Noelie

No, that's the only measure of a teams success. Not true, it's also the measure of a team's failure and mediocrasy. In a results oriented competition, position in the league standings is a good yard-stick of performence otherwise you wouldn't be hearing about top four, top six, bottom three, middle of the table, relegation zone.

That's true, but upstairs not out the door, and certainly not the disgraceful way it was carried out. If we had lost the first 4 games of the season then maybe you could see a little justification in Bobby being sacked, but we didn't, and that's what made it a despicable action. It reeked of a prior plan to get rid of him at the first opportunity regardless of what problems could prevail.

I don't agree with that statement Mr. Luckyluke!! If you're referring to picking McClaren, he was in no way the best English option.

From what I understand from a mate in Gosforth, I see more Newcastle matches on the telly over here than he does. He used to be a season ticket holder but now he feels he is too old and decrepit to be among the mob-crush and doesn't see home games unless he can get a stream on his computer.

I can see where schedule changes can cause angst among the folks at home, but for me being retired and living in a place 8 hours removed it doesn't make a lot of difference to me as the 3 o'clock kick-offs on Saturdays is 7 o'clock in the morning here. It's those early kick-offs that bug me, getting up at 4 in the morning is not something that an owld gadgee appreciates. Inccidently, what with subscribing to Setanta USA which became available on my dishnetwork this season, and the football shown on the Fox Soccer Channel I have seen ALL our league matches so far this season, mostly live, some 2 hour tape delay, and the odd one 5 hour delay. Only match I haven't seen was the loss to Arse n'all in the Cup game as it wasn't shown over here.

A Man among men. I had gone to SJP with a friend who was going there to get a free blood pressure test that was on offer. As we were leaving Bobby pulled in and got out of his car carrying what looked like a change of clothes. I had the audacity to go up to him and introduce myself much to my friend's chagrin. I started out by saying my mother's family name was Robson, my middle name was Robson, but I doubt we are related. He smiled, stuck his hand out, and asked me where I was from. When I said I was living in California and he said I've been there a few times, lovely sunshine. He asked me if I was going to the match which was that Weds. night and asked if I had tickets. I said I had and we shook hands again and off he went. Sadly, the following Monday was the day he was sacked.

Alfredo DiStefano. Stanley Mathews. Zidane.

I'm more than pleased with the result but I must admit it didn't look as though we would win, in fact I thought we were going to throw the game away in the 2nd half after overwhelming Birmingham in the last 20 minutes of the 1st. I think it was highly noticable that Milner continually tried to get the ball to his right foot to make the crosses, even the match commentator made a comment about that. That being so, why does Allardyce persist in playing him on the left. As for N'Zogbia, he is most dangerous when running at the opposition's defence but you don't expect someone in a full back position to be doing that all the time, that's what you expect from a wide left or right player.

mind boggling you say "for a change Smith had a good game". I hope you would be charitable if Alan Shearer or Les Ferdinand had played on the right side of midfield. You must be related to baggy or something. So you must think he's been having good games eh, and your mind is boggled because I say he's had a good one for a change, mmmm. Martins lacks the awareness and vision to be a top player. A few pot shots and spectacular goals will never make up for that. I don't think Emre should have been brought on at all. Barton had his best game for us. Emre should now be sent on his bike and replaced with a better player. You have your opinion, I have mine, and just how many games has Barton had for us pray tell. Zoggy isn't a left back, anymore than Smith is a midfield player, so judging them while playing out of position is bollocks. Just how stupid are you, I keep saying Zoggy is playing out of position ala Allardyce who appears to think otherwise.[/b] Your telescope has let you down again. Not really, even from afar it's easy to bring you into view and see how stupid you still are.

True enough, like a shot in the arm. Milner had a good game, he was finding it easy to beat Sagna although as usual his crosses weren't the best. However I still think he is better on the right and still question Allardyce's starting line-ups. Zoggy had a fair match but his goal-making mistake cost us dearly. Again I have to question why Allardyce does not play Enrique at left back and allow Zoggy to play wide left where he always contributes more in an attacking role. For a change Smith had a good game, his passing was better than usual and his contribution in an attacking role was a step in the right direction. Martins was lively and caused some problems for the Gunners but I often wonder if he knows which way to go. There are times he should have a crack instead of trying to get into a better position and loses the ball in the process. Barton was again a bit of a non-entity and his passing leaves a lot to be desired. I agree that Emre should have been brought on, I think he can probably do better against teams that try to play good football rather than against teams who play the 'take no prisoners' style. Thank the Lord Taylor scored that goal but we were lucky he didn't give away a penalty with his rashness. We could have/should have won the game and that's no reflection on Allardyce or anyone else, we've just got to be able to get the goal that will win the game when things are looking good and we're playing well.

Huh!!

