Well said Elizabeth. I have always loved and admired your loyalty to Marco. You are an optimist which is so refreshing. He has given us many golden moments. But…A great football manager combines technical expertise with high-level people skills. When a team is uncertain about a manager's future, it often triggers a "vicious circle" where performance drops, further fueling that uncertainty. This is where he has left us: the fans, team and management. We all know Marco is not a Genius and can make some awful decisions and mistakes. By not signing his contract, and by not giving forewarning that he is leaving is another. Rather than leaving on a high for all his achievements he has begun to loose even his most ardent supporters. Leaving the club to second guess is not a sign of great leadership. If he grudgingly does supporters will not forget that he is always looking over his shoulder. For what it’s worth, my own feeling is I would rather you had led out the team for the last 10 matches. We would probably had been better in the next round of the FA Cup and you probably may have picked up a few more points in the League.
I'm worried too. Feels like this could be the beginning of the end, after (as you quite rightly highlight) Marco - and by extension, the team - have actually overacheived last few seasons. We are just one underwhelming appointment away from relegation. I also think the major difference between us and the Bournemouths of this world is that we mainly recruit players on a downward or flatline trajectories (Kevin being the main exception, even ESR and Bobb were on theor way down), whereas as they recruit players on upward trajectories. That inidividual momentum is important and does translate into the wider team. We need more up-and-comers in the squad.
We've broken our transfer record 2 years running. We spent big in January, something we do only rarely. I don't think the club is lacking ambition. I think they just started spending at the exact time that Marco is being distracted by (supposedly) greener pastures.
ESR, Kevin and Bobb were all Marco picks. Could we have spent that better? Maybe.
My view is the club’s interest isn’t aligned with either Marco’s or the fans.
The club’s expectations are to stay in the PL. Trophies or Europe - not so much.
Marco seems like he wants to win, playing beautifully. He’d be perfect at Benfica where beauty and passion are required. Fulham, not so much at this point.
The fans just seem to want better results - which is totally fair.
There are two ugly truths here. 1. It’s best for ownership not to get to Europe quite yet. We can’t easily comply with the salary cap rules. 2. We’ll need players to leave and be sold whether there’s European qualification or not. There’s not enough revenue generated yet.
Well said Elizabeth. I have always loved and admired your loyalty to Marco. You are an optimist which is so refreshing. He has given us many golden moments. But…A great football manager combines technical expertise with high-level people skills. When a team is uncertain about a manager's future, it often triggers a "vicious circle" where performance drops, further fueling that uncertainty. This is where he has left us: the fans, team and management. We all know Marco is not a Genius and can make some awful decisions and mistakes. By not signing his contract, and by not giving forewarning that he is leaving is another. Rather than leaving on a high for all his achievements he has begun to loose even his most ardent supporters. Leaving the club to second guess is not a sign of great leadership. If he grudgingly does supporters will not forget that he is always looking over his shoulder. For what it’s worth, my own feeling is I would rather you had led out the team for the last 10 matches. We would probably had been better in the next round of the FA Cup and you probably may have picked up a few more points in the League.
Tchau, se cuida Marco.
I'm worried too. Feels like this could be the beginning of the end, after (as you quite rightly highlight) Marco - and by extension, the team - have actually overacheived last few seasons. We are just one underwhelming appointment away from relegation. I also think the major difference between us and the Bournemouths of this world is that we mainly recruit players on a downward or flatline trajectories (Kevin being the main exception, even ESR and Bobb were on theor way down), whereas as they recruit players on upward trajectories. That inidividual momentum is important and does translate into the wider team. We need more up-and-comers in the squad.
What other Club has a spa and swimming pool? Where ae the priorities? Not necessarily on the pitch? Marco did well for what was given to him.
I
think Marco will go , hopefully not , but dont think the club shares Marco’s ambition anymore
We've broken our transfer record 2 years running. We spent big in January, something we do only rarely. I don't think the club is lacking ambition. I think they just started spending at the exact time that Marco is being distracted by (supposedly) greener pastures.
ESR, Kevin and Bobb were all Marco picks. Could we have spent that better? Maybe.
My view is the club’s interest isn’t aligned with either Marco’s or the fans.
The club’s expectations are to stay in the PL. Trophies or Europe - not so much.
Marco seems like he wants to win, playing beautifully. He’d be perfect at Benfica where beauty and passion are required. Fulham, not so much at this point.
The fans just seem to want better results - which is totally fair.
There are two ugly truths here. 1. It’s best for ownership not to get to Europe quite yet. We can’t easily comply with the salary cap rules. 2. We’ll need players to leave and be sold whether there’s European qualification or not. There’s not enough revenue generated yet.