Did we go up a year too late under karanka

Nowthen gets it. (y)

If anyone above saw, recorded and kept the Sky prematch build up v Luton, in particular the interview by the female reporter with Graeme Jones, I would suggest they re-visit it. He gave a brief explanation as to the differences between Head Coach and Manager. He said he would never accept a Head Coach role as the loss of and lack of control over many aspects of the team was not for him.

Yes they have input, but can readily be out voted by some back room officials and hierarchy, hence his ‘gifts’ AK always let the fans know in his own way.
 
We did seem to replace a great post season team spirit ( look at those pics from the dickens after the Brighton game) with frankly a bunch of mercenaries that could care less about the town or the club. Summed up by valdes “retiring” mid season of relegation scrap.
And it was criminal how dimi was overlooked that season
 
We did seem to replace a great post season team spirit ( look at those pics from the dickens after the Brighton game) with frankly a bunch of mercenaries that could care less about the town or the club. Summed up by valdes “retiring” mid season of relegation scrap.
And it was criminal how dimi was overlooked that season
Exactly this. Whoever signed those players is to blame for that, and also whoever picked them all in the starting eleven. They weren't even the 'Ravanelli/Juninho/Emerson' type of mercenaries, they were largely players who wouldn't have got in most other PL teams apart from maybe Negredo.
 
We did seem to replace a great post season team spirit ( look at those pics from the dickens after the Brighton game) with frankly a bunch of mercenaries that could care less about the town or the club. Summed up by valdes “retiring” mid season of relegation scrap.
And it was criminal how dimi was overlooked that season
Nailed it mate
 
I can tell you, with a reasonable degree of certainty - 90% ish, AK did not 'want' those players - there was all sorts going on at the time and, the perceived wisdom, was to plan for relegation, just in case
Let's be clear - by Xmas we were doing ok and some thought we would continue to do so with minor tweaks. AK wasn't one of them.
 
I can categorically tell you AK did not 'want' those players - there was all sorts going on at the time and, the perceived wisdom, was to plan for relegation, just in case
Let's be clear - by Xmas we were doing ok and some thought we would continue to do so with minor tweaks. AK wasn't one of them.
Well I'll take your word finny, but you could also argue that telling the press he didn't want them wasn't the best managerial move, given he had to try and motivate them to keep us up and keep him in the job.
 
I can tell you, with a reasonable degree of certainty - 90% ish, AK did not 'want' those players - there was all sorts going on at the time and, the perceived wisdom, was to plan for relegation, just in case
Let's be clear - by Xmas we were doing ok and some thought we would continue to do so with minor tweaks. AK wasn't one of them.
nice edit finny ;)
 
Just did a slight 'edit' Atypical. I should never have said 'categorically' - we never really know do we? But, Gibson was pulling the strings big style then.
 
Just did a slight 'edit' Atypical. I should never have said 'categorically' - we never really know do we? But, Gibson was pulling the strings big style then.
Depends on your view. In my opinion, the decision taken in March 2017 split fans to the extent that its still splitting them now 3 years later.

Its almost as if we have two types of fan now: the pro-Karanka type (who are largely anti-Gibson now and who were virtually all anti-Pulis and believe Gibson is to blame for our poor showings since), and the pro-Gibson type (who aren't necessarily anti-Karanka but who do think Aitor messed up in the PL season more than Gibson did). I am the latter, and I believe Karanka wanted a lot of the dross we signed in the PL (in the 2016 summer at least).

A large proportion of everyone on this board fits into one of the two categories. You rarely find someone who is hugely pro-Karanka but doesn't criticise Gibson. Likewise you rarely find someone who is anti-Gibson but blames Karanka for our PL downfall.
 
I'm in the
Pro Karanka camp
Ambivalent about Pulis (until close to the end)
Anti Woodgate appointment but hope it works out

Critical of some of what Gibbo has done over the last 6 years or so

Both Gibson and AK have to take responsibility for the relegation - two adults who couldn't work well enough together.
 
kike has scored 23 goals in 110 appearances in all comps for Eibar, not sure why people go on about him? 1 in 5? I don’t think he would have handled that in the premier league at all. Negredo struggled and he was a better player.

kike had a good season in the 2nd tier Spanish league, beyond that the most he has scored in a season with us was 12 in champo, and with Eibar 9. Hardly stuani type performances since leaving us yet I always see people talking him up, what am I missing?
 
"I'm in the
Pro Karanka camp"

I know.:)
I wonder if our sheikh will go after Karanka if he sacks his second coach/manager of the season. Karanka is one of many football people who have been photographed watching the Almería matches on TV in Saudi with the sheikh. Giving him some advice, along with many others, apparently.
 
I wonder if our sheikh will go after Karanka if he sacks his second coach/manager of the season. Karanka is one of many football people who have been photographed watching the Almería matches on TV in Saudi with the sheikh. Giving him some advice, along with many others, apparently.
I do think his next job will be in Spain so it’s certainly a possibility. A club with aspirations of la liga May be exactly the type of job he could do with at this time
 
(y)

Karanka will know the lad from Forest well too.
The photo was taken in early September last year. Not long after Appiah joined Almería. I wonder if Karanka had mentioned him in advance of going over there to watch the match with the sheikh. As it seemed like a strange signing to me.

BTW - The articles along with the photo mentioned that among other things Karanka was advising about the setting up of the academy.
 
The photo was taken in early September last year. Not long after Appiah joined Almería. I wonder if Karanka had mentioned him in advance of going over there to watch the match with the sheikh. As it seemed like a strange signing to me.

BTW - The articles along with the photo mentioned that among other things Karanka was advising about the setting up of the academy.
Hmmmm I think you could be onto something then, you get the impression Karanka certainly might of played a part in that transfer somewhere along the line. I would like Karanka to get back into work, and where bettter than your second club? I will certainly keep an eye out on results if he does indeed get the job. Wonder if he tries to get any of the band back together, you may end up signing a couple of ex boro lads which would be great for you (y). Aslong as they aren’t Antonio Barragan or Kike Sola :sneaky:
 
"We need to improve the team, and the club knew a month and a half ago the players that I wanted," the Spaniard told members of the media.
"I always said the aim in the transfer window was to improve the squad. At the moment, we haven't done that. We will be disappointed if nobody else comes in, but I have tried my best.
"Teams in our position are signing players for £14m – we are signing players that didn't play in the Championship."
Karanka said it was unrealistic to expect Bamford, who made six substitute appearances while on loan at Burnley prior to joining the club, to shoulder the scoring burden.
"If we are expecting that Patrick was going to arrive and score five goals straight away then we are making a big mistake because he is not ready now,"
"I don't know why we haven't signed our targets. That is not my job. I am the coach,"

I think that quotation is exactly why we were in big trouble regardless. It's divisive and doesn't provide any unity a manager should provide. The squad of players had said there was no unity in the squad. Karanka was out of his depth.

Karanka should've been moved on after he deserted the squad prior to Charlton.
 
Hmmmm I think you could be onto something then, you get the impression Karanka certainly might of played a part in that transfer somewhere along the line. I would like Karanka to get back into work, and where bettter than your second club? I will certainly keep an eye out on results if he does indeed get the job. Wonder if he tries to get any of the band back together, you may end up signing a couple of ex boro lads which would be great for you (y). Aslong as they aren’t Antonio Barragan or Kike Sola :sneaky:
If it is going to happen it would probably be in the next few weeks. As mentioned here earlier today..... https://fmttmboro.com/index.php?thr...of-the-season-currently-2nd-in-la-liga-2.429/
 
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