Kompany leaving or Relegation?

[burnley007]

I was disappointed with relegation, but not heartbroken. I really believe in the journey. I'm enjoying it, bizarrely.

If Kompany goes, I'll be absolutely gutted.

Which is worse for you, relegation or VK leaving?

[Jakubclaret]

I think it'll be a blessing in disguise if we see the back end of him to be honest. We aren't guaranteed to be promoted if he stays just because somebody's done something once doesn't mean they'll do it again. The clubs in turmoil & in part he's created that.

[elwaclaret]

Relegation for me. Not that I am keen on losing Vinny either, particularly… but I think this should be a wake up call letting the manager, ANY manager have total control is a time bomb… SD was exceptional, not least because we gave him the freedom to manage from afar quite a bit compared to the norm.

The previous regime learned the hard way with Coyle ripping the guts out of the coaching staff when he left… and he had less control than VK has had.

[Pickles]

Got to say, I'm a little surprised at the vitriol on this board for Kompany. Yes, a bad, disappointing season and he's made plenty of mistakes. But I thought he'd have a little more credit in the bank and fans would appreciate a bit more the project/journey/whatever buzz word you like.

I'd be disappointed to see him leave but I've long been of the opinion it was a coup to get him in the first place and that he's likely to manage higher than Burnley.

[elwaclaret]

Got to say, I'm a little surprised at the vitriol on this board for Kompany. Yes, a bad, disappointing season and he's made plenty of mistakes. But I thought he'd have a little more credit in the bank and fans would appreciate a bit more the project/journey/whatever buzz word you like.

I'd be disappointed to see him leave but I've long been of the opinion it was a coup to get him in the first place and that he's likely to manage higher than Burnley.

I have heard quite a bit of whinging but I think vitriol is far too strong a word to use. Brian Laws was handed a sows ear… now he still gets vitriol, Jimmy Mullen is now lorded by people who thought his wife being abused on a night out was at that time fair game… two examples of Burnley fan vitriol that spring to mind.

[bfcjg]

He has enough credit in the bank to stay. Our promotion season was outstanding. Hopefully, his pride is sufficiently hurt for him to want to rectify it and go again.

[CoolClaret]

It's more being left 'mid project' with a few of his (overpriced) signings, and the 'disjointedness' of it all which would be a bit of a mess... but I do think this could be a goer, although Poch leaving Chelsea by mutual consent may throw yet another curveball.

[Carlos the Great]

I would be shocked if Bayern chose VK in all honesty .. but what I would be more concerned about is all the players he has bought that we will certainly lose money on … time will tell .. I would like to see him stay for another year at least to see if can get us promoted or was the last season in the championship success down to a some good loan signings

[boatshed bill]

I would be shocked if Bayern chose VK in all honesty .. but what I would be more concerned about is all the players he has bought that we will certainly lose money on … time will tell .. I would like to see him stay for another year at least to see if can get us promoted or was the last season in the championship success down to a some good loan signings

If he leaves (big if, IMO) and the right management team comes in there's no reason to believe that some of our young players won't significantly increase their values through playing well in the Championship.

[IanMcL]

Moyes would bring structure

[NewClaret]

Got to say, I'm a little surprised at the vitriol on this board for Kompany. Yes, a bad, disappointing season and he's made plenty of mistakes. But I thought he'd have a little more credit in the bank and fans would appreciate a bit more the project/journey/whatever buzz word you like.

I'd be disappointed to see him leave but I've long been of the opinion it was a coup to get him in the first place and that he's likely to manage higher than Burnley.

Very much agree with this.

[Pickles]

Very much agree with this.

I think we're in the minority.

[NewClaret]

I was disappointed with relegation, but not heartbroken. I really believe in the journey. I'm enjoying it, bizarrely.

If Kompany goes, I'll be absolutely gutted.

Which is worse for you, relegation or VK leaving?

I’ll also be gutted.

Had accepted relegation a long time ago but have bought in to how Kompany has been doing things and feel we’ve made signings with really high potential across many positions. Really wanted to see how it all unfolded, either way.

[Shaggy]

Be absolutely delighted if VK goes and we get compo for him and his team.

He should have been sacked already for his dire performanceS, any other walk of life he’d be gone.

Gutted at relegation.

[Clovius Boofus]

What happened to Jimmy Mullen wife had nothing to do with football. Those kids didn't even know who she was.

[Casper2]

Moyes would bring structure

Left back or winger ?

[Boss Hogg]

If it wasn’t for ‘the project’ which it doesn’t look like VK is committed too he would have been fired earlier in the season, when we might have had a chance of staying up. Pace stood by VK when no other club would have. It all looks a bit cowardly by VK and naive by Pace imo.

