tom1988

I think there needs to be a lot of work done on the behind the scenes stuff at the club, it can't just be down to bad luck that we suffer almost constant bouts of niggling injuries to players, whether it is poor management of their rehabilitation or inferior treatment something needs to be done about it. For as long as I can remember we've had players out for far longer than they should have been with injuries that at first appeared minor and then just lingered on or developed into new injuries. I'm no expert in this field but just a thought

Fixed. I did say it was a vent, grammar and punctuation weren't high on the list of my priorities

Every day I read this thread and all the arguments and counter arguments about Pardew and whether or not he should be given more time, more support, more chances or whatever and all are ridiculous! How sane and reasoned people can argue that this man is anything other than a yes man that comes across well in press conferences and satiates the media with interviews and soundbites is beyond me, he has the persona of wanting to be every ones best mate whether it's them in the boardroom, the media or just a normal guy on the street - Pardew wants to be liked. The fact of the matter is that he's completely useless at this level and with this amount of responsibility, despite all the vitriol (a lot of it justified) the Ashley regime has had directed towards them they have managed to assemble a very talented and potentially exciting squad which has had all flair, confidence and coherence drilled out of it by Pardew and his anti-tactics. These players for the most part have been sourced by Carr and his support staff and they have rightly received widespread praise, however think about those that Pardew has signed and Obertan springs to mind, someone that was recommended to him by Manure, because I'm sure they'd want to do us (just a small club from the north east) a favour in giving us a good player, if Pardew had any sense he could see that the lad wasn't cut out for the Premier League. Yes Pardew won both manager awards last season but that was more through default than any other reason and surely more of a reflection of his contemporaries surprise at our performance in the league. We were still abysmal in the cups. Last season we were playing with confidence and getting lucky a lot of the time, winning bred more confidence and this spurred the players on to ride the crest of the wave with the chance of getting into the top 4 going into the last day of the season. I would argue that very little of this was down to Pardew's coaching methods. Despite this success last year there were still glaring signs and examples that Pardew is tactically inept and incapable of putting a team out that can play with any form of identity and style, winning those awards just masked over the cracks. He's never been a good manager and never will be and those that bought into his pally approach and supposed motivational abilities based on last season are finally seeing him for what he is. I've never liked him as a manager or a person and the sooner we are rid of this goon the better. Regardless of whether or not we get relegated this season Pardew must go and we must move forward with a manager that has some tactical nous and the ability to manage a talented squad. Apologies for the length of the post but just had to vent.

The most enjoyable lost bet I've ever had but fuck me it was too close like. Now do I deposit more to go for qpr?

I've stuck a tenner on wigan for tomorrow night, I haven't won a bet since I predicted the new pope so no worries for tomorrow night now, we can all relax.

We should try and get Marcelo 'Madman' Bielsa from Bilbao, he has done wonders with them on a shoestring budget especially in cup competitions. Given that Bilbao have a habit of selling or losing their best players could see him wanting to move somewhere with a bit more stability....

Should have been the same for de jong too (and nolan in fairness)

Palace plus 2 others, really want Ian Holloway back on match of the day!

had a £1 on Bergoglio at 25-1

Have a feeling his next deal may be longer than the five year one we gave him, only this time it will be at one of her majesty's finest (or worst hopefully)

Had Cabaye (4-1) and Cisse (7-5) anytime goal scorers. Us DNB (4-5) Cisse to score and us to win too, last of my paddypower account. Tidy little £15 profit means I don't have to deposit for tomorrow night

This is how we should line up tomorrow night: Krul Debuchy MYM Colo Santon Sissoko Cabaye Anita Gouffran Marveaux Cisse Subs: Elliot Saylor Jonas Haidara Obertan Perch Shola Can't wait to hammer those bastards, just a shame we can't play them on the last day of the season at their place to return the sentiments of 09.

Getting Colo to simmer the fuck down and carry on being the beast that he is would be our biggest achievement now I reckon and would probably have me mopping up copious amounts of man juice if it can be done. If not then yeah Debuchy or Mbiwa.

Carlton Cole

A mate of mine living out in Buenos Aires says that the Argentinian media reckon he's had an affair with a girl over here and got her pregnant which is why his wife has moved back out there. Don't know whether this is just more speculation or if there's any element of truth in it, if their media is anything like the British then I wouldn't put it past them making shit up just to sell papers.

I think that HBA, whilst obviously a massive player for us when he's on form and playing at his best is still a luxury item in a way and whilst it can be argued that the fear factor that he provides us with is irreplaceable I still feel as though there are a number of players that would have to be on the team sheet before him because of their importance to the shape and solidity of the team, basically we don't look the same with them missing. So, 1. Colo (Obviously) 2. Krul (If he's out against Everton we'll look a lot more shaky at the back) 3. Jonas (Completely dependable and always an outlet) 4. Tiote (Anchors the midfield and allows Cabaye etc to play with more freedom) 5. Cabaye (When Tiote is behind him can really start influencing the game) 6. Cisse (Needs to be playing up top on his own a la last season but gives the team direction and purpose) 7. Saylor (Better than Williamson and was part of the defence that was so good at the start of last season) 8. HBA (As stated at the top, amazing on his day but not essential) 9. Ba (Feels wrong putting him so low down but as far as the shape of the team goes more of a hindrance than a help so far this season) 10/11. Santon/Simpson/Raylor (All good on their day but aren't gonna win any awards)

7th would be about par given that we won't be as much of a surprise package as last year, the small squad along with the extra fixtures etc. Any higher and it should be considered a success. Hoping for another run of wins like last year at some point, if not then could easily slide into the mire of mid table.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2183077/Mathieu-Debuchy-angry-Lyon-preventing-Newcastle-move.html brilliantly researched and written this... I think not.

danny fuckin simpson man

Would love to see Falcao up front for us next season, if only....if only...

I'd have Pavlyuchenko here in a heartbeat, he is a million times better than what we've got at the moment

Come on Falcao and porto win, £30 for me if it does

I'm not a fan, the maroon kit they had a few years back was better as far as special commemorative kits go.

Dorrans has been really poor this season considering how well he played in the Championship last year. He's been injured for a fair bit of the season though apparently, west brom fans rate him pretty highly too

Been back down home (near stoke) for the weekend to see the olds and there's loads of people walking round with them on. Got talking to a lad I used to go to school with and he said he was "dead excited when he saw it and even pre-ordered it". Just goes to show Stoke fans are clueless