The Soccer Thread (Version 7.0)

I've sat through some craptastic Merseyside derbies in the past, but this might have been the craptasticest. 61 points got Everton into the Champions League a decade ago but, even with 60 now with two games to go, even the Euro Vase is a long shot. That's what happens when your average net spend is $1.2 million a year, I guess.

 

Bill Kenwright is a cheap bastard. Has the best manager in the game not named Ferguson and he's about to lose him.

 

Lots of rumors about Sir Alex retiring. The Guardian reports an announcement might next week.

 

Now the Mirror reports Rooney is close to a Bayren move.

Dark days for United if it loses SAF and Rooney.

 

Rooney is replaceable. Losing Fergie will be a hit. He will obviously play some role at the club, but what will that do to the successor? If it's Moyes, it might work out well. If it's someone like Mourinho, then there could be too much friction.

 

Wasn't Ole Gunnar Solskjaer being groomed to replace SAF?

 

They almost need someone who can come in for a couple of years and then be moved on for the true successor. The immediate successor is almost guaranteed to fail, if only by comparison.

That said, I'd still be surprised if he's packing it in.

 

Surprised it is.

 

I think it will be the Special One. They have that weird kinship.

 

Best line I saw on Twitter -- Thatcher dies and then Fergie retires. Somewhere, there is a Scouser with a lamp and one wish left.

 

Monitoring of social media and British media indicates that there is considerable sentiment among ManU fans and former players for Moyes to get the job.

 

This is true. It'll be like when Wilf McGuinness took over after Busby. No matter what the new manager does, he really can't win.