[Clovius Boofus]

It doesn't look like anything to me because, for now, nothing has happened.

[Superjohnnyfrancis]

The most worrying thing for me is that Alan Pace looks like he hasn’t got a clue what he’s doing and his football brain wants to leave.

Alan needs to get some real chairman football advice that is not connected to Vincent Kompany on what his next move should be and quick. He’s looking totally clueless at the moment.

We need a full reset of all Kompany’s staff out if he’s leaving. Total nightmare for continuity.

Recruitment weeded to Kompany is and was asking for trouble a long time ago.

I don’t think he will get the Bayern job but this is seriously disrupting us. Needs to resign if his heart isn’t in it.

[leelad]

I agree with the last post. Kompany's head must have been turned by the number of clubs who are being linked with him. How do you maintain focus and direction with a squad of approx. 40 which needs some surgery bring done on it ahead of a 46 game season? Is his heart in this one, can he 'go again' as they say? or is it a case of 'been there, done it, got the T shirt'. To answer the question though, it's relegation for me and the manner in which we have gone down.

[elwaclaret]

I’ll also be gutted.

Had accepted relegation a long time ago but have bought in to how Kompany has been doing things and feel we’ve made signings with really high potential across many positions. Really wanted to see how it all unfolded, either way.

Think you are far from alone in this view… but for me it is tempered; it seems highly unlikely multiple sources would be sticking their necks out saying VK has already spoken to Munich if that was not the case. Where does that leave the project so many of us have been willing to buy into by sitting back and being patient?

He has not gone, and I would be far from surprised to see him Burnley manager next season… but it still strikes me as difficult that when he should be hurting he is looking for greener grass. It is possible sources in Britain and Germany are all quoting the one journalist, but it is highly unlikely.

[Colburn_Claret]

I still believe it's a project, so relegation isn't the end of the world, but VK is a major part of that project. His leaving could seriously undermine us.
On the positive, I don't believe he'll get the Bayern job, but if it was dangled in front of him who could blame him.

[blatherwickstattoos]

Kompany looked shattered after the last game of the season in his interview. I think he’s had enough.

[FeedTheArf]

I still believe it's a project, so relegation isn't the end of the world, but VK is a major part of that project. His leaving could seriously undermine us.
On the positive, I don't believe he'll get the Bayern job, but if it was dangled in front of him who could blame him.

I think ‘the project’ was ****** up the wall in the summer transfer window if I’m honest. This time last year I think everyone could see what the vision was. Then came a series of seemingly random signings with no structure or game plan in mind.

It reminded me of my old championship manager days, getting a load of completely unknown players on genie scout then getting to the first game of the season and realising I’ve got 4 right wingers and no left back.

[clarethead]

Please stick with the plan. Don't give up and throw in the towel when the going gets tough. Give the guy a chance to learn from any mistakes he and the club have made. Terrible season just gone, but I personally am greatly looking forward to next season with VK in charge.

[Claretmisterg]

Managers come and managers go. Relegation is always a painful experience.

[bobinho]

Kompany leaving.

Not because he’s my man crush, and not because I believe he is a great manager (I don’t believe that at all tbh, quite the opposite in fact, I think there are massive holes in his management of people - massive because they are so obvious to the casual onlooker, yet ignored by pundits et al) Like most I was resigned to relegation in November, which is when his absolute refusal to accept his tactics at PL were costing us dearly became apparent. It’s his discarding of the players that served him (and us) well the season before without even giving them a try.

It’s what we are left with that worries me. The players are all Kompany players - the chances of any new manager being happy with this squad are zero, so there will be another load of money required for a rebuild. We don’t have that, so who gets a tune out of this totally unbalanced squad? I think an immediate return is more likely with Kompany at the helm, with his tactics and his players than anyone else. Someone else comes in and it’s a raffle….

The more I think about this, the more convinced I am that he goes and leaves us right in the do-do. Kompany leaving is far worse than the relegation for me.

[jrgbfc]

One thing for sure if his hearts not in it anymore he should do the decent thing and walk away. Ideally he'd stay and sort his own mess out but we need somebody fully committed.

[Colburn_Claret]

I think ‘the project’ was ****** up the wall in the summer transfer window if I’m honest. This time last year I think everyone could see what the vision was. Then came a series of seemingly random signings with no structure or game plan in mind.

It reminded me of my old championship manager days, getting a load of completely unknown players on genie scout then getting to the first game of the season and realising I’ve got 4 right wingers and no left back.

