Hughesy

Yep - love the fact that he actually attacks full backs and runs at them at pace. It makes such a difference.

He looked good tonight.

When was the last time we played good football for the majority of a season? I reckon it was 2002-03.

How can anyone care if people use the anglicised version of a club's name? I know it's pet hates, but come on. I don't go round called Bayern Munich, Bayern Munchen and don't intend to.

I've heard rumours it is Gomis.

This - he just wanted his money. Having decided the money he had taken out previously wasn't quite enough.

All that Kinnear appears to have overseen is the weakening of an already inadequate squad. I would love to understand the rationale behind selling Perch this summer if we never intended to buy anyone. Or indeed why we didn't offer Simpson the extra money he wanted to stay.

Why was he brought in to buy players if, all along, we didn't need them? Why is he actually here?

Surely the difference in the quotes people keep bringing up is because of Cabaye's refusal to play? It isn't that strange.

Did he get a lot of service at Freiburg?

Kind of a massive factor to ignore..

First footballing hero was Liam O'Brien I think. Although I remember thinking Kevin Brock was pretty good back in the day. Probably too many players to name after that that I have had as heroes. I used to be a huge fan of Gary Speed - I used to find it hard to contain myself when the idiots used to have a go at him.

This breaking of teeth on players sounds like a poor negotiating tactic.

Keep saying it but isn't Bielsa still available after leaving Bilbao? Throw a bit of cash at him and get him in.

You would like to think that even the thickest person would have clicked that the more he talks about a player to the press then the more likely something happening becomes more likely. Waffle, waffle, waffle - Gone. Waffle, waffle, waffle - Gone. Waffle, waffle, waffle - Doh. Priceless. You actually believe that??

How can we be lovers if we cant be friends? How can we start over when the fighting never ends ? Baby, how can we make love if we can't make amends?

When making reference to a player we received a bid for on the day of a game? Yes, there is every chance this word could be used at some point. Why that'd be laughed at, other than it being Pardew, I'm not sure. Surely you know the rules by now? We don't like Pardew. Therefore, he can't use excuses that other managers use. In fact, there can be no excuses. Ever.

I still want Bielsa. I was looking wistfully at his wikipedia entry earlier today.

Managers with small squads who play in Europe use Europe as an excuse. Shocking revelation. I can't actually believe people needed to have that pointed out.

Better than scouting Kuyt I reckon..

I love it when we start talking about accounts. WHAT ABOUT PLAYER AMORTISATION? SOMEONE THINK ABOUT THE AMORTISATION!!!

I thought he took some money out of the club to pay the 'extra' loan he made us when we went down?

I do wish we actually had a list of strikers to buy that went beyond Gomis and Bent. That in itself seems a bit strange. One would hope that if we are asked to pay 10 million for Gomis and we don't think this is acceptable and we don't think 6 million for Bent is acceptable... there must be some other options?

:thup: A local lad who knew what it meant to play for this great football club, when we could have played for any other team in the world. The injury at Goodison meant we didn't get enough of him at his absolute best (last 2 seasons at Blackburn when only Ronaldo was a better striker in the world around those years up to 97) but still the greatest English striker ever produced and watching him play for us for 10 years was an absolute privilege, and to still manage 206 goals was phenomenal. I don't care about the he should have retired a year or 2 earlier argument, seeing him get the record and watch him score his last goal for us while we thrashed those lot on their own manor was worth it. A perfect ending for an absolute legend. Don't buy in to this he stopped some amazing Kluivert/Bellamy partnership either. Other than Palace, can anyone name a couple of games where they looked the business together? Still scored more than Bellamy ever did for us in a season when he was 35. Even tried to step up and take charge to stop us from going down, knowing the risk of failure, that's how much he cares about this club. Growing up an absolute hero to me and many others. Happy birthday Al. Spot on.