simonlemagnifique

Can you point to where it's worked in the UK? Koeman is a Manager by the way. You don't arrive at a club quickly followed by ex-players and top players from your homeland by coincidence. It's in it's infancy here really. Plenty examples of the opposite going tits skyward though. Something has to change. But no I can't really. In the prem I suppose spurs closest resemble it although not fully. So it's great when utilised properly but there's no evidence of it having been utilised properly? I'm sold. Plenty of evidence of it working fine on the continent. I don'd see why the prem should be any different.

If that's the case, why isn't he confirmed already?

It's to show how much talent/potential was wasted by "the right man". If they weren't happy with Pardew's use of those players they'd have sacked him. Not after giving him that mental contract the wouldn't. And don't get hung up on the "right man" bollocks - Charnley can't come out and say "Pardew was a bit shit if we're honest" He clearly wasn't the right man if they're looking for his polar opposite.

This is an argument against getting a shit manager, and for a head coach aligned with our purchasing policy, right?

To be honest, the best part of the last 4 years have been the players we've signed. I don't understand why we wouldn't want a manager whose ideas on football are aligned with Carr's.

How do you know they didn't?

No sources, and the Mag don't half print some shite, but... http://www.themag.co.uk/the-mag-articles/roma-drop-mapou-yanga-mbiwa-avoid-contract-clause-buy/

I didn’t call them thick as pig shit for wanting Evans to play for their club, he’d have been an excellent signing – but like I said above, it goes well beyond just signing a player who would tear up the league. The guy has serious baggage. I was calling them thick as pig shit for parading the banner – it draws more attention to the whole situation and to themselves too, I just think it was a little ill advised. Sure, be frustrated that a goal scorer could have been obtained on a free, but keep opinions on things like that away from the public eye. For many football fans I’m sure they’ve come across in a light far worse than I portrayed them in… Fair enough on that, didn't read like that to me, but that's likely down to my reading more than your writing

Sure the petitioners are entitled to an opinion, but I can understand that the Oldham fans could be upset at people with nothing to do with the club imposing their will on the club. This is what's happened - as a result of the 70,000 people totally unconnected to their club, (and the apparent rape(!) threats against club staff) they haven't got a player who would be utterly transformative for them. Sure, it's easy sitting on high and disagreeing with somebody who puts their club's on pitch success ahead of your morals, but last season he played, in Oldham's league, and absolutely tore it up, scoring almost a goal a game (36 in 42). If Messi was available for Newcastle, on a free, with affordable wages, after he had a (contentious) rape case go against him, who wouldn't be at least momentarily tempted? Messi! At Newcastle! This is the future Oldham fans saw a glimpse of, and they liked it, and then they had it taken from them, by people who will never give Oldham a second thought ever again in their lives. And then they complain about it, and you call them thick as pig shit.

Thus reiterating my point that they're advocating a rapist and coming across thick as pig shit. 70,000 people against a convicted rapist playing football again isn't exactly an enormous amount. How many fans WOULD want him playing for their club? So you agree that the chances are they probably aren't "assuming every single person who signed the petition is an Oldham fan"? Oh absolutely OK, cool... Not trying to be a dick, but this bit isn't quite clear to me... could you reword it for the hard of thinking please?

Thus reiterating my point that they're advocating a rapist and coming across thick as pig shit. 70,000 people against a convicted rapist playing football again isn't exactly an enormous amount. How many fans WOULD want him playing for their club? So you agree that the chances are they probably aren't "assuming every single person who signed the petition is an Oldham fan"?

No, they're not wondering where the petition signees are, they know full well that the petition signers are anywhere but Oldham. They didn't get to the match, look at the acres of empty seats and express their bewilderment at the lack of Wembley attendances by way of banner... The banner kids are expressing their view that the petition signers clearly have nothing to do with the club, and don't speak for [this set of] oldham fans. And that's it.

They clearly are, however the banner is expressing one group of people's upset at another group's interference; not their disbelief that all the people on a petition haven't shown up to their ground.

Exactly Exactly what? 70,000 people signed a petition, no sensible person said 70,000 Oldham fans signed a petition. More than just Oldham fans have an opinion on this. Yep. Shows them Oldham fans up for a) seemingly supporting a convicted rapist joining their club, b) assuming every single person who signed the petition is an Oldham fan and c) being thick as pig shit a) well yes, that does seem to be the point b) not really, the point is that 70,000 people not connected with the club in any meaningful way signed the petition c) they weren't the ones misinterpreting a 4 word banner

http://forum.olweb.fr/showthread.php?152812-D%E9part-de-Remi-Garde-au-revoir-coach-!/page2 Quite a few fans gutted at his leaving there

What a difference the manager can make, even in the most trying of circumstances... http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/oct/06/nuno-valencia-atletico-madrid

Was that Mbiwa taking Tevez out?!

Holy shit that goal

Imagine going from defending next to our shower to being partnered with Manolas... Unreal defender.

I know Roma have some class players, but their coaching must be class. That goal was lovely. 1-2 to Roma, a lot of pressure due from Juve on that back line. Looking forward to seeing how Mbiwa copes...

Roma/Juve match kicking off big style. Tasty match this!

"We want Parde out - we want Pardew out"

Well pleased we chose Colo over that Mbiwa freak. Well up for the physical nature of the Premier League.

Mid to late 40s i think. According to Wikipedia, he was 50 yesterday...

With Cabella and de Jong out; surely, surely there's some little voice at the back of his head, twisting, taunting... "ben Arfa might be useful right about now..." Hope the cunt chokes on the bile from the effort of suppressing that nagging little voice.