Mails: Would Pochettino want United job?

We have had an excellent week. Well done. Keep it up. Please mail in at the weekend even though it’s the FA Cup. E-mail address is theeditor@football365.com

 

Clubs who should take the FA Cup seriously?
Everyone.

Seriously, who the f*ck doesn’t want to win stuff?
Jack, 21, London

 

…Your piece on the five teams that should take the FA Cup seriously was a little disheartening to me. It’s a shame that there are teams now that don’t take the FA Cup as seriously as they used to. It was always the FA Cup winning goal that you played out down the park, it more of the Agüeroooo moment now I guess. Fact is a lot of teams take it seriously knowing they’ll never win it, knowing that the teams who have best chance of winning it probably won’t take it seriously. Kind of sullies the magic of the cup.

That did all change though when I read the quote by Exeter manager Paul Tilsdale. Pure magic. Gonna get me a cravat myself after that.
Chris ITFC, Liverpool

 

There’s a whole load of heads up bums…
If anyone has their head up their bum, it’s Graham Simons, Gooner, ‘Norf’ London. I’m sure we’ve had our fill of whether Pochettino would or wouldn’t go to Man United, and it’s all vague speculation at best.

That said, Graham’s arguments are completely absurd, make very little sense, and deserve to be called out.

Who gives a stuff about the size of a club? Only most people in football Graham, but thanks for citing one lonely, solemn example to prove your point beyond any doubt.

‘Then there’s the assertion United have more money – again that doesn’t really matter as much when you get to a point where every club is minted’ – This makes no sense. At all. It really does matter, in almost every way. He will earn much more at United, and will be able to afford to buy much more expensive and well-paid players at United.

Now, I’m not saying that these factors will lead to Pochettino ditching Spurs to join United (if indeed it ever came to him being offered it). He’s doing a good job at a good club, with a good team – but to dismiss them as factors is very myopic.

Finally to say that United are on the way down and Spurs on the way up, well, it’s true that United aren’t doing so well at the moment. With United in as bad a shape as they have been in 25+ years and Spurs in their best shape this decade (maybe) Spurs sit three points ahead of United. I can’t say if your hopeful prediction is true, but I can say that it’s spurious and you can join the literal millions of jealous fans who have made this firm prediction any time in the last 25 years. In fact I’m sure Harry Kewell said the same thing when he joined Liverpool in 2003. How did that go?
AS Camden (Would love an FA Cup win for United this season)

 

…Scenario 1
Grandson: “Grandad, what football teams did you use to manage?”
Grandad Poch: “A team in Spain called Espanyol and a couple of teams in England, one of the were a club called Spurs, have you heard of Tottenham before, they are in London?”

Scenario 2
Grandson: “Grandad Poch, did you really used to manage Manchester United?!?!?!!!! Really? You not lying?!”
Robert Leightley

 

No, Poch’s reputation would dive at United
Sorry Man Utd fans, but here’s why he won’t be managing you anytime soon…

He’s an aware young manager, see’s the potential at ‘the other lot’ to challenge higher up the table, good pressing style, decent football, good squad and a support from fans and board that looks like they have faith in what he can do…potentially a new stadium as well. If he’s successful getting them into the top four/CL places, possibly a trophy, his reputation will be much much higher maybe bordering on ‘Klopp-mania’….perfect for when Real/Barca/Atletico are looking.

At United, he’d be joining a squad with no identity, a millstone for a captain on the pitc , a board that only makes short-term decisions, a fan-base becoming increasingly disillusioned and desperate and the ever-lasting shadow of ‘that scotsman’ literally overlooking the dug-out. Risk for him is that he takes the job, doesn’t make it and has a black mark against his name for managing a ‘top top’ side ever again for a while at least. Then it’ll be Sociedad looking at him instead. Familiar ?

In short, he’s everything to gain at Spurs even if it doesn’t work out long term, at United he’s everything to lose.

Weirdly, I hope he stays down the road…I find the league a lot more fun and interesting when the other lot down the road are giving it a good go.
SalfordGooner (United really should be looking at Ancelotti…he’s yer man! )

 

Becoming a proud ABU again…
Big thanks to Eddie ‘Hand in Glove’ MUFC, from Thursday afternoon’s mailbox for giving me feelings that I have missed for a long while.

I grow up in the Midlands in the 1990s/2000s so had to go to school with a lot of glory-hunting Man U fans.

The last few years have seen me soften my outlook towards them, with other successful teams taking my ire (Chelsea, Barcelona). The Moyes experiment and their general rubbishness made me even feel slightly sorry for their fans.

Luckily that has now been erased by Eddie’s email reminiscing about all the good times in the ‘United way’ glory days.

The ‘United way’ was Fergie bullying referees, Mendes’ Spurs goal not being given, Roy Keane breaking legs, missing the FA Cup third round, Ferdinand’s forgetfulness, Cantona kicking supporters and smug school kids on Monday mornings.

