OzzieMandias

I don't believe in pissing contest in general but when it comes to football, people who put time, effort and money into actually supporting the team deserve credit for that - I have no problem with anyone anywhere calling themselves a fan and supporting the team in spirit but to pretend they are the same level of fan as those who go to games is ridiculous imo. Nowhere near as ridiculous as calling someone an "enemy of the club" because they disagree with you. It wasn't primarily because you disagreed with me - it was because you implied that the banner could be used by "enemies" which I think is bollocks and leading on from that I think people who support Ashley as fully as I get the impression you do are in my opinion just as much enemies of the club as nebulous media or fans of other clubs. You're like a hysterical old wife, man.

I don't believe in pissing contest in general but when it comes to football, people who put time, effort and money into actually supporting the team deserve credit for that - I have no problem with anyone anywhere calling themselves a fan and supporting the team in spirit but to pretend they are the same level of fan as those who go to games is ridiculous imo. Nowhere near as ridiculous as calling someone an "enemy of the club" because they disagree with you.

Is that you referring to Keith? He's done more then just went to a few games! Without Keith how would fans have travelled to Sofia,Belgrade,Zagreb, Kiev,Zeljeznicar,Sakhnin,Panionios,Olympiakos, Tallinn,Ventspils when there was no effort from the club to put on flights or any transport? Even when we went to olso for the lillestrom match when ryanair cancelled the flight guess who got me home? Keith Barrett!! some people have got very shot memories or they give dont give a fuck! I was referring to NJS, but the number of matches Keith has been to doesn't change my opinion of this stupid banner one little bit.

the most pathetic post you've ever made, and there has been plenty of hot competition Not surprised to see you're a fervent supporter of this imbecilic banner. I'll support anything that says to people that Ashley is the wrong man for the club, as I've been saying since long before he even appointed Keegan, never mind lost him, and its only now that some people are waking up to it. Unlike you, of course. I'm sure you will back him all the way and in your usual style deny it later. So all of us on this thread expressing our honest opinion that this dumb banner is an embarrassment are therefore 'backing Ashley all the way"? Grow up, eh?

the most pathetic post you've ever made, and there has been plenty of hot competition Not surprised to see you're a fervent supporter of this imbecilic banner.

I love the way knackers who go to a few games because they enjoy the experience seem to think they deserve some kind of medal.

Some people are making out that the banner and a bit of protesting caused Ashley to put the club on the market and are implying they are to blame for the current state of the club. No offence to Keith or any of the protesters, but it's not that easy (and I'm sure they are aware of that). It's like when you want to split up with a lass, so to make it easy you blow the next argument you have up out of all proportion and make it seem like it's her who split up with you. When I want to split up with a lass I just tell her that it's over. Why does Ashley need an excuse?

And it was only those first two pictures that have any relevance to the discussion at hand.

Because he tried (and failed) to copy a management model used elsewhere to varying degrees of success? He's made severe mistakes and he's got a lot to learn about the football industry if he's going to continue to have a part to play in it. But yeah, let's just call him unsubstantiated and agenda-ridden stuff like 'delusional'. The fact he called it the Arsenal model for a start clearly shows he knows nothing about football. Especially as Wenger came out and backed Keegan. Aye, right, what on earth do Arsenal have to do with a strategy of not overspending on marquee signings and instead developing gifted young players? Or not letting the manager have full control? You think that's what he meant when he talked of "the Arsenal model"?

Because he tried (and failed) to copy a management model used elsewhere to varying degrees of success? He's made severe mistakes and he's got a lot to learn about the football industry if he's going to continue to have a part to play in it. But yeah, let's just call him unsubstantiated and agenda-ridden stuff like 'delusional'. The fact he called it the Arsenal model for a start clearly shows he knows nothing about football. Especially as Wenger came out and backed Keegan. Aye, right, what on earth do Arsenal have to do with a strategy of not overspending on marquee signings and instead developing gifted young players?

No. You mean like we bought Woodgate for £9 million and sold him for £13.4 million? Gosh, you don't think Shepherd was also trying to get the club relegated? Yeah, in the current economic climate, investors all over the world are just gagging to spend £240 million on Championship clubs.

That would be you imo. And like most of your opinions, it's hysterical and melodramatic.

Heresy!

I don't care how long this chump has been supporting the club, this dumb banner remains a fucking embarrassment and will achieve nothing except to give the club's enemies another way of portraying us all as a bunch of small-minded tossers. Trouble with the southern-born wife, eh? Hardly surprising, is it?

£4 million isn't a bad price for the club, like. I bet Ant and Dec could afford it.

Sorry, everyone. I should have known better than to respond, even though it can be irritating to have some knacker put words into your mouth.

Good news. If Shay has not handed in a transfer request, he should definitely start tomorrow.

Go on then, furnish an example of what you mean by me "backing" Ashley. If you can't, I'll take it as an admission that you were just talking shite as usual. well. Aren;t you ? Do you think he has improved the club, or do you think the club is worse than when he took over ? Bearing in mind your thoughts on qualifying for europe more than every club bar 4, are well known, I wouldn't say I'm waiting with baited breath for the reply. If you reply at all that is. Thanks for admitting that you were just talking shite. No shame in being honest about it -- everyone knows it anyway.

Go on then, furnish an example of what you mean by me "backing" Ashley. If you can't, I'll take it as an admission that you were just talking shite as usual. If that were true, what would it say about your debating skills?

No, I'm not happy with 14th. Were you happy in 97/98, 98/99, 04/05, 06/07, 07/08 and all the other seasons we finished in a bottom half "sort of crisis" before the old board gave up and sold the club to Ashley?

So you don't think stupidly risking a red card to foul Reina was playing up to the crowd? It was pure idiocy from where I was sitting. I love this about you. You read what I say and just put whatever you fancy so i'll try it. So you think Asprilla signing didn't disrupt the squad? But seriously, if he did that fine but when it comes to encouraging the crowd fist pumping itsp robably because he's jus loving playing for the club , I'm not talking about his performances in any context, I'm simply discussing his supposed playing to the crowd. yep I agree with this, and I'd take it any day rather than someone who doesn't particularly want to play etc etc, and we've had more than enough of those, and still have some. I wish Ameobi would start getting stuck in ........ I'm not saying the lad should start I prefer Bassong, but people slating him for showing passion is lunacy, how can you be-moan players like Duff for hsowing no passion and in the same instance claim Taylor, a local lad of sorts for showing fake passion. Yep, I completely agree. Some people actually preferred Cacapa mackems.gif To be fair, I remember quite a few people saying, "all Taylor needs is a good partner" in comparison with Boumsong, Bramble, O'Brien, Elliott, Moore, etc. who he's played alongside over the past few seasons, well now there's two better centre-backs than him to play alongside and he's still no better. We are still essentially a team playing back to front though ie under pressure due to lack of quality up front and in midfield. Thats why we are struggling, and unfortunately these players cost more money than defenders. Then how come Bassong coped alright alongside this lack of quality up front and in midfield? eer........welll..........there must be some reason why we are down near the bottom of the league and in a crisis, or a sort of crisis, unless you think because we have Bassong it cures all the huge weaknesses in the rest of the team......... We're 14th at the moment. Not too dissimilar from our positions at the end of the 97/98, 98/99, 04/05, 06/07 and 07/08 seasons. Gosh, who would have thought we spent all those seasons in "a sort of crisis"?

It's a mathematical proof of the Seemed Like A Good Idea At The Time interpretation of history.

Best British one: This Sporting Life