1.) 22 Apr 2019
22 Apr 2019 11:13:19
Nice post Shappy.

2.) 22 Apr 2019
22 Apr 2019 11:24:40
Well written article and appropriate amount of focus on the board. Also good to focus on the players mentality and desire, agree partly with the notion that you would take less talented players than pogba but work harder instead.

But no focus given on the tactical and technical elements that ole is looking to introduce. I haven't seen any inkling of a style or plan from him over this 5 month period. There looked to be an attacking style forming but that seemed to regress back to defensive reactive football pretty soon.

Which brings me back to player who has 80% of pogbas ability but is more hard working. He will still fail due to our inability to build play from the back when we just hoof it long to lukaku. He will still have a sluggish nemanja matic protecting the back 4 unable to win the ball back. He will still play the ball to romelu lukaku and see him unable to hold it up and play off him. He will still look out to the right hand side and see no one there or maybe see a tired ashley young failing to put in his 27th cross accurately.

Or will his hard work and endeavour make up for those tactical and technical shortfalls in the squad?

3.) 22 Apr 2019
22 Apr 2019 11:39:26
Well if Mike phelan gets appointed in a board capacity, we might as well forget about and re structure or progression. God himself be given the managers job and he'd still struggle to finish in top 4.

4.) 22 Apr 2019
22 Apr 2019 12:03:54
Good post dsg, angel if he gets that job, we will be the next 5 years going backwards.

5.) 22 Apr 2019
22 Apr 2019 12:09:02
That’s a great post shappy.

6.) 22 Apr 2019
22 Apr 2019 12:12:19
Good post Shappy.

7.) 22 Apr 2019
22 Apr 2019 12:12:32
DSG, I think there was a clear style that started to be implemented at the start of Ole's reign. We pressed higher and looked to hit teams quickly and at pace. However, soon it became apparent that the players were physically unable to maintain that style. We also had problems breaking teams down that sat deep, with us unable to build successfully from the back. At that time the demands of Ole's style pushed many of our players into the "red zone" and we picked up a number of injuries. Unfortunately building up a level of fitness can't be achieved mid season. This is why in my opinion Ole often talks about pre-season being an important time moving forwards. To enable him to bring in that sort of style not only will he need to bring in several players to suit that style, but he will also need a full pre-season to condition and drill the players to play that way. Since it became apparent he wouldn't be able to implement that style for the entirety of this season he has had to adapt. That has meant the team has regressed somewhat.

I strongly suspect we will see something much closer to his first few games from the start of next season. The issue next season is we will unlikely have a strong enough squad to maintain a harder running style throughout the whole season and we will likely struggle in the last couple of months with injuries and a general running out of legs. Similar to Liverpool in Klopp's first season or two. It is only now he has been able to build a bigger, deeper squad that Liverpool have been able to maintain a title challenge right into the closing moments of the season. This is one of the reasons I have said he will need at least 2 years. Hopefully this summer he can build the first 11 he wants, then next summer he can add another 4-5 first 11 quality players with whom he can rotate and challenge the first 11 for a starting spot, allowing them to rotate will stay fresher into the later stages of the season.

8.) 22 Apr 2019
22 Apr 2019 13:46:28
Well said Shappy.

9.) 22 Apr 2019
22 Apr 2019 14:07:29
Shapps great post and response. Good analysis.
Can’t fault any with your post. 👍.

10.) 22 Apr 2019
22 Apr 2019 15:26:11
Shappy- respect mate for taking the time to write these insightful posts. Great points.

On the point of pre season being so important, this makes it even more vital that we don't end up in a Europa qualifying round in July. Wouldn hardly be ideal for a full blown rebuild.

Then again the European football supremo that is Mick Phelan as technical director wouldn't be ideal for a rebuild either. Another vastly under-qualified Fergie favourite being given such a key role would mean this club still hasn't learned anything.

11.) 22 Apr 2019
22 Apr 2019 20:55:06
Yes it will take time, but could i ask if people think Ole will actually get the time he needs? To buy the "right fit" players impart the ethos, work the academy is the right thing to do but consistently across the last 6 years managers are given 3-5 months before all and sundry are moaning, whining etc. I think we are still drunk on Fergies success and it'll maybe take a few more managers until we accept a rebuilding "long term" strategy. go on shoot me.

{Ed002's Note - He will have some involvement in deciding on players but not to any great extent. The academy is nothing to do with him at all.}

12.) 22 Apr 2019
22 Apr 2019 22:21:39
Thanks Ed, clarity as always appreciated.