Thanks Eddie for bringing back the ABU bile in me.
Jon, London

 

Is Joe Allen that kid?
A bit late but I so rarely have a reason to write in I had to try. My mate and I have a strange perception of Joe Allen that I’ve always thought quite fitting. Joe Allen was the kid in junior school that you didn’t want to hold hands with because they were always sticky. The pasty kid with a permanently runny nose and ill-fitting hand-me-down clothes. He always had fish paste sandwiches and a jaffa orange that was impossible to peel for lunch. He was probably so pasty from eating too much pith and would look on longingly as the other kids tucked into exciting packed lunches filled with frubes, cheese strings and rice crispy squares. He probably had a penchant for sucking on (plain flavour) crisps rather than chewing them. We reckon he was the quiet kid who nonetheless could (and would) be provoked into lashing out and, as a method of deterrent, start flailing his arms windmill style in the random hope of landing a blow.
Tom (Wearing hand-me-down clothes since 1985) LFC

 

Ordinary boys
In terms of ordinary players, I always thought of Michael Carrick as a very ordinary player. He’s perhaps a little bit too good for that, but in general he tends to play nicely rather than noticeably, and even his mistakes come more often from going missing than genuine gaffs. I’d agree that Joe Allen’s surpassed him for ordinariness, though.

Off the field, I’d say no player seems more ‘ordinary’ than Michael Owen. He seems to go for the recommended and easily digestible in almost every aspect of his life, and would likely laugh nervously and wince if someone were to react emotionally or suggest an offbeat activity. He somewhat famously doesn’t even watch films, possibly because of said moments, but if he did would likely rank the Godfather as the best of all time, despite only watching it once. And his commentary is definitely famous for its banality. Even his looks are as inoffensive as humanly possible – attractive enough to not displease, but nothing to ruffle the feathers or raise the ardour. Somewhat short but not noticeably so, just enough to fit anywhere and buy clothes from any shop without fuss. I’d love to know if anybody can think of anyone in the entire world that is more ready salted than Michael Owen.
Mark, Warwickshire

 

Call this ordinary?
Paul Telfer might well have been Mr Ordinary (in response to Pardeep in today’s mailbox) but he did this against Newcastle once. Mind you, it was his only goal for the Saints.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nV9xhNYSNeo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nV9xhNYSNeo

 

Saints have one now….
On the subject of Mr Ordinaries – my team may have one of the more divisive in the league in that he is highly respected by the club’s supporters, yet I can’t help but think he is one of the key players currently holding us back from ‘the next level’ – regular top-six challengers.

I think the majority of fellow Southampton fans would agree that our Mr Ordinary is Steven Davis. A consistent 6/10 performer who always gives 100%, battles for the shirt and plays with undeniable passion. Yet the problem is that as 4-4-2 fades from the Premier League… his qualities lack impact. He is not a holding midfielder and not a winger. So has found himself playing in the ‘number 10’ role for the past two seasons, contributing a lousy two goals in his last 55 league games and yet to register an assist in the league this season.

Comparatively Spurs and Everton who we challenged for 5th/6th last season have Alli and Barkley, Palace have Cabaye, West Ham have Payet.

While I appreciate that there are many reasons we are 13th as opposed to challenging for the Champions League, this is a key area where spending is needed if the owners are serious about their ambitions.
Mark (mid-table) Saint

 

Foreign players signed and moved up…
I’ve been chewing on Jeremy Aves’ question from yesterday’s mailbox about whether mid/lower-tier clubs ever sign foreign players who later go on to trouble the top echelons of football and I have to admit, I thought it would be a lot easier to come up with examples than it was. He’s what I came up with:

Antonio Valencia – Wigan to Manchester United regular and league winner. Maybe never really a star but in his first (or was it second?) season he was easily the best out and out winger in the league.

Eidur Gudjohnsen – Bolton to trophy pig with Chelsea and later Barcelona. Again, maybe never the star in either team but that would have been a tall order.

Dwight Yorke – Villa to treble winner with Manchester United. This is probably cheating since Villa were hardly the laughing stock they are today back in ’98.

Louis Saha – Fulham to league winner and European champion with Manchester United. Maybe never reached his full potential but didn’t look out of place in a United shirt when fit.

Mascherano and Tevez – West Ham to Liverpool, both Manchesters, Juventus and Barcelona. Reluctant to include these two because those transfers stank to high heaven today but I’m low on examples and you can’t argue West Ham that were small league potatoes at the time.

That’s all I could come up with and I’ll be the first to admit most of those are stretching the premise. You just might be right Jeremey.

Anyone think of any glaring ones I’ve missed?
Simon (Krankjcar maybe? Portsmouth to Spurs?) CFC

 

American maths
Is it only in Texas where 427 x 3 = 1498?
Aidan, Balscadden FC (Yeehaw)

 

…Can someone also explain to me how 427 x 3 = 1498? Is this another joke I don’t get?

I’m male.
Ginge, London

 

…You’ll get lots of these [I hope].

427 x 3 ≠ 1498
Alex Stokoe, Newcastle upon Tyne

 

…Kaushik, Austin TX…

427 x 3 is 1281.

Despite working it out in my head, you even made me Google this just to make sure there wasn’t some kind of reference I was missing.
Matt J, London (there’s no reference I’m missing…right?)

 

The real meaning?
My take…

427 & 365 = 234567

427 = 24/7 or 7 days a week, 24 hours a day viz. Football365

MC to confirm….

Ohh and a cracking morning mailbox guys.
Mahendra (MUFC)

 

…Doesn’t 4 2(to) 7 signify the Happy Hour at the local?

So you ‘sly-maisters’ have fiendishly included the international number of early drinkers into the website…respect.
Julian (waiting…waiting…) Gdansk