Thinking ahead | Page 2 | Vital Football

Thinking ahead

Absolutely, if he goes at the end of this season he can go with his reputation pretty much intact, "the great coach who kept a championship squad in the premiership". All good managers/leaders got to know when to get out from under. Wenger's (to name but one) great failing. By contrast Alex Ferguson got it spot on.
 
There is just a bit of me that hopes Rafa has got Ashley properly assessed.

Ultimately, Rafa does have a business head on as well. We know that Ashley deals in cash. We also know that the club is well within financial fair Play rules.

Come July, the TV revenues will all be in, the wage bill until Christmas will be paid for by TV revenues at the start of next season. More instalments will be in from player sales, such as Sissoko. Season ticket sales will also be in.

Rafa has also added value to players, something that KK was good at.

By not signing an extension now, Rafa can wait and see if he gets the £60-80m net spend that we could go to in the summer, even within Ashley's constraints. If he doesn't get that, don't sign and just bugger off.