Newcastle United vs FC Atromitos Europa League match banter!

Posted on August 30th, 2012 | 110 Comments |

Newcastle United v FC Atromitos.
Second fiddle, but still in it to win it says Silver Supremo.
Venue: St James’ Park, Newcastle.
Date: Thusday 30th August, 2012.
Kick-Off: 8:00pm.
Referee: Stephen Studer‎ .
UK TV: ITV 4.

Hello, good evening and welcome to our latest “match banter” feature for this evening’s Europa League game against FC Atromitos of Athens.

With a shortage of success in the transfer window so far, Alan Pardew has now been playing down the importance of this competition, even though it is over five years since we last tasted European football with Glenn Roeder’s legendary Intertoto winning “Dream Team” back in the 2006–07 season. Speaking in the pre match press conference for the game, the Silver Supremo said that he will be prioritising the Premiership and the FA Cup, seeing the League Cup and the Europa League as a chance for younger players and squad players to “show their wares,” though he did add that the priority would be raised should the club reach the latter stages of the competition.

Speaking on the fringe players, Pardew commented:

“There’s nothing worse for a manager than to have one game a week. You can only pick 11, and in some ways it’s helpful for me to have these games. I can say to these guys ‘come on, then’. It’s a big year for a lot of players at this football club in terms of are they going to play in the first team. You don’t want to be a squad player, and that’s the competition there should be.”

Then, confirming where the Europa and League Cups stand on his list of priorities he continued:

“The Capital One Cup (League Cup) and this competition will play second fiddle to the Premier League and FA Cup in my view. These are great opportunities for them to show their wares. If we were fortunate enough to get to the later stages of the competition, then the profile of it would rise, and so would the standard of our team. I’m sure of it.”

As to whether this was an indication that Mike Ashley would open his wallet for a huge transfer spending spree in January should the Toon still be in the competition, he didn’t say.

So with the lack of new signings, expect to see more of the bairns trying to stake a claim for themselves in tonight’s encounter. Looking back on last week’s 1-1 draw at Atromitos’s place and what could be learned for this evening’s game, Pardew told NUFC TV:

“Last week we got what I thought was a positive result. They have got a couple of very good players, ones who can travel with the ball and that is always difficult for teams. The manager has got vast experience and that worries me a little bit.”

Atromitos’s manager, Dušan Bajević, does indeed have much experience, having managed a total of eight mostly Greek clubs over the past 28 years, with the exceptions being the Bosnian Velež Mostar and the Serbian former European Cup winners, Red Star Belgrade. In this time the Bosnian manager has won no fewer than 8 Greek Super League Championships, 3 Greek Cups, a Greek League Cup, a Greek Super Cup, a Pre-Mediterranean Cup and a Yugoslavian Cup. But getting back to Johnstone’s Paint Trophy winning Pardew, he went on to tell the club’s website that despite his fears about the Bosnian Alex Ferguson, he will be going out to win the game saying:

“The club wants to win on Thursday and we will put out a side which we think can win the game.”

He also bemoaned the heat of Greece in the first leg, predicting a more energetic game this evening when he said:

“It’s very, very difficult as a player to get your energy levels up when the heat is so high. It was a great experience for us, though. I don’t think it’s going to be 32C in Newcastle. It’ll be a lot cooler, and both teams’ energy will go up.”

Bit he ended that particular part with a note of caution, adding:

“Atromitos will be stronger as well.”

For a more full background to this evening’s game, please check out my collegue AndyMac’s excellent match preview for the game, which includes some great stuff on the financial implications for the club if we do progress in the competition. His preview for the previous game, in Athens is still well worth checking out too if you haven’t already for more information on this evening’s opponents.

As usual, I will post this evening’s team sheets when they become available. As you can see above, the game will be televised in the UK on ITV 4, though I will also post links for the later too for those who are overseas, as well as highlights and possibly a full match video when the game is over so staty tuned!

Howay the Lads!

Team sheets

Newcastle United (4-2-3-1): Tim Krul (G), Danny Simpson, Mike Williamson, Fabricio Coloccini (C), Ryan Taylor, James Perch, Gael Bigirimana, Gabriel Obertan, Dan Gosling, Sylvain Marveaux, Demba Ba.

