ChrisJbarnes

Supposedly been playing well for MK Dons towards the end of the season. I always said that he just needed a run of games to show what he's capable of, and it's a shame he didn't get a proper chance to turn his career around here. There's a great player in there, with grit and determination and most importantly, experience. Just the sort of lad we could do with in our dressing room really, all the best for the future smudger.

It's Paul Merson's absolute holocaust of an article on sky sports. Kammy (who I like) wrote a similar but a bit less severe one.

I'd love to sit down with the four people who've appointed the new England manager and ask them: "What are you thinking?" The whole country - and I mean the whole country - wanted Harry Redknapp. I'm even talking about Arsenal fans who don't normally have anything nice to say about a Tottenham manager. So why have these four people take no notice of the whole country? Apart from Sir Trevor Brooking have the others ever actually played a game of football? I just can't believe the decision they've made. Hodgson: Merse feels he'll be up against it from the start I hope this isn't sounding disrespectful to Roy Hodgson because I'm a big fan of his. He's a lovely bloke, he's a top manager and he's got loads of experience - but he's going to be up against it straight away because everyone wanted someone else. I said on Soccer Saturday three weeks ago that I couldn't see Harry getting the job. It had gone on too long. If he was going to get it he would have got it straight away and I just felt they were waiting for the bandwagon to slow down and then pick someone else. Who do these four blokes care about? Do they care about England and their fans or do they care about themselves? They're not listening to the country - otherwise they'd have given the job to Harry. Paul Merson Quotes of the week But I still couldn't believe it when it came up on Sky Sports News on Sunday evening that they were approaching Hodgson. I thought I was seeing things. Who do these four blokes care about? Do they care about England and their fans or do they care about themselves? They're not listening to the country - otherwise they'd have given the job to Harry. I've played under Harry and I know he would have been perfect for the job. Firstly, he's brilliant with the press and you need to be able to have a laugh with the journalists. If you stand up and walk out of press conferences like Steve McClaren did then you're behind the eight-ball straight away. Secondly he always goes out to win football matches. It's very rare that you see a Redknapp team go anywhere and not have a right go. I played for him at Portsmouth and he always told us to go out and play. Also, all the players want to play for him, so I can't believe the decision they've made. I just don't get it, I really don't. Glutton You can't turn the England job down, but Roy Hodgson must be a glutton for punishment. He took the Liverpool job when the fans didn't want him because they wanted Kenny Dalglish instead. Now he's in the same situation with England and Harry. I don't see too many England fans who want him. So I think he's going to be up against it straight away. Every time he makes a decision, people will be asking if it's what Harry would have done. With Redknapp in charge there would have been no pressure on England at Euro 2012. For the first time in years nobody was talking the team up and nobody was really expecting us to win (although I actually believe we have half a chance). If Harry had got the job it would have been a great opportunity for England. But now there will be so much pressure on them it's ridiculous. If Hodgson doesn't get the results straight away the fans will be straight on his back. If they don't win the first friendly 3-0 or 4-0 there will be uproar! I've met Roy a few times. I've played against his teams on many occasions and just before Christmas I bumped into him in a restaurant and we stood outside and talked for 10 minutes. He's a really nice bloke and a top manager. But I feel really sorry for him because I don't think he's going to be given a chance. Money I hope this isn't about money. We've thrown enough money down the swanny with England managers over the years, especially with Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello. Why shouldn't we spend that sort of money on a top English manager? It seems to be frowned upon if an Englishman earns good money, but when it's a foreigner nobody says a word. Paul Merson's Twopenneth: "Hodgson has been an international manager before, but I don't see how that puts him ahead of Harry. He's been around for a hundred years working with international players. His son has played for England and he's been with top-class players all his career. I feel absolutely gutted for Harry. When any Englishman starts a career in coaching his dream is to manager the England football team and Harry is English through and through. I'm gutted when I play Championship Manager and I don't get offered the England job, so I can't imagine how he must be feeling. Seriously though, I'm devastated for him - and I feel sorry for Hodgson too as he's in a no-win situation. I hope he does well. I want England to win tournaments - and I'm sure Harry Redknapp does too - but he's going to be up against it right from the very start.

Hodgson, unlike Redknapp has international pedigree. In all honesty, I don't see Hodgson setting the world alight with England, but it'll be the players that are the reason why we continuously fail. English football, the national team, coaching and attitudes need a total overhaul before we will ever acheive anything as a footballing nation.

