FA Cup 4th Round

[officer_dibble]

What I don't get about Us/Coyle is that we never ever seem to change it round up front....Davies/Elmander have scored once in the league since November, drop one, both! It aint working, mix it up, give Rodrigo or Klasnic or both a go. What did he do today? fanny about with wingers!

We're toothless up front and its putting too much pressure on the rest of the team. Davies needs dropping. Klasnic, if fit (mentally/physically) must start v wolves...otherwise we'll get the same shite we've trotted out for two months straight going forward.

Interesting Wheater came in for Knight.

Nothing but a win is permissible on Wednesday, too many matches have gone that have been wins would be nice now. Have we got the bottle?

[wanderbeam]

So for me its make or break now for OC - he needs to finally decide how he wants to play and bring players in who fit in with that style, not continue to put square pegs in round holes.

Come on P.T. get a grip. Not having had aught but the commentary I can't argue about the display and won't try.. That said, we didn't lose and it's hardly noose, rope and pitchfork time yet for Own Coyle. Everything's determined by our financial situation (which is hardly mega-bucks right now) and I'm sure he's trying to get in who he can. Beat Wigan and Wolves and the world-ending is postponed at least until next time we lose, even for you,surely?

TD - I can't see what's wrong with my post, its an honest assessment of one of the reasons why apart from '1 month of the season' we have been poor, I've played at a decent level and watched the whites for decades but its blatently obvious why we are struggling, and its worrying that Owen Coyle doesn't see what's not working and won't change a struggling, losing, low in confidence team - and I never mentioned noose, rope & pitchfork time so wind it in....

I'll say it again, he needs to decide what system & style of football he wants us to play and then bring in players who are comfortable playing that system, if he decides that he wants to go down the route of pass & move high tempo football as opposed to long ball / direct football then IMO he needs to get rid of the likes of K Davies, Knight, Muamba, Taylor (and others) asap and get in players who are comfortable on the ball & in possession, at the moment we have too many players who are clearly incapable of playing this way and its currently resulting in a very poor team on the pitch who look like they have no game plan & no idea what system/ style they are supposed to be playing.

He keeps saying that we are a 'work in progress' - well Owen when are you going to change it, because for me you can only get away with saying this for a while and he's now had over 12 months and 2 full transfer windows.

Yes he was a breath of fresh air when he arrived after doctor death, and he brought a feel good factor back to the club which resulted in us over achieving in the 1st quarter of the season....but this is much more than a slump its 2 full months of awful un creative football, (with very few goals scored) and at times even in our so called good spell we were lucky....but he keeps on playing the same old players, same formation week in week out and doesn't appear to have a clue on how to change things.

All I'm asking for is a sign of real progress....which we had until late November, but since then we've gone backwards and we may as well have had Megson in charge because currently OC isn't showing any signs that he's much better (apart from putting an arm round a few fragile multi millionaire shoulders), is a 14th / 15th position finish really progress ?

First time poster here. This comment would be quite amusing if it wasn't delusional, both this comment and the one previously where you state your "100% behind him (for now)". Doesn't quite sound in either the comments that your are behind him. What did you realistically want before the season started? What did you realistically expect? Emphasis on the realistic.

For progress, how much progress do you want? This time last year we were in the bottom three, struggling, with players low on confidence and shipping goals by the bucketful. While some haven't changed, we have made progress this season. Like one of the previous posters said, Coyle has been his own downfall this season. In getting us up to 5th and talking (potentially) about Europe, the first time there is a slump in form then it turns into a full blown crisis. Which is exactly what your doing. Yeah, its been a slump in charge, but saying we might as well have Megson in charge is quite frankly a ridiculous comment. The progress in that he has got the same squad that Megson had and turned them into players with a bit of confidence. I don't understand the reasons for the slump in form. It could be anything. They might have seen decisions go against them (Liverpool, Chelsea etc) and think they're not getting anywhere and then end up losing and it goes from there. They could have believed their own hype after November and just felt that they had to turn up. Could be something entirely different.