Subs: Steve Harper (G), James Tavernier, Yohan Cabaye, Haris Vuckic, Romain Amalfitano, Adam Campbell, Papiss Cisse.

Atromitos (4-2-3-1): Charles Itandje (G), Ioannis Skondras (C), Sokratis Fytanidis, Nikolaos Lazaridis, Konstantinos Giannoulis, Matias Iglesias, Eduardo Brito, Elini Dimoutsos, Chumbinho, Denis Epstein, Tasos Karamanos.

Subs: Velihir Radman (G), Stathis Tavlaridis, Evangelos Nastos, Panagiotis Ballas, Sebastiau Garcia, Nikola Beljic, Njazi Kuqi.

Poll

NUFCBlog Author: workyticket workyticket has written 1091 articles on this blog.

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110 Responses

  1. I was really pleased with how last season turned out, especially getting into europe again. I thought this season we’d push on, get a few more good senior players in the transfer window and really have a good go at it after all this time out of europe. I don’t know if its just me but the way this window is turning out and with all the stuff from Pardew now about the europa league being second fiddle, it just feels like a kick in the teeth after all the hope and expectation from the end of last season. I’m gutted, it won’t be the first time as a toon fan though and i’m sure it won’t be the last!

  2. Doesn’t this all contradict what he was saying about being in Europe raising the club profile and helping us attract players?

    Still, let’s get a result here and worry about transfers and groups tomorrow.

  3. cloggybob says:
    August 30, 2012 at 7:35 pm

    “Andy Carrol in London having a medical…,apparrantly.”

    I never thought that Liverpool would let him come here after the Llambiasgate tapes anyway cloggybob, unless perhaps they paid the same as Liverpool paid for him going the other way :-)

  4. worky it looks like they’re getting him on loan and seeing as if they stay up before buying.

    how can that be worse than ‘biting the bit’ say and recouping 17 mil for example.

  5. GS says:
    August 30, 2012 at 7:29 pm

    “Doesn’t this all contradict what he was saying about being in Europe raising the club profile and helping us attract players?”

    Inconsistency doesn’t seem to worry him a great deal, he lives in the moment GS. That’s one of the big reasons I preferred Hughton over Pardew despite the derision of some idiots. He was a long term thinker who was consistent in what he said because he was consistent in what he thought, which is a very important thing for leadership in all fields. Having one good season can end up meaning nothing, you have to see things over the long term.

  6. I have not written soon, cause just wanted to see how the thing will turn into.
    Now i can only say that we have a weak manager who is afraid of getting trouble with Mike Ashley’s managment.
    Maybe the best signing for us would be “Dirty Harry” and I really hope so. Would like to see a little bit more aggresive coach.
    Nobody can convince me there is a manager who believes to close the gap for top 4 spending max 7-8 mil per window.
    Shame for the last campaign

  7. ASenski says:
    August 30, 2012 at 7:53 pm

    “Maybe the best signing for us would be “Dirty Harry””

    I wouldn’t mind the real Dirty Harry. He’d know how to deal with Llambias.

  8. i agree man,so many contradictions that your average supporter does’nt know what direction we’re heading anymore.
    anyway don’t wanna get too negative before the kick off.
    enjoy the game all HWTL!!

  9. Ok, but Worky,
    How do you see a change of that deadlock in our transfer managment? If the 5th position is not a good reason to invest for the next campaign, I don’t see any other

  10. cloggybob says:
    August 30, 2012 at 8:06 pm

    “anyone know the attendance??”

    Cloggy, I was just looking at the page on the club website where thay should have that, but it’s still “TBC.”

  11. ASenski says:
    August 30, 2012 at 8:01 pm

    “Ok, but Worky,
    How do you see a change of that deadlock in our transfer managment?”

    Well at any club that’s always down to the owner and the chairman. I written this on here many times before so apologies for repeating myself but Pardew once said that Ashley didn’t feel he was getting enough “value” for Cisse at only £7.5 million, and that buying him at that price was a close thing which is very scary. The strange thing is Anita though, he’s been an exception.

