chinapig

Just now, Dastardly and Muttley said:

We are really useless. What are we actually good at? Can someone tell me, as I can’t see it?

Name ONE singular aspect of the game that we excel at.

Behaviours?

6 hours ago, Davefevs said:

Corberan a master at getting his system to be effective

I've been a big fan of his since his Huddersfield days. I remember Nigel being very complimentary about him also.

If I could take one coach from another club to take over here it would be him. No chance of course.

58 minutes ago, Silvio Dante said:

To be fair to him, I think he is more saying that you need to keep focussed on the job in hand, which is a more “traditional” message, he just frames it really badly. Emotion/Emotional is a really poor word for a coach to use to fans because they’re naturally emotional about their team - and want players to be as well.

The trouble is he’s got himself in this unhelpful language and he can’t seem to change. But what he really means, as opposed to “got too emotional” when conceding is “we switched off”.

Its one of many things he needs to improve (it’s not the biggest bit) but he would, ironically, definitely benefit from a bit of coaching on how to present himself and connect “emotionally”

I agree up to a point. For many years, especially in relation to the England team, people would bang on about "passion", often claiming foreign teams couldn't match us for it or complaining that players didn't show enough.

It was nonsense of course as coolness under pressure is important in winning games. But of course you need the right mix of both.

So I wouldn't say Liam is wrong rather that he over emphasises one over the other. He compounds the problem by saying the same thing week after week, giving the impression that he has a very narrow range of ideas. It may be no big deal if it irritates fans but my concern is whether it reflects the way he talks to the players.

The shadow leader of the House, Lucy Powell, said Labour would make the introduction of a regulator “an election issue” in places with struggling clubs if the government did not act.

“If the Conservatives want to make this an election issue in those places, I say bring it on,” Powell said. “Let us be really clear: if they do not want to regulate football governance, then we will.”

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/mar/14/efl-looks-to-independent-regulator-to-break-premier-league-impasse

I'm sure Infantino is getting no personal benefit from this.

8 minutes ago, The Original OTIB said:

Hope Tymon goes to AEK one day.

A Shakespeare reference*. You won't get that on Gaschat!

*Not the pub 

1 minute ago, spudski said:

Well it was Luton the other month...they keep mentioning other teams, yet apparently we want to achieve success doing it our own way. 

 

So far we have been told we should copy Brighton, then Brentford, then Luton and now Ipswich. At this rate we will eventually get through the remaining clubs in the pyramid in 88 years.

Actually 87, we can't compare with Coventry because the sold players for big money.

6 minutes ago, 1960maaan said:

Close but I think you may be 2 Southamptons short there.

1 hour ago, Harvey86 said:

Phillips moves on loan to another Premier League team where he's starting semi regularly (more so than at Man City anyways!) and he's instantly dropped. Don't think we need him particularly, but I'd rather him than Henderson either way

To quote the Guardian:

Southgate had been a factor in Phillips choosing to remain in the Premier League in January with a loan move to West Ham from Manchester City. But the midfielder has endured a torrid time at the London club, starting only three games, in which he has made a costly error against Bournemouth, received a red card at Nottingham Forest and been substituted at half-time against Burnley. He has come on as a substitute in four other matches.

Seems the right decision to me. Southgate would have got stick for picking him in those circumstances so it's a no win situation as it always is with England managers.

1 hour ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

£20m according to one report.

Less than it's value for sure but at the same time, I'm shocked Wycombe can seemingly afford that. Wasn't aware Couhig himself so well off.

A Georgian billionaire living in Kazakhstan is the source of the money according to Ben Fisher:

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/mar/14/reading-owner-dai-yongge-training-ground-sale-wycombe

As expected potential buyers for Reading have withdrawn because the training ground is not part of the deal.

11 minutes ago, Cowshed said:

Exposing kids to variables systems of play, is wildly thought to be not beneficial. Young players lack the cognitive understanding. Episodic training does not create deeper learning versus periodized training.  

Bristol City don't train young players only one way, and most clubs do not either. Young players go through age related phases and the training reflects the age related priorities. Tactics at early ages are very rudimentary (understanding), skill creation is the priority. Players at early ages will generally play in multiple positions at academies, and development centres through foundation and youth stages. 

Post youth stage is professional development. Clubs do not play one system, systems are playing systems, variables of playing systems, and these playing systems won't be one formation systems. Even Ajax and Barcelona don't use one system.  

 

 

Thanks, it's always interesting to get an alternative take. Which take I should choose I have no idea!

Given what you say it seems odd for the club to say we are going to play the same way at all levels. Then again clarity of thought and words is not a feature of the club right now.

