Sven doing a Moyes?
After yet another victory by Svens men, I ask the question, Is it possible for Sven to do a Moyes and take a relegation fovourite and struggling team one season to breaking into the top 4 the following season? And are there any other similarities or comparisons? It would be an incredible achievement for Sven and Man City, or any team for that matter outside of the 'big four' to break the trend just like Moyes and Everton a couple of seasons back.Apart from playing in blue and perhaps living in the shadow of our more successful red neighbours, Everton and Man City have similarities: both have long historys but in recent years have struggled. Like Everton, Man City also have a passionate following accross the world as well as popular celebrity fans such as Ricky Hatton and Oasis.
One of the biggest most obvious differences between the two sides is that Sven has had big investment put into the team this season and has made a number of big money signings with promising futures, so the team he has taken on is not exactly the same struggling team that finished above the relegation zone.
Moyes on the other hand a couple of years back had virtually the same team to work with that had just avoided relagation, only the additions of a couple shrewd signings but perhaps big gambles at the time. A championship midfield player for a couple of million and a journey man striker for less than a million ? only after missing out on the likes of Dikov!
On top of this we lose our icon, our only hope and inspiration in Rooney just before the begining of the season, far worse than what Fernandes did at the start of this season in my opinion. Man City have kept their young talent in the shape of Mica Richards, another big difference and huge benefit for City.
Another bomb shell: our revelation and best player at the time Tommy G leaves half-way through the season for Madrid, replaced by a failed Spaniard Arteta. Nobody believed we could hang on; it didn't look good. I myself an optimist was having doubts. Only my brother having any belief who actualy planned to put a bet on Everton to finish top 6 or top with out the top 4, i think it was 66 to 1 at the start of the season when he mentioned it ? I thought he was mad!
But we had the Moysiah the miracle man and we achieved the impossible, we defied the odds and Sky and all of Europe. How would their Champions play in the compition the next year if they hadn't qualified? Everton had upset the balance, the rules had to be changed!
Although I believe the league is stronger and more competitive then when we broke into the top 4, we musn't forget we finished above the European Champions that year. The situation is looking very similar; with the Premier League getting further away from Liverpool's grasp, Europe may take priority once again. Can Everton also take the initiative or will we too be pre-ocupied in Europe? Man City have only the League and FA Cup to worry about and look to be adding to the squad again very soon during the open window.
So can Man City do the impossible and hang on? Is this good for football? How will this affect Liverpool if they dont qualify for the Champions League? This could have huge repecutions and shake up the league for better or worse and perhaps level the playing field. It makes for an exciting final push, I just hope we have a big say in the outcome and hope we will be there or thereabouts come the end of the season.
I believe our two clashes with Man City over the next few weeks will be massive! And without key personnel it's going to be tough. Can Moyes pull another gem out the bag again this January?
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I do not agree with Mike, I believe that will shake up the league and level the playing field a little bit.
Imagine if the RS didn’t win the CL in 2005, they would not have any mean to get in to the competition via back door. They would have lost a lot of revenue the following season, maybe to the tone of 10m? Yes, financially 10m do not hurt them as hard as it would hurt us. But I think if this happen even only once in every 2 seasons, it will definitely have some long term impact.
That’s the nub of it for me. I don’t think Sven can "do a Moyes" if he’s had so much money to spend and been able to cash in on his reputation to help attract good players. Moyes didn’t have such luxuries and that makes our 4th-placed finish three years ago all the more remarkable.
He spent more in his first week in charge at Citeh than Moyes has spent in 5 years at Goodison.
Moyes = a football club manager
Sven = playing Football Manager
I?ve watched City this season, they haven?t been all that good, they have one skilful player in Elano (who should have been sent off last night for a knee high challenge) and two very good centre halves, thats it!
It is begining to annoy me that people in the press are constantly praising them when its Everton who should be praised! When I'm at home watching Soccer Saturday we NEVER get mentioned unless we?ve scored or conceded! On Tuesday iIwatched it for 25 mins and Watford got mentioned twice, Bristol got mentioned twice and we didn?t get mentioned at all until we scored.
The only two points that City’s resurgence proves is that England got rid of Sven too soon (as proven by Mclarens shiteness!!) & also that Sven is a (proven) quality club manager who can pick a player, which is hardly gonna shock many football people.
that’s exactly my point, although I was being too conservative with the number.
If one team outside of the Media 4, be it Everton, Blackburn or Villa, etc, managed to do it every season, or even once every 2, imagine the financial damage the "ousted" team would suffer. That will be good for the game.
Rooney vs Fernandes is not comparable in any way - apart from us wanting them both to stay.
The main difference, and the main reason it still rankles, is that Rooney was lifelong blue (apparently), Fernandes just a loan signing. Rooney was spotted, coached, and brought through our system ? all the while ?promising? he was gonna be around for some time.
Whilst I do not condone Fernandes's last-minute about turn, he owed us much less then Rooney. I for one would also welcome him back. I mean, a 21-year-old kid, comes in on loan, almost joins, then makes a bad decision (perhaps ill advised by his money men) and has a crap year. We all make mistakes, and if he comes back I?ll give him a second chance to become an everton legend.
Let’s turn the "Top 4" into a "Top 5" first & then start hauling back the so-called big boys. I mean 1-1 at Anfield last night we don’t have far to go to catch that load of bollocks across the park.
RS won the Euro cup on penalties and were never Champions of the Prem - ever - ever !!
Anyway back to the point here: Let City have 4th. I want a shiny trophy please. Any of the 3 on offer will do: juicy Uefa please, or the never won League Cup or even the FA cup. THAT gives you a bounce in your step and the pleasure of a semi-final angst and final to savour with all the nostalgia that will stick with you for a life-time. Finishing 4th is an accounts trap - maybe.
COYB!
"Thank you Agent Rafa"
Before you get me shot let me explain!
If they do that and lose both finals or even the final of the FA Cup and the semi?s of the Champs League then it will mean Hicks and Gillette will keep the fat spanish twat for another year, meaning it gives US another year to get better than them.
He?s the worst manager they?ve had since Souness and god i love him for that!
I also think he lit a fire under Kenwright's arse by calling us a small club, which in turn caused Kenwright to spend big (for him) in the summer!
I?d rather Benitez is in charge than Mourihno cos with money he would make them geniune title contenders.
They are a gnats whisker away from being the next Leeds.
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1 Posted 03/01/2008 at 03:55:14
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Huge repercusions? No.
Shake up the League?? Hardly...
Level the playing field??? Yea right!
Finishing fourth means one thing... finishing fourth. It’s better than 5th but not as good as 3rd. And if you then finish 11th the next season, it kind of takes all the gloss off...