spongebob toonpants

I understand what you're saying, but I think you're wrong to say the previous 3 seasons are an irrelevance. The team and squad had been good enough to finish in the top 5 over a fairly lengthy period, that means Souness had a very sound, established squad on which to build. This is a lot more than some previous managers. I know the performances were slipping, I started pointing this out in 2002-03 and it needed addressing then. It wasn't. But the fact remains, Souness had the core of a pretty good squad that was of an established top 5 standard. Regarding the clubs money. I don't believe Souness has spent money wisely, and he has certainly undermined the value of players released, so the club has brought less in than should have been the case. This has been said before by others and it remains true and really can't be refuted. There is more to saying money has been spent wisely than thinking player 'x' is a good player, you have to ask yourself, "did we need that player?" Leeds spent millions buying the wrong players, a lot of them were good players but it didn't do them the least bit of good really. For myself, I think we needed to strengthen at the back before completely rebuilding the midfield, but Souness decided to rebuild the midfield. I think he's spent a lot of money on players we didn't need ahead of other areas where there was a more urgent need. It's ok that Parker is proving so far to be a good player, and so is Owen, but the £17m on Owen should have gone on a player to actually replace Shearer in the team, not to partner Shearer. Owen is an out and out goalscorer, just like Shearer is and in that respect I believe he is Shearer's replacement, yet we still need someone to take Shearer's place in the team and that will cost a lot more money again. Some of Souness's signing have a lot to prove, although some have already shown they aren't good players, Faye, Babayaro and Shrek in particular. Q. How much will Souness need to spend to get a top half finish from a team/squad that had finished in the top 5 for the 3 previous seasons prior to his arrival? I think it's a relevant question. I don't think he can get the best from players he signs, so I don't think it will really matter much who he signs, we won't go forward imo. 71775[/snapback] To an extent this transfer window will show whether the £17m on Owen was money well spent or not. If there is further money to strengthen and expand the squad then I think it was money well spent. If he realises we need a bigger squad and is aware there is money to spend that is OK. If the money is all gone then it is a bit all your eggs in one basket. If we are going to compete at the top then we will need players of the ability of Owen though. This will say more about the ambition of Freddie than anything else. As to strengthening the defence as opposed to the midfield, well Taylor Bramble and Boumsong were looking pretty solid toward the end of last season, and the midfield was barren. Again though is there any long term thinking going on, who knows? I dont know about undermining players values. With Bellamy I think the price was more due to his perceived attitude, and ongoing fitness problems as to anything else. If it was just down to ability then we would have had a queue of clubs biting our hands off at any price. And we got £7m for that plank Jenas aswell Fergeson a ManU built his succes not on tactical innovation, but by getting the best players, and playing simple football well. Im not saying hes a Fergeson(obviously) but I think he could get some success by building a decent squad. I would prefer Wenger/Mourinho or some other genius, but atleast I reckon Souness wont take any sht from Freddie and might be able to build a squad. By the end of this transfer window I may be proved hopelessly wrong mind

In sheer football terms perhaps it is shite but for as far as how I feel about the team ive loved for 40 years it is the most depressed and demotivated ive ever been. This is because of Souness, trot out all the excuses I just hate the bloke and the football I am having to endure after my expectations were (falsly) raised by the last 10 years of actually having a team to be proud of. 71727[/snapback] I feel your pain Chops, but as one (only slightly) younger I feel a bit different. I think I went through what you are feeling now under KD, I hated the man the football I just couldnt bear it. I didnt hate Gullit with the same passion, but I was as depressed, and after Wembley farce part 2 I thought I was done. SBR rekindled the hope, and it hasnt quite gone for me. I cant argue for Souness being a tactical genius, and Christ knows its hard to see any merit in a lot of performances we've had to endure, and the squad is plainly far too theadbare. But he can identify a player, persuade him to sign and most importantly get Freddie to put up the cash, something that SBR was failing to do by the end of his time. If he can improve the squad again during the window I still think we are on course for a decent finish this season. I'm not trying to change your mind here Pilchard, you and most others have already decided, and fair enough you are probably right, but I still thinkthere is a chance he can build a squad who could do something 71763[/snapback] yet more money for a lower finish than before he arrived. Congratulations on also having your expectations successfully lowered by fuckwit, as some of us predicted 71769[/snapback] SBR's team finished 5th but seemed to be going backwards. They finished the season so badly they were booed of the pitch. He failed to improve the squad the previous season and the players he brought in before his sacking couldnt be considered money well spent. Talking about lowered expectations and saying the team finished top 5 for three seasons is an irrelevance. Yes he has spent a lot of money, its a vital part of being a manager and mainly I think he has spent it well. I am very interested to see what happens in the window, because obviously our squad isnt big enough. If he continues to bring in the quality of players and builds a bigger squad I will be pleased.

so we are doing well under Sounes then... congratulations on having your expectations successfully lowered.. as clueless as ever 71760[/snapback] I missed the bit where Rob said we were doing well under Souness, I cant spot any lowered expectations. Needless insulting post on your behalf.

