afar

Lee's been watching: http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/could-yohan-cabaye-viable-option-9393096

It's his haircut, that's bothered me int he past. Just accept that you are balding and wear it with grace, you weirdo !! I'm balding in the same pattern, though not nearly as far progressed. It's awkward because the patch at the front looks weird just sort being on an island (more of a peninsula in my case), but it feels like a waste to buzz off other perfectly decent hair just because of that part, especially since I've got good coverage up top for the time being. Hopefully when it gets as far a Schteve's I'll have the good sense to just get it close cropped. I'll have to find something else that annoys me when its time to ratchet up to full-on hatred. You could go with the fact that he's probably still breathing, that works for a lot of people on hire with previous managers.

He's only finished top 10 once in his PL career, that season he finished 7th. I think expecting 8th is a little much, on average he's around the 12th spot I believe.

It's his haircut, that's bothered me int he past. Just accept that you are balding and wear it with grace, you weirdo !!

Personally I'm no giving him any benefit of the doubt. Which is kind of against my general outlook on life, where I trust until someone does something that loses that trust. For this guy, I'm definitely in the camp I was in with Carver, where I knew it was going to be crap. There is a slight difference here, though as I am sure he will have a spell where people are sucked into thinking, like they were with Pardew, "well he's actually pretty good, I was wrong". There was no chance whatsover of that happening under Carver. Anyway another ill advised appointment in a key position, it's what we do, and we seem to continue to do it despite being burned by the experience over and over again. I really think this is a miles better appointment that Pardew. Pardew had been out of the game for a fair while (for a reason, he was s****) and if we start to think "he's actually pretty good" about McClaren, it's not that we've been sucked in, it's because he's actually half decent. Is he really that much better than Pardew ? Pardew got West Ham to a cup final (that people took more seriously than the league cup that McLaren won) and was only an injury time goal away from actually winning it. What is McLaren best final league position in this country as opposed to Pardew's ? Outside of that one season with Twente and of course the league cup win backed up with the UEFA cup final, the highlight of his career has been nearly getting Derby promoted. Something that Mick Mc, Steve Bruce, Paul Jewel, Chris Hughton and a bunch of other world beating managers succeed at. His last success of any kind is 5 years ago, but his last success in this country is some 10 years ago, he is a washed up has been or even never was that's made a career from being Alex Ferguson's assistant during their spell of dominance. He should never have been considered for this role, his appointment is not acceptable, but I can sense the general feeling here is moving towards, "he's the best we could have hoped for, and at least it's not Carver". Sad really. You realise you've just excluded every one of his achievements to come to the conclusion that he's no better than Pardew, right? Outside of his success at Twente/outside of winning the league cup/outside of getting into the UEFA cup final... You've excluded 3 achievements greater than the achievement you've listed as McClaren's greatest achievement. I don't think he's a spectacular appointment by any stretch, but I also don't think he's just a case of "well, he's better than Carver". Given where we are at this time, he's a step in the right direction. He's a manager that's had some success, and has been seen to play a style of football that the fans might actually like. It's not ideal as we all know we should be aiming much higher in ideal circumstances (i.e. Ashley has f***ed off), but it's a step in the right direction (in my opinion, of course). Also, has it been confirmed he's having to keep the existing staff? I think I missed that. No what I said was that the League cup win was perhaps equal in value to Pardew's FA cup final appearance. The UEFA cup final appearance was noteworthy but we've played in that competition to know that there is enough crap teams their that for an English PL club making the QF should be the minimum expectation, then it's all about the luck of the draw. The season at Twente when he won the league is the only thing that suggested he's better than Pardew. It's certainly not a forgone conclusion though that he is. Had that been the case he would have been managing in the PL these last 10 seasons since he lost the England job. If you compare his PL record to Pardew's, Pardew probably knicks it. And that's what is really relevant.

Stop accepting it, it's this kind of attitude we see at SJP, when first the Pardew.out guys now the Ashley.out guys try to organise some form of protest, most everyone just sits on their hands.

Personally I'm no giving him any benefit of the doubt. Which is kind of against my general outlook on life, where I trust until someone does something that loses that trust. For this guy, I'm definitely in the camp I was in with Carver, where I knew it was going to be crap. There is a slight difference here, though as I am sure he will have a spell where people are sucked into thinking, like they were with Pardew, "well he's actually pretty good, I was wrong". There was no chance whatsover of that happening under Carver. Anyway another ill advised appointment in a key position, it's what we do, and we seem to continue to do it despite being burned by the experience over and over again. I really think this is a miles better appointment that Pardew. Pardew had been out of the game for a fair while (for a reason, he was s****) and if we start to think "he's actually pretty good" about McClaren, it's not that we've been sucked in, it's because he's actually half decent. Is he really that much better than Pardew ? Pardew got West Ham to a cup final (that people took more seriously than the league cup that McLaren won) and was only an injury time goal away from actually winning it. What is McLaren best final league position in this country as opposed to Pardew's ? Outside of that one season with Twente and of course the league cup win backed up with the UEFA cup final, the highlight of his career has been nearly getting Derby promoted. Something that Mick Mc, Steve Bruce, Paul Jewel, Chris Hughton and a bunch of other world beating managers succeed at. His last success of any kind is 5 years ago, but his last success in this country is some 10 years ago, he is a washed up has been or even never was that's made a career from being Alex Ferguson's assistant during their spell of dominance. He should never have been considered for this role, his appointment is not acceptable, but I can sense the general feeling here is moving towards, "he's the best we could have hoped for, and at least it's not Carver". Sad really.

