teignman

Yeah, it looked like he was spitting in disgust and not at Walker. That is, unless, Popov's spitting is as wayward as some of his crosses.

My point is that if AVB hadn't been so stubborn, he would've been more successful. Hence, we probably would not have had the need to sack him. Who knows what would've transpired in the CL were that the case. I'd rather not persist in trafficking in the hypothetical....

I agree to an extent, especially the Ramires comp, but at this point we have an appalling dearth of CM's. This and the fact Sissoko just turned 23 last August and could still improve by some measure. On the financial side, his fee was £2.2m, and he was reportedly on less than 20k a week at Toulouse. Even if we matched the duration of his contract with the Geordies (6.5 years) and doubled his wages his total cost over the life of his contract (fee included), his cost would've have been a little over £14m. And that my friends, is a hell of deal for a player of his age, abilities, and potential. He would have plenty of resale value as well.

AVB could quite possibly finish above us due to our inadequacies, and the fact that he has learned from his mistakes. Namely, being so tactically rigid and wed to one formation. Something Rafa has not done. P.S. I despise AVB for just now deciding to stop being such a stubborn twat. If he had been more professional, we probably wouldn't be in this mess.

I just drink whisky in a darkened room and cry, but I think your remedy sounds much healthier.

I disagree on some of the ratings you give for some of the players you mention (Debuchy mainly), but overall I agree with your main point that Carr isn't doing anything special. It's not rocket science. He's recognizing market inefficiencies and making player purchases accordingly. Anyone, in any sport in charge of player acquisitions for their club, that is worth their salt should be availing themselves of this tactic. One may then ask, "Why aren't Chelsea doing this, or at least something similar?" That's an excellent question, as we've started to, but seem to show a great deal of hesitancy to make this the rule and not the exception.

My lineup for Newcastle: Bonetti Mulligan Dempsey Harris McCreadie Hudson Hollins Cooke Osgood Hutchinson Weller

True enough, but they were awful in the 2nd half (sound familiar? sigh). Also, the recent signings probably won't probably have gelled yet. These points aside, I share your lack of optimism.

This clinches it for me. If one of the nicest, most positive people on the forum has been moved to bear her fangs due to the ineptitude of our interim manager, he has to go.

Well at least he's agreeing with himself. It would be far more troubling if he didn't.

Either one is fine by me.

I think those two words alone should suffice.

There's a fine line between being a gloryhunter and a masochist......

I'm still trying to understand how we left 3 spare at the back post for the equalizer. Unfuckingreal.

Here's his goal against Ajax, in case anyone is interested: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHYT6d7dpN4

I watched Saturday's match between OM and Rennes. I thought Allesandrini looked quite a talent. His work rate and defensive abilities were extremely impressive. He maybe doesn't have as much pace as I'd like to see in an attacking wide man, but he makes up for it in guile. Definitely one to watch.

Though I just got done writing a post on another topic deriding Benitez, I don't think we can put the transfer/squad situation squarely on him. The board, director, and ultimately Roman probably have a much larger hand in this matter than Benitez.

What a bunch of condescending, arrogant tosh from Balague. How the mighty have fallen. Once a thoughtful and insightful football writer, and now a purveyor of bilious spew. Fans want a manager who has not heinously insulted them and their club in the past. Then, not only did FSW refuse to apologize about the incident, but he defended his statements. Those events aside, all of the fans want a quality manager that can provide the ability to improve the side and, at the bare minimum, not damage them. After the Corpulent One's ignominious departure from the Scousers and his comedic misadventure at Inter, one cannot logically say he satisfies this criteria. Ultimately, all fans want to have a successful club that they can be proud of, full stop. Even this "minority" Guillem speaks of want this. They are not hellbent on control like a bunch of raving sociopaths. They/We want someone they can embrace as one of their own, and lead the club to glory. Not some arrogant, obese herbert who's career has been spiraling down for years and now seems to be better suited to telling diners what today's specials are rather than managing a football club. I know it's hard Mr. Balague, but time to admit some of your managerial pals can't make the grade in England. No need to get your knickers in a twist and make asinine assertions that fans are control freaks.

I just wish I could hit the "like this" button more than once after reading your post. It's writing like this that truly enriches this forum: intelligent, relevant, and passionate. Well done sir.

Just got done reading Martin Samuel's column on the subject. It's pretty ok: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2267886/Swansea-v-Chelsea-ball-boy-row-Persecute-Eden-Hazard-victory-sneaky-sportsmanship--Martin-Samuel.html Didn't like this bit though: "So he did what any of us would do. He tried to wrestle, and then boot, the ball free.That was wrong. He should have been patient and trusted referee Chris Foy to notice Morgan’s stunt." Apparently, Mr. Samuel is unfamiliar with the raving incomp that is Chris Foy. Chelsea supporters, and Spuds for that matter, could probably inform him that relying on Foy is an exercise in futility.

A new low for the Fail. Disgusted, as usual, with them, but also the Swansea players describing what was done to this "little boy." FFS, he's 17 fucking years old. They make it sound like he's in nursery school. P.S. I like how the Fail cropped out the can of Strongbow he's holding in the picture of him.

He's managed them on 4 separate occasions.

A real joy listening to David Pleat attempt to pronounce Kagawa yesterday. He must've said it at least a half dozen different ways, and still none of them were correct. He should stick to something he's good at, like kerb-crawling.

As much as we all desperately want someone for the pivot, KDB is definitely not ready for that task (at least right now), for the reasons you mentioned. He's got a way to go before he can effectively play that deep.

No.