Mowen

I think we're collectively placing too much importance on the lengths of threads have related to real world events. I'm guilty of it too, I told my girlfriend I'd propose to her once GM had made a thread interesting enough to get to 10 pages. I figure I'm pretty safe.

Apart from the fact that you're almost certainly wrong no black club managers in Brazil? Prove it what the fuck is this supposed to prove? They're even racist in Brazil so it's OK to be racist in the UK? Them nig-nogs is too stupid to be managers? Try engaging your brain before posting. He didn't say there were no black club managers in Brazil. Also, it seems to read pretty obviously that he's saying had there been a top class black manager in Brazil they'd have appointed him. The point is that there haven't been any black managers coming through that are good enough. Whether you agree with that point is a different matter, you've completely misrepresented his post though.

I don't think Barnes was right with his racism spiel about managers, but if we don't start seeing black coaches emerge in the next 10-20 years, given the current racial makeup of football in Europe, then maybe he will have a point. I know Ince and Barnes have been failures, but very few have been given any sort of chance. I could see Geremi ending up being a manager actually, he speaks loads of languages, seems pretty bright and has seen it all in football. Also I'm sure he's regularly been a father figure even in his short time with us for the likes of N'Zog and Bassong.

Not everyone can ride a bike and eat an apple you know.

Much as I absolutley agree with that and in a way would love to see Keegan back I just don't see it as a practical option anymore, I think that ship might have sailed. Granted I thought that before he came back a second time too, but I just don't think it could work.

Yep. Will be hungover as fuck Hair of the dog, don't be soft. Just get on it really, really early.

YOU PUT YOUR LEFT LEG IN...

Much as I rate Lampard and think he's a brilliant player I'd love to see Essien play alongside a genius passer of the ball in a 442, maybe Xavi. It would be superb to watch.

Good character judgement.

Bellamy got caught going mental on camera about that decision iirc, never been a shrinking violet

Mascherano would start for all of them. So would Reina. Not for Chelsea, Essien surely. Essien's a better player, probably the best CM in the prem for me, he's wasted in an out and out defensive role though. Needs to be able to get box to box more - I'm sure Chelsea have played several games this season with Mikel behind Essien - bring in Mascherano for Mikel there and that's a big improvement. I agree, but still think they'll prefer the two up front and Lampard & Essien in the middle, like they did against Liverpool. I expect Chelsea to win it this year. Agreed on Chelsea, they should walk it this year. The only concern would be losing players in January, but their fixtures look pretty easy this year anyway. Their team is awesome when it gets going, for all the talk about Gerrard and Torres, if everyone is at 100% I'd have Drogba and Essien over them everyday.

Beye and Bassong I agree, but the others I don't really think we miss. You don't think that Owen, Martins, Viduka and Duff are missed in this division? They weren't worth what we were paying them, without a doubt, but they'd absolutely piss it in this league. Shola's our best striker now, compare how he looked in the prem to how Owen, Oba and Dukes did. Your shitting me right?? For a start non of the above would have turned up for work in the championship!! they all thought they were too big for the drop and prove to us they were, all but one is playing in the prem or Europe this season, WHY? Because they simply did not give a shit about our club and prove this as they were all present as we were being buttfucked out of the premiere league and not one of them bothered to even look remotely interested.. I'd sooner have the group of players we have now then those above anyday of the week, It's pointless thinking what could have been because they had their chance and shafted us, time to look to the future and get with the programme.. No denying they're cunts and paid too much but they're also a fucking lot better at football than those we've got left. We were never going to keep them but to say they're not missed in the team is mental. If Shola got 4 in 4 then Owen, much as I despise the little cunt, would have approximately a million goals by now.

Giggs and Scholes are still at Man Utd, as are Fletcher and O'Shea. Beckham gave the club years of service before leaving after a fallout with the manager and a big offer from the biggest club in the world at the time. Man Utd enjoyed the best years of these players' careers. Of course the youngsters who don't make it such as Frazier Campbell get pedalled to clubs like Sunderland for handy money. Arsenal is another one. Toure may have gone to Man City but he was offered silly money and had given Arsenal years of service. Fabregas is still there, Ashley Cole also left because a mega-rich club came in for him and he too gave Arsenal years of service. Vieira, Ljungberg etc ended up leaving at a profit but they spent their best years at Arsenal. Clichy is still there, while players like Song, Diaby, Van Persie and Denilson are still first team players. Compare that to West Ham who sold all of their stars at a relatively young age and mostly before they even peaked. West Ham didn't get the best years of these players' careers the way Arsenal or Man Utd do, and failed to reinvest the money and build a better team. If you are not big enough to hang onto these players you end up becoming a feeder club for the bigger teams. Dyer, Bramble and Darren Bent all came through at Ipswich but look where they are. Walcott, Wayne Bridge, Gareth Bale, even Alan Shearer came through at Southampton yet look at them now. Many teams have good academies but it does not provide stability on its own. You've basically agreed with madras there though. Bring as many kids through as possible, if they're good enough you can keep them or sell for a huge price and if not peddle them for a decent price. ManU and Arsenal are relentlessly picking up a few million here and there for the likes of Larsson, Eagles and Campbell.

You'd have thought that the Nigerians would be fine with their wealth of extra experience. Has to go down as a shock.

He said average; not lazy, feckless arseholes.

Mascherano would start for all of them. So would Reina. Not for Chelsea, Essien surely. Essien's a better player, probably the best CM in the prem for me, he's wasted in an out and out defensive role though. Needs to be able to get box to box more - I'm sure Chelsea have played several games this season with Mikel behind Essien - bring in Mascherano for Mikel there and that's a big improvement.

I would love it if we got Marc Hottiger in as manager.

Mascherano would start for all of them. So would Reina.

Beye and Bassong I agree, but the others I don't really think we miss. You don't think that Owen, Martins, Viduka and Duff are missed in this division? They weren't worth what we were paying them, without a doubt, but they'd absolutely piss it in this league. Shola's our best striker now, compare how he looked in the prem to how Owen, Oba and Dukes did.

I was talking about since our relegation. There are loads of players we've had over the past few years who'd easily get in the team now. Who's our creative player at the moment?

I agree, all I would disagree with is that our best players have left. Of the players we've sold (since relegation at least) the majority were a waste of space. Our two best defenders and our three best strikers? They weren't all value for money but they were the best we had. Duff would start as things stand too.

Not the same question but I'm pretty sure Shearer celebrated when he scored against us for Blackburn. Lee Clark is right.

He'd fit in with that attitude.

Been paying attention the last few days? If he'd resigned, he would have owed the club £2m, not the other way around. Look up constructive dismissal and then have a go with that pdf.

He didn't resign.