Pilko

Gypsy Rose Lee couldn't anticipate Dicehead's flick-on's man.

I'd like to think we'd be able to at least give Hughton a fighting chance by getting a few decent coaches and assistants in upon gaining promotion. At the minute, it just seems to be Hughton, Calderwood and Paul Barron, after that just one fitness coach and then the ones working with the youths.

Don't think it's anything to do with Kinnear, just he's a cautious bloke who knows the fans didn't want him in charge in the first place. It's certainly had an effect, running so many training sessions (on his own pretty much) that were 90% focused on defensive training. Playing Devil's advocate but who can argue with only 12 goals conceded in 21 games? Throw in 8 points clear at the top of the League and 3 manager of the month awards out of 4... We can all see the faults and deficiencies but he's got the results to back him up. Personally I'd say the clean sheets are more down to the quality of the back four and Smith's form than the actual tactics. Having said that, Smith is almost like a third centre back at times, although whether that's how he plays the DM role or what Hughton has told him to do is anyone's guess.

Don't think it's anything to do with Kinnear, just he's a cautious bloke who knows the fans didn't want him in charge in the first place. It's certainly had an effect, running so many training sessions (on his own pretty much) that were 90% focused on defensive training.

If you look beneath the surface, then there's a reason for it.

Actually, I think that Hughton would be much better if he hadn't worked under Kinnear for almost six months. All that horrible, cunty, negative play seems to have been inplanted firmly into his head.

No-one would boo Derek Wright though, he'd only have to glare at you and you'd shut the fuck up and sit down instantly.

Thing is though, I think this squad is too good for Hughton to not get promoted with. If we get through January not losing anyone (except Butt, Geremi or any of the naffer youngsters) and manage to retain Simpson, that's one foot in the Premier League for me.

Simpson? Makes sense otherwise tbf. I think Simpson will be staying past January, although the other two I don't think that. Having said that, if my theory was true then Harewood probably would have started.

3-1 to us o.g for them Taylor, Martins and Lovenkrands for us

To be honest, it's getting close to Christmas fixture pile-up time. Maybe he's getting the last few minutes he can out of the loanees as he knows he has to keep Kadar, Lovenkrands, Ameobi fresh for this little run.

Seems to me almost like Hughton was treating this like a cup game, or even a friendly game. Baffling stuff.

Friedel had very little to do there. A very subdued performance from Man United.

Shola has an excellent record against Boro, he has to play.

Crouch, Defoe, Heskey, Rooney for me. He won't take 5.

Rodallega's penalty today. :lol:

Live on BBC? Excellent. I reckon 3-1 to us.

Nothing today, nada.

Been out today. Where was Guthrie, injured or what?

There isn't much value this weekend at all.

Surely he'll have to rest Butt? He can't be playing Wednesday/Saturday.

Man Utd Chelsea Spurs Norwich Huddersfield £3 = £31 Burnley Bury Port Vale £2 = £42 Sunderland Man City Wigan £1 = £11

GG.

Other teams can go on similar runs so we have to aim to for 90 points because that'll get us automatically promoted, for sure. The only team in the league apart from us capable of that are WBA...Boro perhaps. I don't think Boro will tbh. They're better than their recent form, but they won't hit 90 points.

Me too. I remember when we first signed him, he'd get the ball out wide, walk up to the opposition right back, shuffle his feet a few times, then pass it back to Babayaro on the halfway line. Nothing really ever changed, under Kinnear he was getting 90 mins every game and producing the sum total of fuck all every week. I can only remember two assists last year and they both came from deflected crosses [stoke (a), Man City (h)].