Happy Face

Owen isn't a Bolton player. Roeder's the first manager we've had in a while that's been too reluctant to spend our money. How have things changed massively? We're higher in the league and whoever comes in will have a full close season to prepare. But for some reason we'll now accept a manager most of us never wanted when Souness was dragging us down the pan and we desperately needed a quick fix.

Yeah. Look at Doug Ellis at Villa. They won the title and European cup during his hiatus, but within 5 years of returning he had them relegated. The next 20 years and more were interminable mediocrity and only a moment of clarity of huge proportions will see Shepherd realise he's doing the same to us. It's a shame one man can still weild such power, but he's the only one who can realise it and make the changes needed throughout the club, starting with a proper chief executive to take over from him.

That's what I keep telling people. We're mid-table mediocrity who might push europe in a good year. Why are people calling for Roeder's head if he's only just fallen short of what the club is geared towards under Shepherd. Are you accepting that as our lot then? Recognising what we are currently is one thing, settling for it is quite another. Souness, Roeder or Allardyce. I put them all in the same bracket tbh. The revolving door policy on managers everyone knows would have been laughed out of town 10 years ago is what's got to stop. I'm not saying we can attract a top manager, but that I see keeping Roeder and getting Allardyce as having very similar outcomes. Neither involve us shooting up the league. I don't think you really beleive that Nicos. SA has done wonders at Bolton and it looks like Sammy will continue the good work with all the foundation that has been laid. FS imo clearly gave GR the job in some kind of holding capacity on a relatively short contract. I can only imagine this was a move so as to keep things relatively simple when the right man came along or he got a 2am call from Shearer. The right man has come along imo - not a fantastic manager, but a good one. Allardyce might currently look better than those 2, but I don't see how this appointment would be any different to the one after Souness. Here's a reminder of what some people said about "Big Sam" then... And there's more, (with some all for it admittedly, not as many as now though) http://www.toontastic.net/forum/index.php?...ic=1677&hl= I understand times/opinions change, but if Shepherd brings in "Big Sam" he's just perpetuating the revolving door situation that keeps attention away from his failings. As fans we're begging for it by blaming Roeder over Shepherd. I see little benefit from going down this path again.

That's what I keep telling people. We're mid-table mediocrity who might push europe in a good year. Why are people calling for Roeder's head if he's only just fallen short of what the club is geared towards under Shepherd. We're not going to push for Europe with Roeder, in fact the man is a relegation risk. How have we just fallen short of Europe this year anyway? We're currently 7 points off relegation. Well people were still talking Intertoto even up to the Reading game. I think a fit Owen would have added 12 points to our total this year (automatic european place) rather than losing us 7.

Souness has achieved more than Allardyce.

That's what I keep telling people. We're mid-table mediocrity who might push europe in a good year. Why are people calling for Roeder's head if he's only just fallen short of what the club is geared towards under Shepherd. Are you accepting that as our lot then? Recognising what we are currently is one thing, settling for it is quite another. Souness, Roeder or Allardyce. I put them all in the same bracket tbh. The revolving door policy on managers everyone knows would have been laughed out of town 10 years ago is what's got to stop. I'm not saying we can attract a top manager, but that I see keeping Roeder and getting Allardyce as having very similar outcomes. Neither involve us shooting up the league.

That's what I keep telling people. We're mid-table mediocrity who might push europe in a good year. Why are people calling for Roeder's head if he's only just fallen short of what the club is geared towards under Shepherd.

But Allardyce and Shepherd are the dream team to put it in place? It's not as if Allardyce's even got his people unearthing obscure jems around the globe. Already proven players past their prime have been his stock and trade.

So let's do it again? Are you suggesting sticking with Roeder? I think Allardyce would sort all that area of the football club out. I thought that Roeder might be the man to do it, as he made positive noises about the crap team motivation, training and scouting network that the club had used under Souness. The problem is, he seems unable to back up all the jibba jabba. Lee Clarke on the lash in Buenos Aires isn't the solution. We need stability, but people won't accept the crap Roeder is enforcing, and we could very well end up in a worse position this time next year if he remains in charge. Since your problem was that we sack our manager every year so they don't have time to build a scouting network, it would suggest the solution would be not to.

So let's do it again?

The clamour is for Roeder to be sacked isn't it. The hope (for some) is that Shepherd can attract Allardyce. The fact is neither party have said it's on the cards and the rumour was that Allardyce left Bolton to take over Man City, not us. I was resoloutley behind Roeder. I'm flip-flopping a bit now because he clearly isn't good enough, but I'm still leaning slightly towards 'better the devil you know'. I fear the Beardsley/Clark show happening. That's just foolish when we know a better alternative is immediately available. I refer you to my 3 options post above.

Accepting the fact that Shepherd is going nowhere, what alternative do we have? Another Shepherd managerial appointment is all we're left with to try and change things around. Or stick with it and hope Glenn can confound expectation. The way I see it things can go one of 3 ways... 1) Sack Roeder now. Get Allardyce (or any other sub-par individual) in. The club is still ran as a shambles. We take a loss on players that aren't Allardyces and the whole mediocrity Merry-go-round keeps going for at least another full season. 2) We keep Roeder. The club is still ran as a shambles. We take a loss on players that aren't Roeder's but somehow his signings are good enough and the whole mediocrity Merry-go-round keeps going for another full season. 3) We keep Roeder. The club is still ran as a shambles. We take a loss on players that aren't Roeder's but somehow his signings are even worse. He's sacked early in the season and the pressure on Shepherd is raised even higher as his incompetence is exposed once again. I suppose it's like the "Would you be happy to lose tonight if..." threads. I never want to lose a game, but the question I'd posit is would you be happy to put up with Roeder if it meant the end of Shepherd?

The clamour is for Roeder to be sacked isn't it. The hope (for some) is that Shepherd can attract Allardyce. The fact is neither party have said it's on the cards and the rumour was that Allardyce left Bolton to take over Man City, not us. I was resoloutley behind Roeder. I'm flip-flopping a bit now because he clearly isn't good enough, but I'm still leaning slightly towards 'better the devil you know'. I fear the Beardsley/Clark show happening.

I don't see what's negative or miserable about it. They're only saying what everyone thinks, Shepherd needs to appoint someone cabable in his place to rebuild the whole club rather than keep trying to apply a sticking plaster solution to the onfield dross. I find the clamour for Shepherd to make yet another managerial appointment astounding, based on his track record.

Who should America make Queen then? Oprah?

I just DON'T WANT to watch it, and people get all precious about the fact I haven't seen it. Honestly, the looks of genuine horror I've had when I say I've not watched it are hilarious! If I die without having ever seen it I seriously will not feel that I've missed out. I don't see why people are so concerned. I wouldn't recommend it to you. It's a boys film.

Babybird - Out of Sight

Yes, BUT Buy a camcorder.

Cheers, I'll download it when I get in......but I'd imagine it's pretty much identical to the Live at Wembly CD from the same tour, only poorer quality. No? I believe that 7 minute guitar solo at the end of the first disc is Brighton Rock. But having not heard it, he might have mixed it up a bit night to night.

American Beauty The Piano I would have had an Morricone dominated list, but it's like choosing the Beatles as the best band ever. No matter how true it is it's too obvious.

Are you my fucking brother, by any chance? Stu? That's a no then? Thank god for that. I also am relieved not to be the brother you fuck.

Are you my fucking brother, by any chance? Stu?

Not the man for the us.

It's all well and good telling us that, but was he standing up or sitting down when he did it?

Is that the poster for the new The Hills Have Eyes movie?