Football Focus

[????]

And I missed a 100 then....grrrrr

[maxxi]

Wot Quids said - i think Nolan should be got rid of now - he can't play in anything other than a lump-it-and-see style; Noble used in his stead is far more effective and works better with the rest of the midfield - not going to rehearse same old reasons most WH fans I know still want BFS gone, except to say there are still a lot of good things happening despite rather than because of his decisions.

[maxxi]

StraferJack Wrote:

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> Allardyce leaves

>

> West Ham fall. Fall. Fall

>

> Hack "managers" like Osborne get praise and

> "solid" managers like Sam get slammed?

>

> Fantasy world.

In my 'Fantasy World' we would have tried to entice Pardew back before he joined CP.

[StraferJack]

Like. Whatevs

Hammers fans are peaking right now and they don't even recognise it

"If we had a better manager with these players".

Like life is that simple

Ungrateful bollix

I'll put it another way. Ye will never be this high again.

[Otta]

???? Wrote:

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> You see our game SJ? We could have been three down

> at half term if Hull had some quality upfront.

> Nolan and Noble don,t work together and Downing

> goes back to lat year's innefective winger when

> he's bunged out there......but Sam knows best.

> Takes noble off and bring Downing in as every West

> Ham on the forums and that I talk to were sayingat

> kick off and hey presto, great movement,

> creativity and 3 goals, but Sam knows best.....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30872780

[StraferJack]

My "ungrateful bollix" phrase was intended as a Roddy Doyle-esque quip last night - but rereading it this morning it looks more like a straight insult, so I'm holding myhadns up here and offer an apology

It's odd me trying to defend BFS as I don't like the man very much but the vitriol lobbed his way constantly surprises me

Just as the Wenger Out brigade at my club appall me in their vitriol too...

[El Pibe]

He's hardly wenger is he!!! A man who instigated an entire revolution in football in this country.

If anything he's the anti-wenger.

[Otta]

I keep thinking that maybe I am being unfair to BFS, then I read quotes like the ones in the link I posted above, and I think that actually no, he is every bit the arrogant cunt I thought he was.

[red devil]

El Pibe Wrote:

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> He's hardly wenger is he!!! A man who instigated

> an entire revolution in football in this country.

>

> If anything he's the anti-wenger.

I thought SJ was saying that the vitriol each receives from their own fans was comparable, nothing to do with their managerial skills/legacy.

I think sometimes too much credence is given to systems/formations. 10 mins of watching Sky punditry and everyone is suddenly a tactical genius. I watched the game, West Ham looked hungover and lethargic after the highs and exertions of their mid-week Cup win. Second best to 50/50's, the defence, in particular Tomkins, run ragged. It doesn't matter what system is played, if a team isn't up for it, they're not going to perform. Something a good old fashioned half-time rollicking and an orange put right. West Ham might have been in the top 4 with a different manager, but equally they could've ended up in the Championship if they had sacked him this time last year...

[El Pibe]

all analysis aside, i really don't like him very much.

He's like an unsightly, elephant in the room type of odour...to mix my metaphors a bit.

[StraferJack]

"I thought SJ was saying that the vitriol each receives from their own fans was comparable, nothing to do with their managerial skills/legacy."

this

[El Pibe]

I don't think it's vitriol, it's two parts frustration erm, probably another two parts distaste.

He doesn't make me angry or hateful, he makes me depressed*

I reckon we should get that Setphanie Roche as the new gaffer. At least the post match interviews would be less stomach churning.

*pedro syndrome, everything good is my genius, everything bad is everyone else's fault

[Mick Mac]

Its been an amazing turnaround at west ham - a matter of 6 months ago there was a big defeat and I thought BFS would be gone but he hung in there.

I'm surprised at Downing's transformation too - he looked fantastic in central midfield on MOTD.

BFS has to take the credit even if he does operate an unsophisticated plan A. And I agree the first half tactics looked a bit agricultural compared to the second half but maybe you have to soften the opposition up first.

[Alan Medic]

Match Analysis

1st Half

Quids Long ball

BFS Tippy tappy

2nd Half

Quids Tippy tappy

BFS Long ball

Both say the 2nd half was better but for completely different reasons.

[red devil]

Mick Mac Wrote:

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> BFS has to take the credit even if he does operate

> an unsophisticated plan A. And I agree the first

> half tactics looked a bit agricultural compared to

> the second half but maybe you have to soften the

> opposition up first.

I'm sure that was the plan Mick.

''Don't worry lads, Hull's pressing game will eventually knacker 'em out by 'alf-time, then we'll stick to 'em in the 2nd 'alf...''

Tactical genius...

[Mick Mac]

Rope a dope. :)

[Otta]

Mick Mac Wrote:

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> BFS has to take the credit

No he doesn't, he could give some to his players and his coaching staff (who probably have more to do with the good football they play than he ever will).

BFS doesn't HAVE to take the credit, but he will, every single time.

Cunt!

[red devil]

Have you read this Rangers article Mick?

Quite a good overview of their financial shenanigans...

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jan/18/how-the-mighty-glasgow-rangers-have-fallen

I'm sure SC will correct any inaccuracies... ;-)

[Mick Mac]

Football managers live and die by results Otta. I'm "giving" him the credit. Emphasis on him "taking" the credit was unintentional, but if you think he's a whatever that's fine too - Football managers are rarely shrinking violets of course.

[????]

Alan Medic Wrote:

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> Match Analysis

>

> 1st Half

>

> Quids Long ball

> BFS Tippy tappy

>

> 2nd Half

>

> Quids Tippy tappy

> BFS Long ball

>

> Both say the 2nd half was better but for

> completely different reasons.

Nope. I said players playing out of position and/or combinations that don't work - no mention of Tippy Tappy, which I've slagged off before. Sam's simplistic binary is the Strawman here...as EP would say

[Mick Mac]

red devil Wrote:

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> Have you read this Rangers article Mick?

> Quite a good overview of their financial

> shenanigans...

>

> http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jan/18/ho

> w-the-mighty-glasgow-rangers-have-fallen

>

> I'm sure SC will correct any inaccuracies... ;-)

Had not seen it RD - very interesting and in some ways even I have to admit its somewhat sad - I think many thought that 4 seasons on and Rangers would be back to where they deserve to be fighting it out for the SPL next year - but more are now conceding it will be a long time before they are back at their level of past greatness, as evidenced by their struggle to keep up with Hearts this season.

[????]

I heard O'Neil on the Radio yesterday saying that Rangers (and to a lesser degree Hearts/Hibbs) abscence from the SPL had seriously undermined it. Permanently Mick?

[Mick Mac]

Maybe not permanently but certainly the Scottish championship is the more interesting of the two leagues this season and these three will all make it back either next season or the following one.

[Jah Lush]

Those three have to be in the SPL to make it remotely interesting whether you're Scottish or not. It's rubbish without them.

[????]

Interesting table

England's 14 money league representatives from the the top 30 globally (revenues for 2013-14 season, in euros)

2. Manchester United (518m)

6. Manchester City (414.4m)

7. Chelsea (387.9m)

8. Arsenal (359.3m)

9. Liverpool (305.9m)

13. Tottenham Hotspur (215.8m)

19. Newcastle United (155.1m)

20. Everton (144.1m)

21. West Ham United (137.4m)

22. Aston Villa (133m)

25. Southampton (126.9m)

27. Sunderland (124.8m)

29. Swansea City (118m)

30. Stoke City (117.6m)