Ronaldo

Just kidding.

He'd have done a far better job than Ba in the last 3 months of the season, that's for sure.

Agreed.

Come up with 3 then. Cabaye for Nolan is the single biggest transfer reason for us doing so well this season. That allowed us to sign Cisse and will probably allow us to hold onto the likes of Colo (possible wouldn't have signed a contract if we were in 11th or so), Ba, Ben Arfa....... It's a f***ing brilliant replacement and we've been a different team from day one because of it.

Yeah, we went from 12th to 5th because of it. One's lazy, can't run, can't tackle and can't pass and the other's the complete opposite. CM is the most important position on the pitch and had Nolan been there instead of Cabaye this season we wouldn't have finished in the top half. So yeah, as I said, just about the best replacement of the last 10 years.

Replacement for Rob?

Does Smith even need to be mentioned? Anyway: Simpson Lovenkrands Harper Kadar Ranger Xisco

Yeah, it's called common sense. I didn't particularly want him to leave. Thankfully we signed Cabaye.

You have a strange habit of developing unnatural vendettas against people who have done a lot for our club. Quite the oddity. It's almost as though he generates arguments for the sake of it. I have tried to offer a constructive argument for the sake of the West Brom fan who initially asked the question but you just know Ronaldo saw the question and thought 'ok the majority liked Hughton, where do I go from here'. The vast, vast majority wanted Hughton out at various points during his time in charge. You should've mentioned that to him.

The results of getting him out of the club speak for themselves. I'll leave it there.

You have a strange habit of developing unnatural vendettas against people who have done a lot for our club. Quite the oddity. Yeah, Nolan cost £4M, earnt 45,000 a week and scored 29 goals in 2 and a half years at the club, then (thankfully) left to play in the Championship for an extra 10K a week. Club legend.

He's a player who can run, pass, tackle and battes for his teammates. The difference is staggering.

Nolan's biggest fan arrives. Tired of talking about him. Bolton get rid of him despite him being their captain too, then he spent 2 out of the next 3 seasons where he belongs, in the Championship.

It's no more relevant than Guthrie, Taylor, Nolan and Campbell being noticeably overweight after a full pre-season with Hughton, I guess. And Nolan still got 12 goals from midfield. Another example of getting the best out of players. EDIT: why am I doing it again? Nolan being replaced by Cabaye is just about the best replacement I've seen at the club in a decade, and I'm not a massive fan of Cabaye. Scoring a goal once every 3.5 games is the least Nolan owed us, given the fact I never saw him dominate in midfield once.

Club policy since Souness to bulk players up to be fair. Lets not use Campbell against him anyway. Glad Pardew ended this policy and made certain players lose that weight. Yeah, Campbell was told to bulk up on the day of his introduction to Darsley, no doubt.

It's no more relevant than Guthrie, Taylor, Nolan and Campbell being noticeably overweight after a full pre-season with Hughton, I guess.

He's not, he's being criticised for not substituting/resting him when he was basically as much use as a 14 stone traffic cone.

Not that it matters but we were 12th when Pards took over. I'm basing it on everything I know about him. I wanted him to stay in the job for the sake of stability but he was never the long term answer. Never really convinced by him, as much as I like him as a bloke.

Shouldn't make me laugh but it has. Can imagine the above scenario perfectly - with that stupid look on his face.

Nobody mentioned throttling. But you have to command respect, and I think we've see enough of an improvement in certain players to suggest something was missing.

Happens to lots of players who significantly 'bulk up' in their 20s. Certainly muscles, ligaments and tendons don't make the leap and it leads to persistent injuries.

Wasn't Carroll the focus of the side? Nolan didn't do too bad a job mind and given the options available I would say he was used pretty effectively So if you wanted a manager to assert himself amongst strong personalities you'd chose Hughton? Serious question, btw.

He's not a Premier League boss because he's cowardly. Making Nolan the focus of the side - which Pardew ended - was a symptom of that.

Do you think that squad shouldn't be finishing in the top 4? And like you weren't winging about Nolan not being substituted on occasion. Short memory. That squad? You say that like I'm supposed to have heard of any of them before this season other than one or two. He had to put that team together after nearly their entire first XI f***ed off. What are you on about? Ok, how many times did Pardew bring Nolan off if that's the all-important issue? I've had a quick look, I count once, on 86 minutes. Why bring Pardew into it? For whatever reason I remember a few of us speculating that Pardew didn't really rate Nolan and it wasn't a total shock when he was sold. Hughton was scared to take him off and you know it. Brum had an OK season. Stop trying to make a decent job into some sort of achievement just because it's your hero. I remember you saying he'd end up a top manager when he was sacked from us.

Yes, if by 'supports' you mean semi-frequently watches and by 'Toon' you mean Aston Villa and some horrible set of Welsh cunts.