The Apprentice - SEMI FINAL

by Trebs Fri 16 Feb 2018, 1:17 pm

First topic message reminder :

This is the semi-final, in which the candidates will be narrowed from five down to two.

In the show, the semi-final is the interview stage. So in a v2 apprentice first, we will be following the show format, conducting interviews via PM. Following the interviews with everyone, I will post the conversations for all to see.

The interview you will be facing is for the Arsenal manager's job. Arsene Wenger will be parting company with the club at the end of the season, and I want you to show me that you have what it takes to be his successor.

I want to receive your 'business plan' by next Wednesday 21st February at 12.00 midday. This will be examined, with a series of questions asked to see if you are the right candidate for the job. I wish to see this via a PM.

The plan should include the following aspects (Note that this is just a starting point as a guide and is not exhaustive):
1. Any other staff you wish to bring in to assist you, such as an assistant manager.
2. Transfer plans for the next window - both in and out.
3. Targets on the pitch for the next five years.
4. The playing style and XI that would be used next season.

Please ask any questions you may have on this page.

Thank you,
Trebs

by Marky Mon 26 Feb 2018, 3:04 pm

Ultimately my issue could be resolved by not signing Koke, saving £120m and £15m in wages, taking total expenditure from £305m to £170m, playing Ramsey with Weigl and Can and maybe not quite being as successful.

I don't think Bam or Hero would transform Arsenal's form like my submission would.

by BamBam Mon 26 Feb 2018, 3:07 pm

And mine could be resolved by spending more than I have on Doucoure on a Weigl type midfielder and being at the same level

I didn't submit that, and you didn't submit a Koke less proposal, so Trebs can't really judge on which man sausage up would it take less to fix

by Marky Mon 26 Feb 2018, 3:15 pm

Ultimately none of ours are perfect otherwise we'd be in the final already Laugh

So I'd say the best way to judge would be how easy it would be to resolve the issues.

by Fernando Mon 26 Feb 2018, 3:15 pm

Marky wrote:He's panicking lads

Seems appropriate...again...

by Marky Mon 26 Feb 2018, 3:21 pm

Fernando wrote:
Marky wrote:He's panicking lads

Seems appropriate...again...

You can only use my words against me if the situation actually arises Laugh

by BamBam Mon 26 Feb 2018, 3:22 pm

I don't even think the one that is in the final is perfect Laugh

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Mon 26 Feb 2018, 3:25 pm

BamBam wrote:I don't even think the one that is in the final is perfect

You come at the king you best not miss Cool

by Brooksey79 Mon 26 Feb 2018, 3:28 pm

by Fernando Mon 26 Feb 2018, 3:29 pm

Realistically Marky should be fired at a minimum.

Im going to start a Trebs has maddie campaign if he doesn't.

by Brooksey79 Mon 26 Feb 2018, 3:30 pm

Trebs knows my opinion so I'm not gonna sway him on here

#MarkyforPresident

by BamBam Mon 26 Feb 2018, 3:34 pm

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:
BamBam wrote:I don't even think the one that is in the final is perfect

You come at the king you best not miss

Well, these are the things I think you got wrong (hopefully doesn't make any difference to what happens next for me angel

)

Malcolm - £40m seems a bit low, I think he'll go for £50m+ if its a PL team
Diawara - as mentioned, barely played this season for all his talent
Sessegnon - £20m may buy his weaker foot
Lafont - asking a lot to come straight in as number one for a top 6 PL side, and Arsenal need a strong spine

Playing Ramsey as one of the two in holding midfield doesn't look right to me, and telling him to push on brings back memories of Arsenal getting overrun through the middle when everyone decides they're a goalscorer

by **Hero** Mon 26 Feb 2018, 3:36 pm

Hasn't Malcom agreed to join Bayern by all accounts?

by BamBam Mon 26 Feb 2018, 3:38 pm

Possibly, but if we aren't worrying about Emre Can already picking out which Turin lunch spot he wants to try first, never mind Wink

by Marky Mon 26 Feb 2018, 3:45 pm

Fernando wrote:Realistically Marky should be fired at a minimum.

