Hughesy

I still think they should have a play off between 4th place in the league and the FA Cup winners to get the last Champions League place. It would mean people would take the FA Cup more seriously, could potentially make the CL less of a closed shop and, if they insist on the whole 39th game thing, make that play off the 39th game.

Cool - another club who would have a manager I wished we had. He seems to have done such a good job with Chile, I'm surprised no-one has gone after him already to be honest.

Isn't there a bit in there (spoiler alert) about how great Lascelles will be?

Tuchel and HBA - beautiful.

Really good today - showed what he is capable of.

Agreed - just can't see how this can go on. Might as well lose the next 2 and get a new manager in for villa..

Changing the manager and appointing a decent manager would make a huge difference. I can't even begin to fathom how someone can't see that.

Was discussing this with my brother yesterday - the 35 year old Rob Lee we had in midfield was still head and shoulders above any midfielder we currently have.

Totally agree. Though can see the argument in terms of solidity/organisation. He's not going to have the charisma required in the long term though. Yeah I can see that. That's why I'd definitely prefer a Keegan/Klopp etc kind of character - someone with a bit gravitas who the players actually respect. Me too but name one...... The problem with those personalities though is that they don't take commands off arseholes like Ashley. Bielsa definitely. Don't know enough about him - but I assume Jemez would fall into that camp potentially.

Totally agree. Though can see the argument in terms of solidity/organisation. He's not going to have the charisma required in the long term though. Yeah I can see that. That's why I'd definitely prefer a Keegan/Klopp etc kind of character - someone with a bit gravitas who the players actually respect.

Why, out of interest? Not having a go. Just think that because of his experience with Everton, he would be able to bring some solidity to a very unsolid team. It wouldn't be pretty but he gets a team organised and compact.

I don't think you could say no to Moyes, but personally I'd rather a 'personality' type manager, someone who can lead by strength of his character. Someone like Bielsa or Jemez for me. Would never happen though. Suppose you could also consider Favre? Not sure what he is up to now.

He's actually embarrassingly bad.

Have to say that I was expecting a greater impact from Cathro, given he came with such a good reputation.

Genuinely no idea what he is doing for that second goal. I can't even fathom what he thought he was doing.

Really wanted to give him a bit of time, against all my instincts that he was a terrible choice, but this is just unacceptable. Even the ethos he is trying to implement (only attacking after 6 passes, giving the ball away so we can expose the opposition defence or some such crap) is manifestly wrong.

Same. Honestly the open training sessions were some of my best days out as a kid, getting autographs and photos with the players, it's a massive shame how any sort of connection between players and fans has been lost. Was reading the Martin Hardy book this summer and was looking at one of the open training session photos and was pretty surprised to see an 11 year old me there with my family.

Always thought he had the potential to be pretty good.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/nov/01/football-heading-brain-damage Recent article on concussion and heading in the Guardian.

I'm not convinced Monk is any near as good as people seem to now think he is to be honest.

Shearer absolutely spot on with his analysis of the Remy incident there.

That should be a penalty.

Do you and Souness often listen to podcasts together? Nah tbh I didn't know that either. - me and Graeme often sit down to listen to podcasts together. He insists on talking through the fucking things, the annoying twat.

Brilliant - really hope he impresses.

Was listening to podcast by Graham Hunter with Graeme Souness and I didn't realise that Hellas Verona won Serie A in 1984-85. For any Italian football experts... how did that happen?