For you to say Coyle has to pick a style is ridiculous. I think he's wary of what happened with Lee when he changed it too quickly but like he's said in post-match interviews from time to time, its nice to mix it up. Trying not to get it predictable. Yes, some players go long quite a bit too often and having Davies in the side makes it easy to just lump it forward, but from the form early on in the season, it was clear that mixing it up worked. But that was when players were scoring. They're still creating chances. If they weren't creating chances then there might be problems.

What do you want him to do about players? Its not Football Manager where you just click a button saying "offer to clubs" and then a host of clubs want to sign the players you don't want. Who would want to sign Joey O'Brien, JLoyd Samuel at the moment? It took half a season to get Nicky Hunt and Mustapha Riga off the wage bill. For all Megson said he'd left us in a better situation in the playing side, quite frankly he didn't, whichever way you look at it. He inherited quite an unbalanced squad, with not that much quality and a lot of average players (on what it seems big wages) on long contracts. He was unfortunate that only one or two players were out of contract at the end of last season, but theres not much he can do. If the wage budget is full, and he's tried to move players on (but either they don't want to be released - Riga in the summer) or other clubs don't want to sign them (Samuel etc) then his hands are pretty much tied, aren't they? This summer, with eight out of contract, then he'll start to stamp his "style" and "players" on the side. This is what you'd probably term a dead season. Just get it over with, without being relegated and a comfortable finish and let him build his own side.

You've got to remember that this is basically the same set of players that were bottom of the table last year, and had finished in the bottom half of the table for the past couple of seasons. There will come a point where Coyle can only do so much with the players he has at his disposal before having to bring in his own and like stated above that comes down to finances. I think he should be applauded for getting 30 points before January with this team when they had previously struggled to get 30 points over a full season.

Same players? What do you want him to change with a squad that is quite threadbare? I think his team selection today was influenced by the Chelsea result. If we had perhaps had lost that game 1 or 2 nil then he might have made a few more changes to the side (Rodrigo, Klasnic, Blake, Alonso etc) from the start like he did at York but I think with us losing 4-0 to Chelsea on Monday, he wanted to name a near enough same side to try and get that result from their system as soon as possible, otherwise it would be another 4 days before another game. (Hence why he only made two changes - Wheater to get him integrated rather away from the Premier League and M. Davies to rest Holden).

If not, and he genuinely went for a strong side cause he wants to take the cup seriously then surely, you should be asking why aren't more fans coming out? Cheap, wants to go far in the Cup, get to see two Premier League sides play and a decent side put out from Bolton, not a reserve side!

Sorry for quite long post and near rant, but whatever your targets or expectations were for this season, they seem inflated. Get some perspective.

[officer_dibble]

HA ha first time poster...long time wound up by PT!

Good post and I agree with plenty...I still don't think we are quite using our squad to its full though....the only game Davies/Elmo haven't started together was the York one. I do note that Klasnic injury/loss of form and Chungys absence have contributed to this.

Wonder if Chungy will be in a fit state to shove straight back in the XI come Weds?

[wanderbeam]

Haha, I think there is an argument to say that the Davies/Elmo partnership at the moment isn't working. Do they work on flick-ons in training?! But they have been scoring previously so I think in that sense that is why Coyle is persevering.

Haha, you mention the York game, but we only scored when that partnership came on?

He knows Klasnic isn't a 90 minute man, and he's had his injury and loss of form. I do think we have missed Chungy. I doubt he will be in the XI on Wednesday. Maybe in the squad. Have to hope he'd not burned out though by April/May though.

[Peter Thompson]

First time poster here. This comment would be quite amusing if it wasn't delusional, both this comment and the one previously where you state your "100% behind him (for now)". Doesn't quite sound in either the comments that your are behind him. What did you realistically want before the season started? What did you realistically expect? Emphasis on the realistic.

