LeazesMag

the 2 Brian Clough/Peter Taylor ones we have talked about are good, and as another non-NUFC one, the book "My Life" by Alex Ferguson is very good. There are others.

which ones have you read ?

Englands status and ability as a world nation is somewhere between about 6th and 10th, so their usual position is about right. We know last tournament was poor, and this time it could and should go better, but there are many things wrong with English football and we are unlikely to move forward much from this position in the world rankings.

Think it's still a special job in world football. it is, Parky, it is. A poisoned chalice, on a hiding to nothing, but a special job all the same.

might be amusing to see all the West Ham supporters in Fleet Street who have been urging Harry for the job when things don't go any better than for anyone else. FWIW, Capello had a fantastic record as a manager, and they all to a man backslapped him and said he was the dogs bollocks. Just goes to show how things can change. At the end of the day, the England players aren't good enough, and there is fuck all you can do about it when your hands are tied, you can only do so much.

I'm not. They'll get arse raped in the next round and then arse raped by us at SJP. my admiration for you raising the tone and mentality of here is immense.

if you go on these sites you've got to learn to take the rough with the smooth [stan fucking Collymore for one, especially when with the past that he has - allegedly - had] and not complain at what you see. Having said that, I still find twitter boring as fuck, whats the point of "talking" to these fuckers if they just take no notice of anybody. It's just a big ego trip.

no, I said that it is all becoming a bit predictable with a few of the usual cliches thrown in for good measure.

I've read a few more chapters and that is how it is coming across now. Nothing new, and a few cliches, I'm not doubting Mr Cassidy as a toon fan he's obviously the genuine article but its all becoming a bit predictable.

exactly

Galtieri did it for reasons including arresting his waning popularity

I've also explained on countless occasions why once is just not enough, he clearly can't read.

Ok, I know, Im asking you to reply again Is it not possible then that using your format of "been here before and seen it fail", the same could be used against SJH? Bought the club, built it up, sold it off for a tidy sum thank you very much. So, lets say Ashley sells as you want, is it not possible that we could say the same will happen again as we have seen it before? they build up the club and then sell it off with potential consequences. Alternatively, Id like to turn your argument on its head, is it not also possible for MA to sell the club and a worse owner to come in? We are sitting in 5th right now and europe looks a possibility. He could get us there and sell it then the next person has the same learning curve, makes their own mistakes and takes us down? As we have crudely found out through relegation, be careful what you wish for? of course it is highly possible for a worse owner than MA, I've actually said this on a few occasions too. I realise the previous regime made a lot of money when they sold the club, but the point is that when they were here they ran the club like a football club ought to be run and gave us the best time I've had in my time anyway. I've also said the same about Ashley, if he matches what they did or better, he can sell the club and make himself a billion quid for all I care. Thats what I want as a supporter, and its what supporters of NUFC should demand too, none of this "top half of the table is OK and we can't challenge for the top spots anymore" bollocks.

half of Fleet Street are West Ham supporters man.

nice one.

Drop the arrogant patronising tone for fuck sake mate. No wonder it's all kicking off with you. Genuine question, what enjoyment do you get out of being here if that's the tone of your posts? You should take a self-imposed break from here imo, your posts just aren't pleasant reading any more. yep, I get enjoyment sometimes, but what I also get is fed up of people like you who have supported the club for 5 minutes and try to tell me I am wrong. I'll put up more of the book for those who are hopefully knowledgeable enough, and old enough to get the whole perspective.

don't worry TS, I mean what I say. People can, and I'm sure they will, catch onto Mike Ashley in their own time now.

I agree. I've tried to give people the benefit of my knowledge of the club, they seem to accep it when its about players, managers, away games etc, but not when its about the politics, for some strange reason. Anyway, I will let them live in their own delusion now until it all becomes crystal clear, unfortunately. If people want to keep things "all in one thread", how about posts arse-licking Mike Ashley also being all in one thread ? The irony and hypocrisy of some posts in this thread is astounding, and that's the last I'm saying on it too. Tbf LM, I think you have good knowledge of the past but you blend knowledge and opinion. You use your knowledge of what has happened previously to present an opinion, not necessarily fact. Because it is an opinion, people are inclined to agree or not. I try to engage you in football discussion and I ignore any snide remarks made, mainly as I cant be arsed. I think the problem many, including me, have is that your view of the past seems to have blindfolded you to what is going on at the club right now. You seem unable to say or agree to anything with any amount of positivity about the current season because of its influence by the current owner. The impression is such that even if we qualify for Europe this season you wouldnt congratulate him but say it is nothing unless he does more than we have in the past? You also seem to have an all or nothing approach. It seems that you think someone is either 100% behind Ashley or not. I think this is what gets peoples back up when the reality most people are 50/50. I was going to leave this now, but you - and the post - deserve a reply [don't mean to patronise and for that I apologise]. Of course I mix knowledge of the past with opinion? This is because I've seen it before, the selling of the best players, the excuses for doing it, the lack of backing for the manager. And I've seen where it leads. In 1977 we finished 5th under a manager who did great despite not being backed by his board and 12 months later he had left and the resultant disenchantment relegated the club. IN the mid-80's we were promoted on a high, spawned 3 major England players, sold them all, finished 8th and were then promptly relegated again. For the same reasons as before, and a similar scenario is being played out now, the same excuses, the same actions, the same lack of ambition, the same small mindedness in the boardroom etc, and in Willie McFaul we had a manager who was completely dedicated to the club too. If we qualify for europe I will get out my passport, but yes you are quite right to say that for me, you have to do it more than once, I want to see an awareness of the club and a desire to build further or it is indeed only a flash in the pan, like before. I don't believe the desire to build is there, and explained why hundreds of times why. Unlike some, if I am proved wrong - although 4 years have already passed - I will be delighted and I will have the balls to say so. If you can't learn from the lessons of history, what's the point ? Why not learn from the lessons of history, what's wrong with that ? If you think that I think people are 100% behind Ashley when they are only 50-50,then I have to say that the same can be said of me, people say I'm 100% old regime but I am not, I just want someone to come in and do better, which is what most people said would happen, incorrectly as it happens, so when I respond in kind people reply to me the poster rather than what I say. That's a fact, or it seems to be. People will not admit that after 4 years they are now saying exactly what they disagreed with me about, all they have done is bicker with me because I said that replacing the old regime with better would be very difficult, and so far that has proved to be exactly the case. I can't be arsed anymore with people who are going to reply to me the poster rather than read what I say, it is their problem if they want to continue to be deluded. There is a way to be successful in football, all the clubs that have been successful have followed this format, which is not selling your best players and withholding money from your manager rather than trusting and backing him. That's all I can say, I think. I hope you are happy with this reply. I'm now bowing out of this discussion, unless someone - again - can engage in some constructive knowledgeable response.

