When the entire team is struggling that is on the management. We have proven internationals and UCL players across our squad - you don't forget how to play football overnight.
My guess is there are outs in the contract that will allow him to leave for a reasonable fee unless we hit some major benchmarks (Europe, UCL). He probably got a big salary bump as well.
I don't mind this at all. I feel it is going all in on our history, instead of trying to provide something for everyone and mixing past, present and future.
Just haven't seen anything from Gerrard that makes me feel optimistic. Results have been poor, no identity, in game and squad management has been awful, individual players have not improved, he's wrecked our transfer policy...
Feel Purslow is one of those guys who you've got to take the bad with the good. Yes, he's a micro manager and muffed it with hiring Gerrard but otherwise clubs been moving in the right direction. Guess one can argue that the manager appointment (and transfer policy) is far more critical than anything else.
In hindsight the failure was hiring a coach that played a system that our existing players did not fit in and then letting him dictate our transfer policy.
Had an off night tonight. Other games this season he really has not had the chances. Not sure what striker outside the Big 6 I would take instead of him. Maybe a Danny Ings....oh wait.
Let's flip the script - what's there to like about how we are playing? Given how much money we've spent and the talent in our squad it really rests with the manager.
His corners are starting to becoming like the Cash throw-ins under Smith. Just because it worked once doesn't mean you should try it every time. Symbolic of our team - we just seem to lean on one trick.
we've had a few decent chances, but our play has be terrible. We've basically given-up on playing anything out of the back - all hoof ball until the final third.
Reality is coaches have a short shelf-life with a given club. I dont have any data, but have to presume that in a 2 year cycle at least 15 out of the 23 PL clubs will have their coach leave.
Didn't Steve Jobs say that if you asked users what they want in a mobile phone you would not have come-up with the iPhone. Feel too much consultation can backfire.