I believe the project was to create a team with a net gain sell on value. We have bought some good players, honestly, who have a net gain sell on value. The problem was we lost the team.
No ones arguing that big mistakes were made, in any walk of life that doesn't mean scrapping the plan and start again, but learn where it went wrong and fix it. Panicking helps nobody.
Nothing in life is a given, but I'm happy to see VK try and put the mistakes to bed, and go again. The alternative is a big black hole of uncertainty.

[Culmclaret]

I believe the project was to create a team with a net gain sell on value. We have bought some good players, honestly, who have a net gain sell on value. The problem was we lost the team.
No ones arguing that big mistakes were made, in any walk of life that doesn't mean scrapping the plan and start again, but learn where it went wrong and fix it. Panicking helps nobody.
Nothing in life is a given, but I'm happy to see VK try and put the mistakes to bed, and go again. The alternative is a big black hole of uncertainty.

In principle I agree but do we seriously believe that Kompany will ‘learn where it went wrong’?

[IWOODLOVETT]

I think that Vinnie’s ambition and long-term target is to manage ManC - the club where he is idolised by the fans who have erected a statue in his honour. To have any chance of achieving this VK would have to prove himself at the highest level possible and that means at a top level club who are involved in European football.

He will go all out for it if an invitation/opportunity should arise and we know how impressive he is when interviewed. I think that if Bayern come calling he will be offered the job and the only thing that might prevent his acceptance is the prospect of uprooting his family to another country.

Here’s his conundrum:
A) second tier English football in a small-town club, with a modest budget, an alienated fanbase and limited prospects
or
B) a top tier English or Continental club with European football involvement, an unlimited budget and friendly fans.

A or B your decide.

[houseboy]

I have rarely seen such nonsense written on this site (and that takes some saying). People who have never worked in football, people who wouldn’t know how to coach a football team of under 11s if their life depended on it, people who make judgements with zero experience or knowledge of the subject are saying that a man who has played and succeeded at the highest possible level, who last season walked us through the Championship with a team that barely spoke each others language at first, who is a close personal friend of one of the best managers ever DOESN’T KNOW WHAT HE IS DOING.
I despair at the short term memory of many on here, I really do. I hope, more than anything else at the club just now, that VK stays and makes all the doubters eat their words, but then all those doubters will no doubt say they didn’t have that doubt and will say they always believed in him. Just because we have got relegated from the greediest most appallingly run league in the world there is no reason to doubt a man who I believe will do a great job eventually, starting next season. People need to realise that we are never, ever, under the current set up from a football point of view going to compete, it’s not possible. We are a Championship level club who can make a bit of money playing in the PL, and that is never going to change unless football changes. Even under Dyche though we survived 5 years mostly it was a desperate and largely dreary slog.
I’m not happy to accept this or in any way pleased to say it but the stark truth is we are what we are. And VK can make the most of it in my view.

[jlup1980]

I have rarely seen such nonsense written on this site (and that takes some saying). People who have never worked in football, people who wouldn’t know how to coach a football team of under 11s if their life depended on it, people who make judgements with zero experience or knowledge of the subject are saying that a man who has played and succeeded at the highest possible level, who last season walked us through the Championship with a team that barely spoke each others language at first, who is a close personal friend of one of the best managers ever DOESN’T KNOW WHAT HE IS DOING.
I despair at the short term memory of many on here, I really do. I hope, more than anything else at the club just now, that VK stays and makes all the doubters eat their words, but then all those doubters will no doubt say they didn’t have that doubt and will say they always believed in him. Just because we have got relegated from the greediest most appallingly run league in the world there is no reason to doubt a man who I believe will do a great job eventually, starting next season. People need to realise that we are never, ever, under the current set up from a football point of view going to compete, it’s not possible. We are a Championship level club who can make a bit of money playing in the PL, and that is never going to change unless football changes. Even under Dyche though we survived 5 years mostly it was a desperate and largely dreary slog.
I’m not happy to accept this or in any way pleased to say it but the stark truth is we are what we are. And VK can make the most of it in my view.

I've been "VK in" and "VK out" at different times during the season. If we wanted to give survival a proper go I still believe Pace should have pulled the trigger in the New Year when it was clear VK wasn't going to change his philosophy. However, as the season progressed I became more comfortable with him staying. It felt like "the project" was still real and that we'd go again in the Championship next season.

However, it appears that VK's representatives have been plotting his departure in the background and that changes everything. Brighton, Bayern, Brentford... there's no smoke without fire and it proves he's actively seeking new employment. How can we trust a man who is so clearly looking for a way out the door? He's putting himself above the club. It's his right to do that, but don't expect fans to hope you stay. Burnley Football Club is bigger than Vincent Kompany. If he doesn't want to be here, I don't want him here.

