JonShar

Right because we were so far from winning the league last season. And naturally it's FSG's fault that we spunked s*** money after s*** money last summer. The story of our last 20 years has been us spending terrible money when we're on the brink of success/repeat success. Christian Ziege, Biscan and Nick Barmby were our 3 big signings after we won the treble. Diouf, Diao, two 1st choice keepers the year and a bit after we finished 2nd. Robbie Keane for 19 million the summer before we finished 2nd in 09. Aquilani for 17 million the summer after we finished 2nd, with a net spend of negative 9 million odd quid. Another negative net spend the summer after that - those two summers put us back years. Net spend of about 35 million quid each summer since "these lads" took over.

I said right you are because it was in the post I quoted when I replied initially. If you can't - or refuse - to see that, then good for you, I'm not gonna sit here and argue about it.

Right you are.

You mean other than the quoted text I was originally replying to? You're arguing with me and agreeing with me at exactly the same time.

I don't see your point. The war in Iraq wasn't Obama's fault, but he's still made some shocking decisions.

Haha, that's my point, you have a lot of flourishes that you present as fact. Your opinions and viewpoints are all really sharp too, but your flourishes detract from them. It's absolutely not their fault, we've been a f***ing shambles for decades. 20 years. Even back when we were too wishy-washy to appoint just one manager. They've made some shockingly bad decisions, nobody can disagree with that. They're treading water, and that's not good enough - but this didn't start with them.

Done. "Molby is de facto tabloid headline writer of YNWA" Like that? You can't write "FSG declared xyz" and then say you just meant it de facto. Your opinion and analysis is a million miles from them declaring something.

How would that be typical? What other frequent occurrences have happened that are the equivalent?

Holy s*** Molby, where do you come up with this stuff?

No doubt, but that still doesn't mean we should be talking s*** about him now. He guided us to the brink of the title last year, a little respect while we hope for a replacement isn't such a bad thing. There aren't just two extremes.

He doesn't look knackered at all, he looks like a lad who's been told off and is in a huff.

Bit harsh considering last season. I think his time is probably up, but belittling his ability is poor.

If Tony Evans had that kind of info he'd have been shouting it from the rooftops all season.

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Great post Ed, that's exactly what we need.

Haha I'm not being touchy and I'm not defending them either! I read your post and it seemed you were knocking them a bit for something you agreed with. It's a myth that I defend them from instinct, I think they've been absolutely s*** at some things - but I think they're nowhere near as bad as some make out, and most importantly I don't think they've failed at things for any sinister/lackofgivingas*** reasons, I think they're just owners in a sporting world that's brand new to them and can't just throw money at it a la City/Chelsea. And I completely agree - they should have hired someone back then, rather than being pushed back into their corner by a strong-willed manager - although I think their experience with Comolli probably helped them make that decision. And definitely, if they'd have just done it then they wouldn't be in the position now where they're going to potentially piss off a manager who's doing well in many areas, but obviously needs some support (from someone more qualified than Ayre) if we're to push on to that next level. So yeah to summarise, I agree with you.

There's no snideometer at all, don't be a dick, address my point instead. You said "it's not beyond the realm with these owners that they tell Brendan he's getting a DoF or he walks/asks for sack, baby and bathwater." Then you say "I want Brendan to stay but think he needs a really experienced footballing guy behind him, ideally with European pedigree." So you think BR needs one, but if FSG think he needs one then that's a bad thing?

In the same post you made our owners sound stupid for potentially considering a solution that you yourself think we need.

Will he sign Arda Turan Turan?

This is a great point.

It doesn't scream intent at all. But it also doesn't tag us as a selling club. We're somewhere in the middle, no matter how much people at each extreme want to shout.

Sounded like he was comparing their injury records, which is a fair comparison.

Right but they paid the wages that goalscorers cost to Suarez and Sturridge, so that argument stinks really.

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There are some good points in there, but it's all timing isn't it? If that was written a year ago, it's got a totally different direction. A year ago we were playing the best football I'd seen us play since the 80s, we had all the swagger and arrogance possible, both on and off the pitch, and rightly so. We lost Suarez and spent a huge wedge of money poorly in the summer. If that money had been spent better - and let's be honest, even in the summer we were all scratching our heads at our transfer strategy - then we'd be fighting at the top of the table right now. Balotelli, Lallana, Lovren are all on a fair whack and cost a substantial amount - there were much better options around, in hindsight. These Man City scouts that we worked our arses off to nick haven't seemed to benefit us at all.