Micky

Ahhh but perhaps you have missed the real problem. The only reason that we don't put decent balls into the box is because we never get it wide, we play with no width, we are always too narrow - hence we are never in a position to put balls into the box. No width, not wide enough, same every game - ask Derry, he'll tell ya...! As for corners - well, we are just crap at corners. Last player I remember scoring from a corner, probably Ken Monkou..!

Errr what...?

Failed to cover a crowd riot and the game being abandoned though - sloppy...! But I take your point..!

Nothing quite like covering all the bases eh...!!!

... and Mr Best scores for Coventry too...!!!

Best mate works in Nuneaton and is a Coventry season ticket holder who gave me the low down. Funny you should ask actually as I was chatting to him today (my mate, not Mifsud..!) and he still says to stear well clear.

Ohhhhh, you've gone and ruined everybodies fun now. There he was, lying on the floor and we were all happy as pigs putting the boot in - and then you had to come along and put some perspective on things. Perhaps he wasn't a drunkard, perhaps he didn't do a bad job, perhaps the Scotland job was harder than we percieve, perhaps, perhaps, perhaps.... Nice post, even though it will probably have you cast off to the '19c corner' for the rest of the evening.

Not really - the only desperate change of tack that I can see are those that are so bereft of meaningful, cogent argument with reference to the orgininal debate, that have now resorted to the somewhat predictable 'character assasination' - all fully substantiated of course by crass inuendo and rumour. Nice thread - glad to see that we have all managed to put the dark days behind us.

Apparently not - initial agreements (I'm led to believe) were that he would be paid 50% of the outstanding contract value should Scotland not qualify and he leaves the job. He was on 300K a year, has another year on his contract, and therefore stands to pocket 150k once somebody pulls the trigger. Nice work if you can get it.

Exactly, although there could be some amount of critisism levelled at GB for that as well. Would appear to have been a disciplinary / respect issue there- and perhaps George did not have the dressing room togeather at the time. Was very impressed with Walter Smiths take on it though - very professional and very brave - took no shyte and laid down the law. But as you said - it did absolutely nothing to help Scotlands cause.

Good post. It's very easy for us English to sit and gloat at other home nations - and this was a very cheap dig at George Burley. The bottom line is managers of these teams have very little to work with in reality. GB was on hiding to nothing, the task was always going to be very difficult. Personally I would love to have all of the home nations qualifying - it makes for a much more interesting competition. We are seen as the big fish but the reality is we have much more and better resources. When NI beat England in the last WC qualifiers was absolutely great for the country - I'm not saying that I want it to happen all the time - but once in a while, lets face it, the 'little guy' must get some success.

Totally agree with this. When GB took the Scotland job I said that he would fail, but only because Scotland do not produce enough quality for any manager to have a chance of success. It is indeed interesting that certain individuals have jumped ship - and I totally agree that this is because they were quick to realise that they managed to get the squad to over achieve and that it was all down hill from thereon in. As for Furgie - well, it speaks for itself that he has not interest whatsoever in managing his National side. Given the players that Scotland have, the wiley old fox can see straight away that he is on a 'hiding to nothing', and if he can't do it - then let's face it, who can?

Not for me thanks - tends to turn up when the cameras do, but otherwise work shy and probably not suited to a long hard slog in League 1. We need team players right now - not over inflated egos - and for those reasons, I'm out..!

Nice of you to give it your undevided attention before extolling us all with your critical view Jonny. Naturally your comments are valid as you could obviously do much better - go on, show us.

Errrr age is obviously kickin' in - you appear to have completely forgotten many of the debates on here, what, only 6 - 12 months ago. We have our fair share of 'fairweather' fans. Man Utd - last year, full house, where are they now? So all fans, probably loyal yes - but fanatical - definately not..! All IMHO of course. Oh - btw - just downloaded the The Soldiers track and it's not too shabby, worth a listen, go on, give them your support too, they really do deserve it.

Errrr what....???? Edit: Ohhh right - you are referring to this: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/bizarre/2628415/These-three-battle-hardened-hunks-are-serving-soldiers-who-have-just-signed-a-record-deal.html Gary Chilton - Pastimes: Fanatical Southamton FC fan - top man..!! Hope the lads do ok with it - good luck to them.

To be fair - the guy has conducted himself impecably throughout this whole ****in' mess. Saw him intereviewed on TV after a recent game and he refused to blame anything other than the teams performance on the day for losing. This maybe true - but I think he's a decent guy who deserves a better job. Perhaps if true and he does get the boot better things will come his way - let's face it - not harder to get better than pompee is it?

Was exactly what I was going to say. If the like of 9/11 can be planned and executed in America - it can happen anywhere in the world. That is why our guys are currently in Afghanistan. It is interesting to note as well that there are lots of countries Armed Forces currently serving over there (Germany, Denmark and the like) that (for political reasons) wouldn't normally serve in these hot spots. They are there now though - because they too understand the very real threat of another 9/11.

I do - but I don't think they will. Even if they do though - they could get seriously embarrassed at the finals, so perhaps non qualification is a better option for them really.

AP, Downes, Coppell - all good football people with experience, yet more progress as far as I am concerned. Caveated with ..."if true" of course...!

Damn what a good idea - so instead of sacking him we will offer him support and assistance instead eh. Bloody radical, it will never catch on. I tell ya.

Well there appears to be no end of people here who are willing to pull the trigger right now, so do you think I should start a thread as to who we want to replace AP, or shall we just do that in this thread as well. Replacement for AP, thoughts anyone? There was a poster on here a couple of days ago telling us that George Burley would be sacked yesterday - he has a great point per game ratio, far better than AP - any takers there perhaps?

This is something that annoys me as well. Because our fall from grace has been so rapid, it appears to me that, some (many) seem to think that we still have Premiership quality players. We don't - our squad and ability are on par with all other League 1 teams. We have no devine right to beat anybody in the league just because we used to be (not so very long ago) a Premiership side. I don't know whether it is the younger posters on here (and if not - then I apologise in advance for my stereotyping and assumptions), but many of us can remember life for the club before the years of continuous top flight football. Perhaps many of our younger fans can't and have been spoilt somewhat. That said - in years gone by when we were in the lower divisions - we had to work bloody hard to get out, nothings changed and the same applies. We have no devine right, we are a League 1 team and we have to battle and scrap the same as our peers - the Premier League is light years away, so get used to it. We will get back there, but it is going to take more time than most probably want - and to start whinging after 9 games is somewhat laughable - personally I would do what LTC advises, sit back, enjoy the ride and support the club.

I agree - we are a shytty little club in a shytty little league and we are not different to all the other teams in this league and we definately are not special. But unfortunately you missed the salient point. The fact remains that we have constantly sacked managers at the drop of a hat and it has not resolved our ongoing problems - so for once eh, just once - let's back this one for a bit eh?

And I agree with yours. Results should be better, and yes it is time for Pardew (and the team) to deliver. That said - we are back to the old knee jerk(s) reaction of 'we have a problem - we are not winning games - sack the manager' - total and utter bollux. We, of all teams should, by now, have worked out that just because the team is not performing on the field, this is not an excuse to push yet another manager out of the revolving door. We've done this for years - and where has it got us - err nowhere. So why not go for a much more radical approach, and when the team and the manager are struggling for form, results, whatever - we the fans and the Football Board actually support them, get behind them and back them even more. Just a thought.