Mowen

It was only ever a fad for you anyway

First time in my life I've heard of that one.... Same here I agree with the final sentence though.

Maybe 'the beautiful game' is a bit much, but I'm still well of the opinion that it's the most beautiful game.

I agree in hindsight, although I probably didn't at the time. If we could have got someone top class in for him after that season it really would have moved us up to the next level. Incidentally, what are your thoughts on the time he was sacked? Do you think, given the circumstance it would have been better to let him see out the year, whilst searching for a new manager to bring in, or did you agree with sacking him asap? Not trying to trap you in any way, just interested in your opinion. I was always a huge Bobby fan, which I guess blinded me to his faults a bit - and didn't want him to go at any point during his tenure, but was happy to accept it was his last season and that we were looking for a long term replacement. I think it was obvious Robson had lost the respect of the players and he needed to be replaced. I really do believe he should have gone after we finished 3rd and I said so at the time. Getting rid of Shearer and moving Robson out was the way forward but it didn't happen. A big mistake by the Board and probably bigger than appointing Souness. Once Robson's last season was underway it was so very obvious the players had no respect for Robson anymore, so despite it being ideal to change manager at the end of a season I think it became impossible and he had to go when he did. There are lots of people who can be "blamed" (if that's the right word) for the sacking of Robson and many have been discussed on here. What I don't think has ever really been discussed is the fact that some responsibility rests with Robson himself and his immediate staff. Ability on the football field is paramount, but research into the character of a person should also be a part of deciding whether or not to sign someone. After that, guiding young players properly is a part of the job. The club initiated a policy of signing young players, Robson and his immediate staff are in the firing line for their part in the way certain players became ill-disciplined and basically let the club down. This is what led to the sacking of Robson, not "only finishing 5th." Thanks for answering. It's an interesting one. I now think, but didn't at the time, that he should have probably gone at the end of the 3rd season, however I disagree that his position was untenable when he left. I'd have given him until the end of the season once he'd started, and we (imo, obviously) probably would have finished somewhere around the UEFA places - also we'd have had time to search out a more appropriate replacement for him. Obviously with hindsight taken into account he never should have been sacked when he was, because we now know who the fecking replacement was going to be!

Not much doubt that appointing Souness was a mistake and the club suffered. I think that appointing a good manager would have put the club back on the right road again though, as they had more than proved they had ambition and they would support him. I think the club should always be aiming for the top places, but realistically you have to accept that in football, such things just aren't possible. So long as you have an ambitious board that will back their manager, then NUFC always have a chance of this. Yes I think the current board have to at least match those Champions League qualifications to begin to be a success. If they top it, then I would say they would rightfully be more successful. If they top it off with a trophy, on the back of a very good league positions, even better. I fail to see how they can be considered a success if they fail to match those Champions League qualifications. So on face value, qualifying for the CL is a good achievement though on its own merits, and must be considered to be successful, today. It wouldn't have been so much before the Champions League but things have changed. However the long term aim is to build a club that will sustain it longer and make the breakthrough in terms of winning trophies. If you look over the course of the next decade, I would hope that we can do this, and if he sells the club on, then we would look back on him having run a successful club and done very well. That's fair enough, and I can see your point of view. In my opinion it's getting harder and harder to break into the top 4, and I will see regular UEFA qualification as a moderate success, provided we show ambition in the transfer and manager market, because I think the old board was past its best and would have struggled to get us back up there. I, like you, and I'm sure all other NUFC fans, would dearly love to see us back up challanging the top 4 though.

I agree in hindsight, although I probably didn't at the time. If we could have got someone top class in for him after that season it really would have moved us up to the next level. Incidentally, what are your thoughts on the time he was sacked? Do you think, given the circumstance it would have been better to let him see out the year, whilst searching for a new manager to bring in, or did you agree with sacking him asap? Not trying to trap you in any way, just interested in your opinion. I was always a huge Bobby fan, which I guess blinded me to his faults a bit - and didn't want him to go at any point during his tenure, but was happy to accept it was his last season and that we were looking for a long term replacement.

This is an interesting one for me NE5. Do you think the new board have to reach the heights hit by the previous board to be a success, or do they merely have to do better than the previous board would have done had they continued? I'm of the opinion that, overall, the old board did a very good job for NUFC, however I feel that we were on the decline under them, and things weren't particularly showing any signs of getting much better. If we, for instance, finish about 6th-8th on average over the next few years (which I don't believe we would have done under the old board, had they stayed on) would you count that as success? Or would you require the same heights that the old board hit at their peak? Sorry if this is a bit wordily phrased, I've had a few mulled wines.

I wasn't aware today, and whilst I'm aware we were shite in most departments, how did the Faye/Taylor partnership do?

A midfielder? Well lets put it this way: whenever one of the numerous Martins fanboys on here describe the talents of Obafemi Martins, they are actually describing the talents of Sulley Muntari, many of which do actually not apply to Obafemi Martins. They generally talk about attributes that help him as a striker though...

I agree. A bit of work on centre-mid and we're half way there.

We've already got first option on an agreed deal. If we want him, which I'm sure we do, then he's ours. You a fan? He seems to have forced his way in to be a regular starter now. Had him in my fantasy team at the start of the season and that tosser Moyes wouldn't play him. Of course, as soon as I cut my losses, he breaks it. Fucking conspiracy.

I wonder how much money it would take to persuade Blackburn to part with Ryan Nelsen. Top class centre back, who's very experienced in the prem. Seems massively underrated in general, but I'm not sure they'd let him go for less than £5m. Much less of a gamble than looking abroad, imo.

Liverpool maybe, but I'd say QPR, being in London, is a better bet than Everton or Brum. Think of the wags, man! They rule the roost these days. Yeah, it's worked out great for Al Fayed and Fulham hasn't it? Who gives a shit about London? 90% of the place is a hole. Fayed hasn't spent that big though in football terms. Fulham are very much a selling club, losing Saha, Boa Morte, VDS, Malbranque and never backing Coleman. They spent a bit this summer, but that'll be down to the new extra TV monies.

Pretty much summed up what I was just about to post. HTT was the fella who was telling us how brilliant Allardyce is and how great we are going to be when he was linked/took over in his numerous mega posts he likes to make. Maybe so, but he does have a reasonable point that there are few alternatives. Certainly not many, if any, that are guaranteed to be better.

Bed time melan. Otherwise santa won't come.

He did very well at creating the half yard necessary to put a cross in, as he often does, but his end product was below par, even for him, I thought. It was the lack of quality from these areas that cost us the match, imo, we had more than enough territory and posession to win it, but out final ball let us down so much that we didn't actually create too many clear cut chances.

When you say good enough, what do you mean they're good enough for? Mid table?

Was it the shocking miss or the terrible crossing that made you think that?

I dropped your present off earlier Dave, no one was in so I put it behind the back gate. Yeah, I dropped your present off earlier too, Dave. You weren't in so I shagged your bird.

You're listing lazy NUFC strikers and Shola hasn't got a mention?

Who knows.....

You're someone who I forgotten about actually, Mowen. I enjoy reading your posts and you're someone who puts plenty of thought and effort into what they're writing, you just don't post often enough to stick in my mind as a regular on here. Kind words, Baggy. Didn't have internet at uni last term so I was something of a peripheral figure to say the least. Have a good one, and that goes to everyone on the board apart from HTT.

Don't like you either!