Alan Doh'liver

Well the reasoning I was given was that he has a lot of international links with players, and of course knows the Premiership. I wonder where the Martinez link first came from? I seem to remember it started around the time we hired Graeme Jones, supposedly he was being brought in for Martinez to arrive following the Euros.

Aye soz, it's one of those, but was just surprised to hear Martinez's name again so thought I might as well put it out there.

This. He's our best player after Wilson, and will remain so for a while yet, but the club will have bigger ambitions from now on, we'll be buying much better quality players from hereon in. The top coaches want to build a powerful team where every player is a cog in the wheel. They don't want one man bands so ASM wil have to show he can adapt his game as required by whoever comes in. There's no doubting his ability.

He's actually been better than I thought he would be when we signed him, he's had quite a few assists here, and he can release a great pass when the mood takes him. But I'm not expecting to see him play a return pass in a one-two in my lifetime.

I won't really mind that tbh, ASM is a massive talent, but the best teams usually rely on quick passing, not one man trying to beat the whole team by himself. He was perfect for Bruce, who doesn't really do team planning anyway, but to get to the next level he'll have to fit into a team system. He would never last long with Rafa for example, with those pressing stats. Or if he turned up to training when he felt like it.

He's in some pretty good company mind.

I actually think they are probably moving away from Fonseca, just too much of an unknown quantity considering the position we are in. I've got a roofer doing some work here at the minute and he's just told me the club were speaking to Martinez yesterday for what that's worth. It's probably bullshit. But I guess if you were going to go for Fonseca, you could argue Martinez makes just as much sense, at least he has experience of the Premier. Wouldn't be my choice though.

It's a pretty dumb comment anyway, winning the CL as a player isn't going to make him any better as a manager. His old pals in the studio might love him, but the players look like they don't give much of a shit.

I mean why the fuck would you go dressed like that to meet the Queen?

Aye it's pointless, wish I hadn't deleted it now, I got banned anyway

This makes me wonder if Sting might rediscover his geordie accent once we start climbing up the league?

Mate, if I had any idea about the 3 P's I wouldn't have been banned from NO twice.

I am going to read through the whole thread I think, still working my way backwards 🙂

I have to admit I do have those concerns myself, but I feel he could turn out to be the next Pochettino. One thing which really attracts me to him is he hasn't made his name yet, which means he is hungry and wants the job. His philosophy will look better with more quality players so we would need to be in touch until January. I don't think he's a dreamer though, he's one of the modern breed of managers so I would imagine he would figure out a way of playing with the players he's got at his disposal. SBR did that when he had Ferguson and Shearer up front, we started going long. But he still shifted to a focus on pace and mobility once he got his feet under the table.

Absolutely. When I used the term darkie it was me being ironic, a bit like when I threatened to move next door to LM with 12 burka wearing wives.

I hope not, I'm a Conte fan, would be gutted if I had to start hating him.

I had that argument with a few on NO about that. I just didn't see the towel heads as being racist, for me they were doing it out of enthusiasm, even if it was a bit daft. Now actually calling an arab towel head, that's a different matter.

Graham Souness would look cush if he growed his hair long and put on a robe.

I mean there's casual racism which is offensive, I got banned for using the word darkie to demonstrate the little bit of racism in that flag. I mean context should count for something.

Nah mate I'm of Pakistani origin. If there were Algerians here I'd be off as well.

I hope he's alright like, I was only joking.

Is LeazesMag still around? I remember last time I was here threatening to move next door to him with my 12 wives. All of them pregnant.

I think he's getting sacked like, no coming back from this one.

He's a big miss like, really used to enjoy his posts on there. Don't know if ChezGiven is still here but he was a good poster as well.

Ole's half time team talk doing wonders then