Football 2011-2012

[kaosmark2]

I honestly don't think being at a great club and winning trophies is relevant to how good someone is as a manager. Look at the top half of the premiership this year only kenny and Mancini (at a push do matteo)were great players at great clubs. Being average didn't hurt the rest.

[Kyelo]

OGS has clear step by step progression...

1. Player under one of the best managers/success with successful large team

2. Manager of forwards under Ferguson

3. Manager reserves at United

4. Manager of professional 1st team which wins national league(Norways Uefa coefficient isn't too far below the Scottish)

Now onto a middle of the road English club(who don't forget are lucky to be in EPL really), can see nothing wrong with going from the top of a tier 2 league into bottom of a tier 1.

[luckysalt]

Right im a Villa supporter, did break the news on OGS on the previous page but seemed to be ignored but I said im very supportive of it.

We villa fans are under no illusions that we are lucky to be in the league still, but we still have the potential to get right back up there next season, McLeish was a nightmare, Sunderland were down there until ONeill came in, sometimes you just need a different approach, Im not saying we'll be challenging for top 4 like we were only 3 years ago, but I think we can get back to 9th quite easily like we finished last year.

Only with the right approach, manager, playing style and signings in and players out the club, I fully trust OGS can do all that, and he will recieve backing and Villa fans also will not call for his head, they just want to see rebuilding take place and play good football, not negativity. With OGS I think we will sit nicely in mid table no problem, by that I mean 8-12th.

Anyway now onto the matter in hand with OGS, heres what Ive heard.

OGS travelled to UK today, apparently he was asked not to by owner but did anyway, he met Lerner for talks then when back to Norway, Lerner went back to USA.

It is not confirmed who travelled with OGS, if his wife or agent were present.

OGS has since when arrived back spoke with press and said he felt Villa is one of the big clubs in England and had to speak with them, out of respect he wanted to do it face to face, he said they had intial chat, but no negotiations took place, said Villa have other people they want to speak with.

He will manage Molde this weekend, this will be their 10th game of the season, they are currently second in the league, Molde will play upto May 28th and then their league has a months break whilst the Euro's take place.

Many are speculating this is when something will happen, some are suggesting things have actually been agreed in principal and thats why Lerner has flew back to US to wait until after May 28th, otherwise wouldn't he stick around to speak to other targets?

OGS feels he should remain loyal to Molde, as he has only done one season and they have qualified for Champions League, the owner Rokke isn't happy OGS went to England in first place, apparently they've had a blazing row and he has said he withdrawn his interest in the club, his support and finiancial backing, apparently one company have pulled out support from the club which means income has dropped from 9million to 7million.

Thats where we are right now.

Really myself, I don't know what to think anymore, end of the day when you become a manager somewhere and you want to leave theres not a lot that can be done, the owner throwing his toys out the pram seems a good situation for Villa especially as we know how great Lerner is supporting his managers. Seems like OGS wants to take the job but feels guilty about the situation, thing is he knows the job isn't going to wait, Id say he's first choice in Lerners eyes, and Lerner is willing to wait until start of June when the Norway break happens, I guess in the meantime, Faulkner may have some talks with other managers maybe with Lerner on phone, just in case they need a plan B. Thing is with Liverpool and West Brom both needing managers too they won't want to be left in the cold.

I don't think we will have anything happen until a week on Monday, unless of course the Norway situation between owner and OGS becomes so stretched something happens due to this.

[luckysalt]

UPDATE

Molde have announced a press conference tomorrow daytime after training

FURTHER UPDATE

OGS will issue a statement at 9.45pm UK time tonight

[Ed209]

Apparently the Chairman gave him permission to go. In which case it should be chairman getting a blasting, not OGS.

Its his boyhood club though isn't it? Think he started his youth development there. Must be very tough for him.

[pink_triangle]

How many managers havnt been up and down though?

[pink_triangle]

Sky news reporting liverpool are going to interview 12 people for the job, surely thats getting a bit silly.

[thetime]

Sky news reporting liverpool are going to interview 12 people for the job, surely thats getting a bit silly.

[strummer77]

Sky news reporting liverpool are going to interview 12 people for the job, surely thats getting a bit silly.

Edited May 19, 2012 by strummer77

[kaosmark2]

Final fix of the domestic calendar today!

Back when we were discussing the FA Cup final, and how it had lost some of the excitement around it, I think the Champs Lge final being the ultimate game of the season, as opposed to being played on the Wednesday between Prem end and FA Cup final is a major part of that. I'm really psyched up for the match tonight.

[strummer77]

Final fix of the domestic calendar today!

Back when we were discussing the FA Cup final, and how it had lost some of the excitement around it, I think the Champs Lge final being the ultimate game of the season, as opposed to being played on the Wednesday between Prem end and FA Cup final is a major part of that. I'm really psyched up for the match tonight.

Edited May 19, 2012 by strummer77

[kaosmark2]

The CL final has been the major game throughout in my lifetime whether it was the Wednesday or the Saturday. I think there's room for both to have their own days and they should be. Though I think with it increasingly likely Man City will simply stroll to the league over the next few years, the importance of a cup win will rise naturally.

