumours were false about gary speed then, disgusting folk.

Edited January 30, 2012 by thetime

[strummer77]

ITV4 at 9pm there's a programme about the Craig Bellamy Foundation. For those who haven't seen anything about it before... you might just change your mind about the gobby little Welshman.

A little snippet about it

[kaosmark2]

ITV4 at 9pm there's a programme about the Craig Bellamy Foundation. For those who haven't seen anything about it before... you might just change your mind about the gobby little Welshman.

A little snippet about it

[pink_triangle]

If they get Champs Lge football for next season, like it currently looks like they will, it probably wouldn't. Keep Modric/Bale/VDV/Parker and the defense, get another season out of Friedel, £50mn transfer budget and they could win something in the short-term. It depends whether Levy wants to win a title in the short-term to boost the club's marketing + player appeal, or whether he's going to continue looking to the long term. I can't see there being any other largish club that would want him right now.

[pink_triangle]

I'm surprised. He's only 18. Any 18 year old midfielder who shows a bit of promise should really be given a half decent run. If he doesn't go, he'll surely get a good run on Thursday nights on Channel 5.

[pink_triangle]

Oldham trying to book a place at Wembley tonight!!! Fingers crossed

[kaosmark2]

I think with city building a reputation spurs are likely to get further from city no closer, I can see them going after bale and possibly modric as well. As for any larger clubs wanting him, well the main italian clubs change manager all the time and bayern have been known to switch a few times as well. Im sure he wouldnt have to wait too long to get a decent job.

[thegremlin_1999]

Agreed, but there's a chance Spurs could develop and improve, it's just dependent on a lot.

Well the thing is, he says he wants to go to England next.

[kaosmark2]

Is that to England club or England team tho?

Capello going in the summer post euro 2012...

[thegremlin_1999]

He's said a number of times he considers club football better than international, and I assume he meant by 'manage in England' that didn't include the national team.

[thetime]

Or perhaps work alongside fergie for a year, then he would know uniteds more than the first team.

[kaosmark2]

I agree, just putting it out there.

So who in England can afford HIM let alone the Players he'd buy etc?

Chelsea - been there done that?

Man city - if he wants fergies job then that kind precludes that side of manc?

Utd - fergie is STILL there and he's not going yet is he realistically?

Liverpool? Kenny could move back upstairs? Would the current Americans back Jose to the hilt?

Long shot...

Spurs - always seem to have money... A challenge?

Away from England?

Italy? Italian press don't like him... That matters in Italy I think...

Bayern?

That Russian team with all the mega $$$$? - 2 years payday and then come back for fergies job?

[The Nal]

Ravel Morrison to West Ham. Looks like Fergie and the youth set up have finally had enough of him.

Sad, ridiculously talented but a complete bellend unfortunately. May do him good to get out of Manchester.

See Tevez is appealing Citys fine to the Premier League!! Surely he has to leave City today for...... somewhere else?

Liverpool?

Edited January 31, 2012 by The Nal

[The Nal]

Saha has gone to Spurs?!

Also more madness keeper side at Old Trafford. De Gea called in sick and Lindegaard left training on crutches!

Edited January 31, 2012 by The Nal

[lost]

Saha has gone to Spurs?!

[eFestivals]

arry's going for the insanity plea

if there's anything to the Saha story - and there seems to be something to it - then it can only be that Spurs are about to lose one of their existing strikers and they're wanting extra cover. I'm guessing Saha has come about because Pienaar wants out and Spurs have been talking to Everton about that.

As for which Spurs striker is wanting out, my guess is Defoe as rumours of that cropped up a few weeks ago, seemingly because he doesn't think he stands a chance of being in the England squad for the euros with the amount he's playing for Spurs.

So where would he go? I can only think it would be a major-ish club because otherwise he wouldn't get a shout for England anyway, and it would need to be a club where he'd almost be guaranteed lots of games .... so my guess is Liverpool.

I'm probably wildly wrong.

But if I'm not that seems to make a lot of sense, as he's quite probably the sort of the player who'd link up well with Suarez.

[strummer77]

Saha has gone to Spurs?!