Personally I'm no giving him any benefit of the doubt. Which is kind of against my general outlook on life, where I trust until someone does something that loses that trust. For this guy, I'm definitely in the camp I was in with Carver, where I knew it was going to be crap. There is a slight difference here, though as I am sure he will have a spell where people are sucked into thinking, like they were with Pardew, "well he's actually pretty good, I was wrong". There was no chance whatsover of that happening under Carver. Anyway another ill advised appointment in a key position, it's what we do, and we seem to continue to do it despite being burned by the experience over and over again.

Unbelievable, I would be interest to hear your take on how McClaren actually won that league with Twente. Was it simply his management genius, did he inherit a great group of players ? Did he just get lucky ? What style of play did they adopt, always negative or positive, attacking or dour ? Equally why did he fail on his second time around ? My brother in law has a FC Twente season ticket. He says that although McClaren came in at just the right time (decent squad, owner willing to spend) his experience and motivation skills were crucial in their winning title bid in 2010. However, he has also said that the football was very result oriented (read boring) with clean sheets the main priority. This was his downfall in his second stint in charge, as results were disappointing and the football on display wasn’t much better. Interesting thanks man, I'm still no more convinced about him, sounds like a pardewesq philosophy then of keeping it tight at the back and hoping for a bit of magic, great

Unbelievable, I would be interest to hear your take on how McClaren actually won that league with Twente. Was it simply his management genius, did he inherit a great group of players ? Did he just get lucky ? What style of play did they adopt, always negative or positive, attacking or dour ? Equally why did he fail on his second time around ?

I sold, thanks Ryder, fantastic journalism as always: http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/five-career-highs-steve-mcclaren-9385966

I honestly thought, wow there may be a remote possibility that he's learned form all the lessons we've had, with his interview pre West Ham. But then he goes and appoints McClaren. Clearly there is a distinct lack of any football acumen there at all. For such a clever businessman, ffs he's a self made Billionaire, very few people on this planet can say that, he doesn't seem to see the potential of making a hell of a lot more from his football venture, by appointing the right people and investing some more money. He's supposed to be a gambler, but the only risks he takes with us is negative ones, by appointing unworthy individuals he risks his guaranteed TV money pot. It has to be stubbornness now, there is no logical reason why he continues to make the same mistakes.

And so begins the Ryder propaganda,sorry if this has already been posted: http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/steve-mcclaren-wins-praise-man-9384470

Reality isn't based solely in your opinion. I simply believe that McClaren is good at his job His last for employers disagreed strongly with you, the last two being clubs in a lower division to us. You really couldn't make this shit up. It's embarrassing to be a NUFC fan now, this is a gutless appointment, and there is simply nothing to be excited about.

If you've still got a season ticket, the question has to by, why ? Seems like the appointment will be Carver or McLaren or both. What have you really got to look forward to with either of them in charge ? And why do you keep supporting the regime ? Since I live 5,000 miles or something away now, I gave up my season ticket a long time ago, but no way in hell if I still lived back home would I contemplate signing up for another season with that management structure in place.

A bloke sacked by a Championship club and whose record is not even average - if he gets the job (which I think he will) then anyone who goes and supports that club is just stupid. Which other club would go anywhere near McCLaren after being sacked for NOT being good enough at a Championship club - can't believe the amount of people on here who would accept him just because he isn't Carver FFS man. It'a the 2nd championship club in a row that's sacked his sorry arse. There's definitely a new group started, the "At least it's not Carver" group, engineered perfrectly by Bishop PR for the club.

I can sense the feeling of acceptance that McLaren is the best we can hope for here. It's sad to see, so many to give up and take it

Would expect pictures in the event. Personally I have no desire to see that !

That's the way it should be done tbh. They should be told prior to any announcement in the press.

The resemblance is uncanny !

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/32979956 This is why the status quo will always remain and FIFA will just continue to do what they please.

There is some hope then. But you know with this club, any hope is quickly stamped on. I thought Carver was on holiday and as we know in the football world, despite being in an era of abundant forms of communication, it's impossible to speak to anyone while they are on holiday.

For sure snob is the first thing that comes to mind when I think of Carver !

The window licker has inferred we haven't contacted McClaren and stand to speak to Carver again. Oh right, that does seem bad What the hell are they going to ask him? They said to "clarify his position". TBH the right thing to do here was to talk to Carver first tell him where he stands, he's the incumbent and should have that right. However they should have done this the day after the last game of the season, and sacked his arse, instead of wasting precious time.

I think we'll know by next week when McClaren comes back from holiday. If he wants the job he should be told to interrupt his holiday. Really the guy turns you down twice then won't break his holiday to speak to you. FFS NUFC show a little bit of self respect.