For progress, how much progress do you want? This time last year we were in the bottom three, struggling, with players low on confidence and shipping goals by the bucketful. While some haven't changed, we have made progress this season. Like one of the previous posters said, Coyle has been his own downfall this season. In getting us up to 5th and talking (potentially) about Europe, the first time there is a slump in form then it turns into a full blown crisis. Which is exactly what your doing. Yeah, its been a slump in charge, but saying we might as well have Megson in charge is quite frankly a ridiculous comment. The progress in that he has got the same squad that Megson had and turned them into players with a bit of confidence. I don't understand the reasons for the slump in form. It could be anything. They might have seen decisions go against them (Liverpool, Chelsea etc) and think they're not getting anywhere and then end up losing and it goes from there. They could have believed their own hype after November and just felt that they had to turn up. Could be something entirely different.

For you to say Coyle has to pick a style is ridiculous. I think he's wary of what happened with Lee when he changed it too quickly but like he's said in post-match interviews from time to time, its nice to mix it up. Trying not to get it predictable. Yes, some players go long quite a bit too often and having Davies in the side makes it easy to just lump it forward, but from the form early on in the season, it was clear that mixing it up worked. But that was when players were scoring. They're still creating chances. If they weren't creating chances then there might be problems.

What do you want him to do about players? Its not Football Manager where you just click a button saying "offer to clubs" and then a host of clubs want to sign the players you don't want. Who would want to sign Joey O'Brien, JLoyd Samuel at the moment? It took half a season to get Nicky Hunt and Mustapha Riga off the wage bill. For all Megson said he'd left us in a better situation in the playing side, quite frankly he didn't, whichever way you look at it. He inherited quite an unbalanced squad, with not that much quality and a lot of average players (on what it seems big wages) on long contracts. He was unfortunate that only one or two players were out of contract at the end of last season, but theres not much he can do. If the wage budget is full, and he's tried to move players on (but either they don't want to be released - Riga in the summer) or other clubs don't want to sign them (Samuel etc) then his hands are pretty much tied, aren't they? This summer, with eight out of contract, then he'll start to stamp his "style" and "players" on the side. This is what you'd probably term a dead season. Just get it over with, without being relegated and a comfortable finish and let him build his own side.

You've got to remember that this is basically the same set of players that were bottom of the table last year, and had finished in the bottom half of the table for the past couple of seasons. There will come a point where Coyle can only do so much with the players he has at his disposal before having to bring in his own and like stated above that comes down to finances. I think he should be applauded for getting 30 points before January with this team when they had previously struggled to get 30 points over a full season.

Same players? What do you want him to change with a squad that is quite threadbare? I think his team selection today was influenced by the Chelsea result. If we had perhaps had lost that game 1 or 2 nil then he might have made a few more changes to the side (Rodrigo, Klasnic, Blake, Alonso etc) from the start like he did at York but I think with us losing 4-0 to Chelsea on Monday, he wanted to name a near enough same side to try and get that result from their system as soon as possible, otherwise it would be another 4 days before another game. (Hence why he only made two changes - Wheater to get him integrated rather away from the Premier League and M. Davies to rest Holden).

If not, and he genuinely went for a strong side cause he wants to take the cup seriously then surely, you should be asking why aren't more fans coming out? Cheap, wants to go far in the Cup, get to see two Premier League sides play and a decent side put out from Bolton, not a reserve side!

Sorry for quite long post and near rant, but whatever your targets or expectations were for this season, they seem inflated. Get some perspective.

Decent 1st post if I'm honest and I suspect that you are connected with someone at the club ?, but my post isn't delusional in my opinion....

You make some decent points and are perfectly entitled to make them and I certainly won't slag you off for making them, some are valid but again in my opinion some are not....I'm amazed that you think bringing in players to play a specific style is ridiculous - are you saying that we just put 11 men on the field and ask them to play a style of football that some just simply arn't capable of playing.

In terms of expecting / wanting progress or change to quickly again you make decent points, but I would ask as supporters how long are we supposted to just put up and shut up, we had 2 season's of dross under Megson, with him saying that he inherited this and inherited that and to give him time etc....which is why I suspect the club brought in OC are you now saying that he's no different to Megson and that he needs 2-3 years (4-5 transfer windows etc...) to change anything. You appear to be quite knowledgable so how long does he need to build a side ?

