Back to Forum

Sven Gone Again?!

25 replies · 1,482 views

almost 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

Sven Gone Again?!

Permalink

almost 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

This is really unbelievable stuff.

From BBC Sport:

Sven-Goran Eriksson has been told he will be sacked as Manchester City manager at the end of the season, BBC Sport understands.

City owner Thaksin Shinawatra told Eriksson he was "not the right man for the job" at a meeting on Sunday, a source close to the manager said.

Eriksson informed the players at training on Monday that he would be dismissed, provoking an angry response.

The Swede, who has two years left on his contract, says he will not resign.

Shinawatra has been unhappy with City's results since the turn of the year.

The Thai billionaire was at the City of Manchester Stadium on Sunday to watch his team throw away a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 against Fulham.

Afterwards, he held a meeting with Eriksson and told him he would be dismissed after their final two games of the season.

"Sven reacted calmly, as usual, but he was very surprised and disappointed," the source told BBC Sport.

"He doesn't want to leave the club and will not resign. He loves working with the players and his work at Manchester City has only just begun."

The club is refusing to comment about Eriksson's future.

Eriksson took over as City manager five weeks before the start of the season and the team occupied third spot in the Premiership in November.

However, their form has faltered badly since Christmas and they now lie ninth, having won just four of their last 15 games.

"The team has not been playing as well as it should have or getting the right results since Christmas," said the source.

"But overall it has been a good season. Thaksin agreed a five-year plan with Sven in the summer and the target for the first year was to finish in the top 10."

Shinawatra bankrolled eight summer signings at a cost of more than ï¿½46m shortly after buying the club, but BBC Sport understands he has had no direct contact with Eriksson in the second half of the season.

"They met several times personally at the start of the season and then nothing," said the source.

"Sven has had a list of players he wants to sign next summer for several weeks, but he hasn't been able to get the go-ahead to get them.

"He talks to (City chief executive) Alistair Macintosh, but things break down when he then goes to the chairman."

The City players are understood to have reacted with a mixture of shock and anger when Eriksson told them he would be leaving.

Last week, City defender Micah Richards said the players were "100% behind" Eriksson in his BBC Sport website column.

"I think it is crazy that his job is even being talked about as being in danger - he has been good for everyone at City," said Richards.

Shinawatra will now set about the task of landing a new manager, with former Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari already touted as a replacement for Eriksson.

It seems certain that any new manager will have a considerable amount of money to spend in the summer.

Shinawatra has hundreds of millions of pounds worth of assets in Thailand frozen as he awaits trial on corruption charges later this year.

Yet his former lawyer, Noppadom Pattama, who is now Thailand's foreign minister, told BBC Sport that he expected these assets to be "unfrozen in the near future".

------------------------

Can't believe this. Feel sorry for the City fans even though I'm a United fan. Considering what City were like last season, and what Sven has done in just stopping them being relegation fodder should've been enough to secure his job. Thaksin Shinawatra seems like a very mixed up sort of guy.

Permalink

almost 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

This Shinawatra geezer sounds well off. Although Sven is a prat, he has done a fantastic job at the club considering it is Manchester City. Thaksin hasn't the slightest what he is doing and both the fans and players will tun on him.

Permalink

almost 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

This is why there needs to be measures in place to stop undesirables buying controlling stakes in football clubs. The guy is up on a corruption charge in his homeland FFS. He's got one of the best managers in the world in charge at his club and he wants to can him. Clearly not someone who should own a club, any club.

Nix, Leyton Orient and Alloa Athletic supporting schmuck.

Permalink

almost 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

Theres only 5 trophies and City wernt in 2 of them. I dont like Sven for his faliure with England, but give the guy more than one season. I mean its not like Sven was in charge at Chelski, where he would of had the players to do something. But who knows it would seem that my poor old Jewish namesake will be caned even if he wins the double. So maybe, just maybe Sven will get the Chelski job, as that would reunite him with Frankie L and Johnny T, and keep them at The Bridge.

Just putting that out there as a possibilty!!!

Permalink

almost 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

TheJam wrote:

Couldn't agree with you more. Guys like Shinawatra should not be allowed to buy up controlling shares in clubs. Dodgy as f*ck and clearly has no idea...