In sheer football terms perhaps it is shite but for as far as how I feel about the team ive loved for 40 years it is the most depressed and demotivated ive ever been. This is because of Souness, trot out all the excuses I just hate the bloke and the football I am having to endure after my expectations were (falsly) raised by the last 10 years of actually having a team to be proud of. 71727[/snapback] I feel your pain Chops, but as one (only slightly) younger I feel a bit different. I think I went through what you are feeling now under KD, I hated the man the football I just couldnt bear it. I didnt hate Gullit with the same passion, but I was as depressed, and after Wembley farce part 2 I thought I was done. SBR rekindled the hope, and it hasnt quite gone for me. I cant argue for Souness being a tactical genius, and Christ knows its hard to see any merit in a lot of performances we've had to endure, and the squad is plainly far too theadbare. But he can identify a player, persuade him to sign and most importantly get Freddie to put up the cash, something that SBR was failing to do by the end of his time. If he can improve the squad again during the window I still think we are on course for a decent finish this season. I'm not trying to change your mind here Pilchard, you and most others have already decided, and fair enough you are probably right, but I still thinkthere is a chance he can build a squad who could do something

why do you lot always wait until we got thhrashed and then shout for souness's head....never hear none of this shit on the occasions ( rarely latley) when we draw or win ???? 71656[/snapback] To be fair to HTL one thing he cant be accused of is inconsistecy.

good luck with that

so fishy, are you trying to get last reply on every topic?

its the only language they understand

No man , the bloody kids wont go to sleep anf Ive got the stockings to extract fill and return before I can go bed

you little fuckers, or santa wont be leaving his stocking tonight

papist tbh

how leazes shouldnt you be out delivering presents and spreading goodwill to all men at this point

a bit ironic considering your dog like devotion to the moaning french whinger. If Luque went running to the papers every other week you would give him more of a chance I guess

The way I see it ending up is as follows: Chelsea P38 W33 D4 L1 GF74 GA14 GD+60 Pts103 Pos 1st Man Utd P38 W30 D6 L2 GF75 GA25 GD+50 Pts96 Pos 2nd Liverpool P38 W27 D7 L4 GF61 GA14 GD+47 Pts88 Pos 3rd Bolton P38 W21 D10 L7 GF52 GA32 GD+20 Pts73 Pos 4th Spurs P38 W19 D12 L7 GF60 GA39 GD+21 Pts69 Pos 5th Arsenal P38 W20 D7 L11 GF55 GA34 GD+21 Pts67 Pos 6th Newcastle P38 W18 D9 L11 GF45 GA37 GD+8 Pts63 Pos 7th 69761[/snapback] wow. You have way too much time on your hands 69762[/snapback] He works in IT. Whilst he's doing this shite, half of his company are sat with broken computers waiting for the ubernerd to come and help them. 69765[/snapback] I'm nothing to do with fixing broken computers thank you smart-arse, project managing applications and you're talking the same language. Not got too much time on my hands, I'm just using the prediction spreadsheet which I did a post about ages ago. 69771[/snapback] Oh I see, project managing applications, so you are not a saddo at all, your job is actually really really impressive

The way I see it ending up is as follows: Chelsea P38 W33 D4 L1 GF74 GA14 GD+60 Pts103 Pos 1st Man Utd P38 W30 D6 L2 GF75 GA25 GD+50 Pts96 Pos 2nd Liverpool P38 W27 D7 L4 GF61 GA14 GD+47 Pts88 Pos 3rd Bolton P38 W21 D10 L7 GF52 GA32 GD+20 Pts73 Pos 4th Spurs P38 W19 D12 L7 GF60 GA39 GD+21 Pts69 Pos 5th Arsenal P38 W20 D7 L11 GF55 GA34 GD+21 Pts67 Pos 6th Newcastle P38 W18 D9 L11 GF45 GA37 GD+8 Pts63 Pos 7th 69761[/snapback] wow. You have way too much time on your hands

Bursts into tears and sobs "I used to"

As the optomistic nut has posted elsewhere since the close of the transfer window results in the league Pl 13. W7. D3. L3. Now obviously it hasnt been pretty, but sacking the bloke seems daft to me

yes Match of the Day

Farewell to the pink. Last post Meenzer. Thats what I call irony

Can I at least get some brief credit on my scrolly thing for the Mini Golf high score before you do? 68066[/snapback] I still cant beleive you beat my 23 68097[/snapback] It was a very... very... very slow week at work. 68101[/snapback] You did me a favour really, I was so pissed off I managed to cure my arcade addiction at a stroke.

Can I at least get some brief credit on my scrolly thing for the Mini Golf high score before you do? 68066[/snapback] I still cant beleive you beat my 23

I think you underestimate the extent to which people in a group dynamic are susceptible to suggestion. I wouldnt however have any of them on a quiz team. I have to confess I felt a bit sorry for them when they were shown the "money shot" and thought they were looking down on the earth. Its a bit harsh for the greatest experience in your life to be a practical joke. The bizzare thing is the actor plant in there said even though he knew it was a fake the experience was quite emotional and humbling, so the dimwits who think its real must have been overwhelmed. (I wasnt watching obviously but my daughter had it on when I was in the room. honest)

Brighton March 4th woo hoo! I think Ill give that a spin I still listen to 8 legged groove machine on a fairly regular basis. top album saddo factoid: I was wearing my "Never loved Elvis" T-Shirt the day Keegan left. I never wore it again

Wullie...... smile.........lol

Looks like the outer edges of the "cloud of death" have reached Brighton