Im going to start a Trebs has maddie campaign if he doesn't.

Even if I am, still beat you.

by Fernando Mon 26 Feb 2018, 3:56 pm

Not really you would have gone out the same round as me Whistle

It's bit like me going well Arsenal got further in the FA Cup cos they got knocked out in a replay still the 3rd round though Wink

A failing attempt for petty victory kiss

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Mon 26 Feb 2018, 3:58 pm

I think Malcom was touted for £40m in Jan, so i think it's fair to say he could still go for that in the summer (depending on what he does for the rest of the season of course) - from what I've seen it's Dortmund/Bayern/Arsenal competing for him, I ain't seen no confirmation he's going to Bayern

Diawara - is class, but I also signed Neves as more than a young backup, but a clearly very capable player too in case Diawara didn't come off (but as you may note from the fact he's in my Miky Challenge League side i love him!)

Sessegnon - admitted I probably low balled but I don't think by massive amounts tbf, especially if Fulham don't go up

Lafont is top class already imo

If Man City can play just Fernandinho sitting in front of Otamendi/Mangala/Stones for most the season and still win I think my Arsenal side would be just fine! Smile

by Trebs Mon 26 Feb 2018, 4:02 pm

BamBam wrote:
Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:
BamBam wrote:I don't even think the one that is in the final is perfect

You come at the king you best not miss

Well, these are the things I think you got wrong (hopefully doesn't make any difference to what happens next for me )

Malcolm - £40m seems a bit low, I think he'll go for £50m+ if its a PL team
Diawara - as mentioned, barely played this season for all his talent
Sessegnon - £20m may buy his weaker foot
Lafont - asking a lot to come straight in as number one for a top 6 PL side, and Arsenal need a strong spine

Playing Ramsey as one of the two in holding midfield doesn't look right to me, and telling him to push on brings back memories of Arsenal getting overrun through the middle when everyone decides they're a goalscorer

I'd suggest focussing on your direct rivals. Olly is definitely in the final and I won't be overturning that decision.

by BamBam Mon 26 Feb 2018, 4:02 pm

Wilshere and Ramsey aren't De Bruyne and Silva though

And you definitely aren't Pep Laugh

Well done anyway, I thought your submission was the best after mine when I read them through initially Hug

by **Hero** Mon 26 Feb 2018, 4:03 pm

I had it as Bam > Olly/Nando > Marky tbh

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Mon 26 Feb 2018, 4:06 pm

Hey i play sexy beautiful football on football manager 2018 i'll have you know

by BamBam Mon 26 Feb 2018, 4:06 pm

Wasn't expecting it to be overturned, and even said so in my comment

I've said enough on where I think Marky has gone wrong with the Koke signing and spending double what Hero and I did

I also think Hero took financial prudence to a new level, and made big errors selling Lacazette and not upgrading at CB.

My other issue with Hero's signings was that given Arsenal's issues of being all around pussycats, signing Meyer as his DM and no CB just meant more of the same.

Also, as much as the Koke signing has been criticised, Pulisic isn't far off being similarly unrealistic - he's probably Woodward's wet dream given his marketability, and his playing ability perfectly suits what Utd currently need at RW

by Marky Mon 26 Feb 2018, 4:16 pm

Hero wrote:I had it as Bam > Olly/Nando > Marky tbh

Literally the only questioning I've had from Trebs was about overspending. Yours had more holes in it than Swiss Cheese.

by Marky Mon 26 Feb 2018, 4:17 pm

Fernando wrote:Not really you would have gone out the same round as me

It's bit like me going well Arsenal got further in the FA Cup cos they got knocked out in a replay still the 3rd round though

A failing attempt for petty victory

Don't care.