  12. tunyc says:
    August 30, 2012 at 8:23 pm

    “There’s your boy, worky! Haris!!!!!!!”

    He is very, very good tunyc. The first time I saw him he even reminded me a bit of Beardsley. He just seems to get injured so much though and it has held him back alot.

  13. GS @ 28: Do you mean just footballers? Otherwise, you have heard of Facebookson, no?

    Sounds like our finishing has-ahem-left something to be desired.

  14. tunyc says:
    August 30, 2012 at 8:25 pm

    “Did the formation change with the sub? Is Vuckic playing beside Ba or off of him?”

    Vuckic is attacking midfield, Perch has moved back and taken Ryan Taylor’s place and Gosling has taken Perch’s old position.

  15. Thanks for the head-up, worky. Surprised AP didn’t revert to 4-4-2 w/Vuckic as outright forward.

  16. Commentary says Krul’s lucky to be on the field and that Atromitos should have had a penalty. What do you with the streams think?

  17. Chumpbinio..poor lad.parents must have hated him.should have done what kaka and hulk did and choose a name,like nohope…

  18. tunyc says:
    August 30, 2012 at 8:52 pm

    “Commentary says Krul’s lucky to be on the field and that Atromitos should have had a penalty. What do you with the streams think?”

    I’ve seen the replay on a big telly and they could indeed have had a penalty and Krul could indeed have been sent off.

  19. sampdiago says:
    August 30, 2012 at 8:54 pm

    “Chumpbinio..poor lad.parents must have hated him.should have done what kaka and hulk did and choose a name,like nohope… ”

    “Kaka” would definitely be my least favourite choice. It sounds like the contents of a baby’s nappy.

  20. “Kaka” would definitely be my least favourite choice. It sounds like the contents of a baby’s nappy.

    or something you wouldn’t mess with.

  21. Officially no cover at fullback. But don’t worry-AP is mainly focusing on competitions the results of which won’t be in until next year…

  22. Bloody hell. If this is going to be our team in Europe then they need to up their game. They’ve had some chances, and sure Krul should have been sent off earlier. At least Obertan looks switched on tonight.

  23. tunyc says:
    August 30, 2012 at 9:35 pm

    “Haven’t the Greeks dealt with enough lately?!”

    Well, they do thrive in place of economic hardship tunyc.

  24. Jimbob-as the proud owner of quite a large grape myself, I don’t rip him for his cranial girth.

  25. Late equalizer for Hearts v. the RBDs.

    No comment, absolutely no comment or gloating here…

  26. Haha Carroll’s gone, Dubuchy was never going to happen… Smokescreens people. Never interested were we.

    But at least nobody was sold, that’s the basis of every f’kin interview with Alan. Scared someone will go. Never hear Tottenham or Everton make those noises, and they’re supposed to be our rivals according to our manager. Granted Spurs lost Modric, but you watch that money go straight back into the playing squad.

    Fat copter may be fueled up and ready to fly tomorrow, maybe we’ll try hijack another move with 17 seconds of the window left like last time? We’re a striker and a centre back short. Honestly guys, it’s been five years, don’t bother watching Skysports tomorrow in hope of anything happening with us because it won’t.

  27. And we get Manchester United in the League Cup.

    OK, now my focus has shifted away from that too.

  28. Obertan did play well, maybe he’s found his level? Plus, RBDs were lucky, awful error by Reina followed by a Suarez goal that really should have been a simple save at the near post.

  29. Jimbob-to be fair, not on the field. I’d love to be able to dribble like him.

    I can tackle though!

  30. not a good game krul could of been off carnt pick man of the match pardew has just said he will be having a word with the dhairman to get some one in because of taylor injury

  31. Can you hit a long 45 yard pass to nobody tunyc? You might be getting signed tomorrow if you can…

  32. Chris, We’d have to sell Tiote for £95 million to free up £5 million to invest in the squad. Then we can make a bid of £3 million for a player worth £10 million. Think that’s how it works.

  33. Raylor knacked.. gutted for him really. Plays his heart out and is often a saviour in the cups and such. Would have been useful in Europe.

