Lotus

You know, i bash on Ian a fair bit tbh but we have all been wrong about somethings, all of us. He's a very optimistic guy, and like most jaded people, it just kills me to see others happy!

As SBR said, every manager, if asked, would want just 1 or 2 more players. That's got nothing to do with the inescapable (and i'm sure you agree with this) fact that our players, pretty much every single one of them, has been playing below their optimal level and that as a group, they've looked disjointed and bereft of ideas. It's almost like they don't practive WITH the ball all week, like they the only time they see it is on matchday (obviously they don't but their is no pattern to our use of the ball). You can call it whatever you like, you can refer to last season or any of his previous seasons with any of his other clubs but the point is, we play like crap. Now i think he's just trying to do what worked last season because, imo, he hasn't got the nous to turn it around. If he had, even with the injuries because he's always had enough decent ball players at his disposal and as a collective they've played like poo. You can say we were alright sporadically but so you will be able to say that the all 3 teams that relegated this year. FWIW, im not kneejerking because it's going badly, i called him out last year when things were going well. I thought we were very, very lucky in some games where we got big results, results the performance didn't really deserve, and i thought we'd be found out if we didn't evolve. Guess what? We didn't. Great post. Belongs in the Pardew thread, but I'm sure there's a few versions there already. It's all perfectly reasonable, but my post was in response to people claiming that Pardew doesn't think he's responsible for our play. Which is a mad assertion IMO. I wasn't saying anything about whether he does or doesn't have the ability to improve things. I think the limit of his sense of responsibilty is that he'll want more players. I think he's of the philosophy that you shouldn't over coach attacking players, just let them do what's natural. His side is the organising of the defence. It's a good philosophy if it fits the players you have. Rather than adapt, i think he wants more players and if that doesn't work, he'll want more players.

As SBR said, every manager, if asked, would want just 1 or 2 more players. That's got nothing to do with the inescapable (and i'm sure you agree with this) fact that our players, pretty much every single one of them, has been playing below their optimal level and that as a group, they've looked disjointed and bereft of ideas. It's almost like they don't practive WITH the ball all week, like they the only time they see it is on matchday (obviously they don't but their is no pattern to our use of the ball). You can call it whatever you like, you can refer to last season or any of his previous seasons with any of his other clubs but the point is, we play like crap. Now i think he's just trying to do what worked last season because, imo, he hasn't got the nous to turn it around. If he had, even with the injuries because he's always had enough decent ball players at his disposal and as a collective they've played like poo. You can say we were alright sporadically but so you will be able to say that the all 3 teams that relegated this year. FWIW, im not kneejerking because it's going badly, i called him out last year when things were going well. I thought we were very, very lucky in some games where we got big results, results the performance didn't really deserve, and i thought we'd be found out if we didn't evolve. Guess what? We didn't.

Pre-season was weird. We seem to give a lot of playing time to the fringe players to get them up to speed for the Europa League but neglected the first team who seemed to just get a few minutes here or there. I'm guessing the idea with that is that the 1st teamers don't burn out around March.

Are we? I haven't checked, I must admit. Whatever the stats say, there's been a marked improvement in our football recently, and a massive decrease in the amount of hoofs from all over the pitch aimed at noone in particular. This does not take Mike Williamson into account, and he obviously got a rocket up his arse about them at half time against Norwich. Do the stats on long balls differentiate between clearances, set pieces and aimed diagonal or cross field balls? I wonder this too. I've definitely seen a big improvement in our attempts to keep the ball on the deck, yet every game is followed bys us being slagged off on here for hoofing it too much. Which we clearly don't do as much as we have. It's like everyone is waiting to pounce on every long ball, and ignores the rest of the play. It was like the Anita nonsense after the Norwich match - most of his supposed 'hoofs' were 30 yard balls that he was trying to clip in behind the defence for Cisse. Symptomatic of the same fundamental problem with attacking fluidity, movement and build up play. We know a thread about that don't we boys and girls? Tra la la la tra la la la

He might have some itk on Ashley's urge to follow in the footsteps on Sammy Davis Jnr for all we know..

Originally from Erebor until the dragon Smaug took control of the Lonely Mountain. Currently homeless as he seeks to reclaim his kingdom. He's having a go at the Dwarves now!

We're so bad with it on the floor tbh, i can't make my mind up which is more painful

Needs commas to be better racism .

Dunno, Williamson seemed to be defying that idea against Norwich, like.

They are meant to be losing Douglas to us Gor for both then! If we're reportedly prepared to pay 2.5M euro for a back up LB then 2m euro for a very good CB prospect can't be a stretch to far can it? Not like we're blessed with depth there even if we get Douglas!

When you say 'some time ago' do you mean a couple of games ago?

Just saw a video (i know, i know...) of Pontus Jansson. Young CB from Malmo. Looks a really good prospect. Twente are said to be interested if they lose Douglas. Cheap!

He says maybe he should leave if there is no ambition. Not signing a single 1st team player last summer is pathetic for an ambitious club. In fact, it's not a sign of ambition at all. I love that he loves us but if he thinks we're becoming bad for his career we've lost him.

Think you'll manage to hold on to Benteke and Weiss?

Feel pretty sure that Jonas and Shola will start. Don't think he can help himself tbh.

I agree. We don't much much prestige attached to our name either and our manager is of no note internationally. In fact, he's worse than theirs. He wouldn't be signing for us because of the glory would he? So, it has to be about money and we can't afford him. Sincerely hope they've found someone we can afford.

NUFC are both in a relegation battle. QPR are deeper in it, it has to be said, but we're in it too. They also have a better manager. So, from the outside looking in, 2 clubs down the bottom of the division have approached him, one's offered him more money and a relegation release clause.

We'd be robbed if we did tbh.

Both have been on the money during this, no reason to doubt them now. Also all of our locals have said the same. Cheers. Moody.

I'm on my phone, can someone show me the info that QPR have offered him 80k?

We don't know what QPR have offered, we assume its a lot more but it might simply be a case of them including a relegation clause and us refusing to. Also possible Llambias has been a total arsehole to his agent. He has got form for this.

Capoue (Sissoko's teamate) would be an very good replacement for Tiote.

Pards is more interested in what you can do without the ball.

Lets be honest, nowt to do with Pardew this man Fact? I hope you're right but nobody knows. Cousin works at the ground text me this morning to say apparently his family f***ed off back home weeks ago and wont come back hence him wanting to leave. Not fact at all but its been mentioned on here a few times too to sound the most obvious reason. Any idea why they left?