UpweySaint

I thought mine was quite realistic yet still had us finishing ninth just by a point ahead of fulham in tenth with wigan going down after losing to Villa on the last day of the season (the margins were so slim that a wigan win would have sent norwich down!). I also had Stoke in a fairly comfortable 13th 6 points away from the drop with them having beaten Norwich and QPR to secure their survival.

Ok poor word choice. To maintain their current position and continue to be competitive without a damned miracle.

The board feel they have to move. Financially they will be forced to move to survive as a club.

True but we had to move with the times and they will too. Are we nostalgic for the dell? Of Course! But unfortunately economics will always play a fundamental role in football and, despite it's lack of history, the SMS has decent(ish) facilities and is well located(ish!). Perhaps when we crack on with the super stadium rebuild we could add some personality to it so it doesnt look like so many of the others?

True but we had to move with the times and they will too. Are we nostalgic for the dell? Of Course! But unfortunately economics will always play a fundamental role in football and, despite it's lack of history, the SMS has decent(ish) facilities and is well located(ish!). Perhaps when we crack on with the super stadium rebuild we could add some personality to it so it doesnt look like so many of the others?

Idiakez, scored a fantastic free kick against us and looked great for Derby whenver we played them, was beyond useless for us! Remember being gutted about that, had a flash back when we almost had Calderon from Brighton simply for the Spanish connection and trying to nick one from our "rivals".

Which both teams desperately want to replace? Many have said the reason Everton have not been able to attract investment is Goodison.

AC on the floor. De Ja bloody Vu!

This seems all ok so far ... http://www.firstrow1.eu/watch/180641/1/watch-southampton-fc-vs-west-ham-united.html

But the decision cannot be simply taken out of context. Hiring MP may be a very good decision but the timing and nature may not. I think we can all agree it left a very bitter taste in the mouth. Either way I stand by what I said in that we cant really evaluate the decision so soon in a fair way. Personally I hope MP goes on to prove a lot of the sceptics, including myself, very wrong!

Honestly people being smug about Poch doing well, get over it. Most of the critics, myself included, acknowledged Poch may well be a talented manager but it was the way things were done that so many of us disagreed with. Honestly glad to see Poch building on NA's solid foundations but I honestly dont think we can effectively judge him one way or the other until he's had longer in the job and the ability to shape the side how he see's fit. He has made a promising start and that is great though!

Seemed to be a lot of mutual respect between two ambitious sides both playing very good football. They were certainly nice sparring partners and I honestly think they'l find their way to the premier league one day.

Nonsense. If you read my post you'd see that I look forward to the days we are sustainable, something we are actively pushing for, and did not actually comment at all on the source of either teams money. I do not think it is easy. I swear you'r reading my posts and ignoring the actual content. It was a big ask, he did WELL. That is not my dispute. I firmly believe that they did not have a logner term vision under Big Sam and this has cost them. Name the players who have came through Bolton's acamdemy or even young players who's careers have been developed at Bolton. Not many for sure. We are a long way behind where bolton were so I dont think comparisons, at this time, are helpful. We were League one teo seasons ago! One player does not an academy make. Hunt, the rb? He did ok and came through under Big Sam but who else...? Either way why do you have such a bee in your bonnet over this? I rate Allardyce but maintain he was flawed, you disagree, whats the major issue?

Walsall, they were a class bunch. Never met a Newcastle fan I dont like but have not met too many to be fair.

Not really a fan of any of those but the silver one isnt too bad. If it happens it happens but I just dont see any reason for it.

£140 million in debt. Thats simply not sustainable. He got results no question but he did NOT build a club. They had no foundations. You'r right him leaving was a catylyst for their decline but do you not think he shoulders any responsiblity for not trying to develop a youth strategy or keeping wages down? Remind you? Dont think i've ever actually told you "mate". I dont expect anything. I hope we continue to build the club around the academy and long term become a sustainable side playing good football and producing talented players (hopefully in the premier league!). I did not belittle anything and in fact said he deserved credit. He did a good job and has some v strong attributes but im crystal clear I believe he also has flaws. Think you've made assumptions based on god knows what about how I might react to us had we been in Bolton's position.

Yeah hold on calm it down. Dont think to presume my opinions on Pochetino in future scenarios. What happened when Big Sam left Bolton? A few season and they went down with a mass of debt, an aging side, no real youth prospects to speak of ... He did a good job at Bolton YES. But was it longterm? no, just look what happened when he left. Management is about more then just where the team is this season despite the short termism of many in the game. How about getting of your high horse and kindly shoving your condescending reply somewhere creative.

Fair but he gets more right then wrong. Utd have been so consistant for a reason. Wellbeck may, or may not, come good but Ferguson is one of the better judges of footballing talent around.

Allardyce clearly has his strengths and it would be foolish to argue otherwise but, for me, he's not a man for the long term. Deserves real credit for keeping Bolton and Blackburn up but never really progressed them as clubs (debatable Bolton did well but for me it was stopgap after stopgap with decent, but aging, pros) or brought through young talent. The man for a job certainly and perhaps with a strong backroom to help his shortfalls he could manage higher up, for sure he is a good motivator, has an eye for the occassional bargain and knows how to set out sides to pick up points. All this being said, even if wham finish above us, i'd rather have our lot then theirs. Longterm, even with the dodgy deal around the Olympic stadium, I'd fancy our prospects more.

Allardyce clearly has his strengths and it would be foolish to argue otherwise but, for me, he's not a man for the long term. Deserves real credit for keeping Bolton and Blackburn up but never really progressed them as clubs (debatable Bolton did well but for me it was stopgap after stopgap with decent, but aging, pros) or brought through young talent. The man for a job certainly and perhaps with a strong backroom to help his shortfalls he could manage higher up, for sure he is a good motivator, has an eye for the occassional bargain and knows how to set out sides to pick up points. All this being said, even if wham finish above us, i'd rather have our lot then theirs. Longterm, even with the dodgy deal around the Olympic stadium, I'd fancy our prospects more.

Fair play you'r only going on IFs but god I hope not! I honestly don't see the issue with proper red and white stripes. Quite liked some of the examples posted above, the retro adidas and strangely the nike in particular, and I feel that if pishing around is to be done it'd be best done with the away kit. That and when we have our triumphant march on Europe we could always have a "third" kit again. The red and white back about eight or ten years (im sure somebody will correct me!) was alrite for me.

I like it. The silver looks more "cutting edge" for the front of the programme etc and the original is spot on for the club's heritage. It is recognisable and, frankly, looks better then most! If it's not broke ...

Ferguson doesn't get too many wrong and Wellbeck has shown potential imo. Maybe he'l fulfill it, maybe he wont, not sure he's ready for england duty as is though.

Wellbeck has barely scored, Oscar has been v patchy, Hazard has been good but outshone by Mata by some way. Theo, Bale, Benteke and Morgan the candidates surely? Two ex saints, a saint and the beast that is Benteke.

True he has been impressive, actually took a villa fan to our home tie against them and he was the only positive for them. Strikers do tend to do well in awards but Morgan's stats dont lie If he doesnt win oh well, less media attention on our star player!