Though as I said a few pages back... award the Europa winner a CL spot for the following season and then watch the importance of the other cups rise. It would be good for football.

[pink_triangle]

Not as excited as normal about the champions league final for a couple of reasons.

1. I personally feel there has been a lot more hype about the premiership title this year, which is helped by the dramatic finish. I was a lot more excited last sunday than today. I think with so many other big stories about, its got lost in the shuffle a bit, like the fa cup final.

2. A lack of glamour, only one traditional big name and I would have personally preferred barca v bayern. Also while there are some top players eg Ribery, Drogba, Gomez etc, it lacks a bit of superstar quality. It feels more like an Inter v Bayern (but with more boring managers) final than a man u v barca final.

I think if Chelsea are going to succeed Mata will be key, have been very impressed with how he has adapted and he will only get better. If Bayern succeed I suspect Ribery will be the key man. For me English sides performances in champions league finals have generally been average/poor. I wonder if chelsea can reverse the trend today.

[kaosmark2]

Robben? That's a big big name, particularly when you consider he's ex-Chelsea as well.

II think Bayern are absolutely there on merit, and are completely full of top top players. They've torn a lot of teams apart this year as well. Ribery could have an off-day but with Kroos, Schweinsteiger, Gomez and Robben they'd still have plenty of attacking quality. Chelsea are a lot lot weaker on paper.

[pink_triangle]

Agree bayern there on merit but if they were that good they would have won the league Robben a great player but to me like a del piero, totti, sneijder a step below the likes of Ronaldo, messi, Ronaldinio, Zidane, Brazilian ronaldo, figo etc.

[kaosmark2]

Agree bayern there on merit but if they were that good they would have won the league Robben a great player but to me like a del piero, totti, sneijder a step below the likes of Ronaldo, messi, Ronaldinio, Zidane, Brazilian ronaldo, figo etc.

[jump]

I wouldn't put Bayern in the top 3 teams but they are easily one of the top teams (& better on paper than Chelsea) but I think Chelsea could nick it even with it being their ground. Their confidence is shot after losing the league and cup and they're without Badstuber who is a bigger loss for them than Terry is for Chelsea.

[pink_triangle]

If Barca were that good they would have won the league. If Man U were that good they would have won the league....

Teams that win/get to the Champs Lge final aren't necessarily the winners of their league, but that doesn't mean to say they're not a top team. People wanted an El Clasico final after the draw was made, but the fact it isn't actually makes it more exciting IMO. We can watch El Clasico games in La Liga, in the Copa Del Rey, we got a 2-legged semi last year. I enjoy Champs Lge because it means you get to watch top teams from different nations with different styles compete. Bayern vs Barca would have been my preferred final, but I think the lack of media hype + glamour means that people don't give Bayern and their players the consideration and respect they deserve. They're comfortably in the top 3 teams in the world.

[pink_triangle]

Bloody hell was hoping for a blackpool win!

[kaosmark2]

Bayern at their best look as good as Real at their best do. They thrashed Basle 7-0, they beat Real over 2 legs. Domestically the only team who've beaten them comfortably all season is Dortmund. I just think that with the current fragility of the Italian and English teams, Bayern are leagues ahead of everyone except the 2 big Spanish teams.

I don't think Chelsea are to blame for the lack of glamour over here. They matter a lot in this country even if they don't abroad. I think Chelsea vs Milan would get a better treatment over here than the final as is is getting.

And I reckon Badstuber's the weak link in Bayern's defensive unit. I think Alaba will be a much bigger loss (didn't deserve that yellow against Real either). And Chelsea will probably have Ferreira and Bosingwa both on the pitch against Bayern's attack!

[thetime]

Bloody hell was hoping for a blackpool win!

[MrZigster]

I'm forever blowing bubbles

That is all.

[jump]

Bayern at their best look as good as Real at their best do. They thrashed Basle 7-0, they beat Real over 2 legs. Domestically the only team who've beaten them comfortably all season is Dortmund. I just think that with the current fragility of the Italian and English teams, Bayern are leagues ahead of everyone except the 2 big Spanish teams.

I don't think Chelsea are to blame for the lack of glamour over here. They matter a lot in this country even if they don't abroad. I think Chelsea vs Milan would get a better treatment over here than the final as is is getting.

And I reckon Badstuber's the weak link in Bayern's defensive unit. I think Alaba will be a much bigger loss (didn't deserve that yellow against Real either). And Chelsea will probably have Ferreira and Bosingwa both on the pitch against Bayern's attack!

[kaosmark2]

Not that I'm saying they aren't a good side but they didn't beat Real over two legs it went to penalties (maybe pedantic), Basel aren't exactly a top team and pretty sure Monchen did a double over them.

[thesecretingredientiscrime]

One of my favourite things about British football is the strength and set up of our lower divisions, and I think the Championship play offs really demonstrate what type of a league it is.