Alex

I also meant it was lucky in terms of Arsenal just trying something different in terms of bringing in a foreign manager rather than some masterstroke of employing this brilliant coach they'd known about for a while.

They'd been very successful under George Graham although he didn't look like recapturing their league winning formula under him in the late 80s/early 90s they won a few cups but they were behind us in the reckoning when he arrived (although they'd point to success in various cups). They were still one of the top sides in the country in terms of pull. They had some class players too, Wright and Bergkamp and their back 5. They were a dirty set of bastards and not remotely attractive in terms of their football. I think part of the luck re: Wenger comes from what he inherited and then blending that with French players he knew and he'd worked with at a time when France had some of the best players in the world. He takes loads of credit for that but I think there's always a bit of luck involved. His rep was such (i.e. little known outside of France) that he may well have quickly been sacked if he hadn't done so well pretty soon in his career there.

It seems like a lifetime ago but they got very lucky when they plucked Wenger from obscurity (he was managing Gary Lineker's old side in Japan iirc). He replaced Bruce Rioch which seems difficult to believe now.

Many of the same people who buy into it are the ones rebelling against the preceived establishment. Try working that one out.

That would be nice

Enjoying Sneaky Pete. I'm 6 (out of 9) episodes in. Bryan Cranston is as good as ever

:lol: I reckon most people would've been canny happy with 7 points from 3 consecutive away games against top 6 sides (especially as we beat our two closest rivals). Obviously you aren't most people

He even looks down just before he does it. It looks worse every time you watch it

I see Bournemouth have appealed Ming's violent conduct charge whereas Man Utd have accepted Zlatan's 3 match ban. I hope Mings gets hammered because that stamp was fucking disgusting and could've been a lot worse.

So shit it's good

I'm the CTRL C+V

Was going to refer to you as the Alt-Left the other day as a piss-take

He'll be gannin neewhere if he's on 60 grand a week.

Aye, that's him

That's precisely what I had in mind, i.e. having a go at Pardew for persisting with players who were struggling when there seemed to be better options

Him, Roy Keane and that French bloke off First Dates all remind me of him:

I just can't fathom anyone having a pop at the manager for picking a player in form and performing ahead of the one who isn't. Lunacy tbh

Proper skittled, it might as well have been me batting. Shame because if they won this we might have seen Ken posting from rehab

You'd make a ruddy good manager, David

Agreed, because it's a big match and a massive opportunity to more or less seal promotion. Aye, I really want him to succeed but he's not performing at present.

If he's going to leave because he can't accept not getting into the squad when he doesn't warrant a place then he lacks the required temperament anyway imo*. His age in relevant in the sense of his potential development but not in terms of him starting (or getting a place on the bench) ahead of those more worthy at present. * Not saying he will, just responding to you arguing that's a possibility.

I'd wager you'd give him a jolly good talking to.

Murphy's a far better option atm so it's hardly lunacy.

I think he's young and still developing but he's definitely the 4th choice centre-forward at present and we only play one up top. We'll look to strengthen there in the summer and I think he'll be away. When I saw him against Bristol City he offered very little.