Dr Venkman

Pretty much this. I said top 4 and I would at least expect us to put up a decent fight every year but ultimately it's a battle of the teams just outside of that bracket. If we're amongst that I'm happy, if we can do one better and break into the top 4 (which is entirely possible) I'd be f***ing delighted, obviously. Yep quite frankly the difference between 4th and 7th is very small, as long as you have challenged for those spots you have done your job. Obviously 7th being the minimum and 4th being the Maximum in that bracket. Disco brings up a good point about creativity though, i know everyone talks about strikers and centre backs and rightly so but i think we are really lacking a proper attacking midfielder with creativity and guile. You honestly don't think Cabaye can do that? I think he could, if Pardew wasn't so committed to having his best players stood on the edge of their own box all the time. I'd argue even Anita (whilst admittedly looking lightweight) can do it, he's certainly got an eye for a forward pass. He's another one thats sat on the bench while Pardew's sending on Tiote telling him to stop dropping the ball off to other players and run at teams like Essien Not to mention that fact the Marveaux's been overlooked all season as Interpolic's been saying.

And there we go again. Forget it then. You've become worse than Stu for not offering an opinion but being happy to pour scorn on that of others. Absolute drivel. My opinons are absolutely all over the shop as you well know. Where did I mention we should get rid of Carr again...remind me please. You said that the players aren't as good as everyone thinks (I.e. good enough not to be battling relegation). If that was my opinion I'd definitely want shot of the bloke who has chosen them after we've spent a decent amount of money. Playing at full pelt they are no-one is this season, more or less everyone bar Krul is playing beneath themselves and people are forgetting that Debuchy, Sissoko, MYM et al aren't going to be pulling up trees straight away as foreign players that aren't world class generally don't and even some of the those world class ones struggle at first (Bergkamp & Henry for e.g.) Everyone goes on about us having the best squad in years, they're basing that on players playing at their peak every game rather than their average which is generally a truer indicator of how they're liable to perform week in, week out. Tiote has been appalling for the most part this season, Santon has cost us goal after goal after goal, Coloccini has been a shell of the player we saw last year, Cisse has been poor in large spells (yet he can't be dropped because there is no-one else), we've got no creative players aside from two injury prone Frenchman, our squad depth is horrible etc. etc. This is what I mean, it isn't at all IMO. FWIW I had us down for 8th start of the season. I honestly think that if the majority of players are playing beneath themselves then the coaching team are to blame.

Aye, that'll be one of those moments that every Villa fan talks about if they stay up.

My biggest fear is we go down and don't sack him, we'd be absolutely fucked for years.

I wonder what Zero thinks of those comments, probably not worthy of criticism.

Think we'll draw tomorrow and beat the fascists fwiw.

Stoke more likely to go than Villa judging by this.

Stoke equalising at home against Villa, one of the highlights of our season.

If Owen ends up with two relegations on his CV

all I said was that Tiote's game might benefit from him being given some instruction, you've managed to turn it into an argument with yourself

should be a straight red for dives like that, given what the outcome would be if the ref fell for it

I'd be absolutely fucking disgusted.

Why have those players been poor all season? Is it not the manager’s responsibility to make sure the players are performing? The poor performances of Colo and Tiote in particular this season go way beyond what they're being told in the dressing room. Tiote's not a great example imo, he's one of the players Pardew could definitely have an effect on by giving him the right responsibilities/instructions.

Loads of numbers that don't justify the lack of team cohesion, competent attacking team play or ruthlessly terrible set penises we've seen for over two years. I understand that it sounds dismissive but that's the point I've reached now I'm afraid, he can either get some results or fuck off. That post was solely in response to "Look at these names, they are all class, we should have done better" because it doesn't quite work like that unless they are playing every game. I don't deny we have been poor though and although I agree that missing players at the back can have a big impact as Stu mentioned, Pardew has still shown a worrying lack of ability to change our gameplan when it is needed. I am in the give him the start of next season and see how it goes camp. I'm not overly confident he will change it around as he seems to have one way of playing (which can be boring) but I don't think it's a lost cause just yet either. Aye fair enough mate I don't even know why I'm still talking about this to be honest, it's just preferable to doing any work.

Loads of numbers that don't justify the lack of team cohesion, competent attacking team play or ruthlessly terrible set penises we've seen for over two years. I understand that it sounds dismissive but that's the point I've reached now I'm afraid, he can either get some results or fuck off.

I totally understand Stu's point btw, about creating an image of stability for the club. I just think having a manager that makes the team more than the sum of its parts and who can get results when things are against the club is where you go first and foremost, and everything else comes secondary to that. After over 2 years I personally think it's fair to say we haven't got that, and we need to find it. I realise that last season he did really good things with Raylor and Perch for example, so it could be argued that he raises the level of individual players, but I don't think he raises the team performance at all, in fact I think he's counter productive in this area.

What can Pardew do about that? I mean he does them in training but what can he do if the players simply don't score from them/defend them properly in a match? What can he do? How about his job I was being sarcastic Just using the ridiculous line of reasoning that Pardews lovers use to excuse a whole manner of his failings to show how absurd it is. pardew gets an insane amount of leeway from some people like, 3 points off relegation 7 games to go At the same time, people have quickly written off the fact he took us to the last game of the season away from a Champions League spot. One great season, one shit season. I'm in the camp where I think he has earned the chance to put it right. If we're still struggling come October or November next season, he deserves to be sacked. If we're back challenging the top 6, we were right to stand by him. agree- the ones wanting him sacked now will start again with the next manager after 3 or 4 defeats. Bollocks. Tbf I don't think I can blamed for thinking you meant it, given the tone of your recent posts. I'd love to know what is giving people optimism that Pardew's going to change his outlook and start turning us into a team just because it's a new season. He's not going to change, those hoping for a better season next year are just hoping for less injuries imo.

Top post.

What can Pardew do about that? I mean he does them in training but what can he do if the players simply don't score from them/defend them properly in a match? What can he do? How about his job I was being sarcastic Just using the ridiculous line of reasoning that Pardews lovers use to excuse a whole manner of his failings to show how absurd it is. pardew gets an insane amount of leeway from some people like, 3 points off relegation 7 games to go At the same time, people have quickly written off the fact he took us to the last game of the season away from a Champions League spot. One great season, one shit season. I'm in the camp where I think he has earned the chance to put it right. If we're still struggling come October or November next season, he deserves to be sacked. If we're back challenging the top 6, we were right to stand by him. agree- the ones wanting him sacked now will start again with the next manager after 3 or 4 defeats. Bollocks.

Yeah that's what I meant to say. Stu - someone reasonably competent at coaching positive football will blow Pardew out of the water with these players. managers do it every week with players that aren't as good.

But somehow he's hero worshipped? Because he's fucking brilliant.

Some people need to see us coached by someone else before the penny drops.

So I hear Phil K posted?