The Battle of Stamford Bridge

[bobo the clown]

please!!!!
j'accuse!

OK, let's start a campaign ... Jack Hughes for our next manager.

[Worthy4England]

Well we could have put the assistant in charge I guess.It's too late for coyle out now.lets see what happens after the next 4 games but even so he's here till the summer.Can only get behind the team regardless.There's nothing else to do.

I honestly think I dislike Coyle just as much as Megson now, both are imho having the same effect of ruining BWFC only Coyle may take it one degree worse! If we drop Gartside should go too!

I totally understand that but what the feck we're stuck with this until the summer. I thought coyle tried to do things right yesterday except for playing pratley in a position were Tuncay might have been more effective. There' sno point harking back to Big Sam,he left as he knew he'd taken the club as far as he could and wanted a new challenge. Megson was a tosser who did a competent job,coyle is a nice guy doing the reverse. As for Gartside hasnt he been chairman through the most successful period in the clubs recent history? The appointments made since Allardyce all looked reasonable at the time including sammy Lee.Coyle looked like a stroke of genius for almost a year. I wouldnt be calling for gartside's head if we go down.We may as has been said before have to cut our cloth and at best accept that we are a yoyo sized team. It's all good and well pointing at Norwich and Swansea yes they have excellent managers and momentum but those managers will move on and the momentum will slow and eventually they will be were we are. It's the way it is for clubs of our size. Brief periods in the sun and longer periods in the shade.We've been spoiled by bucking the trend for a longer period than normal.

The type of players allardyce built our team on head for the USA and middle east these days. If he'd stayed he'd at best have achieved what he did at Blackburn. As it was the last 6 months he was here we were going backwards and less and less off his signings were working out.

I don't agree with the "clubs of our size" part, whilst we still have a wage bill that's top tier, lower to mid-table. We generally finish in a position commensurate with our spending on wages. Allardyce managed to buck the trend, Megson probably punched our spending "weight". Coyle is underperforming for a Club of our spending size.

I wouldn't get shut of Gartside either, even though I think Coyle should have gone at the end of November.

[Gail Platz]

We looked pretty comfortable in the first half, we offered nothing in attack but I thought we handled them pretty well in defence.... then the flood gates opened.

I think the most glaringly obvious thing to everyone yesterday was that we lacked creativity in midfield because Pratley is just a useless sack of garbage. Then again, there's not much Coyle could really do, Holden and Davies who both play that position well both out injured, then again I would have rather stuck Tuncay in there and Eagles on the pitch rather than play Pratley.

I was sat in the Chelsea corporate end for this one, luckily they found my rants and whines at Pratley and Tuncay very amusing.

I'll end on a good note, Tim Ream looks a solid signing.

[Ianmooreslovechild]

Well we could have put the assistant in charge I guess.It's too late for coyle out now.lets see what happens after the next 4 games but even so he's here till the summer.Can only get behind the team regardless.There's nothing else to do.

I honestly think I dislike Coyle just as much as Megson now, both are imho having the same effect of ruining BWFC only Coyle may take it one degree worse! If we drop Gartside should go too!

I totally understand that but what the feck we're stuck with this until the summer. I thought coyle tried to do things right yesterday except for playing pratley in a position were Tuncay might have been more effective. There' sno point harking back to Big Sam,he left as he knew he'd taken the club as far as he could and wanted a new challenge. Megson was a tosser who did a competent job,coyle is a nice guy doing the reverse. As for Gartside hasnt he been chairman through the most successful period in the clubs recent history? The appointments made since Allardyce all looked reasonable at the time including sammy Lee.Coyle looked like a stroke of genius for almost a year. I wouldnt be calling for gartside's head if we go down.We may as has been said before have to cut our cloth and at best accept that we are a yoyo sized team. It's all good and well pointing at Norwich and Swansea yes they have excellent managers and momentum but those managers will move on and the momentum will slow and eventually they will be were we are. It's the way it is for clubs of our size. Brief periods in the sun and longer periods in the shade.We've been spoiled by bucking the trend for a longer period than normal.

