Mowen

We've got worse since Ramage left too.

Di Canio.

I see the point there... but if we went up under Hughton and a manager of Mark Hughes' calibre expressed an interest in the job - it'd be a huge mistake not to bring him in. Aye he hasn't broken records anywhere yet, but he's a proven manager in this league and some would say a very good one at that. A far greater catch for incoming players, too. Aye it would potentially upset some of the harmony in the dressing room, but the majority in this squad shouldn't be regarded as key players next season if we go up anyway. The whole point of getting promotion would be to rebuild; start again. I totally understand what you're saying, but football is different to your average workplace. We've made these sort of mistakes before and it's cost us. I've got some doubts about the long-term consequences of coaches becoming managers, but the decision about whether to replace Hughton is different from a kind of theoretical discussion about whether manager X, Y or Z is a 'better' manager than him. For the first time in many years, we have a Chairman and Manager working together, a Manager working well with the team, and a united dressing room. I'd be very wary of upsetting that applecart, because we're going to need it if and when we go up. Even with some new players coming in, we're going to be one of the bottom half of the table strugglers, and we can't afford too much disruption. One thing I like about Hughton is he's always given the message that it's a privilege and great opportunity for him to manage the club. We need to attract players who are going to feel the same way. Most of our managers say that though. 'Saying' something and 'giving the message' aren't quite the same thing. Hughton's words rang true for me because they were backed up by his actions and his attitude. We've recently had a manager who quit after the transfer window had ended, when he was over-ruled over a loan signing, and then tried to take the club for £25 million after 5 months work. Another one would only take the job if his terms and conditions were met, despite the fact that his record while in charge was dire. These guys might have made all the right noises and been heroes in most people's eyes, but they were giving the message that it was some great privilege for the club to have them as a manager, rather than the other way round. How was Hughton's record in the prem?

Me for one. Why do YOU think he's any good ? Did a fantastic job at Blackburn on a tiny budget and actually had them playing very exciting football by the end (although admittedly they went through a phase of just kicking lumps out of people). Seemed to have a cracking eye for a player there too, Nelsen, Samba. Bentley, Warnock, Bellamy, McCarthy, Pedersen and Santa Cruz were all superb signings for the money he payed. It hasn't worked out at City for many reasons but we'll be a hell of a lot more like Blackburn were than City are if we go up.

£8 on an Arsenal/ManU double today, returns just over a tenner profit. If it comes in it will make up for the £9 I lost backing us at evens yesterday.

Alan Oliver Yeah, Robert was furious that Oliver used to criticise his work rate and never give him any credit every week.

Always mystified me that Hunty was ahead in the pecking order.

Always looked decent when I saw him at centre back. Shite full back.

Bellamy's fucking class.

McCarthy's a cunt.

There's not much on tonight really, quite like sticking a couple of draws on to add a bit of interest sometimes though. That's why I had a look in here, a quick browse from me found no value. Despite your pretty ghastly weekend (none right) I'm happy to back you with a whopping £3. Couldn't believe this weekend Had been on a pretty good run, it was a spectacular way to end it.

There's not much on tonight really, quite like sticking a couple of draws on to add a bit of interest sometimes though.

Man U to win along with draws in the Birmingham and Sunderland games. £3 to win £32.70.

Selling Coloccini right now would be mental, he's worth those wages if the defence is what's getting us promoted again. I'd hazard a guess at it being £20-30k lower p/w than that at the moment. I wouldn't mind a bit of overhaul but I just don't have the confidence in us bringing anyone in so I'd stick at the moment.

I'd almost rather he played

no

Rooney's not little though, he's like a fucking tank.

I was nodding along until I saw that bit in bold, that's fucking ridiculous.

If he goes? Capello starts him ffs. Ridiculous, I know. Feel lucky. The last time I said that, I got jumped on by about 10 people saying Heskey gave a shitload to the team. People who use that argument are mongs, Heskey produces very little and when it comes down to it a striker that never scores isn't going to be good enough in a world cup campaign

Snipped as I'm only replying to this part - I agree about Zog not being interested but he was one of the few we had who could make something happen out of nothing. Think how close we were to staying up, to lose someone like that, interested or not, could have made all of the difference. One piece of magic that led to a goal against any one of a number of teams would have been enough. It's infuriating really.

I'm very happy with how things are going on the pitch at the moment but there are plenty of reasons to be concerned given Ashley's track record of getting pretty much every major decision since he arrived wrong. This is a man who, when faced with a relegation battle last season sold two important players, made a profit on sales and hindered our chances of survival. Logic dictates he'd keep the team together to give us the best shot at going up but history suggests he may well not. There are plenty of reasons to be happy at the moment but it would be naive in the extreme to not be concerned about what will happen in January. Regardless of what you believe re: finances he's shown himself time and time again to be utterly clueless with regards as to what's going on out on the pitch. That was nowt in comparison to his disastrous managerial appointments. Zog wasn't important IMO either, he was impotent if that's what you mean. IMO we'll sell nobody and bring in another loan or two. If we're very very lucky we'll sell Barton and some club will be desperate enough to take Geremi on a free, but unfortunately thats just not going to happen. Zog would probably have scored a goal, possibly 2 if he'd stayed. That may well have been enough to keep us up. I'd like to lose the wages of Geremi and Barton, but if nobody's going to come in to replace them I'd rather we kept the bodies, the squad is thin and shit enough as it is.

Only time I ever heard that was waiting for a train out of West Brom at the start of this season, had been a load of banter with some clown on the other side.

I'd have Lovenkrands shading out Harewood to partner Shola but Harewood's the more likely to start imo. Any news on Enrique's fitness?

How on earth does 'Fabriiiiiiice Pancrate' rhyme with 'Love'? How do any of the songs sung to the tune of it rhyme with "Go west, life is peaceful there"? ? Well loads of football songs are based on it (ie Go West), none of which rhyme with the original lyrics is what I mean (Edit: so surely it shouldn't matter if words put into a song sounds like the words they're replacing as long as the right lines rhyme with each other and all fit.) If you can fit Fabrice Pancrate into love then brilliant. It kinda does fit, the Fabrice doesn't sound very good in place of the first 'love' though.

They may not have booed the other black players, but their chant at him was something like 'you fucking nigger' when translated. I know you're a Juve fan but to argue that it's nothing to do with race because they don't boo their own black players is naive imo.