Chewie

i can 100% guarantee that it's a fact... Che...(oops, not until he's gone)

Board meeting soon to discuss the future...;-)

done

don't think he lost it at all..he was passionate and coherent... Both character traits lacking in our manager and his embodiment on the pitch... Chewie

never noticed before that carra hardly passes to Lucas but then someone pointed it out and its wildly obvious...then he goes and lumps it out of play rather than do the simple thing.... Chewie

thought Gerrard should have given Lucas more of an option in the middle in that little horror spell...and he should have shot rather than chipping in on the dge of the 18... c'mon the Mighty Reds...don't slip back! Chewie

oh yes it does...good man!! Chewie

What a fantastic result. Totally made up. Well done woy, well done the team. We're winning again! Here's the thing.., 1. Rafa is gone... Speculating on whther or not he might have done things differently is a complete waste of effort hell bent on supporting whatever prejudice we start out with. The club is bigger than any one man, player or manager, we're as good as our last game and we focus on the next. This tiresome comparison thing is dragging the forum down... Football is still about the players and today our lot did well.., 2. Roy is winning, fair play to him. That's whet we expect and if he keeps delivering I'll not give a monkeys if there are times in the past few weeks when he looked an idiot. I will be flabbergasted if he's still here by the end of next season but I'd be deleriously happy as well as the only way that's likely to happen is if we clean up... 3. It's ok for Lucas to be great and torres to be great in the same game. Our success will depend on everyone playing well. Feeling we have to big anyone up or do them down because of their rep is just childish. I remember when carra was called the log and he went on to have 4-5 seasons as one if the best centre halves in the world... We won, we played well. Our team leaders led and the troops stood up and were counted. Get in... Bring on Wigan and keep winning Woy... It'll take a long time for you to be loved, but I've got a wife to shower my affection on.. All u need to deliver are results to prove the doubters, of whom I am one, wong chewie

why did he have to say that when saying... to be honest we didn't appoint this guy but are currently reviewing every aspect of the club, taking a long term approach with a director of football strategy, so his job is up for review like everyone else's. Whilst we are carrying out this review and talking to potential other managers we fully expect Roy to give 100% commitment to the club. sometimes these guys just get it so wrong... Chewie

absolutely...the other thing is that I think NESV said they'd been snooping around here for about 3 months... in the big scheme of things this whole era will be seen as one of clearing the decks... we had Broughton and Purslow here both acting in interim capacities to clear out the debt and both appointed, no doubt, at the behest of the banks... we had - and this is not to spark what is a yawning debate - the removal of Rafa who was a powerful figure within the club, with the fans, with responsibilities for the first team but also control over the academy, recruitment and so on... he also was a political animal (not a slight on him but he knew how to pull strings and work things in his favour - including our perception of him...) we brought in an aging last chance saloon coach purely to coach the first team - not to shape the vision of the club for years to come he came knowing it was a risk and that new owners would do things their way he has tried to protect himself by bringing in experienced players who are old and he trusts... this ain't working he now tho has nothing to lose the new owners are in, the DOF is in place, the role of Woy is now severely restricted to working with the players the club has and no more... he'll be gone by Jan if we are still stumbling, by June if we do ok, and heck, if we win every game from now till then happy days...that contract still won't be getting any longer... we've been positioned for this - in part by planning and in part by default...but that's where we are and I reckon it gives Henry and Co a great base to start with... Chewie

tbf I reckon its time to all settle ourselves. Right now we're in a total non-lose situation... We have new owners who are taking stock of everything they have a current manager who is the wrong side of 60 on a short term contract they are not faced with the decision to have to replace someone who 'stood up to G&H' yadadadada...reckon we've done that one to death they are given Woy enough rope to climb on or hang himself with in the immediate term... in the meantime they are putting into place a new DOF to oversee the whole footballing strategy, including no doubt whether or not the current first team coach is able to deliver... it's highly likely the answer to the question of whether Woy will succeed is probably no... but right now he's fighting for his life and so presumably will strive to win if he wins - we win and we're beginning to get back on track... if he wins...he's still the wrong side of 60 and we can thank him for helping us get back on track if, as expected, he doesn't prove himself capable, the new owners can strategically replace him under the new DOF there is a ready made caretaker if the man they want for the future is not available immediately that caretaker could astound us all and literally herald the return of the King... of he can be an interim lifeline allowing space for the appointment to be made... I know we're all a little crotchety at how bumbling Woy has been and how unispiring he is and his signings have proven to be...but that was all from an old era and he'll either get with the program quick sharp or he'll be out... Its win win...let's hope its also a win on Sunday... Chewie

like an episode of 24 when you get to around ep 21 only to discover that the guy you think is the bad guy is really a front for the guy who really is the bad guy until the last miunute of ep 24 when the guy who really is the bad guy throws the spanner into the works by saying we only think we've got the bad guy but there's an even bigger bad guy out there...and he turns out to be a president... or like the reboot of Bond when the guy you think is the bad guy is really a front for the guy who really is the bad guy until the last miunute when the guy who really is the bad guy throws the spanner into the works by saying we only think we've got the bad guy but there's an even bigger bad guy out there...and he turns out to run an environmental company... somewhere out there Al Gore is pulling strings after having been given the nod from Beijing... Chewie

