Mr Gittes

Don't think we should be worrying just because we've been outplayed, nor should we overrate the 7 decent points from the previous three games. When a top four team go to a place like Stoke/Blackburn and grind out an undeserved 1-0 win, everyone's telling me how big a factor "resilience" is. So I'd take a point from a "resilient" (or call it shite) performance. Move on. Raylor's performance has done enough to convince Pardoo to play Santon now I suppose. It won't change his view on Ameobi though, don't know what he sees in him.

This. Best is obviously doing a few things alright, at least putting a shift in.

I'm going for a nervous, edgy 1-0 win. Cabaye to score his first goal.

FFS people desperately trying to find as many negatives as possible as far as that deal is concerned.

I won't be happy with this transfer window unless we sign another three decent players, but what some people expect on here is beyond belief. Those morons are first to give the new players stick in the stadium instead of supporting them.

Antoine Sibierski and Olivier Bernard, both on a free.

Bloody mugs. I'm a fucking member, wanted to order tickets, so went online, chose seats - then "add to basket" and what happens? No bloody tickets there. ??? EDIT: Sorted now. Called the box office and ordered tickets there, said they had a "new system and quite a lot of problems atm." Embarassing then to make tickets available when they know there will be trouble.

Also, we're on ESPN for our first game of the season v Arsenal, 5.30 kick-off. Suppose ticket details should be published very soon?

... or we're not willing to pay as much for foreign players (as it represents a bigger risk obviously) as we are for Englishmen. Just hoping though, not based on any evidence.....

it's a cross between the two tbh. Clough paid attention to tactical things which he thought were important, but the motivational technique was to concentrate on your own game and be positive. Don Revie went the other way and despite the success Leeds had, there is a case for saying if not for his dossiers and their over the top thuggery sometimes, they could have won more because they had some great, great players. I would say its more of a "possession football" approach is what is meant here, because at any level of football, you get the ball, keep it and you are in control. Confidence is massive in football too, you have to believe in what you are doing. I suppose this is the point of the article, it's getting us mere mortals talking..... Agree, Clough's quote was probably a bit over the top, but you knew you wouldn't get any "dossiers" at Derby/Forest at that time. Speaking of Revie, I'm reading "The Unforgiven" atm. He was years ahead with his dossiers, attention to detail and match preparation, but I wouldn't go as far as to say it cost him even more titles at Leeds. It most certainly cost him some sort of success in the England role. He thought he could replicate what he had done at Leeds (tactics, his "family" atmosphere, carpet bowl and the like) and it would automatically lead to success.

This. If people say he's not managed to break into the Chelsea team yet and score goals on a regular basis on this level, then what about Erdinc? 8 or 9 goals last season in the French League iirc. From what I've seen from him at Bolton for 6 months, I'd sign him if he's available for £10m.

Canny article. Brian Clough used to say "I don't care about bloody tactics, we're going to play Juventus in the same style as we're playing in the First Division week in week out." As much as I've admired Clough, you can't concentrate on your own strengths nowadays, neither can you play the same style of football and the same tactical formation 50 games a season (apart from Barcelona). Still, tactics are a novercal treated topic in this country. I have to say though, Alan Smith does a decent weekly "Talking Tactics" column in the Telegraph.

In a nutshell. I wonder what's going on with Routledge. Pardew wants him to go, but he's still here, and maybe part of Ashley's exciting plan to replace Barton on the cheap......?

I'm not falling for the same trick. I'm not writing to this cunt or anything either. It's simply outrageous that such utter pish can be published in national newspapers on a regular basis, and it's an insult to call people like him a journalist. It's lazy work, again. And guess how many people out there read that and say "well, that's actually right, deluded Geordies eh think their club is big". People start to believe what's written by such "journalists". Read a Henry Winter column and you won't get crap like that. But obviously there are more Martin Samuels, Matthew Syeds etc out there than Henry Winters.....

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/article-2...Toon-swoon.html I know it's the same old debate, but this fat tosser provides us with yet another example of lazy journalism. Terrible. So West Ham are a club with bigger potential then? Fuck off and buy yourself a Gold/Sullivan dildo.

... and this summer's transfer window will be crazier than ever.

That's what I've linked before

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Provided-You-Dont-...e/dp/0007247109 Fantastic read, can only recommend. Personally I have always been a fan of characters like Clough, Fergie, Paisley, Mourinho, even Revie (who may have been a cunt, but his carreer was fascinating nonetheless). The film is entertaining, the book (the Damned United) is ok, but far too fictional. It's always difficult to mix facts and fiction iyam.

You must be bloody joking. He was a boyhood fan because of Alan Shearer, simple as that. Don't think he's that sentimental. Just another attempt to create a story without any quotes/evidence.

Yes, a decent job under the circumstances, but not more or even anything special/magical as some people have claimed. Btw, doing better than Megson is not that difficult... Good point. Which makes the idea of Cahill playing in a Arsenal side even more baffling...?

Sums it up pretty well for me. Still, it's shocking how lazy football reporters are, stating how Bolton have been playing a nice "pass-and-move-football". That's crap. They have at times, but they are still playing to their strengths.

Holden's injury later in the season could be sort of an excuse, but the massive praise they get is stunning. Like Scott Parker (player of the season my arse) getting his arse licked by the London press.

Very interesting article if anyone's interested. I for myself don't think Coyle has done anything special at Bolton, when you consider they have finished 14th and lost their FAC semi against a limited Stoke side 5-0. Yes, they may have progressed a bit as far as their approach is concerned, but certainly not as much as many people believe. "Fantastic season", as some of the press commented? Utter garbage. http://www.zonalmarking.net/2011/05/24/bol...le-of-football/

Off topic, I know ... but have you read The Damned United Leezes? If so, what did you think of it? Personally, I loved it. Great read, but reflects Clough in a far too negative way iyam.

Seen that somewhere before, and we would be releagated (18th)...