So as fans then we just put up and shut up, pay our money and sit there without moaning and just be content with whatever is put in front of us on the pitch....just how long are we expected to put up and shut up, because we got told this under the previous manager, we either have good players who just need motivating and playing in a sysyem that suites or we have shit players who we need to replace and bring in better ones, but because of finance this may take 2-3 years - which one is it ?

[TANGODANCER]

See what you've done, Tango? Everyone else had ignored the trolling prick! Back over to you.

Amazing how a four line post can draw a re-write of the football manual. PT claims to have been around a long time. In that case he'll have seen bad spells before, like in the second, third and fourth divisions over a goodly few years. . I don't think any of us need reminding we're not shaping too well right now but, as you indicated yourself he's rather a "moan when you're losing" man than a "support whether you win or lose" one. Just gets a bit tedious at times.

[wanderbeam]

Thanks. Nah, I'm not connected to anyone at the club. I said that whatever your opinions were this season were delusional, especially if you were expecting him to come and just automatically get this group of players to play decent football, get victories and qualify for Europe. Vastly overrated.

I didn't say that players can only play one style, I meant players more suited to Coyle's type of play. I don't think you can say "player A will always play this style, can't play it on the floor etc, etc" because they won't have played a particular type of play throughout their career (unless your perhaps Peter Crouch and Emile Heskey), but I think he needs to get players in more suited to his style of play. But atm Coyle has tried to entertain (and done so in periods) and tried to add different facets to our play without taking away qualities that had stood us in good stead over the past so many years. But there are some players that aren't perhaps suited to his play. For example, he wants to play a fast tempo game, yet some players aren't able to do that over 90 minutes, every game: Davies, Taylor etc and he will obviously bring in players to do that..

Yes, Coyle does have to shoulder some of the blame for his team selection (Taylor on the right, when he's predominantly left footed etc) but he's doing the best he can do, with the best he's got on the money he's been given. That's the way its got to be.

What progress would you like to be made this season? Just because we've had a slump in form doesn't mean we're going to be embroiled in a relegation battle? Surely not battling relegation and having a comfortable finish this season (plus a decent Cup run) be counted as progress, considering what he's got at his disposal? Or would you want more. They have perhaps both inherited bad situations. Coyle maybe more so than Megson. Players low on confidence, no money to move etc. And its the last factor that is the bigger factor. I'm sure if Coyle had been given £30 million in the summer, had a substantial amount of players out of contract or able to be moved on, he would have done. Unfortunately he wasn't.

Like I said in the previous post, I think we've got quite a few average players for where we want to go/be in the league. Maybe a few decent starters, but not as much in reserve and able to chop and change when injuries/suspension/fatigue sets in. Yes they played above their potential this season and the players probably have another November in them, which should see us safe. I think it needs quite a bit changing in the side and that is going to take time and money.

You say how long are they supposed to put up with whatever is put on the pitch, surely having a side not managed by Megson is good enough? Well, a] its cheaper than it has been, b] theres a better atmosphere than under Megson, and c[ at least their trying to be more entertaining.

Surely seeing how well Coyle can build a side and seeing it moulded isn't good enough? It's not all "long-ball, directional, Gavin McCann in the starting line-up play you see every week, like under Megson". You see different facets to the play. Yes there are going to be games like Newcastle, Tottenham etc, but the way Coyle sets the side up leaves us open and we're going to see results like Chelsea on a few more occassions. But that's the way. Yes, you say play 4-5-1 and shut them out, but he goes for games. He attacks and sometimes he'll get his rewards and other times it'll end up like Monday. Hopefully there will be more of the former than the latter. Surely that isn't entertaining enough for you? Seeing them attack teams and have a go at them?

It's all well and good saying we want this style of play, these type of players, this finish in the league in this time frame. It probably isn't going to be as fast or as quick as you like, but surely watching your club go on this ride, with an likeable manager and having a certain feel good factor back at the club, isn't good enough. If you want instant success, which isn't going to happen, then maybe you'd be best of joining thousands of others in supporting City or United.