But management is a proper job Mr. Rico, albeit in Football, Manufacturing, Sales, or whatever business is dependent on results. I was production manager at a boat-building company in California which had a sister plant in Virginia that was having difficulties meeting production schedules. I was sent to the Virginia plant for as long as it took to straighten the place out, I was back in 5 weeks. However, in the meantime the company hired a production manager to replace me in my absense. He had a track record of being a competent production manager with the Caterpillar company back East, he lasted 30 days before they let him go. The methods, ideas, and know-how he brought with him from his previous work-place were not compatable with the work-force at his new job and schedules fell behind in quick time. Admit it, you completely made that up. Even if you didn't, the only possible analogy here is if Sam was responsible for the team bus and couldn't get us to the games on time. Actually I didn't make that up, it really happened. I guess what I'm trying to point out is that a competent person should be able to take the tools he is given, add to them, assess the situation, recognize where the problems lie, and in a workmanlike manner begin to smooth things out and show a gradual flow of progress in the right direction. Not have the flow going in the wrong direction, and I don't think it matters whether it is football or any kind of occupation that requires good management skills and the ability to make things work.

But management is a proper job Mr. Rico, albeit in Football, Manufacturing, Sales, or whatever business is dependent on results. I was production manager at a boat-building company in California which had a sister plant in Virginia that was having difficulties meeting production schedules. I was sent to the Virginia plant for as long as it took to straighten the place out, I was back in 5 weeks. However, in the meantime the company hired a production manager to replace me in my absense. He had a track record of being a competent production manager with the Caterpillar company back East, he lasted 30 days before they let him go. The methods, ideas, and know-how he brought with him from his previous work-place were not compatable with the work-force at his new job and schedules fell behind in quick time. There's a bit of a difference. Very true Mr. Patrokles, skilled, semi-skilled, unskilled, male & female players on my team to be drilled & trained into a results oriented cohesive group who get the job done more often than not, doing it MY way. Who's Sam got to work with and what's he doing?

But management is a proper job Mr. Rico, albeit in Football, Manufacturing, Sales, or whatever business is dependent on results. I was production manager at a boat-building company in California which had a sister plant in Virginia that was having difficulties meeting production schedules. I was sent to the Virginia plant for as long as it took to straighten the place out, I was back in 5 weeks. However, in the meantime the company hired a production manager to replace me in my absense. He had a track record of being a competent production manager with the Caterpillar company back East, he lasted 30 days before they let him go. The methods, ideas, and know-how he brought with him from his previous work-place were not compatable with the work-force at his new job and schedules fell behind in quick time.

I must agree here, seems to me that with a bonafide left-back like Enrique whom Sam brought in to play there, is fit and on the bench, why does Sam keep putting Zoggy there, OUT of POSITION. Seems to me that Souness & Roeder didn't use that tactic in the absense of a bonafide left-back(Babayaro) but resorted to the use of Huntington & Edgar even Carr. What benefit does Sam see in playing Zoggy there rather than wide left where he has given his best performences. And what benefit does Sam see in playing Milner OUT of POSITION on the left side? I don't see any. It may seem like a broken record to keep on about playing people OUT of POSITION, but something is very wrong somewhere.

Maybe so, but when I hear the name Stoke I inevitably think 'Stanley Mathews'. Started and finished his career playing for Stoke, a legend among the legends.

Thing is, a loss to Arse n'all on Wednesday will not sink us further down the table. Our next game is against Birmingham who are 4 points behind us and even if they beat us they will not move above us. Neither will Fulham who play tomorrow and are also 4 points behind us so we are relatively safe in 11th place for the time being. I don't think a loss to the Gunners will spell the end for Allardyce but the outcome of our next 3 games against Birmingham, Fulham, and Wigan just might if we don't get some points.

Keegan could have been an unmitigated disaster too, he hadn't proved himslf anywhere before he came back to us as manager. Liken to Shearer he had only proven himself to be a great player on the domestic and international stage but as it turned out he did quite well.

A much better performence all told but unfortunately another defeat. I still have to question Allardyce's mind-set on playing Zoggy at left-back and Milner wide left.

If that's true Mr. Gejon, how come Viagra is the latest fad for hard-ons?

If I remember from my schooldays history lessons the Celtic tribes were active in East Anglia and that Queen Boadcea(spelling) was part of it. I seem to remember that the Celtic tribes in England retreated from the Roman invaders into Cornwall and Wales.

[quote name='LeazesMag' date='Nov 30 2007, 07:09 AM' post='406430' which Noelie will agree with, now that I see he is online, unless he thinks - from the use of his long range telescope......... I was wondering how long it would take the egotistical, idiotic pedant LeazesMag to bring forth my name in his postings, and lo and behold here he comes again with his classic moronic drivel. I would have thought he'd have enough sense to steer clear of Noelie after the last verbal thrashing he was subjected to but apparently he is just as stupid as he was then and no doubt he will try to save face by engaging in another asinine verbiage confrontation, hoping to salvage what little esteem, if any, he had left. Don't waste your time LeazesMag, I'm certainly not going to waste my time on you. Now then folks, wait for his response. I'm sure it'll make you laugh.

Depends on the time sonny. aa'm heor just noo. I need people with their faculties in tact. WHY, think they might help you better with your lonliness? Beggars can't be choosers. I need people who can retain information for longer than the next commode break. Sorry like. You on the night shift or summat? it's nearly 2:30 in the morning over there.

Did you know that Aristotle apparently said that the Celts openly approved of having male lovers........ooooh

Depends on the time sonny. aa'm heor just noo. I need people with their faculties in tact. WHY, think they might help you better with your lonliness? Beggars can't be choosers.