Renton

Well, the sad fact is Bolton and Citeh are both probably better than us, whilst at Scotland either he would be playing, or will be playing, in the Champion's league. If he moves to Marseilles though, can we stop talking about him please? 69875[/snapback] The even sadder fact is he ended up at Portsmouth. When I say sad, I actually mean funny. 69877[/snapback] I reckon only they'd pay his wages tbh. He'll need to take a cut to go back to France.

And they all wanted him so much he chose Portsmouth. Patter merchant tbqf 69871[/snapback] According to Oliver though he chose Pompey as it was near an airport so he could get to France.

Well, the sad fact is Bolton and Citeh are both probably better than us, whilst at Scotland either he would be playing, or will be playing, in the Champion's league. If he moves to Marseilles though, can we stop talking about him please?

Do you mean they can't be relegated?

Trapped in the past, Bridget finds herself leaping from life to life, putting things right, that once went wrong and hoping each time, that her next leap will be the leap home. 69806[/snapback] Old skool. 69813[/snapback] Best drunken posting EVER. 69821[/snapback] Drunken post? Happy birthday Papa and Bridget.

What a load of bollocks.

People are making a mountain out of a molehill, again.

If we can get our money back, I'd sell him in a flash. I just get the feeling he is a luxury we can't afford when there are other pressing priorities. Admittedly, this is based on intuition rather than watching him play, but I'm fairly sure he was a panic buy rendered superfluous by Owen and N'Zogbia breaking through.

An alternate take is we are 10th best after nearly half-way through the season. 69797[/snapback] Plus we're in a mini run at the moment, but there is no evidence that these can last under Souness, in fact quite the contrary. 10th is where we deserve to be at the moment, I think where we finish depends on Owen's ability to stay fit and uninjured.

What would I want with a "To Cecil from Gazza" top? 69752[/snapback] Cecil! Try Murgatroid.

Gemmill, are you going to wear that or frame it (should cover a living room wall nicely by the looks of it )? Fancy swapping it for my Gazza one? The names could be a problem like.....

Are you a sheep?

Absolutely no problem buying loo roll by itself. I was once slightly embarassed to buy tampons by themselves for my g/f, but got over it. Condoms at chemists can be slightly embarassing too if you're under 18.

Try the lo-fi version (see bottom of page), although the answer is probably 'no'. 69609[/snapback] Tried that - no joy on page 2 - I think it was whatever Wacky posted that caused the problem so no surprise there. I imagine Renton said something about going for better managers. As I've argued on N-O my realistic (but bloody frustrated) view is that getting a Hitzfeld or similar would be great but I'd always be afraid they'd leave sharpish if Man U/Madrid come calling. What we need imo is a Wenger type "blast from nowhere" like Keegan was to some extent. 69611[/snapback] Am I that predictable?

Actually this interview is another invention of the tabloids (the same as last year's interest in the Newcastle job). Either that or the interview with Hearts and only consisted of three words ("Would you?" and "No"). Last Saturday (live on TV) Hitzfeld ruled out to take over a new job until next summer. And couple of days ago he described the ManUre job as "probably too stressful" (though that was in Jormany's tabloids ;-) ). Anyway, Newcastle should make sure that they hire a high profile manager the next time and not flick again through a list of Fat Fred's likely drinking buddies again... 69604[/snapback] Aye, I imagined it was probably an invention, but I don't think Hitzfeld is completely impossible. What motivates him Isegrim - fame, success, money, or a mixture?

I don't think I've ever beaten my wife up, but I can beat you pair of lazy bastids up any day of the week.

