Well as far as consistently getting top 4 goes, it's pretty miraculous, considering the whole stadium thing, something clubs like us and Spurs still have to go through. It probably shouldn't be, but right now it is an achievement in of itself. To do that and still maintain a relative level is incredible, and probably won't be appreciated until he's gone. Especially if it turns out the grass isn't greener without him. Not to mention how he's done it. And whilst losing key players can fairly be put down to him, he has somehow managed to replace them enough to scrape by. We sold Alonso and completely fell apart. Wenger has done it time and again. He's not what he was, and don't think he ever will be, but even then he's still better than most. And frankly, you were spoilt rotten pre-2005, which probably makes it even harder.
But then at the same time I can appreciate the stagnation, bottling it at keys times and general malaise around the club would eat away, especially after 8 years of it. There have been numerous times where you've rightly felt you could kick on and win something or make a better fight for it and yet it's never quite happened. I might even be in the "it's probably time to go" camp since it's by no means inhabited by swivel-eyed loons. As far as the personal disrespect goes, though a lot of it is obviously tongue in cheek, that's too far. And the idea that he is happy with how things are and doesn't care is just ridiculous. Whether it's down to his own mismanagement that you haven't taken that extra step forward, and it'd be fair to say that's a part of it, he's still kept you at a certain level. A level that is ludicrously hard to get to, nevermind to stay there. And again, to accept he has moulded a weak squad, in an odd way it's even more of an achievement to better those with an apprently good squad and who have spent a truck load to do it. And yes, it is fans not in the top 4 who think it. But by definition these are the best 4 teams in the country, and for the last decade or so that has meant being in the top dozen in Europe. And to be in a position where 80-odd other clubs would bite your hand off for, well that's kinda the point. Winning the odd tin pot is nice, but it wears off pretty quickly.
I guess it depends on whether he was hamstrung by your board or through sheer stubbornness. I get the feeling it's a little of both. You can't have the massive change in infrastructure without it eating away a massive chunk of revenue, especially when your sponsorship deals have been pretty pitiful. I think I'm right in saying the stadium has all-but been paid off and the Emirates deals are coming to an end, as far as the business goes there is an incredible amount of potential money to be milked from it, United-style. If this is the case then there are no excuses not to push on. I don't know if he's the man to take you further, I think he probably will leave next summer, but then I don't think anyone else could have kept you where you are now in the same way. Something would have had to give.
He helped move football on and got left behind by it. And he was completely blown away with the influx of oil money. But when you look at other clubs, including mine, and you see how it can be fucked up so quickly then he's done a fantastic job for a long time. A level below what you came to expect from him pre-2005, but levels above the vast majority of clubs Europe-wide. Even looking at Spurs, talented manager, decent squad, decent resources, a monkey playing out of his banana skin and they still finished below you.
As for Rodgers, that was my point. Opposition fans denigrate opposition managers and usually fans swear blind by their manager, yet in this case it's probably the opposite.
This is too waffly now but I can't be fucked to go back through it.
Originally Posted by Suarez Is Boss
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