  34. Alan looked a little dejected in that interview. He should just say Mike wants to see if I can motivate the team to finish 5th again with less money. It’ll be the truth.

    Ryan’s injured so he has to ask the chairman if we can sign someone. The answer will be ‘no’ most likely.

  35. We don’t really have a choice now. We have to sign a replacement. Else Santon or Simpson will be playing ALOT of games this season and any knocks will be huge.

  36. Logically we have to. Logically we have to sign a centre back and a striker too. But we won’t sign anyone. Just be thankful we’ve kept our big players is the message we will get on Saturday morning.

  37. The side was lucky, an obvious penalty that was not given on Krul and another by Colo, plus the miss of the game from Atromitos, could have been 3-1 por los Griegos.
    Does’nt give one much to cheer about i’m afraid.
    Happy for Vukich, played ok, kid needed that boost.
    Not a lot to say about the rest, but if we continue to play this group, we are not long for this competition.
    Would like to have seen both Abeid and Ferguson, get some minutes.
    From what i gather, the kids will get playing time in this competition plus the cheap cup, but we intend to make a serious run at the FA cup and league.
    Plus AP wants us to be gratefull for not selling off our best players (that no offers were made for, despite his come and get them speach) instead of being pissed, they have’nt brought in any defenders.
    Which when we get those injuries, that will happen, what will we do ?
    Who knows we may once again make a panic signing, just before the windows end.

  38. maze202 says:
    August 30, 2012 at 10:25 pm

    “We don’t really have a choice now. We have to sign a replacement.”

    Perhaps Ashley has forgotten that his numerous “50% off!” items in his shops are a complete con, and it doesn’t quite work like that with footballers all the time?

    Somewhat ironically, we seem to be in a minority of clubs who haven’t picked up a bargain so far in this window, even Liverpool have with their new winger from Herenveen.

  39. chuck says:
    August 30, 2012 at 10:45 pm

    “por los Griegos.”

    The “Bubble and Squeaks” in Cockney, Chuck. Have you ever had bubble and squeak when you’re over here?

  40. another big contradiction from pardew! last interview he was quite content with the size and ability of our squad.. next interview following an injury to rayler.. il have to speak to the fat greedy twat tnite to see if i can pick he’s pockets while he’s not looking… ul be lucky! theyl be sewed up! (but not really hard to unthread) just like the shitty clothes he sells in sports…..

  41. Well I went to the game straight after posting my last comment on here, and after reading some of the comments since I agree with the people who thought we were a bit lucky on the night, and I didn’t even see the Krul thing properly till I got back! It’s great that we won but we desperately need some new players Ashley.

    This isn’t good enough!

  42. Toonkev says:
    August 30, 2012 at 10:50 pm

    Sorry that your comment was held back there for a few minutes Toonkev. It’s something I’m just working on ATM.

  43. Toonkev says:
    August 30, 2012 at 10:50 pm

    “just like the shitty clothes he sells in sports…..”

    He’s like the rogues who buy hundreds of designer logos, then sew them on to the cheapest crap imaginable, the only difference is that he buys the brands for next to nothing when they’re in financial trouble.

    Quite a few years ago, I bought a pair of Kangol jeans in a Sports Direct shop. They were supposed to be fairly expensive jeans massively reduced to £20odd quid or something like that. I took them to a top pattern cutter I knew at the time who knows everything about clothes. She said they were some of the cheapest rags she’d ever seen, the kind you usually get from a market stall for under a tenner that you’d only use for decorating or something like that instead of overalls.

  44. Chuck: Abeid played for the reserves against Gateshead with a bunch of the kids. Must have been previously injured? or I thought he would have featured tonight.

    Sorry to say I am not impressed by Gosling.

  45. GS says:
    August 30, 2012 at 11:50 pm

    “Worky: having trouble finding any highlights”

    GS, I’ve got the streaker, which is what matters.

    Run Geordie run!