Apparently Cisse has either scored or got sent off in each of QPRs games that hes played in!

I think RDM will take off key players at half time and rest them for us, shut up shop in anticipation of the next few games. Shame QPR couldnt have at least given them a game...

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DSXwMarH6i6I&h=SAQErdh4H

After Wigangate, we're still 4th in the league and we've just lost a point on Arsenal. Avoiding defeat will be key here but we'll need to dig very deep for a win against either Chelsea or City now, and against Everton. 3 tough fixtures, will need 7 points.

1-1 Drogba, Ba

watching this Man City game, they dont look the sort of team we should fear. Wolves having a fairly good go, considering they're 20th.

Thought we were going to see another Pacers @ Pistons. No card. Malice at The Palace!!! This is a must read if you haven't before: http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/7612311/an-oral-history-malice-palace No one will click that. Was more for you, man! It's awesome reading what the players say about Artest in the locker room after. Read that article, it'll change your life. Read it a while back. It's top work. I'd recommend people click it, but this is a soccer board. So...

Always had respect for the Polish, and Eastern Europeans in general to be honest. Think they get a lot of shit they dont deserve from a lot of Brits- as a general rule they are friendly, outgoing and honest hard working people and I think we could learn a lot from them to be honest.

Habib Beye sent off for Doncaster, who are in the championship drop zone. Bet he must be kicking himself!

The stats are pretty damning: League Apps (2011/2012) Goals Papiss Cisse: 8 8 Demba Ba: 27 16 Luis Suarez: 26 7 Andrew Carroll: 28 3 Craig Bellamy: 18 6 Dirk Kuyt: 26 2 Steven Gerrard: 14 5 Cisse/Ba combo: 35 24 Liverpool combo: 112 23

Going to go with 1-1 AET with Liverpool jamming it on pens. EDIT: Didnt realise Howard Webb was the ref. 1-0 Man United it is.

Chelsea still have 4 tough away games against arsenal, fulham and liverpool as well as their champions league and FA cup fixtures. Get anything at Stamford Bridge and 5th is a very realistic possibility. Pinch me.

Still the only oppositon team to get something at the CoM though

I'm in Kenya and they are showing the celebrations of some meaningless game which inter win on pens!

I won't be donating but it's sad to see any football club in danger of collapse. All the best in sorting it out.

Didn't play

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/feb/09/bath-city-football-rename-stadium?newsfeed=true Bath City football club offers right to rename Twerton Park stadium for £50 Fans can enter a draw to rename the stadium after themselves or a family member – or choose a more mischievous name Bigger football clubs expect to bank millions of pounds when they give up the naming rights for their stadium. But for just £50, businesses, fans and even rival supporters are being given the chance to rename Bath City's stadium. The club suggests the winner could name the stadium after a friend, family member, a beloved past player, a charity or perhaps a newborn baby. A worry is that the winner might also favour a more mischievous name. The club is also encouraging traditionalists who do not hold with such frippery to enter the draw so that should they win they can keep the current name, Twerton Park. The Bath City chairman, Manda Rigby, said the idea was that those interested would pay £50 to enter a draw. The winner would be pulled out of hat and rename the stadium as he or she saw fit. Rigby said: "We pride ourselves on being innovative at Bath City, and the stadium name draw is just the most recent example. We hope that businesses locally and nationally will recognise the tremendous value of acquiring the naming rights to our ground for just £50 but we also want our fans and the general public to get involved as well." Rigby is entering the draw herself but for the moment keeping her choice of name secret. The club's captain, Jim Rollo, who has made more than 450 appearances for Bath, said some of the players were also entering the draw. "I think it's a brilliant idea," he said. Twerton Park is in the south-west of the city and has been home to the club since 1932. It has raised terraces and a view of central Bath. The club, whose most famous fan is Ken Loach, is not enjoying the best of seasons and is pretty firmly stuck at the foot of the Blue Square Bet Premier league. Those who enter the draw will also receive four tickets for Bath's match against Forest Green Rovers on Easter Monday. The draw will take place at half-time and any traditionalists should not worry too much – the new name will last for one season, 2012/13, only.

Id like Millwall or Dagenham away

Fulham away in January could be a big game. Currently only 8 points behind us- thought it was more and they always improve 2nd half of the season

Couldn't put it better myself.