The type of players allardyce built our team on head for the USA and middle east these days. If he'd stayed he'd at best have achieved what he did at Blackburn. As it was the last 6 months he was here we were going backwards and less and less off his signings were working out.

I don't agree with the "clubs of our size" part, whilst we still have a wage bill that's top tier, lower to mid-table. We generally finish in a position commensurate with our spending on wages. Allardyce managed to buck the trend, Megson probably punched our spending "weight". Coyle is underperforming for a Club of our spending size.

I wouldn't get shut of Gartside either, even though I think Coyle should have gone at the end of November.

The clubs of our size point is not just about what we have/are spending but also what we should/can spend.We have been overspending hence the debt which has to be addressed. It may well be that coyle is trying to deal with this hence the substandard signings. We are also tied to carrying a number of big earners to the end of the season. We have debts becauese we have been living beyond our means,addressing that debt means a lower standard of living,not addressing it means ultimately a visit from the bailifs.
You are right that if coyle was to go it should have been november. We'll know in four games time whether we have a chance of staying up. Should we dispense with Coyle in the summer(which I'm sure most people here believe we should) it will be interesting to see who is interested in coming in. The remit they have will be the same as coyle's work to a budget and sign players we may be able to sell on. What's dario Gradi up to these days?

[Worthy4England]

Well we could have put the assistant in charge I guess.It's too late for coyle out now.lets see what happens after the next 4 games but even so he's here till the summer.Can only get behind the team regardless.There's nothing else to do.

I honestly think I dislike Coyle just as much as Megson now, both are imho having the same effect of ruining BWFC only Coyle may take it one degree worse! If we drop Gartside should go too!

I totally understand that but what the feck we're stuck with this until the summer. I thought coyle tried to do things right yesterday except for playing pratley in a position were Tuncay might have been more effective. There' sno point harking back to Big Sam,he left as he knew he'd taken the club as far as he could and wanted a new challenge. Megson was a tosser who did a competent job,coyle is a nice guy doing the reverse. As for Gartside hasnt he been chairman through the most successful period in the clubs recent history? The appointments made since Allardyce all looked reasonable at the time including sammy Lee.Coyle looked like a stroke of genius for almost a year. I wouldnt be calling for gartside's head if we go down.We may as has been said before have to cut our cloth and at best accept that we are a yoyo sized team. It's all good and well pointing at Norwich and Swansea yes they have excellent managers and momentum but those managers will move on and the momentum will slow and eventually they will be were we are. It's the way it is for clubs of our size. Brief periods in the sun and longer periods in the shade.We've been spoiled by bucking the trend for a longer period than normal.

The type of players allardyce built our team on head for the USA and middle east these days. If he'd stayed he'd at best have achieved what he did at Blackburn. As it was the last 6 months he was here we were going backwards and less and less off his signings were working out.

I don't agree with the "clubs of our size" part, whilst we still have a wage bill that's top tier, lower to mid-table. We generally finish in a position commensurate with our spending on wages. Allardyce managed to buck the trend, Megson probably punched our spending "weight". Coyle is underperforming for a Club of our spending size.

I wouldn't get shut of Gartside either, even though I think Coyle should have gone at the end of November.

The clubs of our size point is not just about what we have/are spending but also what we should/can spend.We have been overspending hence the debt which has to be addressed. It may well be that coyle is trying to deal with this hence the substandard signings. We are also tied to carrying a number of big earners to the end of the season. We have debts becauese we have been living beyond our means,addressing that debt means a lower standard of living,not addressing it means ultimately a visit from the bailifs.
You are right that if coyle was to go it should have been november. We'll know in four games time whether we have a chance of staying up. Should we dispense with Coyle in the summer(which I'm sure most people here believe we should) it will be interesting to see who is interested in coming in. The remit they have will be the same as coyle's work to a budget and sign players we may be able to sell on. What's dario Gradi up to these days?