Know what you mean. I'm 50/50 on it. Could mean that Hodgson is the coach for the short term (couple of years on contract) with new Footballing Strategy Director looking longer term... Or it could mean getting the ducks in a row... i.e.e what matters to NESV is getting the right management structure in place across the whole of the club. Then once that is in place recruit the key people needed to implement the vision of the management structure. I don't think these guys will want for the whole of their investment to be in the hands of a single football manager... yet they will also know and appreciate that getting the right people in place means getting the right first team manager / coach. If this is the way they are appreoaching things then it makes perfect sense that they didn't plumb for a Rikjaard or any other manager for that matter before sorting out the overall vision for the club. why bring in someone else whose immediate focus in on next Sat's result who then becomes instrumental to the fortunes of the whole club when they can get the structure right and then make the calls.... On reflection I'm more 60/40 that this is probably the end of Hodgson. Don't think Damien has been brought here to get rid of Hodgson per se but he is now the chief guy on our overall strategy and that will include identifying if they have got the best possible person to manage the first team. I reckjon it is clear the answer to that will be no. We're not in a phase towards getting Woy out, but this phase in our rebuilding will, IMHO, inevitably lead to his departure - unless he can prove himself capable of delivering the results the new administration need. If he does, fair play to him and we'll all be happy. If he doesn't - we know have the means and wherewithall and contacts within the game to get rid and identify a clear successor Chewie

what interests me is who made this call and how how long has it been in the making? We don't yet have a CEO / MD to replace Purslow but we have a Director of Footballing Strategy Tsar...who makes this sort of call and on what advice? Whilst Woy says he is wery welcoming of this he's certainely not saying it was his idea. To have someone like this come in to oversee everything means that everything on the footballing side is up for grabs because someone somewhere has to make the final call as to what sort of football club this is going to be. Forgive the ignorance cos the mind has gone blank but the guy Rafa brought from the Barca academy spoke recently about the need for a consistent approach across teh whole club. This is what Barca do and this reduces risk because whoever the coach is stamps his authority on the first team but within certain established parameters that define the ethos of the playing side of the footballing club. Wenger has laid down the rule about how all Arsenal teams will play and train and this is implemented at every level. So who is responsible for this - maybe its a footballing board but someone makes the final call and it seems a lot of trust being placed in Damien by our new owners - its certainely bold... does this mean that the academy's playing aims and ethos will now change as directeed by Damien? Is the Academy role now under threat. Yo0u have to imagine the first team manager is under threat because if he doesn't fit into the footballing ethos of the club over the long term then surely he is out....great news of course... it also seems to suggest that the new MD will not just be as powerful as perhaps in the past (or as able to mess things up as such...) I would reckon that we are looking at MD & Commercial Team - with main aims being to develop the new / existing stadium project and maximise revenue across the world as well as represent the club at Premier League and UEFA level Footballing Directorate - headed up by Damien to oversee - player recruitment and development - salaries and overall playing costs - transfers - coaching - including Academy and First Team Coach The only way this appointment makes sense in terms of long term strategic thinking is if, at every level, the footballing ethos is consistent and that means taking that decision out of the hands of the first team manager (who will probably have his say but not the final say). If that is the case then this is a heck of a decision to make 3 weeks into the new job... or maybe I'm just reading too much into the role and its really just a lead scout - don't think so tho.... Chewie PS. By the way... I'm plumbing for David Dein here as the new MD. He would understand this completely, knowns Damien, understands the French Academy system and how they think....and the Arsenal approach has impressed Henry. I reckon this is where this is pointing....PLTBT

sorry - only just saw this as have not been on today but that was LOL!!! So, so, true.... talking about football almost seems boring these days Chewie

The owners have met with fans twice now I think. Is anyone privy to whether they were told how unpopular roy is or is he just this unpopular on forums? Chewie

[quote Just can't see him resigning. He wants his payoff. I have no idea whether he's a greedy man or just a pragmatic one who thinks - well, this is my contract so they should pay it...dunno about that at all what does worry me is that we have here a manager who is kinda used to the sorts of results we have been getting...winning a couple, drawing a few, losing others... what if he doesn't get that there's a problem and that this is just part of life and football... right now the best test i can apply to this is the gut instinct one...you know when you call heads or tails and then shout best of three when it doesn't come out the way you want it...well, with Rafa I thought it was his time to go but when it happens your gut sinks and you fear for the future ...with this idiot it would just be sheer relief...kinda like getting rid of G&H but, lets be fair to Hodgson, they were on another planet in terms of ruining this football club... will anyone genuinely fear for our future if Hodgson goes? Has to be the acid test doesn't it...(that and the crap football we've been playing all season) Chewie

if that's the case then why don't we see more of him and agger together... allowing for aggers injuries!