Sorry, I didn't realise that the alternative to Souness was a guaranteed Robson-like revival under a new manager. What's his name? 69580[/snapback] Oh ffs Gemmill. I don't know who his name is, there are no guarantees. I would be fairly confident that Hitzfeld might be an improvement if we could get him though. But your attitude is it doesn't matter who's available, all managers must get a minimum of two years regardless. Even Souness. Even Gullit. Even Dalglish. 69586[/snapback] Gullit was an extreme case - he alienated half of the dressing room with bizarre selection policies and wouldn't give Rob Lee a squad number for no other reason than that he was friends with Shearer. He made his position at the club untenable. But I still think it's ridiculous that you're arguing as if relegation under Gullit and revival under Robson were known facts at the time and it was just an easy choice between them. Funnily enough, I think Hitzfeld would be an improvement too, but I don't think we have a hope in hell. 69588[/snapback] To me it was more or less that clear cut, because Gullit was piece of shit and Robson was one of the best managers in Europe. You don't have to be a genius to work that one out. I'd also like to know why we have no chance of landing Hitzfeld, being one of the biggest clubs in the EPL, seeing as he had an interview at Hearts. You see to me, the manager is all important, I'd rather spend a fortune on a good manager than any player.

Sorry, I didn't realise that the alternative to Souness was a guaranteed Robson-like revival under a new manager. What's his name? 69580[/snapback] Oh ffs Gemmill. I don't know who his name is, there are no guarantees. I would be fairly confident that Hitzfeld might be an improvement if we could get him though. But your attitude is it doesn't matter who's available, all managers must get a minimum of two years regardless. Even Souness. Even Gullit. Even Dalglish.

Because IMHO I think it takes more than that to judge whether someone is up to the job. That's all. As for being established top 6 under Robson, I think I'm right in saying that in his last 3 seasons we got 70-odd, 60-odd and 50-odd points, in that order. We might have been top 6, but we were very much on the slide before Souness came along. 69560[/snapback] So you would have had us relegated with Gullit then? Or do you think he would have pulled us around? 69564[/snapback] I have no idea. Gullit had fallen out with the senior players in the dressing room by acting like a child. I don't think that helped his cause tbh. Why are you droning on about Ruud Gullit as if you've scored a major victory because he was sacked early? I didn't sack the bloke you know. 69569[/snapback] I'm just trying to follow your logic of sticking with a manager for two years no matter what. Thankyou, I now know you would have been happy to get us relegated (just like we would have with Souness were it not for the timely acquisition of Owen). Falling out with senior players, hmmm, where have I heard that before. Of course, Gullits record in the league or in terms of European qualification was better than Souness's was when he was sacked. 69572[/snapback] Have you got this Gullit thing out of your system now then? Now that you've convinced yourself that not only would Gullit have got us relegated, but that it would have made me happy? 69576[/snapback] You know fine well what the point is Gemmill, your insistance that you always stick with a manager for at least two years, even when you know beyond reasonable doubt he is shite. At least now you have verified your position. You might not have been happy with relegation, but you would have been happy with the choices that led us there, rather than revival under Robson. Sorry Alex, relegation with Gullit was a nailed on certainty, don't forget Shearer and Lee would have left. We were right in the clarts man. 69577[/snapback] Sorry, but that's just your opinion. 69581[/snapback] Well yes, as it is a hypothetical situation of course it is, but I am as certain as I can be with it. This is based on the impending loss of our two best players, our disastrous start to the league, our previous idastrous league position, and a complete break down of morale in the dressing room. Would you have kept Gullit?

One of the chief functions of the board being to appoint good managers of course. I have no doubt if our board employed and backed a good manager, things would turn around for us. 69567[/snapback] Whey I agree like Thing is though, the Liverpool Board are light years ahead of ours in so many ways - they seem to have a long term plan, they are prepared to take gambles on foreign coaches, they back them sufficiently but will get rid of managers when they don't think they can take them any further (a la Houllier), they provide financial backing without making embarrassing statements to the press left, right and centre etc., etc. 69574[/snapback] They made a right cock up with that Souness appointment though. Edit: damn.

