Rich

Was just going to post that Daveed, well played Sir.

Also, we might have "suffered" in regards to league positions and results since 04/05, but surely the club itself has improved since Robson left? You could also say that the fans got what they deserved after that Wolves game with what happened under Souness and Roeder. They never learn, though, which is the real tragedy.

If Robson's sacking was a necessary evil in the eventual downfall of Shepherd and the Halls, then I'm afraid I can't look back on it with anything other than a smile. Hindsight, as usual, is a wonderful thing.

We're looking at targets!? OMFG!!! MORT IS BACKING ALLARDYCE!!! Fancy that.

It's about bringing Black back to Newcastle United, amazingly enough.

No.

Him and Shola are linked with Norwich today.

The Bookie's got this spot-on in the early days, fair play to them. Wish I'd had a flutter now. Oh well, at least I put him and his staff in there on FM, true consolation indeed.

This thread has made me want Liverpool to win it, now. How very dare you.

Of course I'm not making a bet! I'm just trying to say that the odd's on Liverpool winning the Champions League are pretty big for a good reason! Just because they won it a few years ago doesn't mean they'll win it again. They'll get knocked out by a better team. Maybe this round, maybe next. They're not good enough to win it this year. They're head and shoulders better than us but they aren't the best in the continent by a million miles. It's too late man!! I've just put a fucking grand on Liverpool to do the business. :-[ Never dare a lunatic!

Don't see why not, personally. Are you going to try and make me bet here? Do I have to have money on them to back-up this argument?

Surely they could win it again this year, though? Most of the squad have been there and done it, and they're arguably stronger now than they were the first time around/when they got to the final last season. It's going to be an exciting final 16, though, looking at it. A lot of big names through already and it's good to see Celtic in there again. I know some don't like the British teams doing well, but it makes it much more enjoyable for me.

Changes things further. Didn't realise SA was a telesales pro. You disappoint me greatly lately, Parkster. :-[

Forgot to add this line in: Changes things further.

Marseille have been completely outclassed, turned it off at half-time it was so one sided. Fair play to Liverpool. Penalty was stone-wall, as well.

I havent seen the game... .what was the score when he took him off ? losing 3 one with 20mins left Whaaaaaaaat ? Love to hear the pool fans' opinion of that one Benny: "You have to save your big players". I'm beginning to feel a bit sorry for him it's getting like he's following my script. Have to say, I think he made the right decision. Minimise risk of injury, etc. The proof will be in the pudding by about 9.30pm tonight.

Aye, surely by the summer the ship will have sailed.

Well, that was convenient. Babayaro is released... wonder if we'll see him replaced?

Not a bad shout at all, good logic.

Fucking waste of space. Good riddance.

God knows what bollocks fat Sam is feeding him. The current squad as you say isn't quite good enough and with Villa, Man C and Blackburn still showing weakness I feel with a couple of good Jan swoops we could still fight for Euro. Long termism is good but should be continuing in the background as a foundation. First team matters are infinetely more sensitive and have an immediate impact on a clubs fortunes. Mort's quite clearly stated he thinks this squad is only going to get better in time and that a lot of our problems so far have been due to the fact that the squad isn't settled/hasn't gelled yet - which he has a lot of supporting evidence for, particularly when you look at most of the goals we've conceded. We almost brought in half a first team squad over the summer, most of them being foreign and some not even being able to speak the language. As always with these sorts of interviews, we never know what his real intentions are, but if he is speaking the truth about our plans then I can see why we'd be adopting that approach. Unless someone of genuine quality becomes available that Allardyce/Ashley/Mort all want to bring here, it's fair enough that we'd be sticking with what we have and planning for the long-term. Meanwhile Pompey and Man City will spend on the first team (or have indicated they will). As someone said earlier we need a right sided attacking option of good quality. I wonder if Mort really understands how toothless we really are in reality. They have 5th and 6th sewn up imo. Mort understands though, all those years sitting on the terraces have given him a great insight into team performance issues. Howay man, you can't use that as a stick to beat him with! Gaydamak and Shinawatra aren't even from this country. I'd be willing to bet they've seen less English football than the he has It depends what Allardyce is telling him, like Parky says. I'd like to believe that Big Sam has more say in this side of things than interviews like this would lead us to believe and that with Ashley attending a fair few games in amongst the fans he'll start seeing what we see and hearing what we hear, thus loosening the purse strings further.

God knows what bollocks fat Sam is feeding him. The current squad as you say isn't quite good enough and with Villa, Man C and Blackburn still showing weakness I feel with a couple of good Jan swoops we could still fight for Euro. Long termism is good but should be continuing in the background as a foundation. First team matters are infinetely more sensitive and have an immediate impact on a clubs fortunes. Mort's quite clearly stated he thinks this squad is only going to get better in time and that a lot of our problems so far have been due to the fact that the squad isn't settled/hasn't gelled yet - which he has a lot of supporting evidence for, particularly when you look at most of the goals we've conceded. We almost brought in half a first team squad over the summer, most of them being foreign and some not even being able to speak the language. As always with these sorts of interviews, we never know what his real intentions are, but if he is speaking the truth about our plans then I can see why we'd be adopting that approach. Unless someone of genuine quality becomes available that Allardyce/Ashley/Mort all want to bring here, it's fair enough that we'd be sticking with what we have and planning for the long-term. Meanwhile Pompey and Man City will spend on the first team (or have indicated they will). As someone said earlier we need a right sided attacking option of good quality. I wonder if Mort really understands how toothless we really are in reality. I know I'm not exactly being ambitious, but Damien Duff's return should provide us with a "good quality" option on the left-flank, which would allow Milner to move over to the right - I'd also consider Jimmy "good quality", by the way. It's not ideal and it doesn't capture people's imagination in the same way that a signing would, but it could be just what the doctor ordered. I do agree with you in that I'd like to see us bringing in a player or two in similar areas to what you've mentioned, but I won't be too upset if it doesn't happen. I do also believe, like Mort is saying, that we should only get better as the signings adjust to one another (mainly in defence) and if we can get the likes of Duff back and keep them fit.

God knows what bollocks fat Sam is feeding him. The current squad as you say isn't quite good enough and with Villa, Man C and Blackburn still showing weakness I feel with a couple of good Jan swoops we could still fight for Euro. Long termism is good but should be continuing in the background as a foundation. First team matters are infinetely more sensitive and have an immediate impact on a clubs fortunes. Mort's quite clearly stated he thinks this squad is only going to get better in time and that a lot of our problems so far have been due to the fact that the squad isn't settled/hasn't gelled yet - which he has a lot of supporting evidence for, particularly when you look at most of the goals we've conceded. We almost brought in half a first team squad over the summer, most of them being foreign and some not even being able to speak the language. As always with these sorts of interviews, we never know what his real intentions are, but if he is speaking the truth about our plans then I can see why we'd be adopting that approach. Unless someone of genuine quality becomes available that Allardyce/Ashley/Mort all want to bring here, it's fair enough that we'd be sticking with what we have and planning for the long-term.

I'd be surprised if we didn't bring in at least one "senior" player in the window, mind, which would probably be enough if certain players would stay fit. The squad isn't exactly small these days, it's just we have 3/4 players who are never fit and until they can be sold/released I can't see them being replaced. Personally, I wouldn't mind a player like David Edgar being a bit closer to the first team, if necessary.

Spurs totally dominated a team who beat Spurs last weekend, though.