Permalink

almost 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

I suppose the Thai guy rates McLaren or Big Sam as better candidates??

Despite not getting the results, City have been playing some decent football. If Sven is sacked, I think they will have made yet another big mistake that's haunting City since 1976/77!

Proud to have attended the first 175 Consecutive "Home" Wellington Phoenix "A League" Games !!

The Ruf, The Ruf, The Ruf is on Fire!!

Permalink

almost 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

deang wrote:

Just putting that out there as a possibilty!!!

The morbid part of me wants to see Avram Grant get the boot just so I can see him look even more miserable. I wouldn't have actually thought it possible, but if anything can do it it's the sack.

Nix, Leyton Orient and Alloa Athletic supporting schmuck.

Permalink

almost 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

If Sven meets this season's target (top ten) then surely the owners hands would be tied

Permalink

almost 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

I'm crying on the inside. Can't believe he would even think of it after one season. Completly new team this year so top 10 isn't bad considering our performces last year. Fair enough if we didnt make top 6 next year but Sven's club record is pretty impressive.

I think the owner wantsto get in big Phil as a replacement.

Furthermore, Thaksin also thought he had a chance to sign Ronaldino, which shows he has no clue. We do like his money however.

Permalink

almost 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

2ndBest wrote:

I think the owner wantsto get in big Phil as a replacement.

Furthermore, Thaksin also thought he had a chance to sign Ronaldino, which shows he has no clue. We do like his money however.

Sounds like most of it is ill-gotten, made its way into his bank account as backhanders on property deals while PM I suspect. Make the most of it, the Thai govt is probably going to want it back.

TheJam2008-04-30 15:03:32

Nix, Leyton Orient and Alloa Athletic supporting schmuck.

Permalink

almost 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

actually most of his fortune was made before he entered politics.

Permalink

almost 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

How silly can this be?

SGE could easily get Man city into at least one of the UEFA spot next season building on this season and with a transfer window and a decent preseason run up even challenge the top four places for champions league.

It's really bad news for EPL, because it was shaping up to be a most competitively EPL season ever next year with a couple of elite managers entering EPL recently.

However If you clearly do get Luiz Felipe Scolari, then it is a strong reason for the dumping. SGE will get a healthy paycheck personally from Shinawatra if it is less than his contract term and Man City will be better for it.

The question then becomes, where will SGE go?

I actually think that he will do well at Newcastle United.

Permalink

almost 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

deang wrote:

I dont like Sven for his faliure with England, but give the guy more than one season.

yeah - World Cup quarter finals and European champ semi finals were so bad when compared to how the team did before, and how it has done since.

All I do is make the stuff I would've liked
Reference things I wanna watch, reference girls I wanna bite
Now I'm firefly like a burning kite
And yousa fake fuck like a fleshlight

Permalink

almost 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

deang wrote:

I dont like Sven for his faliure with England

How is it Sven's fault that English players just aren't good enough? Sven has proved this season he is a decent manager because he has been working with decent players without oversized egos.

Permalink

almost 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

There is talk of player revolt aswell

The Sun

'City stars to follow Sven'

THAKSIN SHINAWATRA is facing a player mutiny after refusing to reverse his decision to sack Sven Goran Eriksson.

Senior Manchester City officials yesterday contacted the club owner to implore him to change his mind.

But the former Thai PM told them there was no way back for boss Eriksson.

Now furious players are lining up to quit City.

Club captain Richard Dunne will be among them, with Newcastle ready to make a bid.

Elano and Martin Petrov also signed for City because it was Eriksson who wanted them and they are now set to go too. Midfielder Michael Johnson, wanted by Liverpool, is also considering his future.

England international Micah Richards signed a new contract at City only because Eriksson convinced him about the future of the club.

Now he too will be considering his options with Chelsea still keen.

Erikssonï¿½s long-time colleague Tord Grip confirmed yesterdayï¿½s SunSport exclusive that they will be leaving Eastlands at the end of the season, despite guiding City to a top-10 finish and two wins over deadly rivals Manchester United.

Grip rapped: ï¿½I donï¿½t think the owner has been patient enough.

ï¿½We think that we have done it well. It hasnï¿½t been that good after Christmas but there is always ups and downs in football.