Its not a knockout tournament. It was a 5 way match with the top 2 advancing. You finished 5th.

by **Hero** Mon 26 Feb 2018, 4:20 pm

And yours is more fantasy than Bilbo Baggins riding a Unicorn.

by Trebs Mon 26 Feb 2018, 4:22 pm

Hero

I don't think your submission is as strong as others. You should have shown a little more ambition in the transfer market, and have left your squad very thin. Selling Lacazette is a mistake in my view, as he's such a significant investment.

My main criticism is that you have not been strong in your beliefs. You should defend your opinion on selling certain players to the hilt. This would be Arsenal's most crucial transfer window in a long time and I think there needs to be clear leadership. I don't buy your vision, as much as I can respect that you have clearly put thought into the finances.

I'm sorry to say these words Hero, but with regret, you're fired.

by Marky Mon 26 Feb 2018, 4:27 pm

Hero wrote:And yours is more fantasy than Bilbo Baggins riding a Unicorn.

Butland, Toljan, Skriniar, Weigl, Malcom, all unrealistic fantasy signings are they?

by Trebs Mon 26 Feb 2018, 4:29 pm

Right - Bam and Marky.

To summarise, I think Marky has submitted an overall better written piece, with more good ideas present. However, Bam has spent a much more sensible sum of money, which is a very significant factor in this task. This leaves me in a very difficult position.

I would like both of you to provide one comment further each, explaining why you should be in the final.

by Marky Mon 26 Feb 2018, 4:33 pm

I feel that I should be in the final, not only for how well my presentation was received, and how I've handled every aspect of questioning from yourself and everyone else comfortably, but how well I've consistently performed over the entirety of this version of the Apprentice.

Bam would be an equally worthy finalist, I'm not just going to say "I'm better", I just feel over the course of the season I have earned a spot in the final.

by BamBam Mon 26 Feb 2018, 4:44 pm

I think Marky has done a good job, but fundamentally I believe he has got the financial side of things very wrong, for a board like Arsenal's which is prudent and has constantly demonstrated that they aren't willing to blow hundreds of millions, I feel that his proposal would be too much of a sea change for them to consider.

I also think that one area that has been overlooked is his plan to hire Patrick Vieira. To me, Vieira seems firmly entrenched in the City Football Group ecosystem - going from a coach at City to their reserve team manager, now to being a head coach at a MLS side. Aside from the romance, is there anything else that would drive him to leave that for an assistant manager role?

I can't really say much more in terms of why I think I should go through to the final. I believe I had the most rounded submission, the most financially sensible and identified fixes to Arsenal's issues beyond throwing money at transfer fees.

I do think Marky has performed very well through all rounds of the Apprentice, but also think I did well making my debut in the competition. Both of us would be worthy finalists, and I look forward to hearing your decision

by Marky Mon 26 Feb 2018, 4:48 pm

Just to respond to the Vieira comments, taking the Arsenal assistant manager role with a view to taking over as Arsenal manager in 3-5 years time would be the sweetener. No matter how well trusted he is in the City Group I don't believe they'd ever have him become Man City manager at any point.

by BamBam Mon 26 Feb 2018, 4:51 pm

Only reason I have this to hand is because I considered the same move, then decided against it because I assumed someone would pick up on this

Vieira, though, seems happily settled in New York with his wife and daughter and intends to see out his contract at NYC FC, which has one more year left to run. He could even stay in MLS beyond 2018. “Why not?” he says with a smile. “I don’t have any reason why not.”

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/oct/30/patrick-vieira-new-york-city-fc-manchester-city-mls

by Marky Mon 26 Feb 2018, 4:53 pm

He doesn't have any reason why not because he's not been offered the Arsenal job down the line yet Laugh

by BamBam Mon 26 Feb 2018, 4:55 pm

For someone who was linked to the USA job and is already being offered managerial roles in Europe, that's not a very big carrot Wink

by Trebs Mon 26 Feb 2018, 4:58 pm

Okay. I don't want to hear any more from either of you.