[William the White]

It's all well and good saying we want this style of play, these type of players, this finish in the league in this time frame. It probably isn't going to be as fast or as quick as you like, but surely watching your club go on this ride, with an likeable manager and having a certain feel good factor back at the club, isn't good enough. If you want instant success, which isn't going to happen, then maybe you'd be best of joining thousands of others in supporting City or United.

Just to say I'm glad you wandered our way. Stick around.

[Peter Thompson]

Thanks. Nah, I'm not connected to anyone at the club. I said that whatever your opinions were this season were delusional, especially if you were expecting him to come and just automatically get this group of players to play decent football, get victories and qualify for Europe. Vastly overrated.

I didn't say that players can only play one style, I meant players more suited to Coyle's type of play. I don't think you can say "player A will always play this style, can't play it on the floor etc, etc" because they won't have played a particular type of play throughout their career (unless your perhaps Peter Crouch and Emile Heskey), but I think he needs to get players in more suited to his style of play. But atm Coyle has tried to entertain (and done so in periods) and tried to add different facets to our play without taking away qualities that had stood us in good stead over the past so many years. But there are some players that aren't perhaps suited to his play. For example, he wants to play a fast tempo game, yet some players aren't able to do that over 90 minutes, every game: Davies, Taylor etc and he will obviously bring in players to do that..

Yes, Coyle does have to shoulder some of the blame for his team selection (Taylor on the right, when he's predominantly left footed etc) but he's doing the best he can do, with the best he's got on the money he's been given. That's the way its got to be.

What progress would you like to be made this season? Just because we've had a slump in form doesn't mean we're going to be embroiled in a relegation battle? Surely not battling relegation and having a comfortable finish this season (plus a decent Cup run) be counted as progress, considering what he's got at his disposal? Or would you want more. They have perhaps both inherited bad situations. Coyle maybe more so than Megson. Players low on confidence, no money to move etc. And its the last factor that is the bigger factor. I'm sure if Coyle had been given £30 million in the summer, had a substantial amount of players out of contract or able to be moved on, he would have done. Unfortunately he wasn't.

Like I said in the previous post, I think we've got quite a few average players for where we want to go/be in the league. Maybe a few decent starters, but not as much in reserve and able to chop and change when injuries/suspension/fatigue sets in. Yes they played above their potential this season and the players probably have another November in them, which should see us safe. I think it needs quite a bit changing in the side and that is going to take time and money.

You say how long are they supposed to put up with whatever is put on the pitch, surely having a side not managed by Megson is good enough? Well, a] its cheaper than it has been, b] theres a better atmosphere than under Megson, and c[ at least their trying to be more entertaining.

Surely seeing how well Coyle can build a side and seeing it moulded isn't good enough? It's not all "long-ball, directional, Gavin McCann in the starting line-up play you see every week, like under Megson". You see different facets to the play. Yes there are going to be games like Newcastle, Tottenham etc, but the way Coyle sets the side up leaves us open and we're going to see results like Chelsea on a few more occassions. But that's the way. Yes, you say play 4-5-1 and shut them out, but he goes for games. He attacks and sometimes he'll get his rewards and other times it'll end up like Monday. Hopefully there will be more of the former than the latter. Surely that isn't entertaining enough for you? Seeing them attack teams and have a go at them?

It's all well and good saying we want this style of play, these type of players, this finish in the league in this time frame. It probably isn't going to be as fast or as quick as you like, but surely watching your club go on this ride, with an likeable manager and having a certain feel good factor back at the club, isn't good enough. If you want instant success, which isn't going to happen, then maybe you'd be best of joining thousands of others in supporting City or United.

I was going to say what a good 2nd post this was but:

1. I have never mentioned Europe
2. Where have I said I want instant success, I already said that our previous manager also needed an age to change things !
3. Why after supporting my home town team for over 30 years would I want to go and support City or Utd
4. Regarding 'better atmosphere than under Megson' you are correct but if current form continues for how much longer ?