4 hours ago, SimonD said:

Not relevant to FFP any more but Reading are apparently selling their training ground to Wycombe Wanderers. I can't be easy supporting Reading these days.

 

 

If Wycombe can afford it I assume they paid well below the potential market value.

It may also make it harder to sell the club, which no longer owns a valuable asset.

No doubt they can now pay their bills in the short term but it doesn't help in the long term.

2 minutes ago, 1960maaan said:

Slightly different, but I remember a little film on Ajax (I think) , 20-30 years ago. They had the young players playing in every position so they could understand what other players were going through. Then become more rounded players. The same thing has surely got to apply with systems. Become a one trick pony and it will stunt development. 

Yes, Ajax and Total Football came to my mind too. Rinus Michels is usually credited with it though Austria in the 30s and Hungary in the 50s took a similar approach.

4 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

What did I say the other day!!

Indeed you did Dave. I wonder if our technical director has thought this through?

Stupid question!

Some of you might be interested in today's Tifo Football podcast on developing young players:

https://theathletic.com/podcast/197-the-tifo-football-podcast/

Lots of informative stuff but I was struck by the section where they discuss the problems with training young players in only one tactical system in the light of our aim to have all our teams playing the same way.

In my experience organisations come up with statements of values as bolierplating and rarely actually live by them.

I wonder if the club ever reviews how it's doing against those alleged values. The discussion around integrity and honesty would be an interesting one for sure.

As to innovative, I'm not sure "we should copy Brighton/Brentford/Luton..." qualifies. Nor does "ooh, look, that club over there has a fashionable, modern young coach, let's get one of those".

Still, learning on the job and all that.

Be fair, they're all learning on the job. I'm sure in time they will learn not to lie to fans. These things take time.

1 hour ago, ExiledAjax said:

Some I agree with.

Some I disagree with.

Some I agree with the basic fact but feel you've embellished a little.

But, the end of it all is that at times I quite envy fans of a club like say - Grimsby - who have a well run outfit that makes rational decisions. They aren't always the correct decisions when hindsight is applied, but Stockwood respects his fanbase enough to explain them clearly and openly.

It says a lot that at times I'd much rather be in the League 2 relegation battle than where we are.

I'm with you on Stockwood. He comes across well in his occasional columns for the Guardian. I can't imagine anybody from our club writing such intelligent and thought provoking stuff.

What I like most about him though are the admirable values he has, a rare thing among football club owners. An important element for me to be proud of my club is its values. That was a key reason why I liked Gould, Pearson and his coaches and Rennie.

I don't see positive values in the club now, which is deeply depressing.

1 hour ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

There are 10 clubs who have scuppered this New Deal..and they're reportedly threatening legal action etc if forced to partake.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-13188487/Premier-League-clubs-shot-EFL-deal.html

And the Government is not impressed.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/mar/12/government-angry-premier-league-reject-efl-support-plan

47 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

I don’t think he is learning. I think he wants to take us down the path he’s set, no deviation.

He's like a politician who has their dogmatic policies and won't change them regardless of whether they work.

OMG Liam Manning is our very own Liz Truss!

13 minutes ago, Nomad said:

Who is the fella in the last screen saying 'unbelievable'?

It's a welcome return for Squires' emo Mourinho.

11 minutes ago, SecretSam said:

Learning is a life-long process. Pep's still learning, everyone should be. I'm still learning after doing my job for 23 years. The world changes, you need to change with it. I don't see a problem in this.

Agreed but Tinnion has been learning about football for 30 years (my estimate as he doesn't like to talk about it) but I don't see much evidence that he has learned the skills for the job.

6 minutes ago, Silvio Dante said:

I bet he’s wishing he’d done that due diligence.

The question he should have asked after meeting JL and BT:

10 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

Can’t believe Tins is giving out undisclosed transfer fees on air! Jeez.  Bet QPR are delighted that’s been divulged.

Not the first time he has been so unprofessional. In most businesses he'd be out in his ear for revealing confidential information.

Anyway he should go through the proper channels and tell Ian Gay first.

21 minutes ago, Travis said:

Your hire em fire em is laughable don't be frightened of Sunderland it is a great fit for you  

One club sacks an experienced, respected and popular manager doing a good job under difficult circumstances because it wanted what it thought was a modern, progressive coach. Having realised their mistake they got rid.

Another club sacks an experienced, respected and popular manager doing a good job under difficult circumstances because it wanted what it thought was a modern, progressive coach. But the people who run that club never admit to getting things wrong so keep him on to save face regardless of performances and results.

Strong leaders are comfortable admitting mistakes. Weak ones aren't so they plough on regardless.