quayside

He really doesn't, the free kicks he scored against us for Wigan were better than decent efforts as well

He's always had decent skills on the ball and an eye for a pass (and yes he's had a mare or two along the way) but to me he looks physically in far better nick than last season. Edit: I sort of agree with the post above!

Steady, you'll end up on the MOTD sofa with that sorta analysis. The facts are that we can score goals for fun and we rarely concede: however you arrive at that situation--total football or counter-attacking blitzes--that is how you win games. People continually saying we're lucky are missing the point: aye, sometimes we get dominated for spells, but we can allow that as we're sorted at both ends where it actually counts. We rode our luck a bit today on the not conceding score mind. We've ridden our luck in a few games but its impossible to go through a season without being ripped. Man City could have been well done tonight by QPR with some better finishing, and ManU conceded 6 not so long ago. And one of those two clubs will probably win the league this season.

Just trying to figure out what their definition of a big player would cost

He gives 100% every time - he gets stuck in every game even if he's knackered, even if we are under the cosh and he's playing as a second left back, and even if he has to play on the right because Sameobi is playing wide left....he's a top player and I'm glad we've got him

Yup - and old saggy face Redknapp was right at the front of the queue when glamour was being handed out

Don't know about anyone else but I found a picture of a big cock - seems about right tbh.

Haven't enjoyed a performance and a result like this for years. We owed this lot a stuffing and we shafted them good and proper.

He must have been shot to pieces when he went coz he did f"ck all after he left us. Liked him when he was with us (first time round) and still reckon he's an alright lad...

You are welcome to hate Ashley by all means, but get your facts straight before you come out with stuff like that. He acquired the club for about £140 million and at the last count had put approx another £140 million in over and above the acquisition price. Go ahead and break that down in a manner that shows he is not responsible for every single extra penny he put in over the acquistion price. Why should I do as you demand? It's highly subjective as to how much of that cash he is responsible for but, more importantly, it has absolutely nothing to do with the point. It's like me now saying go ahead and explain how we would have got on without Ashley's cash and relying on bank borrowings to fund us. You made a statement that was bollox and I pointed it out and that is all...

Orchestrated riots kept the run going this season. Wonder what they'll come up with in 2012 - maybe something to do with that f*cking Olympic stadium?

I hate this lot as much as any side in the league. Pulis was clearly created from the spawn of a very young Allardyce. I'd love it if we did them in a horrible 1-0.

You are welcome to hate Ashley by all means, but get your facts straight before you come out with stuff like that. He acquired the club for about £140 million and at the last count had put approx another £140 million in over and above the acquisition price.

1. Depends on what the aims of the club are, and then 2. Only if those acquisitions are good enough to stay in the PL, and then 3. Only in the short term if money saved/made is used to pay off a debt to the owner and not reinvested in the team. So from a supporter's point of view rather than that of a businessman who makes money by capitalising on the customer base and good name of once-established quality brands while reducing the quality of the product, probably not. Wow. I think the malevolent spirit in your post just melted my screen. No one does malevolence quite like UV.....

It was an interesting OP, it would be good to hear from some of the more rabid Ashley haters on whether they think there has been a move in the right direction. I actually think that the change in strategy with transfers was not so much to do with Xisco but came from what Ashley thought of some of the dross that Allardyce brought into the club. The first attempts to do it better and differently were fairly disastrous in terms of where it took the club in the season Keegan left, but I do think it was Allardyce that sparked the strategy change.

Because he's bitter. After both himself and his stupid agent were deluded enough to believe Arsenal would even consider signing him. Given that he's the captain of a team that's just lost 6-0, maybe he should be paying attention to problems nearer home. I do wonder whether he's got his eye on a career in the media after his retirement. As with the example of Robbie Savage, the TV people seem to be going for a 'personality' who can be a bit 'outspoken', within reason. Talking crap or talking in cliches is not a disqualification. He definitely seems to be angling for something in the media after he's finished playing. Nailed on for Strictly Come Dancing.

7th

I don't think much of Llambias but have to agree with you that it is better to have a set up where everyone in the tent is pissing out. I'm still not sure what evidence there is that Pardew was mates with Ashley or Llambias before he got the job. I've seen the Aspers photo but wasn't that recent? Also agree with you about those who blame him for taking the job, as you say business is not fair and anyway AP did not sack Hughton. At least the club had a replacement lined up when they did get rid, and that hasn't always been the case.

And Kinnear? Sheer desperation. Who else would take the job? One of Ashley's Spurs mates probably knew JFK and put him in touch.

Bale doesn't often play left back these days. more likely to be Assou-Ekotto.

Under Hughton we got 2 points out of 15 in our home matches against Blackburn, Fulham, Blackpool, Stoke and Wigan. You have to look at those sorts of games as opportunities to stick points on the board. I always felt we would really struggle when key players were missing under CH as well. I've thought AP is an upgrade from fairly early on in his time here, although I would still admit that it is highly subjective.

Fugazi said "in recent times". Does Laurent Robert count as a player in recent times? Just asking....

I think Oba Martins divided opinion impressively tbh.

It was a calculated decision to get him out, and no one wanted him other than QPR - even on a free.