Ynwa20

EXCEPTION: Man U. Work harder Lewis! Mr Lurtz told us the solution was based more in words, extraneous to results...

Yeah, that's why youlike Ngog ;)

I reckon it's got something to do with Roman numerals... *thinks harder and rubs face, hoping to go unseen*

The numbers clue was a red herring perhaps? Although it might take 20 mins to do some calculations...

Clutching at straws a bit here, but: Each of the top 9 clubs contains a readable, correctly ordered word within its name, not using any of the end letters, e.g. ill, under, lack, poo, ... Wigan seems to buck the trend with one or two others though. Anywhere close?!

When you say words, do you mean full names, e.g. Manchester City or what you've schneakily written, e.g. Citeh?

Something to do with surnames, eg Villa, Sunderland, Everton...? That Blackburn dj fella...

Doesn't seem to follow the Sabermetrics model of 'bang for your buck'- 13m for a player that's reportedly had 1 decent season and a few 'disappointing' games this? Wasn't impressed with the price touted for Ashley Young either- is he 15m worth of improvement? Maybe. Will he have an equal or higher resale value? HELL NO!

He did well with Roma for a while until it went seriously downhill and everybody panicked...

Yeah, I'd say that's about right- he'd be a stepping stone essentially. He's done nothing to convince me he's the man to take us to glory in anything, just a bit closer. He doesn't seem keen on playing youngsters (look at the stifled development of Albrighton, Lichaj, Hogg, Bannan etc) either, further supporting the idea he'd be short term at best.

Sentient points. Each one of them. That aside, Villa improved markedly under him, is that not so? Leicester and Celtic likewise, is that not so? Therefore, the logical assumption is that the same would follow, is that also not so? It leads us to one inescapable conclusion Dave, O'Neill would improve things- albeit not to the desired standard likely as not. Is that not so?

Why? Luckily for you, he doesn't seem to fit the bill anyhoo.

Fair point, I know he spent a lot and some of it was very questionable, eg Sidwell and Reo-Coker. 1 league position? Check 05/6 and 06/7. For later seasons, a victim of his own overachievement perhaps? I know he's got weaknesses, but I think he'd improve us (immediately) and isn't that the aim?

Villa were celebrated for their fast attacking play during his tenure and the immediate improvement was evident and has been throughout his career. Heskey baffles me, I'll be honest. £5m! Reminds one of Konchesky and Poulsen nonsense. At least he didn't play him much I suppose!

I think that's the advantage Dave, it being so early. Why not? He's shown what he can do and would relish the chance to be a success at a superclub. Its being so early will create doubters- setting the stage for an amazing performance. Romantic, but wouldn't it be wonderful? 4:1 goalscoring ratio speaks highly of his footballing philosophy too.

My quibble with Rijkaard is: How much of that had anything to do with him? Seems to me he merely projected Barca's philosophy (as has Guardiola) onto the players. Here, he'd have a lot more to do and he damn well didn't do it in Turkey!

Villas Boas for me- great record so far at Porto and did very well at relegation-threatened Academica. 33 years old and schooled by Mourinho in a range of environments. Young, surely hungry for success and developing a proven winning pedigree- sign him up! Don't think we'd get him either though. Wouldn't fancy Rijkaard- without the Barca blueprint, he seems to have struggled. I'd take Martin O'Neill- don't think FSG would though. He get us playing some attacking football and actually motivated- what a difference that would make, it would be like having 3 or 4 new signings (Babel in particular would flourish!).

Screw nollaig Shona, he's past it

He's just been on Jeremy Kyle. Not sure if that says more about him or me!

Does the idea of Roy being given money worry anyone else? Konchesky: terrible. And 5m! Poulsen: terrible. And 4 odd million! Cole: obvious& easy- we pay highest Meireles: no brainer- ran Portugal show at wc

Agreed.

I thought he played well enough for us down the years and the winners against Utd in particular ensure he stays thought about positively in my book! My gripe is Roy's spending time making sure he doesn't dominate. In a game where Gerrard and Torres will feature and to some extent Meireles and Cole, we shouldn't be worried about stopping Murphy, Murphy and Fulham should be sleepless with worry that Stevie or Nando will destroy them!

Roy: We'll be working hard on our tactics to make sure he doesn't dominate the game. Could he be any further off the mark?

You may think 2, for example: thanks for the memories and let the dead bury the dead now. It's there for the thinkers...

Judt been watching the season review. I'd forgotten, we played some great football that season. Lightning counter-attacks and explosive finishing. Baros was magnificent! Reminiscing is nice sometimes.