  46. worky @ 83….
    that doesnt suprise me in the slightest worky… he’s the type of guy to hire child slave labour and wouldnt batter an eye lid… crude is an understatement.. men like him dont have a heart and thats why he’l never understand the love we have for our club… it annoys the shit out of me when i see the optimists singing his praises just because he got lucky the last couple of seasons yet theyre the first ones to complain once everything goes tits up… its not the point of wanting everyone to be a realist… optimism can be a quality trait but for gods sake open ur eyes and look at the facts!
    i cant wait to be able to take my kids to st james’s and show them what true fans are all about (and many of times ive been very tempted) but i cant and wont bring myself to spend my hard earned cash to line the pockets of a man who puts nothing back into our club! sad really….

  47. Toonkev, what really annoys the shit out of me is when alleged fans rip players like Simpson to shreds when they know absolutely feck all about football. Then, if I, or anyone else write a piece which is critical of Ashley and/or Llambias I get trolled by many of the same people and they keep telling me that I should “get behind the team.”

    I still haven’t figured that one out yet!

    As for the clothes, that’s Ashley’s routine. He’ll buy a brand that is perceived as being of quite good quality but is in financial trouble like Lonsdale. Then, he’ll replace the quality items with the cheapest market crap made in a sweatshop which costs a fraction, then say that there is 50% off / 70% off what the item would have cost when it was a quality brand. The reduced tags are placed on the clothes when they are still at the factory. That sort of thing used to be illegal and virtually everthing he does, including at NUFC is a complete and utter lie. However he has an army of PR people to convince people that black is white. He’s told so many porkies to fans I couldn’t even begin to list them all here.

    So long as we’re doing ok, people will swallow it, but as soon as the luck runs out, and it will, sadly, things will change.

  48. Worky: you any idea where “Black Cats” came from? Most team nicknames have some history, connection. Was this just pulled out their ars* like “Stadium of Shite” (I do know the original is in Lisbon)?

    Getting ready to go out and have a few beers to celebrate our fantastic achievement today. It does guarantee 6 more games right, so maybe I shouldn’t be so cynical. Hard not to be when we struggle to beat such poor opposition.

    You never know, now that we have these extra games (extra revenue) maybe Fat Man will stick his hand in his pocket on Friday.

  49. Thanks Worky: I’ll take their word for it ;)

    Although, they do try really hard to come up with an explanation. What was it, in 1909 we were in the bottom half of the table when a black cat came into the dressing room and we won the next game. Since the numbers in 1909 can be rearranged to 1990, we made our nickname “Black Cats” in 1990 :)

    Funny that “The Miners” was one of the choices to vote on. Perhaps because of that famous phrase about “taking coals to Sunderland”?

  50. Sorry to talk about Liverpool but it is NUFC connected by the Andy Carroll saga.

    Why would any player go to Liverpool now? What happens if Rodgers decides your face doesn’t fit? He moves you to left back, forces you to West Ham, Bolton or Stoke! I can’t believe the arrogance of this man, he has so far done little and won nowt.

    Swansea wasn’t even his team or system.

    He’s betting on Suarez and Borini to stay fit and has 24 hours to get another striker.

    I hope he fails, the big headed tw@t. I think he thinks he’s the reincarnation of Brian Clough, but Clough was a genius and funny.

  51. @ GS

    Finally, someone else who understands that Rogers ‘system’ was in fact the Swansea systems in the first place set out by the chairman.

    At Swansea it works because that was the club philosophy and they are trying – and suceeding – to drum that into the WHOLE club (youth etc).

    Regarding Carroll, not 100% sure (rumours etc), but there seems to be a fee for the season long loan of £6million attached to the move.

    I’m wondering whether Liverpool are hoping that NUFC come in at end of season with the same offer that they put on the table this month and then liverpool will feel they have sold him at better price. I think Liverpool wanted £19million – Newcastles offer was £10-12 (I think) – so add that £6 million (minus the wages) for this season. I reckon Liverpool will be happy to accept Newcastles offer if it was left on table at end of season.

    It would be great business sense (for once) from liverpool. Kind of like hiring out product. I just cannot see AC going permantly to any other club if Newcastle are interested.