[wanderbeam]

1. You didn't answer my question of what did/do you want for this season? And what would you constitute as success? I said Europe, because of the position we were in earlier on in the season and whether you felt we were going to sustain that and therefore qualify for Europe.
2. Instant success? You want instant changes though don't you and even yourself said "just be content with what is put on the pitch. That would seem to indicate, plus other comments, that you want maybe not success as in trophies etc, but certain players, a certain style straight away, without cutting Coyle a bit of slack, when you probably understand that the players aren't as good as you'd want/anyone would want, but without the money.
3. Tongue in check comment about supporting United. Maybe I should have said "be more suited to supporting them". As you said yourself, supporting them for 30 years, so you would have seen them in Division 3/4 and supported them through worse times than this. Maybe get a bit of perspective. It seems like your expectations belong to a club like that. That was all. Sorry if I hit a nerve.
4. The atmosphere will remain if fans don't over react, have a bit of perspective and understand whats happening. That we are in a transition. Get behind the side, enjoy the ride, under a manager everyone adores and support your club. If Coyle builds a crap side himself, we end up sliding back down and he's not as decent as everyone imagined, then fair enough criticise. I'm not saying don't criticise now, but have some perspective. Let him put his own stamp on the side. Then judge him. Don't moan and criticise excessively everytime the club hits a tough run of form.

[Peter Thompson]

Transition....a transition that is now in its 4th season - bloody long transition with a lot of very average players coming & going and being paid millions by the club in the process

My aim for the season was a better style of football, better players and a mid table finish and I didn't get carried away at the start of the season

1. Apart from a month 'November' our style of football has in the main been no different than recent previous seasons
2. Compared to say 2006 our entire squad in my opinion is significantly worse....so for me that's certainly not progress
3. A mid table position, that's where we are & that's where we may finish so 1 out of 3 for me as we stand today.

Anyway that's it for me....thank f**k for that most will say !!

[Armchair Wanderer]

We're still in the draw for the 5th round.

If you look at the period of transition starting when BSA left then your impatience is understandable, but OC's not been here for four years. It seems to be taking time to get some of our lesser players off the wagebill. I don't have a problem with us staying up this season with more rebuilding in the summer.

I hope we give Chungy some rest. Having said that the Wolves game is winnable, you'd hope we'd discover some form for that one.

[aussie_wanderer]

we just wanna see more exciting football like we did in november

[Riviman]

we just wanna see more exciting football like we did in november

I just want to see us win a game again !!

[Worthy4England]

Transition....a transition that is now in its 4th season - bloody long transition with a lot of very average players coming & going and being paid millions by the club in the process

A transition into what exactly? How do we know when it's complete?

Liverpool's transition - with shitloads more than us to spend has been going on since I can remember.

10 or 11 of the teams in the division haven't been there as long as us, so their transition(s) have involved playing in the Coca-cola championship and some of them have spent significantly more than us.

Of the remainder - the one's that have been there longer than us, they've all got someone backing them with deeper pockets than Eddie Davies. Look at how much Arsenal, Villa, Fulham, Everton, United, Spurs, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea have spent over the period we've been in the Prem and I think you'll find transition into the team that finishes 10th would be pretty good by comparison - anything above that would be a significant bonus.

[Choppers]

I really do think we're still in transition at the moment.

I hear comments like "SWP wants to come to Bolton because of their style of football".

For me this is media control as per usual. We were never as ugly as they made out, and we're most certainly nowhere near the Arsenal-esque level of football people seem to be touting at the moment.

As far as I can see, we are still playing the same way we always have. Occasional good football, but an awful lot of diagonal balls to Kevin Davies.

We have seen a few moments of genius (Elmander's amazing goal) and the the Klasnic/Holden/Elmo goal that was magnificent, but aside from that, I'm just seeing a lot of diagonal balls to Davo.

Elmander has falled back into the hole of trying to play like Davies, and Davies himself looks either exhausted or disinterested (not sure which). Taylor getting stick again I see, but he's been one of our better players recently (although not in this match), and he can play football, despite what some might say.

