Lambert Out?

[Concrete John]

The difference too was that Arsenal had a bigger, better, fitter squad. We were dead on our feet for much of the last few months because O Neill rarely rotated, except in Europe of course. But most definitely, we haven't been the same since. You could feel the team falling apart somewhat. Finishing fourth would possibly have meant Milner staying and maybe Randy foregoing the book balancing thanks to possible CL cash injections. Slipping to 6th, albeit with a very impressive 64 points haul, wasn't enough to keep hold of our better players. Milner went, Ash Young we knew wouldn't stay too much longer, and the rest is history.

I can't blame Lambert too much for the current predicament. He's fighting with 3 years of rapid decline and ever dwindling quality in the side. He's made poor decisions tactically I know, and made questionnable signings, but he's at least been brave about what he's gone about doing, and he's trying to alter years of a very predictable, one dimensional style of play.

We have been piss poor but I think he'll turn it around. Whether he can this season is another matter. Should we go down, I think he'll have started building a side capable of taking us back up and being better for it, and a side that largely, won't jump ship.

We kept them both for another season. It was Barry we lost that pivotal, pivotal summer. It would nearly make you cry.

We went from potential title challengers in January 2009  to sixth with a stronger challenge from Man City and Spurs sure to follow.

Yet we still finished that following year with more points and a closer gap to 4th.

[Irish villain]

The difference too was that Arsenal had a bigger, better, fitter squad. We were dead on our feet for much of the last few months because O Neill rarely rotated, except in Europe of course. But most definitely, we haven't been the same since. You could feel the team falling apart somewhat. Finishing fourth would possibly have meant Milner staying and maybe Randy foregoing the book balancing thanks to possible CL cash injections. Slipping to 6th, albeit with a very impressive 64 points haul, wasn't enough to keep hold of our better players. Milner went, Ash Young we knew wouldn't stay too much longer, and the rest is history.

I can't blame Lambert too much for the current predicament. He's fighting with 3 years of rapid decline and ever dwindling quality in the side. He's made poor decisions tactically I know, and made questionnable signings, but he's at least been brave about what he's gone about doing, and he's trying to alter years of a very predictable, one dimensional style of play.

We have been piss poor but I think he'll turn it around. Whether he can this season is another matter. Should we go down, I think he'll have started building a side capable of taking us back up and being better for it, and a side that largely, won't jump ship.

We kept them both for another season. It was Barry we lost that pivotal, pivotal summer. It would nearly make you cry.

We went from potential title challengers in January 2009  to sixth with a stronger challenge from Man City and Spurs sure to follow.

Yet we still finished that following year with more points and a closer gap to 4th.

My point being that the increased prize-money/revenue of a higher finish could have ensured we kept Barry, strengthened again (on a more stable financial stream going forward) and could have established ourselves as a top five club. As it unfolded we missed out, reached a celing and gradually lost our best players to competitors.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

My point being that the increased prize-money/revenue of a higher finish could have ensured we kept Barry, strengthened again (on a more stable financial stream going forward) and could have established ourselves as a top five club. As it unfolded we missed out, reached a celing and gradually lost our best players to competitors.

We'd never have established ourselves as a top 5 club with MON in charge. He was tactically one dimensional and even with all the money in the world, he'd still have us playing Plan A. Whilst we got top six finishes, we played like a bottom 6 side. There was no real development unlike Spurs, even Everton, despite all the investment.

[pauliewalnuts]

My point being that the increased prize-money/revenue of a higher finish could have ensured we kept Barry, strengthened again (on a more stable financial stream going forward) and could have established ourselves as a top five club. As it unfolded we missed out, reached a celing and gradually lost our best players to competitors.

We'd never have established ourselves as a top 5 club with MON in charge. He was tactically one dimensional and even with all the money in the world, he'd still have us playing Plan A. Whilst we got top six finishes, we played like a bottom 6 side. There was no real development unlike Spurs, even Everton, despite all the investment.

We'd have got knocked out in the first round if we'd reached the CL with him, such was the archaic stuff we played.

[PeterWithesShin]

Considering how we struggled with Rapid I dread to think what a decent European side what have done to us.

And I still think that Wigan was the start of the wheels coming off. Not beating such an average side at home must have given Arsenal a boost. And although we could have won that game by a hatful by the time we played Stoke we'd taken 4 points out of 9 and gone out of 2 cups. All momentum gone for good.

[Chris Smith]

My point being that the increased prize-money/revenue of a higher finish could have ensured we kept Barry, strengthened again (on a more stable financial stream going forward) and could have established ourselves as a top five club. As it unfolded we missed out, reached a celing and gradually lost our best players to competitors.

We'd never have established ourselves as a top 5 club with MON in charge. He was tactically one dimensional and even with all the money in the world, he'd still have us playing Plan A. Whilst we got top six finishes, we played like a bottom 6 side. There was no real development unlike Spurs, even Everton, despite all the investment.

We'd have got knocked out in the first round if we'd reached the CL with him, such was the archaic stuff we played.

Like his protege Neil Lennon, whereas the visionary genius Mancini has taken the competition by storm. ;¬)

[ozzjim]

Mancini is a poor manager IMO

[Irish villain]

I will briefly respond to those comments in one quick post (I'm still at work!)

I agree MOn had a ceiling but if we had made it then we could have ended up on a more secure financial footing. We were spending Champions League wages without ever reaching it. At least if we had made it (even if we performed badly) we might have had a softer landing than the crash that eventually followed and we might have attracted a better replacement for MOn when he eventually went. A club that had made teh Champions League in recent memory would be a better draw

[Clampy]

Mancini is a poor manager IMO

Not qualifyng them for the next stage of the Champions League after the money he's spent is piss poor to be honest. If he dose'nt win anything this season, i reckon they'll make a change in the summer

[Irish villain]

Mancini is a poor manager IMO

Not qualifyng them for the next stage of the Champions League after the money he's spent is piss poor to be honest. If he dose'nt win anything this season, i reckon they'll make a change in the summer

Agreed.

[tomd2103]

Mancini is a poor manager IMO

Not qualifyng them for the next stage of the Champions League after the money he's spent is piss poor to be honest. If he dose'nt win anything this season, i reckon they'll make a change in the summer

Agreed.

I can see him going before the end of the season, especially if they fall behind in the title race.

[danlanza]

Mancini is a poor manager IMO

Not qualifyng them for the next stage of the Champions League after the money he's spent is piss poor to be honest. If he dose'nt win anything this season, i reckon they'll make a change in the summer

Has to be Pep.

[eastie]

Mancini is a poor manager IMO

Not qualifyng them for the next stage of the Champions League after the money he's spent is piss poor to be honest. If he dose'nt win anything this season, i reckon they'll make a change in the summer

Has to be Pep.

I think pep will end up at chelski and mourinho at man city sometime in the summer.

[ROBBO]

I think this is Barrys last year at city, i wonder whether while sitting on the bench this week Barry and Milner looked at each other wishing they could come home.

[Irish villain]

I think this is Barrys last year at city, i wonder whether while sitting on the bench this week Barry and Milner looked at each other wishing they could come home.

Wouldn't be good for their bank accounts.