[Archived] Other PL happenings 2010-2011

[Herbie6590]

I feel slightly dirty for saying it but Barton & Nolan are running the Tyne-Wear derby.... BFS is basking in the reflected glory in the studio...

[brian_gallagher85]

And sky get their compulsory dig in...

I just hope they've used up all their goals for a while now.

I'd love to know what kind of defending the Mackems where practicing this week in training.

[Exiled_Rover]

I feel slightly dirty for saying it but Barton & Nolan are running the Tyne-Wear derby.... BFS is basking in the reflected glory in the studio...

It's a sad state of affairs when I despise the manager of my football team.

[thenodrog]

It's a sad state of affairs when I despise the manager of my football team.

It is indeed.

It's like the game at Ewood yesterday. Chelsea got EVERY 50/50 decision, as all the 'big' clubs do. That's the nature of the game these days.

I disagree ER. I thought Peter Walton was doing OK until the final 15mins when he did appear to veer his decisions towards Chelsea. The decision to give that free kick just before they scored the winner was absolutely diabolical.

[Doaksie]

Robbie Savage on Twitter: "Torres!! Wow, now I would of scored that."

He'd fit right in around these parts.

[BuckyRover]

Roy should send us a thank you card.

Fair play to him though, these last few weeks must have been very tough

[Tom]

A liverpool win has put us in the bottom 3 but in the long run is a good result for us as Liverpool were never going to stay down there for too long

[hermitstool]

A liverpool win has put us in the bottom 3 but in the long run is a good result for us as Liverpool were never going to stay down there for too long

It does give the table a more realistic look, but these are worrying times at Ewood. On the basis of our performances this season we deserve to be lower than 18th- we have been appalling. I'll happily concede we played a good first half against Chelsea but after that we reverted to type and that is a worrying sign. If we can't get three points from Wigan the board, even in times of change, must be considering taking action. We have been totally feckless all season, and consistently worse in the second half- which points to problems with either the manager or the player's fitness- both of which are firmly Big Sam's responsibility.

I realise to sack Big Sam is a drastic measure, and there will inevitably be debate about who would replace him etc., but he's flying very close to the wire now in my mind- for the second time in his spell here, remember last January time?

*IF* we can play like we did against Chelsea in the first half we'll be fine, but we don't stand a chance in an exceptionally tight league where lesser teams than ourselves are getting results, playing Big Sam's standard 'direct' (hoofball?) tactics.

Direct football is fine- look at Villa under O'Neill, us under Hughes, but long ball DOES NOT WORK with the strikers we have. Benjani looked a decent target man on Sat, but injuries will always get the better of him. The two Dioufs are wide forwards, and Kalinic would work far better with the ball to feet or a partner- and as Sky & MOTD insist on drumming into us '4-4-2 is dead'.

[DE.]

The league is still tight enough that a couple of wins will pull us right up the table - going to be a close one this year, by the looks of things. Only WHU look like certs to go down atm, and they're hardly certainties in the same way teams like Derby, Hull, Portsmouth, Burnley (), and others have been in the past.

[jim mk2]

., but he's flying very close to the wire now in my mind- for the second time in his spell here, remember last January time?

Eh ? Isn't any club allowed to have a dip in form over the course of a season. We finished 10th in the end so what do a few bad results matter in the context of 38 matches ?

Calling for Allardyce to go is nonsensical and the last thing the club needs with potential instability in the boardroom and potential new owners is further instability in the

dressing room. Owing to the present regime's lack of investment in new players this is going to be a long hard season and the everyone should get behind the manager and the club.

[Tom]

The league is still tight enough that a couple of wins will pull us right up the table - going to be a close one this year, by the looks of things. Only WHU look like certs to go down atm, and they're hardly certainties in the same way teams like Derby, Hull, Portsmouth, Burnley (), and others have been in the past.

I think West Ham may stay up, they possibly have a better team than ours on paper and I think it will click for them soon.

There's a few teams that could get dragged in but not many that look worse than us worryingly. West Brom and Blackpool should have been easy candidates but mainly due to good management they are looking good.

I wouldn't want to call it right now but if I did I would say it will be Wigan, Wolves and one of a few other teams including us :S

[Hughesy]

Barton is just what we really need in our midfield - strong tackler, good delivery, works hard & score goals!

[Amo]

Barton is just what we really need in our midfield - strong tackler, good delivery, works hard & score goals!

You just wait till Keith is back on his feet!

[thenodrog]

You just wait till Keith is back on his feet!

I'd have taken a gamble on Mad Dog Barton a couple of years ago if he'd have been cheap and if his wage demands had been less. Unfortunately I seem to rem his wages are prohibitive for such as us and he had a long time to run on his contract. Simply too big a risk back then.

[Amo]

I'd have taken a gamble on Mad Dog Barton a couple of years ago if he'd have been cheap and if his wage demands had been less. Unfortunately I seem to rem his wages are prohibitive for such as us and he had a long time to run on his contract. Simply too big a risk back then.

That, and he's a ####.

[roversmum]

An SPL happening - but ouch! Dundee deducted 25 points ...

[Hughesy]

You just wait till Keith is back on his feet!

Im hoping Goulon can prove to be a much better player than Andrews..... & THEN Takeover permitting it may then allow us to get rid of Andrews & Grella – who have offered us NOTHING this season so far & replace them with a young talent.

Then with abit of luck we can see Larsson or Bentley come in & Emerton can also go.

[DE.]

Emerton is a versatile player on a fairly standard wage. Okay, he's been hit-and-miss since coming back from injury, but I still think he's a decent player to have around. I wouldn't be so hasty to boot him out the door.

[roversfan99]

Im hoping Goulon can prove to be a much better player than Andrews..... & THEN Takeover permitting it may then allow us to get rid of Andrews & Grella – who have offered us NOTHING this season so far & replace them with a young talent.

Then with abit of luck we can see Larsson or Bentley come in & Emerton can also go.

But no-one wants Andrews or Grella.

[sweet]

Emerton is a versatile player on a fairly standard wage. Okay, he's been hit-and-miss since coming back from injury, but I still think he's a decent player to have around. I wouldn't be so hasty to boot him out the door.

Since coming back from injury? Come off it, the guys always been hit and miss, barring a few good months under hughes whilst being employed as a right-back.

I'd happily see the guy off.

[47er]

Since coming back from injury? Come off it, the guys always been hit and miss, barring a few good months under hughes whilst being employed as a right-back.

I'd happily see the guy off.

Ok--but don't ever complain that there's no loyalty in football will you?

[DE.]

Since coming back from injury? Come off it, the guys always been hit and miss, barring a few good months under hughes whilst being employed as a right-back.

I'd happily see the guy off.

The reaction to Emerton's injury was generally one of huge disappointment, if I recall correctly, because he'd been one of our most improved players.

[John]

REDKNAPP THREATENS MEDIA BLACKOUT

[DE.]

I generally ignore 'arry, but he's got a point there. Dragging a manager out for an interview a few minutes after a match, especially if a controversial decision has gone against them, is just asking for trouble. Especially with the interviewer certain to highlight said controversy.

[koi]

As much as dislike 'arry I think he's being quite dignified over this. If it was the other way and Spurs scored that goal again Utd the media would have been chocker with an angry Scot calling for everyone's head....