Patrick Vieira is a strength of Marky's submission in my opinion. Most of you picked romantic appointments. In my view, putting Dennis Bergkamp in an academy role, and/or Vieira as assistant manager are the only two which I think are genuinely good appointments where I can look beyond the romance. So I don't buy that point. If Vieira was assured that he would be the next Arsenal manager, he would join for my money.

Marky, along with Hero have been the two best performers in the previous rounds. I could have taken the simple route and put those two to the final for simplicity, but I want to base it on this task where everyone stands for themselves.

I thought both of you did the best under my questioning in the interview part of this task. Both of you have thought about the future, Marky with the succession plan, and Bam, with very detailed ideas of targets and identifying players to sign down the line.

So I have come to a conclusion. Marky, I can't look past the spend proposed and despite a proposal with some very good ideas, I have no choice. Marky, you're fired

by Fluxy Mon 26 Feb 2018, 4:59 pm

by Marky Mon 26 Feb 2018, 4:59 pm

I'm sure you have proof to back that claim up.

by Marky Mon 26 Feb 2018, 5:01 pm

I can't help but feel Trebs has allowed himself to be influenced by Hero and Nando, but that's irrelevant now.

Congratulations Bam, and good luck in the final.

I accept my bronze medal with honour and dignity.

by Fernando Mon 26 Feb 2018, 5:02 pm

Welcome to joint 5th place Marky kiss

by BamBam Mon 26 Feb 2018, 5:04 pm

Hard luck Marky, for what its worth I expected you to go through Laugh

Thanks Trebs, I look forward to pitting my wits against Olly in the final, and will endeavour not to bring up his sister and/or mother during the task

by Marky Mon 26 Feb 2018, 5:14 pm

Fernando wrote:Welcome to joint 5th place Marky

Sorry, can't hear you from up here in 3rd

by Trebs Mon 26 Feb 2018, 5:21 pm

Marky - the comments were certainly an influence. But my intention was always Olly and one of yourself and Bam to go through. Sorry it didn't go your way, but I have done my damnedest to be fair.

Congratulations to Olly and Bam. The final task will be announced tomorrow.

by Marky Mon 26 Feb 2018, 5:28 pm

I've no issues Trebs

3rd place is not too shabby at all mate. Definitely an improvement on Nando's time in charge too.

by **Hero** Mon 26 Feb 2018, 5:31 pm

Throughout the tasks Marky has been the strongest but I do think him going way over budget on this task was his downfall.

by Marky Mon 26 Feb 2018, 5:39 pm

I don't see how I went over budget when we were told there was no budget...

by Marky Mon 26 Feb 2018, 5:40 pm

Marky wrote:I have some questions.

1) Can I sign Richard Brodie?

2) Is there a maximum spend in terms of budget for transfers?

3) Do we need to provide costings for any transfers?

4) Are a full set of tactics required to accompany the playing style?

by **Hero** Mon 26 Feb 2018, 5:43 pm

Because businesses have budgets, that's how businesses work, the businesses that don't work to their budgets stop being businesses.

by **Hero** Mon 26 Feb 2018, 5:48 pm

The task was to put together a 'business plan'. Somewhere along the line I think this got forgotten by both candidates and the runner.

by Trebs Mon 26 Feb 2018, 7:10 pm

Hero wrote:The task was to put together a 'business plan'. Somewhere along the line I think this got forgotten by both candidates and the runner.

I said 'business plan' in this way as this is how the TV show works. I apologise if that's been misinterpreted, but i did say that you were looking to show you could be the next Arsenal manager.

And Marky - I said that part of the task is you working out what a reasonable budget is. Yes, I could have said you had a set number + any outgoings but decided against it.

by Brooksey79 Mon 26 Feb 2018, 7:21 pm

Trebs I resign from my role as Claude

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