Shak

I think that we're approaching all of our games like we did the one against Arsenal, and that's the problem. That was the way to play Arsenal, a high-tempo slugfest low on quality but high on effort. Is the idea not to impose ourselves on games against lesser teams and try and outplay them and create chances. Pleasing as the Arsenal game was, we didn't exactly create a whole lot. Which is fine against Arsenal, but not the Derby and Wigan's of the league.

Develop a set of balls, basically. I don't expect a gung-ho approach or anything like that, but I'd like to see us try and take the game to our opponents. Most games we seem to go in with the intention of stopping our opponent from playing, thereby turning the game into a dogfight and trying to overpower our opponents. Is it so much to ask to at least try and play some football of our own? Our players aren't a world class bunch but they're vastly better than the turgid level of football we've been serving up.

It's what the site is for though isn't it, for fans to give their views? Given that this is by far the biggest issue at our club right now, it's got to be touched upon.

Proving he is a lying, stupid w******. Fat Souness, thats all he is. I defy anyone to honestly say Smith has been any good for us, up front or in midfield. He's hardly played up front. I think it's a good idea for you to stop moaning about everything and everyone and give the bloke a chance, he has good attributes. He needs a good run in the position, some confidence and a positive approach from the team in general before he can be judged properly. Obviously. Would you start him ahead of Viduka up front? Think he's alright up front myself, links the play very well, but I reckon when fit Viduka gives you a lot more so I'd only be giving Smith games when Viduka needs a rest. Hard to see him getting enough of a run up front to get comfortable in the position tbh, so as much as it's apparent to the rest of us that he's not a good midfielder at all I'd expect that's the position we'll be seeing the most of him for the foreseeable future, unfortunately

I'm not really of the opinion that it's particularly important to spend time learning the ropes at a smaller club for a manager to be succesful at the top level. Sure, it will help in some respects and you may be a bit more ready for the big job when it comes along, but at the end of the day I reckon you just have it or you don't in regards being a good manager. As for Shearer, if Sam goes then I'd give him the job personally. If he does well, great. But if not we can get the whole sordid affair out of our system. I've seen nothing from Shearer to suggest he won't be a good boss tbh.

Beautifully laid out Shakky baby. Cheers mate. And don't worry about what Dave said, I'm sure there's someone out there somewhere that's poncier than you.

He'd bring out the best in Alan Smith, which is really what it's all about at the end of the day.

There's two ways of approaching things 1.) You go out and play your football and trust that it will be better than the opposition. Simpler on the players, but harder to do effectively. 2.) You try and out think your opponents with tactics that can nullify their play. The tactics need to be complex enough to confuse your opponents, yet simple enough for your own players to understand what they're supposed to be doing. Sam is the latter, and I don't think our players have a clue what they're supposed to be doing. I'd much prefer a manager who had the first philosophy though, long term.

So long as you attach several disclaimers that point out his positives while doing so, then of course you are David.

What guff. Firstly, it's the managers job to motivate the players to play to the best of their abilities. Secondly, if you can't see that we are tactically absolutely shocking then you just don't understand the game, mate. We have players playing out of position all over the park, nobody seems to really have any clue what they're supposed to be doing or how they're supposed to do it. This lies at the feet of the manager 100%. Thirdly, what johnnypd said.

Very close so far, I voted "stick with". I voted get rid just to spite you... Bad night all round for you, eh?

Give the job to Bill Belicheck I say.

http://football.guardian.co.uk/Match_Report/0,,2232370,00.html To be fair I would not want my future in them players hands either It's the nature of the job though, the manager and players are linked. It's a gutless deflection of blame, plain and simple.

Can only hope you're on a wind-up mate. If he's actually said the part in bold then that's absolutely appalling. You're right like, not just the bit in bold either, the whole statement is bang out of order, for so many reasons. It's all a big deflection of blame from himself, which managers do all the time to be fair. Without the bit in bold it can be seen as challenging your players to raise their game. But the bit in bold is basically saying "It's the players who are the problem, not me". He's selling his own players down the river to try and make himself look less culpable. Shocked by him tbh, thought he had a bit more spine.

Just read it, seems genuine. Lost the plot it seems.

Can only hope you're on a wind-up mate. If he's actually said the part in bold then that's absolutely appalling.

Precisely. We won't go down IMO, but we'll not be far off unless there's a significant increase in the quality of our football. Our fixture list is an absolute bastard from here on in, shocking to think that we've actually been lucky at times this season and we're still in the bottom half despite the easiest fixture list imaginable.

I'll bet Allardyce masturbates to videos of 0-0 draws, aroused beyond belief by the dull football and negative tactics. And this picture also, obviously.

Factamundo, like.

how do you know that aye,this needs answering I'd imagine it's just what Skirge thinks to be the case, rather than any sort of ITK information.

Poor tactics and players out of position for the most part. Our playing staff aren't brilliant by any means, but there's far more talent in our squad than we've been showing this season. I reckon it's mostly Alan Smith's fault, though.

You just have a thing for big, powerful black men tbh.

Agree, a lot of people really are overly pessimistic about who we can/can't attract. The Premiership is the league to be in, by far the richest league in the world and as more and more teams become minted then more and more top quality players will be present in the league. Outside the top 4, we're as attractive as anyone for managers looking to come to England.

He's just not a midfielder at all, baffling decision from Sam.

Some are, the ones with the patronising "Oh you have to give him time, you're just being impatient" attitude. While there's a truth in what they're saying, none seem willing to admit that we don't appear to be making any sort of slow, steady progress, which is all I really expected from this season. Our football and performances are getting worse, and Allardyce is making the same mistakes which seem so obvious. As angry and frustarted as I am with our football, I know deep down that sacking him now probably isn't a good idea at all. But how anyone can't be very disapointed and extremely worried by everything we've seen from our team under Allardyce is beyond me.