I have no doubt that OC has cut the wage bill. I similarly have no doubt that it's still bigger than at least three teams in the Prem. In terms of his substandard signings, he's had money. Not as much as Megson had, but still reasonable and comparable to quite a few of the other teams in the division, who I listed on a previous post. Presumably Eddie and Phil believed that investment to be sustainable. Part of our ability to punch above our weight is tv revenues, most of which we'll lose when we go down, so Eddie and whoever is Manager will need to make further cuts etc.

Which ever way I look at this, and agreed OC is making cuts (whereas Megson blatantly wasn't), Coyle STILL has more resources than more than 3 teams in the Division.

[Ianmooreslovechild]

I'm sure you are right but he also lost two key players for the season unexpectedly and as it was injuries there was no money to replace them. If you factor in the value of the missing players against the expenditure on transfers it's quite a deficit.This is were size matters. Small squad and not enough funds to invest in genuine replacements for key players when they are injured.I still maintain that his summer signings were intended to be squad players/impact players. The core of the intended team would have included CYL and holden,from mid autumn.Could have made a huge difference.

[Worthy4England]

I'm sure you are right but he also lost two key players for the season unexpectedly and as it was injuries there was no money to replace them. If you factor in the value of the missing players against the expenditure on transfers it's quite a deficit.This is were size matters. Small squad and not enough funds to invest in genuine replacements for key players when they are injured.I still maintain that his summer signings were intended to be squad players/impact players. The core of the intended team would have included CYL and holden,from mid autumn.Could have made a huge difference.

The two players we lost, cost less than he's just spent on marvellous Marvin. Who do we think he signed in Jan to replace these two absolutely critical players? You could argue Ryo on loan for CYL, Who did he get to replace Holden? No one....yet he spent 3 mill on Horrell..

[BWFC_Insane]

The majority of the premiership is in debt. Just look at Man Utd as an example.

I think the last analysis showed we were around 13th in the spending and wages table. I can't imagine that has changed much given the three promoted sides. 2 of whom will be below us.

We are underperforming and yes we've been unlucky with injuries but so are a lot of managers. Shit happens. Sean Davis had a decent injury record before he came here. Megson was unlucky that the guy he picked to solve our midfield issues was injured before he started.

We still have enough in our squad now to be safe. That's the bottom line.

[Armchair Wanderer]

I'm sure you are right but he also lost two key players for the season unexpectedly and as it was injuries there was no money to replace them. If you factor in the value of the missing players against the expenditure on transfers it's quite a deficit.This is were size matters. Small squad and not enough funds to invest in genuine replacements for key players when they are injured.I still maintain that his summer signings were intended to be squad players/impact players. The core of the intended team would have included CYL and holden,from mid autumn.Could have made a huge difference.

The two players we lost, cost less than he's just spent on marvellous Marvin. Who do we think he signed in Jan to replace these two absolutely critical players? You could argue Ryo on loan for CYL, Who did he get to replace Holden? No one....yet he spent 3 mill on Horrell..

Bingo!

So, if we want to play 4-4-2 we need a midfield that can play it. If we don't have that personnel we put the players out in a formation that can see us have a good go at getting something out of a game.

[Ianmooreslovechild]

I'm sure you are right but he also lost two key players for the season unexpectedly and as it was injuries there was no money to replace them. If you factor in the value of the missing players against the expenditure on transfers it's quite a deficit.This is were size matters. Small squad and not enough funds to invest in genuine replacements for key players when they are injured.I still maintain that his summer signings were intended to be squad players/impact players. The core of the intended team would have included CYL and holden,from mid autumn.Could have made a huge difference.

The two players we lost, cost less than he's just spent on marvellous Marvin. Who do we think he signed in Jan to replace these two absolutely critical players? You could argue Ryo on loan for CYL, Who did he get to replace Holden? No one....yet he spent 3 mill on Horrell..

Bingo!

So, if we want to play 4-4-2 we need a midfield that can play it. If we don't have that personnel we put the players out in a formation that can see us have a good go at getting something out of a game.