I agree. I've tried to give people the benefit of my knowledge of the club, they seem to accep it when its about players, managers, away games etc, but not when its about the politics, for some strange reason. Anyway, I will let them live in their own delusion now until it all becomes crystal clear, unfortunately. If people want to keep things "all in one thread", how about posts arse-licking Mike Ashley also being all in one thread ? The irony and hypocrisy of some posts in this thread is astounding, and that's the last I'm saying on it too.

I'll be quite happy to carry on with this review, if anybody wishes to be constructive and intelligent about the quotes and comments, assuming they actually know what was going on at that time and can delve into their memories to put it all in its correct context. Noelie is older than me, he should have a good memory.

Aye, it's hilarious. Cannot for one second imagine the frame of button bashing rage he must get people in for them to write to points of view. From what I've heard he's as PM/complaint happy as the next person. As I say, I don't really understand the complaints aspect of it, but I feel sorry for anyone having to deal with them. Either way, it doesn't alter the fact he's clearly not right in the head and has a vastly different sort of attachment to this place than the clear majority of forum members. Which is the only real salient point going in this thread. Since when have such comments about someone's well being been acceptable Sammy boy ? Some would say this is the sort of thing that admin/mods ought to be REALLY clamping down on, unless people wish to discuss this sort of thing over a friendly pint or something, if they know each other etc etc. When I was banned on NO, a few people there also made personal comments thinking that I couldn't reply too, which doesn't really say too much about them. As for your previous post earlier, I've been saying the same thing for years, that is correct, maybe it's because as yet nobody has been able to show that what I said/say is wrong yet ? I'm sure that someone like you would do it fairly quickly if you could, just a thought Edit. One more thing, I don't put people on ignore like a bairn, and I don't go complaining to admin like a bairn either just because people disagree with me, I'd prefer to prove them wrong, and I'll admit it if I am and most definitely will if this proves to be the case during the next few years season ticket money that is already paid for.

why don't you comment about the 1970's, 80's, history of the club etc ? I'm entitled to comment about what i like and I've told you that I'm not interested in these posts that give points for performances and setting out player formations, and if I'm at the game I don't and have no intention to post while I'm watching it nor in the pub later. Who do you think you are ? I don't pretend to know about the 70's so I don't comment on it. Yoy, as you constantly remind people, go to all the home games so you are in a great position to comment and answer questions on the subject, you simply choose not to as that would involve making positive comments. You were asked yesterday what you thought of Cisse, your response was a long winded tirade. Sums you up chum I'm in a great position to comment on the politics of the club from 1964 onwards too. Think about it.

anyway, I'll try and leave this thread for people who may want to try and post intelligently about the book, which is the whole point, and continue the reviews, including my "opinion" where I think it is appropriate.

so says the adult who doesn't listen to other views ? Your getting as bad as Gloomy man, who also won't admit that he's been bickering with me for years and is now spouting what I've told him all along. Pathetic.

what a shame, that intelligent people like yourself, have absolutely NOTHING to say about the book, and reply to the poster rather than the post. This was a genuine effort by myself to write a comprehensive review of a book which covers a period that I post about a lot, and gain an insight into things I may not have heard before, but so far this is all that it has become. How sad is that. Maybe it is all out of your depth ? Just a thought. The thing is anything he writes that you dissagree with or doesn't fit your agenda you simply slate him. Now that's the sad thing I'm disagreeing with things I think or know are wrong. Nowt to do with "opinion". The only agenda I have is to see the club show the ambition it ought to show. How many times does this need to be told to you ? I simply don't agree that they [ie the PLC board] would "run the club better" than the group of people who had taken the club from one foot in the 3rd division to the brink of the premiership in 3-4 years, don't you agree ?