midds

For me he kind of is to be honest. Partly because any criticism directed at him is diverted from where it truly belongs, but also because he's by a considerable margin the best manager we'll ever get under this regime. If we get taken over, he spends 50 million+ on new players and still isn't getting results then I might have a few words to say, but until then for me he's bulletproof. He’s not like no person is he is making some poor decisions and should be open to question about it. Everyone has sympathy with the restrictions the fat c*** has put to him but he certainly still isn’t beyond criticism when deserved. The team selection and tactics used in the last couple of months certainly deserves questions being asked. I keep saying he is not a god. Just don’t understand why there are many supporters seem disgusted when a managers decisions are being questioned when a total of 6 points out of 33 has been accumulated over the last 11 games surely any manager would be under the same scrutiny at any club given the same circumstances. That's not true though. I've not heard one media pundit question his credentials. Most seem to think the squad is championship standard and he needs to be given the money to strengthen to avoid relegation. Tony Cottee has had a few digs but your point stands.

Manager has just joined Dortmund too, oddly enough. Imagine that in this country. It's weird how things can be so different culturally across the major leagues. Is he a anstandig fussball Mann?

If you worked in an abattoir then you'd see animals every day, so no. Wouldn't feel like a day out.

If there's one thing that pisses me off about football it's the desire to just collapse as soon as any sort of contact is made. The fuckers are appealing for a pen before they've even hit the deck. Any touch to any body part = theatrical collapse to the ground. Doesn't help when you've got pundits saying that "he had a right to go down" or "he's been clever" too. Contact =/= foul =/= collapse in a heap.

Looking for players with "a little bit of magic" in January.

The fact they're all talking at all is encouraging. The fact they're talking face to face, in public and the atmosphere seems positive and amicable would suggest it's (a) going to happen and (b) fairly soon.

As long as they're still talking and discussing things then I'll stay hopeful. Keema naan!

Should have had a shit in it, mackem stylee.

He scored when we played them iirc Until I read his name 10 seconds ago I forgot he even existed. He'll be devastated.

See this is what I mean. I'm talking about the best back 4 plus keeper you could assemble, all things considered. I'd love to go for Ramos at CB but mainly for his goals at corners, bringing the ball out of defence I'd perhaps go for Luiz but they've both got fundamental flaws as CBs. It's difficult.

Not really a question to be honest but what could be the best back 5 (gk plus a back 4) you could conceivably put together, age and cost no option? Just a general rant as the forwards and strikers tend to hog the highlights and win all of the awards and plaudits. The emphasis is always on the attacking element of the game and the best forwards and attacking players are household names but the best defended now seem to be a bit if an afterthought. Putting together the front 6 of a world XI is pretty simple but the defensive 5, for me, is far more difficult. What's the best defence you could cobble together?

They will absolutely lap that type of shit up all day long. That will be the funniest thing they've ever seen and the bloke will be a hero.

Can't lose can he? If it's still shite then it's because he's only had 2 sessions with the squad, if there's an improvement then it's down to his instant impact. Absurd how much this cunt annoys me even years after he's left us.

I'd never grow tired of kicking that smarmy cunt in the face all day. Pardew, not Ian.

This is probably just about where I am atm. Until I hear it's broken down I'm assuming it's still on. And if it's not been scrapped yet after a couple of weeks of bids being made then logic dictates they can't be that far apart. If there was no chance of a compromise because the valuations were so far apart it would have collapsed a while ago. I'm crossing my fingers hugely, I'm not really thinking too much about it but it makes sense to me in my own little brain! It's a lot nicer than assuming the worst. Hope I'm right but only time will tell.

The Ugo Ehiogu farce a few months back proves that. Bookies and pundits just churn out the same list of names/mates and get the pfm narrative going immediately. It's as transparent as it is embarrassing.

Wonder how long it'll be before West Brom look energyless?

He knew when he signed imo: Moyes, who replaced Slaven Bilic on an initial six-month contract, said he is confident of bringing success to West Ham. “I don’t think it’s a bad team, a bad squad. But I can’t be bothered with any drivel. I’m going to be direct with the players. If they don’t like it, then I’m sorry. We’ve got to make sure we get through to them quickly. If it works, great. If it doesn’t, then I’ll see the East End of London for seven months, then I’ll go elsewhere.”

Sure they did exactly the same last season too. Started really well, pressing, full of energy and got some great results then went completely to s*** for a few months over Nov-Jan. Their wobble was only really October and November - the did well in December and January. Not so sure they will be able to turn it around in this division. From December to playing us in mid March they lost once. I stand corrected.

Sure they did exactly the same last season too. Started really well, pressing, full of energy and got some great results then went completely to shit for a few months over Nov-Jan.

That's naughty from Rooney. Wonder if they'll mention it and show us it a dozen times? Nah, me neither.

Ref nearly blocked that!

Perfect set of scores for us so far. Maybe a draw between Everton and West Ham perhaps?

Wonder if Pulis would be keen on the West Ham job?

Atmosphere at Goodison is cauldron like.