Would make sense and finally appears to be what he is trying to do.Only wasted a year before he realised.NRC perhaps has the defensive half of Holden's game but has nothing like the range or ability on the ball so in a 442 with Moo and NRC there is no creativity leaving us reliant on our miss more than hit wide players to create something.
Worthy ,I imagine had their been an affordable Holden like player available we'd have gone for it.getting someone with his qualities on a free was an incredible fluke,had coyle managed to do it twice I'd be asking him for lottery ticket recommendations.Could have asked spurs to loan us Parker but I'm guessing they'd have said no.

[Gooner Girl]

NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(and i am always so nice about Bolton!)

That'll learn you - Loved them in the 90's still think Dennis was best player i ever saw in the flesh...

but a combination of EMIRATES, your myopic manager and Alan DAVIS and his celebrity Gooner chums..
Have laterly been more chucklesome..

feck me I need some light relief.. and anyway Spurs are very good..
What will you spend the Van Persie transfer cash on?

No they're not! you def. need to change your sig after today's performance!

[norm the jedi]

NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(and i am always so nice about Bolton!)

That'll learn you - Loved them in the 90's still think Dennis was best player i ever saw in the flesh...

but a combination of EMIRATES, your myopic manager and Alan DAVIS and his celebrity Gooner chums..
Have laterly been more chucklesome..

feck me I need some light relief.. and anyway Spurs are very good..
What will you spend the Van Persie transfer cash on?

No they're not! you def. need to change your sig after today's performance!

Ah .. remember how you laughed when all Spurs fans could look forward too every season was beating Arsenal... i bet there'll be a dvd of today in the Emirates shop...
There's that circle of life again... it's a good feeling beating a big team isn't it.

[Gooner Girl]

It's a good feeling beating spurs, yes, so even your teasing can't get me down tonight. Certainly won't be a DVD bought out though, we are not as sad as Tottenham hotspur who even make commemorative plates when they beat us - it happens so rarely.

[norm the jedi]

It's a good feeling beating spurs, yes, so even your teasing can't get me down tonight. Certainly won't be a DVD bought out though, we are not as sad as Tottenham hotspur who even make commemorative plates when they beat us - it happens so rarely.

So what you doing with your time now the season is over

[Gooner Girl]

It's a good feeling beating spurs, yes, so even your teasing can't get me down tonight. Certainly won't be a DVD bought out though, we are not as sad as Tottenham hotspur who even make commemorative plates when they beat us - it happens so rarely.

So what you doing with your time now the season is over

Oh mostly watching you scrap in the relegation battle - are you enjoying it?

[norm the jedi]

It's a good feeling beating spurs, yes, so even your teasing can't get me down tonight. Certainly won't be a DVD bought out though, we are not as sad as Tottenham hotspur who even make commemorative plates when they beat us - it happens so rarely.

So what you doing with your time now the season is over

Oh mostly watching you scrap in the relegation battle - are you enjoying it?

There's a battle? When did that start? Even our shirts double as white flags..
Handy for second half capitulation at present.....
....

[thebish]

It's a good feeling beating spurs, yes, so even your teasing can't get me down tonight. Certainly won't be a DVD bought out though, we are not as sad as Tottenham hotspur who even make commemorative plates when they beat us - it happens so rarely.

So what you doing with your time now the season is over

Oh mostly watching you scrap in the relegation battle - are you enjoying it?

[Gooner Girl]

It's a good feeling beating spurs, yes, so even your teasing can't get me down tonight. Certainly won't be a DVD bought out though, we are not as sad as Tottenham hotspur who even make commemorative plates when they beat us - it happens so rarely.

So what you doing with your time now the season is over

Oh mostly watching you scrap in the relegation battle - are you enjoying it?

Ahh Bish, just getting my own back on cheeky Norm with a return in banter. I don't want you relegated, you know that! I quite like Bolton!

[Hoboh]

Streak?

[Gooner Girl]

Streak?

Eh?