

Abacus
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Everything posted by Abacus
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Be interesting to see what would happen to the rules about related party sponsorships if Qatar took them over.
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Saints; So, Steve, would you like to manage Southampton? Bruce; You had me at ham
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Cracking finish, really pleased for him. After helping keep us up last season, to become a player who comes off the bench to shore things up this time round, he's become pretty useful. Just please don't say he's about to start smacking in goals all over the shop like Almiron now. Otherwise I'll have to believe that Eddie Howe really is not of this earth.
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Yep, two draws please. And for us to stomp all over Southampton, hit third place and really put the cat amongst the pigeons. Well, I can dream, right?
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Imagine growing up as a big Fan of Massive Lads in Papua New Guinea, after your parents conceived watching the Netflix documentary. If only there was a way to expand your catchment area, so that two of you could club together for a dodgy satellite dish to properly support the lads. Then your eye catches the vast Pacific ocean. And another mag enemy is born.
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Has anyone asked Hassenhutl whether we're allowed to play our new signings yet?
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Yeah, I didn't care about him getting a few things wrong about the takeover - everybody did. Not criticising one of the worst managers we've ever had? Nope. A serious blemish against a usually otherwise excellent sports writer.
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A quote from a Martin Hardy article in the Times, when asked about qualifying for the Champions League next season; "An outrageous question. We are happy where we are. We are just trying to win every game. Our job is to keep the players very level to win the next game. It is not my job to keep a lid on expectations. I want the supporters to enjoy everything they have seen. Let them enjoy it." Perfect. He's the real deal. I really do feel that I can kick back, relax and enjoy the rollercoaster ride now.
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Joelinton. Right from the moment I read about him getting his own fitness trainer to try and turn his own career around, to watching him absolutely dominate teams now. Even the fact that he's not a natural striker now just means that I'm absolutely pumped up when he does score. I still don't even know what exact kind of player he is, but I do know he's been a sensation since Howe raised this club from the dead.
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Admittedly, I should have said something about Callum Wilson in this thread. He's not had a long run in the team to see what he's like then. He has the talent, just hasn't had the run of games to consistently find his groove. Steve Watson in commentary on Radio Newcastle yesterday said that Wilson is clearly the next best option for Kane. But that, selfishly, he'd rather he didn't go and stayed fit for Newcastle. Which is exactly what I think too. But, you know. You can't be selfish about these things as it's his dream to be called up. So, through slightly gritted teeth, on balance I hope he goes. And then tears the tournament up. Edit: it would also be quite something, for our team spirit as well, if Pope, Burn, Trippier and Wilson were all on the plane.
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* wrongly, in my opinion It is not a club set up, in that they aren't together all the time or going through training for most of the year since that happens at their actual clubs. They have no loyalty to each other outside of the tournaments. Worse, it breeds complacency in those who are picked regardless of skill or form at club level, and makes it pointless for players who are on form but not part of the cosy little club. It also makes you less likely to win a tournament, by not having your best players there. I'm sorry, but you pick the best team on current form, not on emotional attachment. And then, as England manager, your MAIN JOB is to then mould whoever that is into a team and create that spirit. Not to decide on your team first and then try and work on their weaknesses after in a few crucial weeks. Quite honestly, if Harry Maguire ends up going to the World Cup instead of Dan Burn (who plays in two positions as part of the league's best defence), then the hopeless wazzock needs a good paddling.
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People have been talking about improving our songbook. It's the least we can do to get 52,000 to learn that. I'm so happy for him - loved the clip the other day of his family being delighted too. After all his earlier struggles, a bit like with big Joe, it makes you root for them all the harder. I'll actually be gutted whenever some of this team leave now!
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Nice try, Agent tumblers
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Might be reading it wrongly, but in that article his manager seems to be suggesting he needs to do more in training. Whatever, as a breakthrough year, you'd think he needs regular competitive football. As he survived the last time, he probably needs to get his pissed up agent to drive him back to Reims.
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It's staggering what a lord of misrule he was, on every level. I wonder what ever happened to his lawsuit against Stavely - I haven't heard whether that one went anywhere or is now closed. I'll rest easy then, even if he still seems to be circling round distressed clubs to get back into the sport. I can understand why fans of those clubs might wish it from the outside, but I don't want them to have to find out that it would be like making a wish on a monkey's paw.
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What does make it amusing this season, though, is that Arsenal, Man United, Barcelona and Juventus are all going to be playing in it. This despite them being four of the clubs who thought it was so beneath them that they wanted to stitch up being in the top European competition through the ESL fiasco. Despite them just proving that none of them are good enough to qualify at all, or to the proper part of the competition, on actual merit. Sod them, wanting to bake in their own mediocrity into their own closed 'elite' competition. So let them play Thursday nights, and run their squads ragged in a competition they don't want and dare to think they are above. Ha ha ha ha. And indeed ha.
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Be funny if he changed his mind again.
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You could predict that kind of response to the letter once Villa bounced back. "The players need to take a long hard look at themselves" type of comment. It's from the usual pundits who will just put everything down to 'heart' and 'desire', as if a manager's only job is to throw in a few soundbites ten minutes before a match and then give it over to the players. Just like with Bruce, there are too many people who are either his mates or had predicted he'd be a success and so now either can't or won't admit they were wrong. I watched Gerrard's last game in charge, looked at how disorganised Villa looked, watched him on the touchline staring cluelessly, and then listened to his cliche ridden press conference after. The parallels with Bruce were incredible. It's even more frustrating when they ignore the views of the thousands of fans who watch every week, follow their team through thick and thin, know their players and spend their days thinking about the team and tactics, debating it with their friends etc. But no, they're all wrong and deluded, and you should listen to whatever half sentence the likes of Gabby Agbonlahor manages to string together that day instead.
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My only concern about Howe would be the risk of burnout. He clearly loves the job, but hopefully he's able to take the odd break due to the intensity he brings to everything. When he started, we were totally in the clarts, it was nerve shredding and he was responsible for everything, from recruitment, to training, to man-management, to dealing with the press etc. I'd have slept for a month after that first season. Glad there's more of a team around him now as that wasn't sustainable.
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Out of many, he was my man of the match today. From hobbling off on Wednesday night to then putting in a magnificent shift the whole game. What a warrior - you really do not want to be on the other team as this guy.
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I thought Burnley only had terrible players that you shouldn't buy?
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It would be interesting to see what their attendances would be if they subtracted all the thousands of mags that snuck in.
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I liked the tiny little screen above that amatuer abomination of a display saying "Welcome to Sunderland".
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Captain Steak Bakes (now managing Blackpool/revising history)
Abacus replied to David Edgar's topic in Football
Yes, haway the Baggies! -
Hehehe. It's somehow even better that a Bruce-less West Brom are winning. If he'd still been in charge when they played each other, I was genuinely thinking of rooting for the mackems in that game, so that's a relief.