Happy Face

He's been about as forthcoming with a denial as Owen in a transfer window.

When it comes down to it, wasn't the match always just somewhere to go while the pubs were closed in the afternoon?

I felt for him with that. The incredulity he expressed at having his brothers shadow cast over him - despite having not spoken to him since he was 14 - is understandable. Fred Wests brother doesn't get a load of shit from the papers.

Not interested in his recent career tack as a part time Columbian hitman then HP?

Kept saying he had no self pity but then kept saying the papers blow up his midemeanours just because it's him. Sorry, but ANY footballer stubbing a tab out in someones face, biting someones face off or attacking a fellow player is going to get it written about. I've got no problem with any of his realiations off the pitch though, as long as he settles and plays well for us.

That's what he is though. His ego far outweighs his tactical ability. If he didn't have the facade of being a scientist of the game, he'd be Joe Kinnear. Or Roy. Had to look him up. Instantly recognised him once I had though. "Although he was a talented straight actor, he became best known for his comic roles, in which he often played a chubby and jocular figure." He could hardly play anything but chubby tbf.

That's what he is though. His ego far outweighs his tactical ability. If he didn't have the facade of being a scientist of the game, he'd be Joe Kinnear.

Had to be ghost written. If Given had really written it every sentence would end with "to be sure, to be sure".

Really happy with that. Hopefully this will unite the players in their determination. If the majority of fans can't support them they could do with shite like this to get themd them up for performances.

The Taking of Pelham One Two Three New York, the seventies, what's not to like?

I'd prefer 11 talented grafters.

Hey, don't get me wrong HF I'm all for acknowledging good performances but I must of been watching a different game because huff and puff doesn't constitute a good performance, it should be a given from any team of professional footballers, let alone those good enough to play in the top flight. It's not as if you're going to rate a Coen brothers film if the plot, cinematography, editing and script are bad? Or are you, just because it's a Coen brothers film and it wouldn't matter what they do, in your eyes they're still cinema gods? Can you honestly point to a specific of Allardyce's tenure and go, "yeah I can see why he's doing that?" Even Roeder and Souness were able to get the team to huff and puff! To go with your analogy, The Coens have made some shite films recently. Doesn't make them shite directors. I point to what I think their flaws were and continue to go and see any of their new films because I know they can direct...and it's paid dividends, their new film is their career best. I've never rated Allardyce as a manager, he's more of a Ridley Scott. I'll never be a huge fan but I know he's capable because he's done some canny stuff, and when he's got the ingredients right he can pull off an Alien. Has he got anything right? I think most people were very happy with his wheeling and dealing pre-season. And they weren't too concerned with the poor performances up to the Reading game because we were getting results. We're still in a better position than we finished last year and will be after the Arsenal game. then we've got 4 very winnable games to lead us into christmas. That's progress imo.

Howay man. Carrot and stick. You're going to beat the players up after the commitment they put in yesterday? Win things? Are you in cloud cuckoo land? what happened to a few years of consolidation? We never "won things" with Keegan or Robson either, and they'd built some canny nifty teams over more than 15 games. No I'm not in cuckoo land. And I think you're over simplified what I meant. Win things as in be competitive against our opposition. By the way but wasn't one of Sam's aims/targets to challenge for the League and/or FA Cup??? To be honest HF, I just can't believe we've lowered our expectations so much that we applaud a performance because they played with a bit of effort and commitment, the very same effort and commitment they should giving to the club regardless. Are you disputing that this isn't the case? I'll always applaud effort and commitment. If players continue to put in that kind of effort individually, the cohesion will come with time. Sounds like basically you've decided Allardyce has to go and nothing he gets out of the squad will convince you otherwise? If we're only happy ragging on the poor performances and can't find it in us to acknowledge any improvement we don't really have the best interests of the club at heart and are writing the tabloids shite for them.

Not my argument, but other threads have said Robson finished 11th with style (8-0 wins and that) and the players looked like they knew what they were doing (or had been told what to do properly). You can tell by looking that the current squad don't. I've just been looking through Robsons transfers though, and between september '99 and June '01, I don't think a single one made an imact on the first team. Robson went slow and steady all the way. I've said it before, but Allardyces problem is getting all these new players looking like they have a clue what each other are doing. Whether or not it was a mistake to let so many players go/bring so many in in one go during summer is debateable. The fact that Robson did it over 21 months speaks volumes for how an experienced head goes about it imo though.

A phoney baloney award would still go down a treat. "And the Award for Most Perpetual Forum 2008 goes to..... *envelope ruffle* Toontastic.net *Huge Applause*"

We? Our?

If anyone can lose a game we aren't playing, it's Allardyce. I'd be happy enough with Shearer in charge and Keegan as a coach or vice versa (though I'd expect the former), I'd wonder how much Allardyce would be walking away with though. It would placate the plastic fans, and even if the worst comes to the worst, shut them up about the saviour.

I'll always give my full support to the man in charge...if I think the alternatives are no better. I've always thought he was a cornflake box headed, clueless charlatan (you saw the bit I did on N-O about him being a complete fake), but even so, I know he has some ability. I hope and pray he can turn it around and shove those words down my neck and will back him to do so until he's not at the club or a manager of real quality issues a come and get me plea.

No. It's just the same as with Roeder. People tearing their hair out and screaming blue murder with no kind of objectivity or alternative. Whatever happened to this kind of attitude.... Quoted for truth. Do people REALLY think we've gone backwards? Are you as unhappy with Allardyce as you were with Roeder? Serious question. I think that attitude went out the window with the bizarre tactics. As for your question, it's hard to say. I knew Roeder wouldn't do wel so it was always a case of waiting until a better alternative came along. With Allardyce, at least I had faith in him doing a half decent job. I think he might just turn it around in the next couple of matches though. Yeah, that was aimed more at the people gnashing their teeth and baying for blood already, you've been quite level headed about the whole thing, but I'd hate to think I'd come across as a flip flopper (devils advocate). I thought I'd been quite consistent in my lack of faith in the talents of Roeder/Allardyce, my acceptance that they're about as good as we could attract, and my support for either of them while they're in charge in the hope that we get a bit of stability at the very least.

No. It's just the same as with Roeder. People tearing their hair out and screaming blue murder with no kind of objectivity or alternative. Whatever happened to this kind of attitude.... Quoted for truth. Do people REALLY think we've gone backwards? Are you as unhappy with Allardyce as you were with Roeder? Serious question.

A professional person in another industry would get a certain amount of time to turn around the situation without the constant ridicule of customers and the press. Marks and Sparks has had a REALLY long slow climb to it's current position from it's crash about ten years back, but it's gained a modicum of success from it.

Give it another chance at some point - it might grow on you as it did on me. I love this slo-mo scene: That was my biggest problem with it. The first slo-mo bit of violence was fine, it was the repetitive onslaught of nowt but slo motion limbs being taken off. Pornos make more of an effort to wrap their money shots in a plot.

300

Do so. http://www.hmv.co.uk/hmvweb/displayProduct...&sku=608216

I think Robson's initial run consisted more of performances like yesterdays - pissers - but you could see the players cared - I can't remember that many like the ones that have characterised this season like Reading, Pompey, SAFC and Liverpool - ones which looked "clueless" as has been said. I also think that it would have been interesting to see what would have happened at the end of 99/00 if we hadn't had the cup run because people just "forgot" about the league. I guess the players had faith that Robson wasn't a dead man walking back then. Whatever you say about Bolton under Allardyce, you couldn't say his players weren't commited.