Golac's Cunning Stunts

To be honest, I'd rather get relegated playing Adkins style football than scrape by every year in the Prem playing god awful Rafa style football.

That one is well worth a wager.

I agree with your last statement, but the players still need to be managed. In this case, a manager was required who could harness the obvious talents of the players at his disposal, so you could argue that RDM was "massively capable" at doing this, unlike his predecessor. There are always shades of grey in every aspect of life - nothing is as black and white as the media or for that matter a lot of posters on here would have you believe.

**** me, how can you turn what I just said there into me "believing Avram Grant is a genuinely top quality manager"? All I meant was that it's easy for the average football fan to say Terry, Drogba and Lampard won the champs league with no effort from the manager. Over simplified in my opinion. Funny how these 3 never managed to do it for Chelsea before then

I attended a business function at the Emirates yesterday and afterwards we had a guided tour of the stadium. I was amazed how much input Wenger supposedly had in parts of it's design, particularly the dressing room. Apparently he even had his way that the "subs" bench (if you could call it that these days), which has underfloor heating as Wenger said he wanted his subs to come on with toasty feet! The opposition subs bench doesn't get this of course.

OK, so what exactly did he fail to deliver for them in his time there?

He got WBA promoted and they weren't even in the relegation zone when he got the sack. How do you know how much "actual management" he did in the Champs League? I love it how people simplify these things. Lampard Terry and Drogba are players, not the manager. You make it sound like you could have done it. Could you? Could Adkins?

Couple of years back we had a pre-season friendly at Sutton United. After the game a few Saints fans were in the bar. Pards made a point of coming in and chatting to us all, thanking us for coming. My nipper wanted a pic with him. When I asked, Pards took a full 5 mins to chat with him and have a pic taken. Top top guy and my lad was over the moon. Great manager too as he is proving at Newcastle where everybody gave him no hope.

After having played all the top teams, I knew the wins would start coming once we started playing the teams below us. Roll on QPR at home :-)

I'll let Phil McNulty contribute to the thread as he is better at words than me: "Southampton were outstanding today. If ever a team reflected the attitude of their manager Nigel Atkins it was this positive, confident Southampton side. In contrast QPR were utterly abject - how long will the club's hierarchy remain patient after this dreadful defeat? Nigel Adkins and his Southampton players take the applause of their fans - and they deserve every bit of it."

It was a (poor) attempt at humour, but your response does illustrate that you and others who feel that anybody else would be interested in your agenda take yourselves far too seriously. Wind your neck in and perhaps try to see the funny side when people attack your thoughts. Whatever - I really don't care. I enjoy some of your posts and I can see you are a passionate fan. That's good enough for me really.

Your agenda is cack

Who cares? Can't we just discuss football?

I seem to remember (although my memory isn't that great so feel free to correct me) that we used to score quite a lot of late goals under WGS? Look at ManC this year, they seem to have won all of their games in the last few mins. A lot to be said for that. Much better than scoring in the first half and trying in vain to hold on.

You forgot the fourth option: the Robert Green technique. Much more difficult than the other 3 and probably can only be executed by an England standard keeper.

I think that it's all very well doing all this short ball out from the GK, keep possession, play through the park etc, but if you haven't got technically able players, this kind of thing will happen. All very well if you are Spain where all the outfield players are technically competent and able to retain possession of the ball, but not such a good idea if you are at the technical level of some of our players. Same goes for when England play. Whenever they start to "play the ball around" (usually sideways or backwards), it just makes you panic. I always end up shooting something like "boot it for ****'s sake before you get caught in possession"

Pretty much describes my masturbatory habits

Not being funny or anything, but are you really the finest that Chigwell has to offer?

A mongboard?

This is always the difficulty. Young players who start to prove themselves in the Prem, get relegated and then get bought by a Prem team who will benefit from their hard won experience. If we get relegated I can see Rickie going somewhere like Villa or Stoke next season too.

The Adkins way Who knows what he knows The Adkins legend grows I could never lie For honour I would lie Following the Adkins way

Yep that signing does look a strange one - 2x CB, 1 LB and with hindsight a domineering CM were urgently required, not another forward.

They have surprised me this season I have to admit. Really wanted them to do poorly because they have such arrogant, disrespectful fans on their mongboard (but I guess then who doesn't?) Allardyce clearly knows what he is doing and no doubt they have huge confidence at the moment. Would be interesting to see what happens to them if they go on a losing run and the fans start to turn. Their fans have what they see as the "West Ham" way of playing football and I'm not sure Fat Sam would last too long there if things go a bit belly up. An away win at Newcastle can't be argued with - can't see us coming away from there with anything less than a severe drubbing.

As far as the game goes today I fancy Ricky to bag a brace today. So confident, I have made him my captain in my Fantasy team :-)

That is an excellent article. Very well written. Liked the other articles too. I had completely forgotten about that goal by Delap. Like the art work especially the cartoon strip of Matty. You need to write more! I'll follow your blog on Google Reader! Great work!