The La

I think Shelvey is a proper, proper talent but before I back you on the Wilshere call, did anyone ever confirm those rumours about his Traveller heritage?As one with a bit of Romany blood myself, I'd be happier backing one of the lads.

Anyone remember "We put wor millions in, we got wor Michael out"?

You'll have to take the gig seriously. I feel that giving a dignified sendoff to these men of consequence brings a little class to a place sullied by the grimy underbelly of the deadpool. Who knows, maybe this is the line in the sand. Maybe this is the moment we'll point to and say "that was when the tide began to ebb." Where will it end? Tabloids leading with feelgood stories about baby seagulls being raised by otters? An army of hooded youths on the streets conscientiously picking up litter? A dazzling new society of justice and righteousness? Maybe I'll even get to tie Alex Ferguson to a chair and comb faeces through his hair? Dare we dream a new dawn is at hand?

Sad news, that... Here lies Fyds... Forsaken ever by your peers Your inside knowledge met with jeers Did you have to leave in such a hurry Survived only by a Malaysian curry? RIP

It's the complete opposite of a Romario. Stay in the original thread and don't venture out - the oiramoR

Worry ye not, your epitaph will be dignified and instructive

Here lies Flasher: Alas, too soon, they extinguished your spark When you were the one Who called Kenny and Clarke RIP

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Another thing that might surprise those who fought in the Spanish Civil War but had a note from their mum throughout the great French Campaign (1998-2004) is how brutal the mods were back then. There was this one absolute psycho called Scally The Wag. Scally didn't moderate posts, he moderated posters (if you know what I mean), and was, to put it mildly, the sort of character you didn't cross twice. I remember one time, a poster called Scot (another good one lost) linked a comical and negative review of George Lucas' "Star Wars Episode II - Attack of the Clones" in the Genny. Well, Scally swooped down like lightning, removing the post and leaving poor Scot reeling (reeling) from a sternly worded admonishment to the extent that the link opened the forum to litigation from George Lucas himself... Scot's time thereafter was brief and the end was swift. ‘“Like a dog!” he was heard to remark, as if the shame of it would outlive him. Then there were times when Scally would be having a bad day... who knows what brought it on? Who ever knows what summons Jack from his box? Who can tell what spark lights that terrible lantern behind daddy's eyes? Perhaps a Coolie had cheeked him in the early sun, or maybe someone had inquired, once again, innocently... "do you know Mikka Hakkinen?". Suffice it to say, he'd turn up smashed out of his box on cheap Tokay (and I'm not talking an Aszu 6 Puttonyos 1906, I'm talking 1993 Royal Company Essencia Tokaji, a nightmarish brew that draws the blackest veil over the meekest soul and brings on ruinous flashfarts to boot), He would pull from the pocket of his ascot a list of names.... Who knows whatever became of Scot? I'd like to think he's still going, somewhere. Maybe he was able to laugh a little when Revenge of the Sith was released, everyone gave it s*** reviews and George Lucas sued none of the f*****s, as was to be expected all along.

That's absolutely superb smithdown Here lies Honourable George A smile upon his face or posts was a sight most rare Yet he wore an honourable gaze, like Hodgson, R RIP

You never saw the old AKA Dus. A decade ago, when the web was still wild and forumites were real forumites Dussy was dangerous. Was one of the "footballing purists" who begrudged Houllier any success due to the style of football we played. He'd cause some proper ding dongs. That's the way it was back then - a lot of us have simply lost the fire, worn down by the horror. You may bump in to one of the old soldiers in the pub from time to time - A James A, a McGhinty, a Navarro, an Essex Man, a Mike J. Buy them a pint, stand them a tab or two and ask them about the old days because they'll all have tales for the telling. Of course, this was before your time. Before Kvarme ever even cast a hungry glance at your food and when you probably spent your free time in nightclubs getting knocked back by girls who all dreamed of marrying a forumite....

No need for context, old bean - I think we all understood your point

Some absolutely beautiful quotes in the Kenny / Roy thread that deserve to be immotalized like literary praise on the back of a novel: "I like Hodgson, he is really nice bloke and a good manager" Leo No 8 "i'd genuinely (sic) they gave the job to carragher than kenny" Stevie H "Clarke has officially left West Ham and wants something new. Kenny and Clarke please". Flasher In fair weather I'd go Hodgson ahead of Kenny as things stand. Sutty I happened to find myself watching Sefton Park play Rainhill at cricket on Saturday Smithdown Roy Hodgson is a nice man and I think we should appoint Mark Hughes. Murph i bought the gardeners a bottle of rice whisky the other day for helping me get a scorpion out of the swimming pool. Stevie H On the morning of 26 April 1999 I murdered Jill Dando by gunshot outside her home in Fulham, West London Cobs

The year we came second there were loads of posts describing Yossi as "The Magic Jew" etc. I wouldn't have considered there to be anything antisemitic about these comments whatsoever until David Hodgson pointed out (at least I think it was him) that you'd never get anyone of any other religion defined like this by supporters. I've never seen anyone make a comment (still less a pun) about the faith of committed Christian Dirk Kuyt, nor less a Muslim like Nabil El Zhar. Now, I wouldn't for one second suggest you were being deliberately antisemitic but really, was there any need to make a "Jew" gag the second someone mentions one of the three Israeli players to play for us? It's all honest and innocent and I seem to remember you've been a good poster in the past (weren't you the lad who knew things about Ambani?), but you can see how it might make someone uncomfortable, no?

I remember it being an excellent read (was a decent magazine then, no?) I can't help thinking they'd have picked five "players to watch" at least. Berger, Zidane, Djorkaeff - who were the others? Nadal? Turkilmaz? Someone's got to hunt this one down

This bit is definitely true... we were very heavily linked with Poborski and probably were sniffing around until the Mancs signed him. There were a few from that Czech team I wanted us to sign on the back of a couple of decent games in Euro 96, IIRC - a big blond Effenbergian midfielder (Bejebel? Bejbal?) and a Duracell bunny fullback (Lattel maybe?)

He looked unfit at times last season - the assumption is that under a more professional regime that his level of fitness will improve a little. Also given the quotes from him that he spent summer in a boxing gym to prepare for a move to us... I think he huffs and puffs a little too much for comfort at times, but I also imagine that Burgess has the squad on a grueling schedule and everyone is going to look a little leggy right now

Hyypia is the poster child for the "unknown foreigner who turned out ace" movement. I think Carragher said that GH expected him to be first choice centre half that season along with Henchoz and Sami was considered squad filler but was just unbelievably ace from the off. I remember one of his first games was in the league cup against someone we were expected to beat (Southampton?) Hyypia had the flu yet put in a magnificent shift. I think we went out in unfortunate circumstances and at the final whistle Hyppia sat for ages on the pitch, head in hands, exhausted and gutted to have lost a game of football. I remember thinking at the time that was the moment a new wind blew the Spice Boys out of town.... Also, don't think Garcia or Lucas could really be considered relative unknowns. Proper good spots on Krompkamp and Leto, though. I'd forgotten about them. I suppose we could add Kvarme and Kozma to the rogues gallery if we want to go back to the pre-Raffialite days...

May well have been djorkaeff, then... I can certainly remember there being a bit of hype about him (and that whole French team) going in to the tournament Berger was a thoroughbred and a bit of a coup for Evans, who then proceeded to have no idea how to play the lad except as a late substitute for Collymore

Yep - he was expected to be a star of Euro 96, where he played very well but was slightly overshadowed by Poborsky. I had the 442 preview magazine thingy and they were predicting Berger, Zidane and another Frenchman (might have been Ibrahim Ba) to be the c***s of the tourney.

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