    And for the record, I do not believe the ‘smokescreen theory’ about MA bidding for AC to drum up hype or what-not. I think he saw an opportunity to get AC back for pennies, which I think would have worked had Fat Sam and his Nolan sister not been involed.

  52. Think pardew is definitely getting found out for what he is this season. Can’t rely on “play around and somebody will pull of something spectacular” every game.

  53. avatar workyticket says:
    August 31, 2012 at 12:15 am

    GS, I’ve got the streaker, which is what matters.

    i thought that was the managing directors job!

  54. Workey
    Yes indeed i have had bubble and sqeek, along with haggis, lob scouse, toad in the hole, pease pudding, stotty cakes (no savaloys though)cornish pasties, and of course that famous and popular English dish , Curry, not only the Indian versions, also Thai and the West Indean curried goat and hot rotis.
    I’m not quite as ignorant as you may assumen.

    Well the rags and blogs are out in force to-day, the final day of the window.
    And the grey “gaffer” wants us all to thank our “dear leader” for resisting all those (never happened)phone calls and big offers for our stars.
    The reason we did’nt sign Debuchy was of course Lille kept moving the goalposts, following each increased bid we made (perfidious phrogs)
    And though we have yet to make an offer for Douglas, well our intentions were good and you know how tough it is to deal with them Duchies.
    I dont get it, all those rumors and lincs to players, was it some kind of smoke screen, or did Ashley really believe he was capeable of negotiating a continuous string of undervalued deals.
    That he had some kinda licence to steal, like in the retail business.
    Look i’m confused as exactly what his intentions are as far as NUFC are concerned, yeah i know it’s an adjunct to his real business, but where and what has he in store for us ?

  55. the game panned out like i thought, we did enough against a side, who in reality are the equivalent, of league one standard, at best.
    there were some promising signs from some of the younger players, but i think they are a bit away from being thrust onto the premiership stage.
    there were mistakes in there, that would cost you at the top level.

    atromitos had a couple of chances in the second half, which they should have buried, then it could have changed the complexity of the night.
    saying that, we really should of had the game sown up, in the first half.
    that just highlighted the inexperience of some of the fringe players, and the need for some reinforcements, who can slot straight into the first team.
    apparently parvenu was saying before last nights encounter, there was no money around for signings.
    yet he’s in the chronic this morning, saying he’ll have to talk to the board today, as raylor doesn’t look good, and tiote is struggling.
    this should have been addressed months ago, due to the amount of games, we will play this season.
    what is the point of having a scout who identifies targets, if they have no intention of signing them?
    it defeats the purpose surely.

    i see danny simpson is getting stick on this board, and to be fair, i’ve seen him get stick on other boards aswell.
    i dont understand why, he has got to be one of our most consistant performers.
    his stats from last season prove that fact, he was among the best in the prem.
    as far as i can see, the lad does his job, i must knaa nowt!!!

  56. Chuck mate: you said you wouldn’t talk about food or anything else not relating to NUFC. Remember? When you were berating me about not just sticking to NUFC?

  57. GS
    Simply answering Workeys query @ 78

    Trojan
    I agree, there are some who embarrass themselves by criticising Simpson, simply because they dont recognise the subtleties of the game.
    Mores the pity!

  58. Dont get the animosity directed at Rodgers ?
    He is at least outspoken, unlike our crowd who speak in confusing soundbites, openly lie to us and keep us in the dark, like mushrooms and feed us shite.
    After all it’s his job (Rodgers) to rebuild a sorry bunch signed by his predecessor’s Dalglish and Comoli, an over the hill manager and kna nowt comoli, with delusions of being a judge of talent.
    Hope you are not taking your lead from Worky, who for some reason dislikes Rodgers ?
    Tell you one thing, rather have him than Pardew, at least the guy has a grasp of how the modern game is played.
    Plus i’m of the opinion we will see an improvement in the club this season, sure it wmay take time, to introduce a completely different system and i can understand his attitude to-wards former Geordie hero Carroll.
    Who just does’nt fit into his system, no more than the goalscoring machine the big Swede Ibrihamovic fitted into Barcelonas system .
    Downing’s case is a bit more bizarre, but better players than he have switched either from LB to L/wing or vice versa and the fact they no longer have a big center forward to service crosses too, eliminates Downing’s role as winger.
    So far the other manager of note has been Laudrup, who succeeded Rodgers at Swansea, inheriting a team originally coached by both Martinez and Rodgers.
    Both of whom had installed a tactical system based on modern concepts of the game and played by many top sides.
    Though there’s still the remnants of the old direct English style (two wingers feeding the big center forward and everone else feeding both) with rousing cheers when a defender recovers the ball and hoofs it up the middle.
    Well an exageration perhaps ,but you get the point.
    So lets see how Laudrup, Martinez and Rodgers do this season, but we dont have to await the seasons end before i project we will not repeat last seasons final spot. But i doubt if there was ever any real intention of breaking into the top four, cost too much money!

