James

Makes no sense. We played Bolton away in December and Villa home in January. It makes perfect sense. If you want to do better in the league, you need to turn draws against teams into wins, and defeats against teams into wins or draws. For instance, we've improved on defeats against Middlesbrough and Bolton. At the start of the season Allardyce said something about the importance of improving results against specific teams leading to improved league standings, and this comparison follows this philosophy. Obviously statistics aren't the be all end all, but the league table is also just a statistic in itself at this stage of the season, and we have to be prepared for the possibility that we aren't currently the 10 points better off we seem to think we are.

Read my next post, I realised upon reading my original post that it wasn't quite clear what I was doing.

Just to clarify, I'm comparing Bolton away this season with Bolton away last season, then Villa home this season with Villa home last season etc.

Currently, we have a record of P9, W5, D2, L2, F16, A11, GD5 = 17pts After 9 games last season: P9, W2, D1, L6, F7, A13, GD-6 = 7pts. That looks impressive, especially in the goalscoring and winning department. However, earlier in the season, the Spurs board were said to have compared the results of specific fixtures to justify Jol keeping his job. Doing the same for us (replacing Derby for Watford), you get: P9, W3, D4, L2, F13, A10, GD3 = 13pts. In that sense, we are still losing the same amount of games, just we've turned a couple of draws in to wins, meaning we've scored a few more, and won a few more than last season. In fact, our defensive performance has been worse than last year! So although we are definitely doing better than in past seasons, news of significant improvement are a little exaggerated. Obviously stats dont account for improved confidence or improved performances, but I'm going to keep a comparative record going on in this thread, perhaps including a few other seasons.

I'm confident that Owen will score today.

Looking at his achievements before Sevilla, I'd say they were the Premiership equivalent of Curbishley at Charlton, Hughes at Blackburn, Redknapp at Portsmouth, Keegan at Manchester City and Tigana at Fulham.

Perhaps I should clarify that my definition of rejuvenated in this case is out of the relegation zone, but never in danger of breaking into the top ten, but getting the odd inconsistent result against our UEFA cup rivals, and then losing to Wigan the following week.

A rejuvenated Spurs is a good thing. They are too far behind and unlikely to find any real consistency this season, and anyone they do catch up will be a consequence of that team's shitness. Thus they are of little threat to us if we are going to do well this season. We've already taken some important points off them, but they still have to play Blackburn, Portsmouth and Manchester City twice i.e. the three other non top-four clubs in the top-eight, not to mention home and away fixtures against the likes of Villa, Everton and West Ham. Obviously all games are important, but I see results against Spurs separating the corn from the chaff come the end of the season, and thus if Spurs rejuvenate, we'll have gained the upper hand in the race fora UEFA Cup spot.

Martin Jol, the admin can change your name for you if you want. You could call yourself Juande Ramos once confirmed, but in the interim, may I suggest Alex Inglethorpe?

I propose a MIDTABLE MASHUP. Basically, to compensate for clubs playing less games in a season, while at the same time missing out on European revenue, the teams that finish 8th-17th are entered into a cup tournament with two pools of five. Let the Americans marvel at the talents of Pattison, Ramage, Babayaro and Ameobi as the first team of Randy Lerner's Villains tactically hold them to a 0-0 after 120 in the Superdupergrandfinalslambowl, before the Super Stripes seal victory as Fraser 'Sylar' Forster puts Olof 'Viking' Mellberg's PK Kick around the frame.

We could do with a Spurs win this weekend to be honest.

[move]ALEX INGLETHORPE!!!!!!![/move]

Deep - It is past your bed time, get some sleep.

wha?

I'm really looking forward to seeing Matty Pattison test his wits against some of the finest youngsters Europe has to offer.

Cant see that being the case considering that the club was bought behind his back while he lay in a hospital bed.

Much worse than Souness

Short term, Souness would had been a good appointment actually. Yes, he was shit here, but he has a good survivalist mentality, will rub some battle attitude off on their players. Very similar to the job he succeeded at doing for Southampton.

I believe he is currently managing a groin/hernia problem, which means we have to take precautions.

Never thought about it like that, good point. I don't get it... Sports Soccer outlets will miss out on the normal rush to buy England shirts and merchandise. Quite a moneyspinner. Ashley wont lose money, as they'll order less stock, but profits will be down, which means less money to spend on Newcastle.

Ashley is going to be needing every extra penny if England don't qualify for Euro2008. Ironically, we may now benefit financially from England's participation in international competitions.

Don't forget Bramble and Dabizas. You might as well stick Bernard & Caldwell in. That was only 5 years ago, where are they now? Hughes = Couldn't get in the Villa side. Struggling to get in the Fulham side. Griffin = Couldn't get in the Pompey side. Struggling to get in the Derby side. O'Brien = Couldn't get in the Pompey side. Now playing for Bolton who are bottom. Bramble = Playing for Wigan. Dabizas = Winding his career down back home. Bernard = No club. Caldwell = Burnley captain. Scary! Funny that Gary Caldwell, doing ok in the CL for Celtic has turned out the best of the lot when he got no chance here.

Don't forget Bramble and Dabizas. You might as well stick Bernard & Caldwell in. That was only 5 years ago, where are they now? Hughes = Couldn't get in the Villa side. Struggling to get in the Fulham side. Griffin = Couldn't get in the Pompey side. Struggling to get in the Derby side. O'Brien = Couldn't get in the Pompey side. Now playing for Bolton who are bottom. Bramble = Playing for Wigan. Dabizas = Winding his career down back home. Bernard = No club. Caldwell = Burnley captain. Scary! Have people forgot about Boumsong? He was fucking terrible We are talking about in the Champions League under Robson I think.

This photo fills me with happiness and love: http://cache.gettyimages.com/xc/77447108.jpg?v=1&c=NewsMaker&k=2&d=17A4AD9FDB9CF1937E7588A1370768CDEDEA99E08272BB04