Hughesy

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

What exactly is a Toontastic? It sounds exciting.

Me on several occasions. still would as well.. Anyone but Alan Fartgoo I only asked once..

Who has touted Redknapp for the job?

I think it is meant to be 1992.

It will make the last day a bit more interesting if Wigan win. Otherwise relegation and Champions League qualification will be pretty much decided.

You've sold him to me to be honest. Not sure we would be able to play his 3-3-1-3 though.

I've been to Singapore and I have posted while on holiday in Singapore. Does that count?

The 'dossier' idea is actually quite a good one.

It does seem unlikely that Ashley would be willing to risk the value of the players we have bought through underachievement if he regards Pardew as being the main reason for our poor performance. It would fly in the face of everything we think we know about Ashley. I can see him persisting with his heaviliy incentive-based managerial contracts though and that will unfortunately limit who we can attract I suspect.

What's Bielsa's position at Athletic like? They don't seem to have been as successful this season. Is he likely to move on at some point?

I'd agree with that. I do think we underplay our potential attraction to other managers. I would like to think that a decent manager would look at us and see that we have the nucleus of a good team and see an opportunity to become a club legend. I really hope that Ashley doesn't waste the opportunity to make the best of what is a talented squad. I honestly think it would be quie simple to get a better manager on a similar salary to Pardew's.

Don't know how you can't be relieved..

Table looks the best it has looked for a while..

Yeah - French international, but really shite. Jesus - some people.