  59. Alright Chuck: if we want to go on results, we can see that Pardew has finished 5th in the PL and has an FA cup final. Not great, but what have Martinez and Rodgers done to show they are better?

    It is all speculation on your part that they are good managers. Their achievements are to take small teams to the premier league and, at best, do well for a small team.

    What-have-they-done-Chuck???

  60. And don’t tell me about Swansea coming up 4 divisions and stuff, because that was not Rodgers.

  61. CHUCK: The Brendan Rodger’s CV according to Wikipedia:

    Teams managed

    2008–2009 :Watford

    2009 :Reading

    2010–2012: Swansea City

    Brendan Rodgers (born 26 January 1973) is a Northern Irish former footballer who is the current manager of Liverpool.

    Rodgers began his footballing career as a defender at Ballymena United, where he stayed until he was signed by Reading at the age of 18, although an injury later forced him to retire at the age of 20. He remained at Reading as a youth team coach before being invited to join Chelsea as the manager of their youth team in 2004. He was then promoted to reserve team manager in 2006.

    In November 2008 he was appointed manager of Watford, where he remained until accepting an offer to become manager of his former club Reading in June 2009. He left the club by mutual consent after disappointing results in December 2009, and later returned to full-time management with Swansea City in July 2010. The following year he led the club to Premier League promotion, before guiding them to finish 11th in their debut Premier League season.

  62. GS you obviously dont get it, or for some reason or other
    constantly quote me or in fact missquote me, continually refering to what i may or may not claim.
    It’s all very flattering, but it would please me if i could just be left out of your contributions to this blog.
    But i will answer your question.
    What has Rodgers done so far?
    It’s all in your Wiki revue of his career so far.
    But it’s not about whatever he or Martinez has done, it’s about what they are capeable of, that and what they understand about the game, the modern version of football.
    Which they have obviously studied and in fact have been successful against clubs who have players costing more than half of their entire squad.
    At the same time playing an attractive and entertaining game (after all the reason we go to football games is to be entertained, at least thats what i have always assumed) and despite a lack of funds, managed to do OK.
    I can only imagine what either could accomplish if given the same role at St. James’ Park, which is far from likely.
    Yes i think they and others are changing the way football is being played in the EPL (for the better) and have no problem praising them.
    Which unfortunately is far from the case with our present manager.
    Out !

  63. Bloody Hell Chuck @108: I don’t agree with anything you said except that I should ignore you from now on.

    You make no sense. You elevate the mediocre. Swansea under Rodgers did not play attractive football. Wigan were dire and bottom of the league until February.

    There has been no proof that this style of football will either win or be fun to watch. And it is NOT Barcelona style, whatever you say.

    There are visionaries such as Cryuff, Clough, Mourihno, Paisley, Ferguson and Busby who you could quote and have us aspire to. But no, you prefer to have as your heros Martinez and Rodgers.

    So yes, I will ignore you from now on. I only quoted you as a figure of fun anyway. You always say the same thing day after day, so I would find myself falling into the same trap if I continue to reference you.

  64. One more, I think your hero’s team, Wigan, have lost to Chelsea like 8-0, 7-1 etc. I’m sure their fans were really happy as their team just stood around the 18 yard box and tried not to make it a cricket score.

    Attractive football?

    You are a grump Chuck, everybody knows it, and you make no sense.