ï¿½The Premier League is like a marathon. It takes time to build up a team that will be competitive in the Premier League.

ï¿½Now we have two matches left at Manchester City.ï¿½

The normally placid Eriksson had a huge row with Shinawatra in a meeting on Sunday.

Asked if the relationship between Eriksson and Shinawatra had broken down, Grip said: ï¿½Well, there is something like that, that caused this.ï¿½

Grip says Eriksson will not be short of job offers after the final two games of the season.

He said: ï¿½I am convinced that Sven will get new offers. But nothing is going to happen before this season ends here in England.ï¿½

In Sundayï¿½s meeting, Eriksson asked Shinawatra what money he would have for players this summer, only to be told transfer deals would be taken out of his hands.

That is something Eriksson would never stand for and it is stated in his contract that he decides which players join the club.

Just last week he said: ï¿½No players come here that I have not given the green light for. If I donï¿½t want a player it will not happen.ï¿½

Eriksson, who joined the club in July, felt he was being treated with no respect by Shinawatra during the meeting.

But he will not quit and instead wait for a pay-off that could be up to ï¿½5million.

Daily Mirror

'Thaksin Shinawatra wants Jose Mourinho at Man City'

Under-fire Manchester City owner Thaksin Shinawatra is aiming to build a fantasy side led by Jose Mourinho to pacify fans angered by the imminent departure of Sven Goran Eriksson.

Shinawatra has alienated City's loyal fan base with his decision to sack Eriksson after the final two games of the season, following a series of poor results and offfield differences between the pair.

Eriksson - who is set for a ï¿½1.5m pay-off - and Shinawatra fell out over City's results in the second half of the season, as well as the former Thai PM's interference in team affairs.

And former Chelsea boss Mourinho has emerged as Shinawatra's No.1 choice, with Luis Felipe Scolari - now in charge of Portugal - also on the short-list.

The Independent

Defender Michael Ball has given his backing to under-fire manager Sven-Goran Eriksson. "Every player is 100 per cent behind Sven," Ball said. "If the club wants to go forward we have got to keep the coaching staff and obviously add a few more players for quality reasons."

Permalink

almost 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

How the hell did someone so damn stupid get to be so damn rich?? And I'm not talking about Sven. Talk about shoot yourself in the foot. City used to be trated as second rate by everyone except city fans, now they're about to be treated as a joke - even by City fans.

I feel so sorry for Man City fans, quality players, coaching and a bit of luck was all they needed.

Liverpool are having the same attitude problem with one of their yanks. WTF is going on??

Proud to have attended the first 175 Consecutive "Home" Wellington Phoenix "A League" Games !!

The Ruf, The Ruf, The Ruf is on Fire!!

Permalink

almost 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

Telecommunications or something wasn't it? Still, something is def shady wtih him though, shady enough for him to be up on corruption charges...?

Permalink

almost 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

hard to say whether the charges are legit or nota as he was overthrown by a military coup. So sounds bit dodgy.

Yes he was in mobile phones

Permalink

almost 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

Lonegunmen wrote:

I feel so sorry for Man City fans, quality players, coaching and a bit of luck was all they needed.

Liverpool are having the same attitude problem with one of their yanks. WTF is going on??

Sorry City fans, but I can see it all going a bit "Hearts". An egomaniac in charge who is in football for all the wrong reasons. Any Jambos out there to comment?

Nix, Leyton Orient and Alloa Athletic supporting schmuck.

Permalink

almost 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

2ndBest wrote:

hard to say whether the charges are legit or nota as he was overthrown by a military coup. So sounds bit dodgy.

Yes he was in mobile phones

sh*t, if I could have my time over again I'd get into mobiles about 15 years back. Foresight - I guess that's these bastards are rich and I'm earning $50,000 a year as a teacher. Well actually, I earn about $250,000 a year, but the pricks pay me only $50,000.

Nix, Leyton Orient and Alloa Athletic supporting schmuck.

Permalink

almost 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

i hope their players do it, though some won't for practical/economic reasons - but good to see players supporting their manager

edit, the other thing the players are talking of doing is boycotting the club's tour to Thailand - brilliant!

tigers2008-05-02 20:56:31

Permalink

almost 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

The entire playing squad wants to hand in transfer requests on the last day of the season.

