OzzieMandias

Undoubtedly knows a lot more about what's actually been going on within the club than anyone on here, though.

one season, for a manager who didn't want him, in fairness. Still doesn't add up to proof that "record-breaking transfers" are any key to success, however much trophy signings may excite some sections of our support.

Schevchenko was record-breakingly expensive, though – and of course has made all the difference to Chelsea's challenge for the top.

the next Arsene Wenger was down the pub tonight. I'm sure it was him, if it wasn't, I'm sure another one will turn up tomorrow mackems.gif Maybe you should come and meet him, and see if he fits your magic criteria for appointing winning managers who don't need to spend money to be successful. Where did you say Arsenal will finish this season again mackems.gif I don't know. Where did I say they'd end up this season? Well, according to you, you are just implying that they will finish higher than manu, Liverpool and Chelsea for spending less money and showing everyone you don't need the best players. Even by your standards of miscomprehension, that's utter nonsense.

So, Arsenal prove you don't need "record transfers" to win things. And Shepherd has proved that "record transfers" don't stop you from ending up in the bottom half of the table more often than not.

the next Arsene Wenger was down the pub tonight. I'm sure it was him, if it wasn't, I'm sure another one will turn up tomorrow mackems.gif Maybe you should come and meet him, and see if he fits your magic criteria for appointing winning managers who don't need to spend money to be successful. Where did you say Arsenal will finish this season again mackems.gif I don't know. Where did I say they'd end up this season?

oh dear I don't remember him. Midfielder?

Explain Arsenal, then.

Funny how Liverpool managed to win the Champions League without Torres. What was the "record signing" that helped them do that?

Aren't you going to tell us your 100% method of selecting managers that win trophies mackems.gif Please clarify. Are you arguing that a) Shepherd was a really great chairman because a 25 percent success rate in his most important decisions is, in your opinion, really good? Or, b) Shepherd was a really great chairman because you doubt my ability to be very good at the job? No, I'm asking you what your criteria for appointing managers who are nailed on to win trophies ? As you clearly state that a manager who has won 4 league titles with 2 different clubs, and an up and coming manager who had just won the FA Cup with an up and coming team doesn't figure with you ? Attempting to argue, however feebly, that Shepherd's criteria for managerial appointments were good ones is putting the cart before the horse. His 75 percent failure rate clearly indicates that his criteria were not good ones at all. So what criteria would you use ? Well, they'd obviously depend on the circumstance. Have I, for example, as a hypothetical football chairman, just sacked the old manager a few games into the season after letting him spend all the transfer kitty? How much debt am I allowed to get into while buying trophy players for him?

Aren't you going to tell us your 100% method of selecting managers that win trophies mackems.gif Please clarify. Are you arguing that a) Shepherd was a really great chairman because a 25 percent success rate in his most important decisions is, in your opinion, really good? Or, b) Shepherd was a really great chairman because you doubt my ability to be very good at the job? No, I'm asking you what your criteria for appointing managers who are nailed on to win trophies ? As you clearly state that a manager who has won 4 league titles with 2 different clubs, and an up and coming manager who had just won the FA Cup with an up and coming team doesn't figure with you ? Attempting to argue, however feebly, that Shepherd's criteria for managerial appointments were good ones is putting the cart before the horse. His 75 percent failure rate clearly indicates that his criteria were not good ones at all.

A fine example of one of Shepherd's really brilliant decisions.

Aren't you going to tell us your 100% method of selecting managers that win trophies mackems.gif Please clarify. Are you arguing that a) Shepherd was a really great chairman because a 25 percent success rate in his most important decisions is, in your opinion, really good? Or, b) Shepherd was a really great chairman because you doubt my ability to be very good at the job?

Apart from the strange business re Gary Speed, I have not seen anywhere to say he interfered with transfers, apart from the usual financial restrictions that all chairman have to sometimes use. And in that respect, you have to say that the club have backed their managers with plenty of money to build successful teams, fulfilling their terms of office. Basically, the managers have bought too many s**** players who have not been worth what they cost, that is the managers bad judgement and I fail to see how anyone else can be blamed. Well, for one, Souness claimed that he interfered with transfers as has Bobby. Bobby wanted Carrick but Freddy decided that he'd prefer Butt. Also, Shepherd was continually trying to flog Bowyer behind Bobby's back. These are only a couple of the publicised ones, I'm sure that there are many more instances (although of course I can't prove this). Smoke, fire, etc.

So if Shepherd had no responsibility for managerial appointments, it's clear he also doesn't have any responsibility for the limited successes achieved while he was hanging around making a fortune. Good job he's gone, then, as I'm sure NE5 will agree.

oh, the people who run the club, board and directors. How do you account for them getting it wrong so consistently? You obviously don't think it was Shepherd's fault, so who is to blame?

So you don't know whose responsibility it was to appoint managers?

Hmm. I wonder whose responsibility it was to find a manager who would take us forward...

I think a suitable response would be to point out the fact that if we have had blundering twats running the club, what does it say about the 87 clubs who have not qualified for europe as often as we did. I'd venture to say that a few of them might well have done better if they'd been gifted our resources and the circumstances that Shepherd inherited.

Not that arsed, really. Like Dyer, he wanted to go and so he's gone. I hope he has a crap season along with the rest of his new club.

Well, I'm sure the issue of who you would or wouldn't knock for whatever reason is of great interest to a huge number of people. However, you did kick off with this self-regarding drivel in reply to people who were quite rightly pointing out that Gullit was another of Shepherd's many failed managerial appointments. I am pleased that you seem finally to be acknowledging that your argument was irrelevant.

Not really, it's just going around in circles. A sure sign that your argument is bollocks. Making three out of Shepherd's four managerial appointments failures. Who cares? The issue is Shepherd's 75 percent failure rate in making managerial appointments. What you say you said or didn't say is nothing but a small wet fart in the howling gale of history.

White flag from Baggio. But thanks for coming on the show!