Doug

We cant accomodate Butt and Nolan in the team together. Neither of them can move.

The last few pages on here have got me very depressed. It is plain to see that many of us have learned absolutely nothing of the folly of our decline being hastened by the signing of players whose best years are behind them. Young, hungry, up and coming players only from now on please.

Smaller crowd than us too but we will be the ones staying away not them.

Certain players seem to wilt under the pressure of playing for us. We believe and feed off the negative cover given to them and make it ten times worse. Enrique is coming through this succesfully despite this. Collocini is suffering badly from it at the moment, as did the likes of Bramble before.

sadly true.

Enrique was the best on view IMO but Barton showed his class at times. Its a Pity now he would be chucked out if Shearer were to be back as manager.

I think Enrique was the best player on the pitch yesterday. Powerful wing back display. Both defensively and getting forward to create attacking options down the left. He will take some replacing.

Everton wont sign old has beens

Yes, no more has beens. This should be one of the golden rules from now on.

I'd honestly rather keep Hughton than have O'Leary here. Actually, I'd sooner take Ossie Ardiles than O'Leary!

£30 for a decent seat, 400mile round trip, Live on the telly, rudderless with no ambition or leadership. Against all reason I am drawn to going to the Reading game. If however O'Leary is given the reins, I will let common sense prevail and stay at home. It can't be true, surely it is just speculation and tittle tattle from journos with no real info.

I hope we get a decent crowd or the press will slay us (the fans)

I would imagine when he releases the ball playing for Argentina a much higher percentage will be seized upon by a teamate, running and buzzing all over the place. Remember when he sends a ball over for us there may only be a statuesque single presence out of position and outnumbered by defenders anyway. Also remember that he only has to miskick once and it will be shouted about from the rooftops so that you all get on message that this man cant pass.

Yes they do. I live among the Villa fans. Are you on a wind up mission? hes a useless manager, part responsible for the Leeds fiasco who we are trying to copy it would seem, and pathetically hopeless in his excuses at Villa of it being everyones fault but his while there.

Yep. I think it'd be a masterstroke if he could pull it off. There's no reason why DOL wouldn't take us up and then we could push on properly and with a reduced wage bill and an improved financial position. You 2 are a right pair of WUMS

Football is a strange activity where someone who becomes renowned for their physical prowess when young with a ball at their feet is automatically elevated upon retirement into a role requiring an altogether different set of talents. This is to become a manager, master tactician, supreme motivator and leader of men able to inspire others and outwit the oppositions plans. So what we often get are ex pros who despite being inarticulate and unable to communicate ideas, if they have any, getting top jobs because of their fame as footballers. Their shortcomings are often masked by being overconfident or belicose or being supported by sycophantic fan owners, chairmen etc. who promote them way above their deserved level. Many players are intelligent enough to make the transition and make the best managers but many are not. In my opinion O'leary is definitely one of those who is not and I would not want him anywhere near our club.

I dont believe it would be an improvement at all.

Hopefully this is more media speculation. I must say I will not be surprised to see Ashley stay because he wont get what he is asking for the club. As for O'leary he is just the sort of garbage appointment you would expect from Ashley if there was truth in this. I cannot think of a worse appointment unless of course the one and only big fat Ron Atkinson was to be dragged out of retirement. I class O'leary almost in the same useless bracket as him. Both living proof that you can fool some of the people all of the time.

One of the main reasons why a decent result in this game is important is to ensure we continue to attend at the home games. We need to get some momentum going to give the fans some reason to turn up. God knows we can be forgiven for throwing the towel in ourselves. I know the press and media are preparing their headlines already rubbishing us as fans. It is all we have left at the moment, so they cant wait to twist the knife there. All we can do is continue to turn up in droves to prevent the impending bullshit.

Media fabrication after the 5 live Shearers bar discussion and talk with Harris. Sky, Radio 5 and the papers have fallen over each other to be the first to make something up out of the sparse titbits that came out of that. The stark reality is that no-one is in the frame to buy us until the twat realises he has to take the losses on the chin and get out by selling cheaply. In the mean time he is happy to see the clubs future wither on the vine. No wonder Ashley has gone to the other side of the world. He wants to stay there if he knows whats good for him.

We are in this position through the policy of signing has beens on extravagant contracts.

A bit of mutual respect for another good set of fans would be nice too. The Albion fans are loyal and long suffering. I cringed at our rendition of "your support is fucking shit" over and over again at the Hawthorns last year. I wish we could improve that side of our support which is otherwise superb. I,m sure Sir Bob would agree.

A look at post war geography and history will teach you that many people have migrated from the North to all points South as well as far flung shores with the demise of traditional industries and their communities. I am one of these people. As a result we end up with second and third generation offspring of this exodus becoming keen fans, as more often than not you are hooked when first taken to a game by older relatives. I must say I am very sorry to my sons for giving them this cross to bear.

I am starting to believe that he cannot have a buyer at the terms he is sticking out for and no longer cares how far we fall. The club has to have leadership at this critical time and he is preventing it by speculating on salvaging a buck or two. You have lost this gamble you idiot, try somewhere else to regain your money. For pities sake Ashley begone and let us get on with salvaging what you and your predecessor have ruined!!

Sign more has beens? People in this thread are surely having a laugh Please tell me we are just having a laugh and it is not serious.