The problem seems to be that we just have no players to switch in and out.

Coyle clearly can't decide what to do with our midfield, Mark Davies, Holden and Muamba...yet the solution seems obvious to me. We need to mix it up a bit with a 4-3-3, especially now we truly have the players to do so.

Ricketts--Cahill--Wheater--Robinson
-------------Muamba--------------
---------M Davies--Holden---------
Rodrigo----------------------Taylor
-------------Elmander--------------

That seems the way forward for me, Petrov as supersub to scare tired defenders. Not picking on Knight, but he is a one trick pony who switches off a lot and by goodness, every time he gets the ball "HOOF!".

That lineup/formation also switches to a 4-4-2 easily, Rodrigo going up top and Mark Davies going right side.

[thebish]

Transition....a transition that is now in its 4th season - bloody long transition with a lot of very average players coming & going and being paid millions by the club in the process

A transition into what exactly? How do we know when it's complete?

we're in transition - from a consistent top-8 europe-contention side into a lower-bottom-half-but-just-about-safe-in-the-prem side..

and the transition is nearly complete.

[Worthy4England]

Transition....a transition that is now in its 4th season - bloody long transition with a lot of very average players coming & going and being paid millions by the club in the process

A transition into what exactly? How do we know when it's complete?

we're in transition - from a consistent top-8 europe-contention side into a lower-bottom-half-but-just-about-safe-in-the-prem side..

and the transition is nearly complete.

If you look at the Clubs that finished below us the last time we qualified, it's probably not too difficult to see a couple of salient points though.

Reading - 1 division lower just above mid-table
Portsmouth - bankrupt, back from the dead maybe and 1 division lower
Blackburn - probably doing ok really, not sure if new money is real or not
Villa - spent every season since, above us, had significant investment from Mr R Lerner.
Boro - Just above the relegation places to Div 1
Newcastle - been down a league, come back up, doing ok for first season back
City - bankrolled since then
West Ham - bankrolled and still shit
Fulham - spent way more than us and not doing particularly well
Wigan - not doing well, in bottom 3
Sheff Utd - 1 place above the relegation zone to Div 1
Charlton - in Div 1
Watford - pushing for play-offs in Championship

Compare that with the teams that are currently above us by more than a point.

Utd, Arsenal, City, Chelsea, Spurs, Sunderland - all spent shitloads.

Those around us - Blackburn, Newcastle, Stoke, Liverpool, Everton, Blackpool - Stoke have quietly spent quite a few bob here and there, Liverpool and Everton undoubtedly have. Probably less so the others (including Newcastle since their relegation and return to the Prem).

Even the teams below us, some of them spend big - Villa? Brum? Fulham?

The world hasn't stood still.

[jaffka]

Went there and took the wife and 3 year old.

Had a good day despite the performance at best being patchy.

We will do them in the replay as they will have to come out and our slump is coming to an end.

[TANGODANCER]

There's more elasticity in the Prem this season than for a long time. Apart from the top few, no teams are winning every week or showing real consistency. It might be because everybody has the same aims and desires. There are just 11 points between the mighty Liverpool and relegation, Newcastle scoff at at 25 million bid for Carrol yet they're on the same points as us, as are Stoke. Blackburn, in 7th place are just one point above us. . Villa, Everton and Fulham are all below us. Wigan, Wolves and West Ham probably allhave more money than us yet all three are currently immitating copies of Yellow Pages and propping the table legs up. And so it goes on....

Nothing changes where money is concerned and we just haven't got any. That's a stone cold fact, so OC just does the best he can. He knows his players; he's our manager and it's no use pretending even Jose Maurinho could do much more with nothing to spend. Chelsea immediately poach Torres despite having one of the best and costliest strike forces already and his loyalty goes out of the window. We just have to keep on trying with what we have and get on with it. A couple of weeks ago OC's name was being touted about as a Liverpool target yet some of our own fans think they can tell him how to do his job. Without money the best managers in the business would be nothing. COME ON YOU WHITES....