Toonpack

Err, that's a fact how exactly? What we know is that Ben Arfa's ability has brought spectacular results. All that was required for that was to give him sufficient time on the pitch to regain fitness, sharpness, touch and to form combinations with his team mates. Look at Pardew's treatment of Obertan? Why do you think that has so starkly constrained the treatment of Ben Arfa? For me it comes down to two things - Obertan was Pardew's choice and so the pressure was on him for Obertan to perform, and two, Ben Arfa is not the type of person to be wholly compliant to the demands of a manager. Pardew clearly favors those sort of players (eg. Perch). Ben Arfa was played sporadically and it was only when there was no other options that he began to see regular time on the pitch (not just pressure filled cameos). With that time on the pitch he has produced in spades and is now happy, fit and at the top of his game. When he's in that state it won't really matter who the manager is, he'd be a dream to have in the side. I like Pardew but I don't think he has handled Ben Arfa particularly well. At least, I think, he has treated him on par with others in the side only in the way that attitude and application is given a higher regard than skill and creativity. Best is another example of this. Despite the fact just about every coach who's had anything to to with HBA says otherwise (in reportedly glowing terms) ??

:D

They're not/weren't wrong though, that's your problem Edit - no-one "wrote him off" btw

On the subject of that song and the guitar solo in particular. According to Seger, when it was recorded the solo in the final recording was the first one the guitarist "laid down" in the midst of hearing the song for the very first time. Cracking solo it is too. Basically, "hey listen to this new song and come up with a solo" and he did right there and then. Impressive tbh.

Everyone is entitled to an opinion, even those that are wrong. At least everyone can enjoy the exceptional performances and play we're getting from him now that he's match fit, match sharp and has his touch. And is finally doing what his manager wants him to do in the wider aspects of the game. Just playing him irrespective of anything, earlier in the season, was NOT the thing to do. and Chez is spot on btw

I dunno, but we've scored 10 and only conceded one as well !!! I'm lovin this decline

Spot on. Any reasonable man would accept the stadium naming and red and blue shit everywhere in exchange for the best business model in the league by some distance. We have 7 blinding players who have formed the core of our team and are starting to get a good group of squad players built up around them. We are 4-5 players short of convincingly becoming the fourth best team in the league (behind Man U, Man City and Chelsea) and could barge into the CL consistently as well as genuinely challenging for siverware. All this without pissing money down the drain á lá Liverpool and Tottenham and most certainly in a much more sustainable manner than under Shepherd/Hall et al. But despite insurmountable evidence, LeazesMag is still clinging to the glory days of scraping into the knockout stages of the CL even though we are well set to surpass those days in the next couple of years. The only explaination I can give for this is the same reason why people cling to religion: despite overwhelming evidence that there is no God and religion being a deeply bad thing, people still go to church because they've been indoctrinated and have invested too much personal belief in something to give it up, and no amount of evidence to the contrary will cause them to relinquish their position. Really ???

"a team work ethic" or "a teamwork ethic?" Fuck off ya prick. We won and we should be united in celebrating. mong. Is that "you're a prick" or "you prick" ?

Outstanding performance today, really solid, 6 games to go and above Chelski and their gazillions

Well played Mr Jinx

I would think he wishes he had, widely reported he knows he made mistakesand put trust in the wrong people, now it's his way or the highway and it would appear to be working.

My favourite game Really?? Oh and at least I remembered the opposition for Tony Green's testimonial, you know, that bloke who was one of your all time favourite players who you think had Sunderland at his testimonial :icon_lol:

I'm tagging out, I see Leazes-lite has chimed in, I'm sure you can cope with the internet Bushwackers Gem

meltdown. Toonpack knows as much about the Fairs Cup win and those times as you man, his favourite game is a match that never took place Really ??? Making stuff up again Oh and BBN, he does think the fairs Cup was a waste of time, he said as much to be on a thread months back when i hailed it as a pretty good achievement. His position changes like the wind.

why don't you grow up and stop bickering then. I'm looking at the long term, so if you only want to talk about the short term, stop following me around. I'll talk about the long term if you like, but I'm not really interested in blowing a european qualification and the possible springboard to better if it is all wasted through a lack of ambition in the hierarchy of the club. I've seen that in other regimes. I saw the Fairs Cup win springboard wasted. I saw the McDonald/Green era wasted. I saw the Gordon Lee 5th position wasted. I saw the Cox/Waddle/Beardsley/Gazza springboard wasted. I don't really want to see the club go down that road again, but it is staring straight at me and there is nothing you can do about it but watch. I'm trying to tell you. If you don't want to listen, then fuck off yourself. Should add the Keegan and SBR springboards to your list tbh

You appear to be stalking him.....which is sort of sad in a way.... He follows people around if he doesn't get a rise here, he goes elsewhere and carries on not answering questions and gets shot to ribbons, no surprise some return the compliment.

Absent a Shiek or an Oligarch (notwithstanding FFP) it's the ONLY way, he won't admit that either.

He's away on Skunkers now what do you think will happen this summer ? The same as you thought was going to happen last summer ? I think if a HUGE offer comes in, we'll sell someone like Tiote, but he'll be replaced and the club will go onwards and upwards.

In other words, your expectations have been successfully lowered. Congrats on getting nearer to accepting what I've been trying to tell you. I don't think they will keep their players and attempt to go higher. Lets wait and see eh ? Nowt to do with "expectations" it's about reality. In Leazes world I bet Britain still has an Empire and the Royal Navy is still the biggest and baddest.

He's away on Skunkers now

I go through T5 every week and would expect all the chains are the same terminal to terminal and can't recall seeing Sky Sports on anywhere. Also heathrows Wi-Fi service seems hosted from the US so Sky Go won't work either.

I fear another drive by fruiting

Perch doubtfull evidently

It says "You paid for my flight"

Especially when you are a not a centre back