Because IMHO I think it takes more than that to judge whether someone is up to the job. That's all. As for being established top 6 under Robson, I think I'm right in saying that in his last 3 seasons we got 70-odd, 60-odd and 50-odd points, in that order. We might have been top 6, but we were very much on the slide before Souness came along. 69560[/snapback] So you would have had us relegated with Gullit then? Or do you think he would have pulled us around? 69564[/snapback] I have no idea. Gullit had fallen out with the senior players in the dressing room by acting like a child. I don't think that helped his cause tbh. Why are you droning on about Ruud Gullit as if you've scored a major victory because he was sacked early? I didn't sack the bloke you know. 69569[/snapback] I'm just trying to follow your logic of sticking with a manager for two years no matter what. Thankyou, I now know you would have been happy to get us relegated (just like we would have with Souness were it not for the timely acquisition of Owen). Falling out with senior players, hmmm, where have I heard that before. Of course, Gullits record in the league or in terms of European qualification was better than Souness's was when he was sacked. 69572[/snapback] Have you got this Gullit thing out of your system now then? Now that you've convinced yourself that not only would Gullit have got us relegated, but that it would have made me happy? 69576[/snapback] You know fine well what the point is Gemmill, your insistance that you always stick with a manager for at least two years, even when you know beyond reasonable doubt he is shite. At least now you have verified your position. You might not have been happy with relegation, but you would have been happy with the choices that led us there, rather than revival under Robson. Sorry Alex, relegation with Gullit was a nailed on certainty, don't forget Shearer and Lee would have left. We were right in the clarts man.

Because IMHO I think it takes more than that to judge whether someone is up to the job. That's all. As for being established top 6 under Robson, I think I'm right in saying that in his last 3 seasons we got 70-odd, 60-odd and 50-odd points, in that order. We might have been top 6, but we were very much on the slide before Souness came along. 69560[/snapback] So you would have had us relegated with Gullit then? Or do you think he would have pulled us around? 69564[/snapback] I have no idea. Gullit had fallen out with the senior players in the dressing room by acting like a child. I don't think that helped his cause tbh. Why are you droning on about Ruud Gullit as if you've scored a major victory because he was sacked early? I didn't sack the bloke you know. 69569[/snapback] I'm just trying to follow your logic of sticking with a manager for two years no matter what. Thankyou, I now know you would have been happy to get us relegated (just like we would have with Souness were it not for the timely acquisition of Owen). Falling out with senior players, hmmm, where have I heard that before. Of course, Gullits record in the league or in terms of European qualification was better than Souness's was when he was sacked.

One of the chief functions of the board being to appoint good managers of course. I have no doubt if our board employed and backed a good manager, things would turn around for us.

Because IMHO I think it takes more than that to judge whether someone is up to the job. That's all. As for being established top 6 under Robson, I think I'm right in saying that in his last 3 seasons we got 70-odd, 60-odd and 50-odd points, in that order. We might have been top 6, but we were very much on the slide before Souness came along. 69560[/snapback] So you would have had us relegated with Gullit then? Or do you think he would have pulled us around?

No it begins with A - Arrogance based on history. 69543[/snapback] So history is more important than the manager? How do you explain Souness's dismal record at Liverpool then? 69548[/snapback] Mourinho has proved that ability (and money) is more important but Liverpools annual expectations ARE based on their history of dominance. They have a bloody-minded "we should win it" which takes absolutely no account of money. manager or other teams quality. On Souness reasonable scousers point to his taking over an ageing squad and miss the rise of Man U. 69557[/snapback] Reasonable because their views coincide with yours? 90% of them would disagree with you I'm sure, their fall from grace was pretty disasterous by anyone's standards. Funny how Souness's defenders always blame his predecessor (be it Dalglish or Robson) who were relatively successful rather than Souness himself. The success of a football club has EVERYTHING to do with the manager - even small clubs can prosper under the right management (not as common now granted, but we are not a small club). Your attitude that we are doomed to failure because of our past strikes me as defeatist in the extreme - with the right management there is no reason we couldn't at least compete with the top 3. There should be absolutely no excuses, for God's sake, Souness is being paid a fortune and for what?