Proud to have attended the first 175 Consecutive "Home" Wellington Phoenix "A League" Games !!

The Ruf, The Ruf, The Ruf is on Fire!!

Permalink

almost 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

LOL. That guy must be dreaming if he is able to get Mourinho or Luis Felipe Scolari, They are not managers that suffer fool lightly and knows that owners mixing in with club football selections is a recipe for disaster.

I like that the players are backing SGE up unlike Chelsea crowd that is seduced by money.

SGE is a really good players manager, he has won Series A, you be silly to drop him.

Permalink

almost 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

He's a goneburger

Blackburn have given Manchester City permission to speak with Mark Hughes over becoming Sven-Goran Eriksson's successor as manager.

Within hours of Eriksson's departure being confirmed by an official City statement, Rovers released one of their own stating they had 'reluctantly' let Hughes speak to the Blues over their vacancy.

'Mark has made it clear to the board he would like the opportunity to talk to Manchester City,' read the statement on Rovers' website.

With Luiz Felipe Scolari and Roberto Mancini heavily linked with the Chelsea job and Jose Mourinho apparently on the verge of joining Inter Milan, City owner Thaksin Shinawatra appears to have placed Hughes at the top of a wanted list that also includes Zico and Avram Grant.

Despite his obvious links to Manchester United, Dr Thaksin feels the Welshman, who managed his country before going on to take Blackburn into Europe and bring the likes of Benni McCarthy and Roque Santa Cruz to Ewood Park, is the man who can guide City towards the top four.

'Blackburn Rovers can confirm they have received an approach from Manchester City for permission to talk to Mark Hughes with regard to him becoming manager,' continued the Rovers statement.

'In view of this, the board have decided reluctantly to give him permission, subject to terms and conditions acceptable to Blackburn being agreed with Manchester City in advance.'

Given Dr Thaksin's obvious desire to have Hughes on board, financial considerations would not appear to be a problem.

It could mean Hughes is unveiled as City's new manager, and third in 14 months following a relatively stable period under Kevin Keegan, before the end of the week.

Certainly, while club insiders are refusing to put a timescale on talks over the manager's position, they are confident of unveiling Eriksson's successor earlier in the summer than the Swede was confirmed in the job last July.

Thaksin has seen at first hand the difficulties Eriksson had moulding a team together at such short notice and the situation would be even worse this summer given the Blues will be in action on July 18 as they begin their UEFA Cup quest in the first qualifying round.

Hughes' appointment would almost certainly win favour with the bulk of City's players, making it more likely star defenders Richard Dunne and Micah Richards would remain with the club.

And while many fans may be dubious about the United link, it may also quell widespread anger at Thaksin over Eriksson's dismissal.

Many are still struggling to understand how Eriksson, having delivered a top 10 finish and European football in his first season in charge, could be viewed surplus to requirements.

Yet it seems Eriksson's fate was sealed a fortnight before the season ended in humiliation with an 8-1 defeat at Middlesbrough.

Instead, it was as Thaksin watched City slip to a home defeat against seemingly doomed Fulham despite leading by two goals with 20 minutes to go that Eriksson's job prospects slumped.

With so many of his friends and associates present, the embarrassment was too much for Thaksin and a lengthy review of the campaign only reinforced his view.

Typically, Eriksson remained until a watertight severance package could be agreed and it seems he will now take on the job of steering Mexico to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

'I have enjoyed my time at Manchester City very much indeed and in particular, I would like to thank the fans, players and staff for their amazing support over the season,' Eriksson told the club's official website.

'I wish the club - and everyone associated with it - much success in the coming years.'

City have tried to keep the relationship cordial.

'The board of directors and all at Manchester City would like to thank Sven for his efforts and contributions throughout the season,' said City chief executive Alistair Mackintosh.

'We wish him all the best for the future. Sven remains a friend of the club.'

However, with Hughes in line to join, club officials are keen to usher in a new era as quickly as possible.2ndBest2008-06-03 08:52:23

Permalink

almost 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

He's sh*t out of luck if he still wanted Mourinho - The Special Gibbon has just signed on with Inter, www.theworldgame.com.au

Permalink

Back to English (and other British lower league) Football Discussion Forum Home Back to top