Absontutely...! I wanna see that Italian bloke camaraderie playing a key role... ;-)

What sort of team celebration was there when nando scored?

what'll we do when Roy goes.... for weeks now I've been banging on my F5 key just to see the words They're gone!!! Now I'm at it again ilke some obsessed freak just waiting to read the words 'He's out...' I dunno if even his job is the absolute safest in the land and maybe we're all just feeding some kinda interweb forum fix... if he does go it'll be... who replaces him... then it'll be who are they buying... strange thing is though that pleasingly last week's madness seems as if it was all in a distant past! let the games...er....continue... Chewie

vell seyed drago

this Purslow was part of the longer term RBS financial risk management that ultimately worked in our favour in placing within the club those who were going to act in the financial best interests of the club and not just H&G. He played a vital role in the removal of a cancer that was threatening to destroy out club...not lose a few points...destroy it. Rafa has gone and started crying over spilled milk in the past few days. There are three things of note in this as far as I'm concerned. 1. I remember suggesting when Rafa left that he should speak out against H&G but that he wouldn't because it wasn't in his best interests. Got roundly shouted down about it on here yet in the past few weeks there were calls for players at the club to speak out, for Kenny to say something, and so on... IMHO Rafa has waited to pick on an easy target and has only risen to protect his own rep in the wake of the buffoon's outbursts that he lost the club...He should have said something a lot sooner or say nothing at all 2. Purslow never picked the team, worked with them through the week, unsettled one of the best central midfielders in world football and then seek to replace him with an injury prone totally different type of midfielder. What happened on the pitch was on Rafas watch and, just as Roy is getting villified now because we should be doing much much better with the players available to us, so should Rafa... 3. Purslow has stuck to the old adage - what happens in the dressing room stays there. I remember a video with the great Sir John Moores in which he said 'we don't talk out of shop'. Whatever their differences Purslow has never had anything other than gratitude to express publically towards Rafa... did Purslow get it all right - absolutely no way, He brought Roy here, albeit on a short contract and, along with Broughton, with a get out clause on the arrival of new owners. He was though an interim MD in a club that was being run/sold by a temporary Chairman. Both have done what they were brought to do. Both have quickly and swiftly moved to now move on, clearing the path for the new owners (all of this would have been agreed during the takeover), and he operated without any clause tying him in to the club that would make him a financial cost to remove. Not for Purslow the sort of idiotic comments coming out of Roy about how the club would have to pay him compensation. Well done Christian. You weren't perfect and at times you did and said things that angered some, most if not all of whom were angered without knowing what you knew about why things were said and why some decisions were taken. So, thank you Purslow. Between yourself and Ayres you actually got us looking like a half decent corporate entity. Between yourself, Ayres and Broughton you won the most decisive match we will face for many a decade. for Rafa, thank you too for what you brought to the club. Now all just move on and let us begin the rebuild...starting with the next big decision, and no, there is no need for any of us to be falling over ourselves to thank Roy for anything other than realising things have changed and he should just move on... Chewie

Not defending Roy at all but what about players in all this?they've been playing football for years. Surely they are not so playing to instruction that they have forgotten how to play the game. Don't get me wrong, I believe the manager is vital but are players so weak that they can't take responsibility for the shape of the game? Perhaps I just underestimate how technical the game is at that level... It's just that I grew up with Paisley making the whole thing look and sound simple... Chewie

He should go...like many on here I was one to think that (a) Rafa's time was probably up, that (b) this could be argued for on footballing grounds...but that © I feared, and stated this, that perhaps the only thing holding us together at such a time of uncertainty was Rafa and that a future without him given our previous owners (doesn't that sound good) could be worse than the present with him... Not one person though who believed for reasonable and rational reasons (and they were there however revisionist history becomes) that perhaps it was time for Rafa to go...seriously ever mooted that if he should go then we should go after that Hodgson fella at Fulham! No one did. The fear I had that materialised was that we would get no-one of any real quality to come to us with such financial and ownership uncertainites surrounding us. That situation has now changed. I know hat NESV (can we please resolve not to call them 'the Yanks') are taking a look around but sport, as they highlighted at the weekend, is about winning. They have a ready made solution in Kenny who can hold the fort and who may surpass expectations. He is bound to be watching our current malaise and despairing, especially given that he believed himself to be at least as capable as Hodgson when it became clear that this was the name in the frame. It is a new era, new broom. Roy was appointed at a time in our history that represents nothing but angst, mediocrity and decline. That era, please make it be so, is gone. NESV...get it over with quickly so that we can all pull together on the footballing side as we did on the financial side. Chewie