BottledDog

Bolton Wanderers on the other hand... http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013/may/29/bolton-wanderers-new-sponsor-quickquid#ixzz2UhE08NeS

Amen.

True. Not so bothered that about the 'lower level' aspect so much, but I share your concerns to a large degree. It's only fair to say that I still know a fair number of West Ham fans who don't have a problem with him, and even a couple of Charlton supporters who say he wasn't that bad/under different circumstances etc. I would guess the internet is in general harsher, though I remember going on KUMB and finding enough positives at the time. At least enough to allow me to give him a bit of a chance iirc after his appointment.

Not sure the rest of his career does suggest that, does it? His good seasons still strongly outnumber the bad over the last 13 years. What else has he achieved to suggest that 5th place in the top flight was more than a highly unusual peak, and why weren't other clubs aware of this when he was unemployed after being dismissed by a third tier club and evidently willing to work for a pittance? Reading. 1st season - Play off final 2nd - Automatic promotion 3rd - Finished 4th West Ham. 1st - Play off final 2nd - Play off final and Promotion 3rd - FA Cup final 4th - 1st shit season - sacked. Charlton. Though initially gave them a kick, was just a write off from start to finish. Southamton. 1st - Despite 10 point deduction just missed out on playoffs - Won the football league trophy 2nd - Playing well, but problems with Chairman/staff saw him sacked Newcastle. 1st - Did ok, nothing more, nothing less. 2nd - Premiership playoffs equivalent (*cough* automatic European spot) 3rd - Went to shit. 4th? - Who the hell knows. So again, no. The rest of his career does not suggest a good season is a one off, and it is not a foregone conclusion we'll have a shitter by allowing him to enter uncharted territory and stay on. He has, at every previous club bar Charlton, got his team challenging for/attaining promotion, or getting to a cup final/winning a cup. Of course, none of us were happy at the time and rightly so, but there was some sort of mad logic there to his initial appointment for us as a potential rough diamond. That doesn't much change my main concern with him though. Beyond the worrying lack of shape, ideas, or personality shining through on the pitch, I think he struggles massively under pressure. If we start badly next season, it's unlikely we'll recover and he'll soon be dead in the water. If have a decent start though, it could turn out pretty well hopefully.

Not sure the rest of his career does suggest that, does it? His good seasons still strongly outnumber the bad over the last 13 years.

Good to see some actual reflection of our support rather than the usual toss. Buzza.

Missing a great opportunity to stick a big fuck off mural up there. Our stripes, the club crest, and Ruel Fox's face.

No wonder our economy crumbles and the world is turning to dust. You people are a mess.

I understand DL says "at the least", is probably trying to dampen expectations and may secretly have higher ambitions himself, but it's just the thought of it being a case for celebration. It's also the fact we could have still finished 10th on the last day of this season if results had gone the right way. By no means would that have made it a successful season. I'm sure "top 8" was the previous benchmark as well, but could be wrong Can't imagine 10th would be a cause for celebration for anyone at the club (bar Pardew if it meant keeping his job). As I see it, any lower than 8th again and I can see them showing him the door.

http://cdn.ebaumsworld.com/mediaFiles/picture/730195/83283128.gif Woah.

Not sure our numbers mean a great deal considering the amount we generate compared to some London clubs and the like. Despite having 10,000 less seats than us, and outside of all the commercial/advertising advantages they have, ticket sales and matchday revenue alone for a club like Chelsea is still over 3 times as much as us (Arsenal and Man U are closer to 4 times). Still, guess it shouldn't mean we get out muscled by WHam though.

Think he's great. Worth £10m of anybodies hard earned.

2nd longest? Man, we're so close. Hang on in there Pards, reckon Wenger'll be gone within 3!

Illuminati!

When you have a Chairman that just panders to the odd whining fans aesthetic sensibilities, you can see now why our commercial revenue figures are so disappointing. Nah, great move, now how about a lick of paint for the rest of the stadium while your at it.

Right so, just a little surprised I needed to expand on it really. I look forward to positing more in depth yet positive critiques on other contracts we decline to renew or cancel in the near future. If we decide to let Pardew go for instance. I might hope it is a sign of intended progress.

In what respect? Christ on a bicycle. As I say I have no big beef to grind with the lad, but wish that our deeming Simpson unworthy of an acceptable contract in his eyes suggests we believe he is not good enough for a first team spot (and its commensurate remuneration) and that we believe we have improved on him as an option at right back. I hope that this is the case.

Hope to see him back in some capacity soon. Good luck fella.

Can tell you've never managed a successful team. It's not their normal bonus It's stupid, likely to engender disaffection and demotivation amongst non-playing staff when the players let them down again. You have to ask why would anyone do that at all, let alone do it so publicly? Absolute nonsense. It's like someone sticking a free bet on for you. I'm not going to be upset with anyone if we lose, but I'll be chuffed if it works and it certainly adds an added interest to a nothing game. It's the last part of your post that seems to be fairly key. Simply sticks in the throat for some just seeing Ashleys name in the papers.

Good luck to him. A great buy at the time, seemed canny, and always put in a good shift for us. Hopefully his leaving is a sign of progress though.

So make it dependent on the final league position rather than a one game lottery, a more or less meaningless one for the players as well, in which the chances of him actually having to pay out are pretty damn slim. I think the initiative is PR related, but I still can't figure out why or how this benefits him or us. Didn't that quote say it would have been given for a top 8 finish, with a 25% payrise if they'd got 5th? It's a pretty good gesture given we've missed both of those. This this this. Many of the non playing staff have also missed out on bonus' relating to our league position. To add an extra spark to the last game of the season he's offering a chance to still get a bit of a bonus if we get a result and maybe end up a couple of places higher. An unnecessary gamble for him, but a welcome and potentially generous offer to those who've missed out. Goodness knows what Interpolic finds so fucking offensive about it.

Me Sames. Looks like we're going to inundated with Wonga Wankers then. Ashley must be laughing his bollocks off how unprincipled and easily led the stupid Geordies are. http://blog.agendize.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/OhNoLady.jpg OH JAMES!

http://th00.deviantart.net/fs71/PRE/i/2013/083/4/e/psalm___omfg_hnnnnnnnng_by_psalm_sinatra-d5z6nqw.png