[Mikus LFC]

Conventional wisdom not always right Ed. After last season, fans have really bonded to him. In any case what’s the expectation at Everton? The team are competing more, they’ve brought in some players and Calvert Lewin should be back soon. Not saying they’ll have a great season, and Lampard may not last, but I couldn’t see him being one of the first to go. Gerrard on the other hand…

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[Mikus LFC]

Yes, thoughts that Lampard would be sacked early were unfounded. The fans really behind him after last seasons escapades.

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[Mikus LFC]

Sorry Ed, just seen your later post. Yes I generally agree with that – but the problem at Utd I think is the board may see steady progress as just enough, and I think early on you need to see more than that and cups enable you to see that. I think even during some of Fergie’s transitions at Utd, you’d still see them winning the league cup. Because I think they’re integral with building a winning machine.

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[Mikus LFC]

Ed, I think that Liverpool team Klopp inherited was a shadow of the one that went close to the league title, and there was still quite an overhaul needed.

Cups are always a difficult barometer of success Mikus. League position is a much more reliable barometer. Cups can be so hit and miss

I think good cup runs or successes tell you a lot about the spirit and dynamic in the dressing room. Trophies are what players want. They breed a winning mentality. And they highlight the effect a manager is having on the players. In any case, I’m talking here about the first season or so a manager is in charge – and the signs of whether they’ve got it and can deliver on the big stage. I think a top manager has to show these signs relatively early on. Or else I don’t think they’ll make it in the longer term.

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[Mikus LFC]

I don’t think you don’t need *that* long or a load of windows to see if a manager’s really got it or not. Klopp got a poor/average Liverpool team to two finals in his first part season in charge. Tuchel won a CL in his first season. Arteta won the FA Cup in his first season. In most cases, these managers quickly galvanized their dressing rooms and completely changed the dynamic. It’s all well and good to think it’s acceptable for Ten Hag to make steady progress over a couple of seasons, but I think you need to see more than that. Winners get results relatively quickly.

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[Mikus LFC]

Staggering amount spent in the PL vs other leagues this summer.

Total gross expenditure of the Premier League: £1.9bn

Total gross expenditure of the other four major leagues: £1.97bnhttps://t.co/rNKJyXs9Sn

— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) September 1, 2022

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[Mikus LFC]

Maybe nil. Not able to see the game but Utd seem back to a bit more “stability” of where they were last season of being able to edge out results unspectacularly. What happened in those first few games? Ten Hag try too much too soon?

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[Mikus LFC]

Yeah Norwich never struck me as the best loan option for him. Brighton could be a much better bet for him under Potter.

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[Mikus LFC]

This another one Chelsea might regret? Or have expectations not quite been met after a good start?

Brighton will be back with a new bid for Billy Gilmour later today. Chelsea are discussing on the fee as it would be a permanent move. 🔵 #CFC

Final decision will be up to Thomas Tuchel. pic.twitter.com/wmCGtP01gR

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 1, 2022

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[Mikus LFC]

Think Gerrard is probably done. His post match interview was basically decrying the players for not listening to his messages when coaching defending that he’s “repeated and repeated” and so will have to keep “repeating”. So if the players aren’t listening or performing to his instructions, is that not pretty much game over for you as manager?

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[Mikus LFC]

Hard to see City not winning the CL this season.

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[Mikus LFC]

Thought Carvalho might be important this season…

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[Mikus LFC]

Strikes me Fabinho was the covering CB, and unwisely decided to step out to close down and left the gap behind him. Our dire form at the back continues.

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[Mikus LFC]

The only thing that the rest can look for is that if Haaland picks up an injury & City forget how to score goals.

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[Mikus LFC]

Did nil put any money on 10-0 to City? 😁

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[Mikus LFC]

I tend to agree Ed – I know they’ve had a few injuries in midfield recently, but for Chelsea, I don’t think they’ve been spending money particularly well for a while now. They’re also buying quite a few players at the moment. They seem to be in a transition and I think are lacking some togetherness what with quite a few changes.

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[Mikus LFC]

Adlab, indeed – a recent video went viral on the British railways – with Europeans who I think own parts of them – basically thanking us for ultimately contributing to their railways thus making them cheaper for them. It’s ridiculous.

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[Mikus LFC]

I note Brian said, “it is noticeable as well that the majority of EPL clubs are owned by investments from outside the country, where have all our wealthy people gone? Probably had a reality check in investing in football!”

There are foreign investments throughout the country, not just in football.

Football I think is just following the path of the general direction of the country where everything is for sale and if it brings in money and investment, we don’t care if the money comes from abroad. I think this is the root of our problems – it’s like privatisation on steroids. We’re told it’s great that money comes in, but then it’s not so great when many can’t afford to live in new housing developments for example. And so too arguably in football that big money comes in, and not many can compete with it.

The following clip from the early 1980s is worth a watch from a Bob Hoskins interview with Barry Norman on the effect this was starting to have on London (and we see where we are today with all these luxurious flats that few can afford to live in). So without wanting to go too deep, and hopefully not too political, I think this is partly why we are where we are with many things today.

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[Mikus LFC]

Brian, hence I think Gerrard picked the wrong club if he’s to make it as manager. A good championship club would have been a better bet as he’d be less in the spotlight and be freer to make more mistakes without as much pressure being on. Villa are still a big club with ambitious owners who have some good players and have spent a bit. And it’s one of the most competitive leagues out there. Both of Graham Potter’s and Eddie Howe’s second jobs were in the championship. I just fear Gerrard went too big too quickly and got into a false sense of security that he had gained enough experience.

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[Mikus LFC]

“They forget, players are responsible also”

This seems to be the age old debate when the blame game starts with regards who is responsible: players or manager? We no longer live in an age when most players are born within 10 miles of the stadium. Players are now employees and are paid vast sums and I think that will inevitably make them too comfortable, and/or too powerful some may say. So it now falls on the manager to not only coach the team, but motivate them as well. A good manager, like a good leader, has to be an excellent persuader and communicator and most importantly has to preach with authority, and if the players see what the coach preaches actually works, it then gives the players confidence in the manager. But the job never stops in terms of keeping the players feet on the ground and maintaining the motivation. It’s a very difficult job and even the best managers still have their flaws.

But with Gerrard there seem very little signs of progress from where they are now to when he took over. I’m not sure he has the right demeanour.

Whilst I still have some criticisms of Arteta, he did win an FA cup early on, so there was clearly something there. And he does look like someone who is having to feel their way into management having previously not having the experience. And steady progress has been made. And I admire greatly what Arsenal are doing supporting the manager with young players and giving him time.

With Eddie Howe at Bournemouth he clearly had something because he overachieved with them with their budget. Rodgers clearly had something when he begun his Liverpool career, ditto Klopp, ditto Pep, etc, etc.

So it doesn’t take that long to see if a manager has it, or doesn’t. You can see steady progress being made with the players constantly reacting to the manager – both short term and long term.

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