Mowen

Sorry to quote such a long post, but this is fantastic. The use of Arteta as a poor left midfielder is something Moyes has done well to avoid

I went Everton, I still reckon that if they have everyone fit and on top form. Villa's system has worked perfectly this season for them mind.

indeed, but it will be interesting to see how many will now agree especially those who blindly wanted "anybody but Fred" Or admit it. Who cares? Is point scoring that important? As others have said, good to have HTL back posting as well

I was actually waiting for that. Didn't think it'd be first post though The peabrains always dive in without thinking. Easier to mock than discuss, ergo.....

What, like Bassong?

Gutted. They don't need him. Still you might as well go in for ireland now. They won't sell Ireland, he's been their best player this season. Better off going for Gelson or Johnson, both very good players from what I've seen.

I'm off in a minute, I can't tell if I'm incredibly excited or outrageously apprehensive. Fuck off Wullie, we'll cock them!

I agree with the bulk of what you say there, we're just behind them as it stands. Wouldn't have pictured that 5 years ago.

Would be a good N'Zog replacement (with Jonas going on to the left). We need a crosser.

A player who will never come back to England. Great plan. Impressive that you answer back after i've already posted that the deal is dead. Anyway.... Craig Bellamy looks set to leave West Ham after angrily storming out of the club's Chadwell Heath training ground. In a move that will push the Wales international closer to the exit door at Upton Park, he told officials that he wanted to discuss a possible £12million move to Tottenham, and, when permission was denied, he reacted in fury. It would seem unlikely that he will now play in Sundays match at home to Fulham after not taking part in Friday's training session. Both Spurs and Manchester City have had bids of £12m turned down for the 29 year old and, outwardly, the Hammers are still insisting that he is not for sale. But the fact that Bellamy has said he wants out should ensure that Redknapp gets his man. Say what you will about illegally tapping up players, but it sure gets results.

Ashley's post Jan statement: "We are revising our long term plan. The Arsenal model was a failure as can be seen from Arsenal's current decline, we are now following the Wigan model a team on the way up." Actually, forget that Wigan spent about £7m in the Summer. Okay a less ambitious Wigan model then. The sad thing is, even Wigan seem to be a step up from us (both on and off the pitch) at this precise moment. How? The only thing i can think of better is their league position and off the pitch. We will always be more ambitious than Wigan, we demand it. Plus we can offer better wages thats enough for 95% of all players out there They've got a better team, a better manager and less boardroom unrest at the moment. Is that not being better on and off the pitch?

What about when you're me and your opinion is gospel though? Only about 3 people (I assume) actually read the LOST thread though, so you seem to slip under the radar somewhat.

Ashley's post Jan statement: "We are revising our long term plan. The Arsenal model was a failure as can be seen from Arsenal's current decline, we are now following the Wigan model a team on the way up." Actually, forget that Wigan spent about £7m in the Summer. Okay a less ambitious Wigan model then. The sad thing is, even Wigan seem to be a step up from us (both on and off the pitch) at this precise moment.

I was actually waiting for that. Didn't think it'd be first post though When non-constructive childishness is required, I'm more than happy to step up to the plate

Or that?

mackems.gif

That's a hell of a bit of business for Wigan. Sign a player for sub £1m, plays pretty well for a year, move him on for £14m. Ashley would be drooling.

If nothing else, at least we've successfully identified our key area of weakness. Hopefully it will actually be properly adressed come the end of january.

Sold Berbatov and Keane for £50m. Plus about £10m from the mackems, £5m for Kaboul, £8m for Defoe, even £3m for Robinson. They seem to have a huge turnover of players.

If you look at Kevins and Joes record I think mine stands up against theirs. What a f***ing cheek. The football Keegan's team was playing at the end of last season was on a different planet. I hope the abuse rains down from all four corners on Saturday. Cheeky b******. Allardyce's unique brand of self-delusion has always been the main reason I despise the bloke. He's unable to learn from when he goes wrong because he can't seem to accept that he's ever made a mistake. If he came out and said he f***ed up at Newcastle then I could almost forgive him, but to think he actually considers the anti-football he served up here (and the spineless way we approached games against lesser teams) a decent job is beyond belief. I don't think in private thought he'd view his time here as a success, quite the opposite more than likely given his analytical approach to everything. However in public no manager is going to be entirely frank and open, especially manager's like Allardyce who self promote. Me, I'll judge him on his actual management and what he was trying to achieve and not what he says now and I maintain despite the football, results and performances being not good enough under his stewardship, 21 games is too brief a time for any manager to make some kind of impact, positive or otherwise. For me the moment Shepherd lost control, the whole dynamic of Big Sam and what his job involved and with it his chances of succeeding changed. On his part he also tried to do too much, change too much, in too short a time. He didn't adapt whatsoever to the club's own culture, instead he tried to stamp his own and all he knew onto the club, again all at break neck speed or over 21 games or whatever it was. In normal circumstances over the period of 3-4 years he'd have turned the club around on and off the pith in my opinion and would have had us in the top 8-6 and pushing on, although the football wouldn't have been the greatest but me I'd give my right arm for that kind of future right now. Regarding the hatred, I don't get it personally. I was sad to see him go, yet another failed manager here at our club is never good. I actually thought Allardyce was a decent appointment, didn't work out for a number of reasons - the main one was the change in ownership imo. He wasn't Ashley's man, and unless he did something pretty good, pretty quickly, he was going to be in trouble. The football we were playing (specifically the likes of Liverpool, Portsmouth and Derby at home, Derby and Wigan away) did him no favours. Had we not screwed up with Keegan, we'd be in a better position that if he'd stayed. As it is, we're in a worse one (all imo, obviously). As I stated in the other thread, I don't think the dislike comes so much from his tenure, as the rubbish he's spouted about the club and fans since. He's come across as a very small minded child to me, and taken every oppertunity to stick the knife in. It's no surprise, and deserved, that he'll get some stick tomorrow.

He did a poor job with us, but that isn't the reason he'll be getting stick. It's the endless rubbish about the fans, club and area that he's since come out with that's earnt him that. Also, wasn't the 'best start for a decade' a myth?

As a fair few people have said, it was clear who this thread was going to be about before reading the op.

Cheer up allardyce Oh what can it mean to a fat, clueless b*stard and a sh*t football team Disclaimer: given our inevitable loss, oppertunities to sing this will be limited.

I'm amazed that £5million quid is a ridiculously low offer for a player in the French league who I've barely even heard of. The world is mental. It's because everton had a 6m knocked back and he's supposed to be better than Essien. last bit may be a slight over exaggeration. Given that would make him the best midfielder in the world, I'm pretty sure it might be

I'm amazed that £5million quid is a ridiculously low offer for a player in the French league who I've barely even heard of. The world is mental.