Hughesy

Yep - never quite understand why people don't think Ben Arfa should put in a defensive shift. More effective and consistent players do so I am not sure why Ben Arfa should be exempt.

Did very well at Blackburn without much money, did a very good job with Wales and did well at Fulham. Don't get me wrong - wouldn't want him to be our manager, but I don't think he is anywhere near as bad as everyone makes out.

They had a pretty easy run to the final..

We all know why that is, "Hatem, get back." To be fair, the wonderful chap in your avatar told a far more effective wide player to do the same. You can't just allow your FB to get continually exposed. Spot on. See also recent articles re Robben and Ribery.

Yes, but not exactly a long way to Nice and other places and the whole coast is one of the most beautiful areas in Europe, so I don't think he will be bored. Spot on - can't think of many better places to play football with a load of money..

Monaco itself is, but the South of France is an unbelievably brilliant place.

Spot on.

I am still not convinced that Ashley lacks ambition beyond staying in the division. I can't see him standing for another season of underachievement - if only because another season of underachievement will devalue the players we have and potentially undermine the whole blueprint.

What's frustrating is that I'm absolutely certain that if we appointed Benitez and gave him 4-5 years, he would win us a trophy of some kind and a few European campaigns. It might only be a League Cup that we won, but I wouldn't care..

I reckon they are only 2 or 3 players away. One would be an absolute top quality striker though.

They were never going to sack him before the end of the season in my opinion. The fact they haven't done so yet isn't that significant I don't think.

But ridiculously inaccurate. A bit embarrassing for Waddle really.

What a bloke. Will miss him.

Seems as if he suffered from depression earlier in his career, according to article in Times tomorrow.

IMO there's a difference between shrewd and bright. Not doing due dilligence and hiring Wise and Pards isn't bright by a long shot. he was lucky with the share offer of his company and the then sudden financial crisis which let him buy the shares back cheap and so on...luck. Downing that pint and trying to stand with the supporters and buying drinks says to me he has a nero complex and we all know how that ended up. I think he's a gambler - but you don't build up a a business empire from nothing without being shrewd/bright or whatever word you want to use.

Think to describe Ashley as being lucky and not that bright might be underestimating the guy..

September 19th 7 players out including Cisse, Krul, Coloccini and Tiote December 13th 7 players out including Ben Arfa, Cabaye and both Taylors January 16th 6 Player out including Simpson, Ben Arfa and STaylor March 6th 6 Players out including Coloccini, Krul and Ben Arfa April 24th 8 Players out including Tiote, Krul, Coloccini, Santon He's a stat man, Ski-Bi dibby dib yo da dub dub Yo dab dub dub Ski-Bi dibby dib yo da dub dub Yo dab dub dub

I read his article as stating more that the achievements of English managers are often underplayed which means that they don't get the opportunity to prove themselves at bigger clubs. Taking Moyes as an example - if he was an Italian manager in an Italian league, I think it is fair to say that he would have got an opportunity earlier in his career to manage a 'big' club sooner. I am probably going to show up my lack of foreign footballing knowledge here, but look at the 'local' managers that have managed big clubs in Italy over the last 20 years or so: AC Milan: Giorgio Morini, Alberto Zaccheroni, Massimiliano Allegri Inter: Giampiero Marini, Ottavio Bianchi, Luciano Castellini, Luigi Simoni, Marco Tardelli, Corrado Verdelli, Alberto Zaccheroni, Gian Gasperini, Andrea Stramaccioni. Juventus: Ciro Ferrara, Alberto Zaccheroni, Luigi Del Neri, Antonio Conte. Roma: Cesare Prandelli, Luigi Del Neri, Bruno Conti, Luciano Spalletti, Vincenzo Montella. Has many of the above 'achieved' as much as Moyes? Martinez? I mean even the point about Bruce is valid (to a degree) - the guy has actually got a decent record at getting teams promoted and did a good job at Wigan (and with hindsight, an alright one at Sunderland). However, there was never a chance he would manage a top club in England. We just don't give English managers the chances to manage top English teams in the way that an Italian club would to an Italian manager.

Steve Bruce might be taking the example a bit far, but it is pretty clear what he is arguing.

If you actually read the article, he isn't really touting Pardew for the Man City job at all. The headline is somewhat sensationalist and misleading.

I can't decide. I keep changing my mind.

Written by Harry 'Sherlock'. Oh yeah... I see what they've done.

See the twitter/transfer rumours in the press threads I was there first and deemed it 'not worthy of a thread'.

Not sure what Lee is talking about: Lee Ryder ‏@lee_ryder 1m Rooney's agent Paul Stretford and @kennethshep thought to be mystified by Sports Direct's website linking #nufc with Wayne Rooney #mufc