[kentonclaret]

I've been "VK in" and "VK out" at different times during the season. If we wanted to give survival a proper go I still believe Pace should have pulled the trigger in the New Year when it was clear VK wasn't going to change his philosophy. However, as the season progressed I became more comfortable with him staying. It felt like "the project" was still real and that we'd go again in the Championship next season.

However, it appears that VK's representatives have been plotting his departure in the background and that changes everything. Brighton, Bayern, Brentford... there's no smoke without fire and it proves he's actively seeking new employment. How can we trust a man who is so clearly looking for a way out the door? He's putting himself above the club. It's his right to do that, but don't expect fans to hope you stay. Burnley Football Club is bigger than Vincent Kompany. If he doesn't want to be here, I don't want him here.

As you have stated Kompany is clearly worried that his reputation may be tarnished in some way leading to his representatives maybe looking for an exit route. I just don’t see what Kompany gains by managing Burnley again for another season in the Championship. We are probably already one of the favourites to come straight back up and Kompany has done it before. The danger for Kompany is that if we don’t he will be viewed as a one trick pony following on from this disastrous season. If we come straight back up and Kompany stays on he risks another season like the last one and being labelled as a manager who can’t manage at the highest level. Clubs talking about 5 year projects is just window dressing. Pochettino was appointed at Chelsea to undertake a long term project but had only 12 months remaining on his current deal.

[gandhisflipflop]

I've been "VK in" and "VK out" at different times during the season. If we wanted to give survival a proper go I still believe Pace should have pulled the trigger in the New Year when it was clear VK wasn't going to change his philosophy. However, as the season progressed I became more comfortable with him staying. It felt like "the project" was still real and that we'd go again in the Championship next season.

However, it appears that VK's representatives have been plotting his departure in the background and that changes everything. Brighton, Bayern, Brentford... there's no smoke without fire and it proves he's actively seeking new employment. How can we trust a man who is so clearly looking for a way out the door? He's putting himself above the club. It's his right to do that, but don't expect fans to hope you stay. Burnley Football Club is bigger than Vincent Kompany. If he doesn't want to be here, I don't want him here.

This sums up my feelings too. I tolerated this season because I believe in the project, but the last week or so has me questioning this because it was on the proviso that he stayed and went again next season. If he leaves now, it will leave me feeling more angry with last season than I would have been otherwise. Not much so because more or less all of the players signed for VK and not the club. It would have me feeling less confident about next season and as you say, it would change everything.


The only known manager who would be worth going for would be moyes, who would steady the ship somewhat. I’m not at the point of thinking that far ahead just yet, but the last 24 hours have been worrying to say the least

[Colburn_Claret]

In principle I agree but do we seriously believe that Kompany will ‘learn where it went wrong’?

Time will tell, but I don't think AP is an idiot. If things don't improve he knows he'll have to swing the axe, even if it's reluctantly.

[dsr]

Not bothered by either, frankly. Relegation has several big plusses, ie. no VAR, more games, no VAR, more wins, no VAR, better standard of football (on our part at least), and of course no VAR.

As for Kompany going, there is no man on earth who I would expect to stay at Burnley if Bayern Munich are calling. Besides which, I suspect next year would be good but a retrun to the PL would be the same old story, you're playing this way whether you are able to or not. Moyes sounds a good option because he usually has a good start at his clubs, he has good (by Championship standard) players to work with, and he can organise a defence. (Though I would expect someone in the PL to want him.)

[Poulton-le-Claret]

Relegation. No one is bigger than the club (or at least, that is how it should be in theory).

[ecc]

Not really bothered if he goes. Problem is who would replace him.

[evensteadiereddie]

Got to say, I'm a little surprised at the vitriol on this board for Kompany. Yes, a bad, disappointing season and he's made plenty of mistakes. But I thought he'd have a little more credit in the bank and fans would appreciate a bit more the project/journey/whatever buzz word you like.

I'd be disappointed to see him leave but I've long been of the opinion it was a coup to get him in the first place and that he's likely to manage higher than Burnley.

Spot on, some of the garbage aimed at VK posted on here over the past few months has gone way beyond the questioning of recruitment or tactics and has become very personal.

I agree with Pickles that we were damned lucky to get VK in the first place not to mention enjoying the fabulous season we did last year.

Of course a bloke like VK is going to manage at a higher level, it will take time for him , like the majority of his squad, to reach his potential but I'd rather have him at Burnley learning his trade as a manager than some deadbeat like Moyes.