Why does it come back to Bowyer again? I'm bored of this - point is we have potentially good youth players. We have one particularly good keeper who the manager was absolutely blasted for playing 5 times this season but let's not bother getting into that. There is little acknowledgement of the improvement in the youth under Johnson, and I will repeat - this indicative of the current nature of this message board! O'Connell- whilst not knowing how good he is, based on a Rochdale fan I know he should've stayed. That said, if his contract was up or the offer was good, it's hard to disagree with the decision made without knowing the full details. Sigh. Now it's "rumours" I'm honestly aghast at the level you can stoop to to bring every thread to the same conclusion. Very close to doing a PB! I'm sure that'd please some but maybe it'd help me more.

Great result. Can't see anyone mention that which is indicative of how this message board has been used recently. If the results this season in the youth sides are anything to go by, within a few seasons we may be seeing some genuinely good graduates. Looking at Southampton in particular, this has basically helped propel them forward. That is good for the club. Just basically writing it off as pointless because you don't like the manager- boring, repetitive dross not worth even posting.

Also Grella was signed when we had prem income and higher turnover. The signings made the season we went down could've or could still mean administration for the club. Comparing them seems daft!

I can't wait till "Nigel" gets in the first team.

I think the "most angry you've ever been at a referee?" question deserves it's own thread. My answer is the West Ham at home and Tevez debacle.

That's your opinion, but in mine before Guthrie and Hope, he was the second best option we had bar Evans. He can still be a good squad player, potentially a good back up for at least two positions. A different opinion is not a "blind spot" wrong or right.

Because it's paranoid conjecture as opposed to discussion on football. Nothing stopping anyone from forming an opinion on a player but the suggestion that he's one of "gazzes' mates" and that's the sole reason for his inclusion is infantile. The post on Mick Mc from the Ipswich forum says it all for me about what's happened to this website. The fans are now the experts and anything they disagree with can only be explained by mysterious circumstance such as "un droppable" players or "negative instincts".

Pathetic ain't it matty?

Its a ridiculous over simplification to even consider the improvement as a sole result of that. Besides, Fulham away was the initial game we improved yet lost- Spurr played that game. Potentially down to a few more things than that? Like maybe something to do with the bloke who didn't score in those 5 first games? It's a fashionable assumption on here that we have "undroppable" players but I don't buy this favorites malarkey. Why did he go out and get akpan and Guthrie if he saw Lowe as undroppable?

You lost me at "weve been lucky" by having players injured..

Certainly need a right winger who will run at teams. I might be wrong but I think Spurr put more crosses in than Marshall on Sunday!

Shauny wauny! If I had a quid for every time Abs has missed out the B in my username, I'd be able to pay off the debt and get Yakubu back for a season on a free. In terms of the ST. It's important to validate views that I saw what I'm saying. See, I have that mentality, don't like discussing, arguing, praising or moaning about stuff I haven't seen.

If you didn't like being called Abigail, don't refer to me as anything other than my username pet. Good/ bad, Black/white - there is an in between a you know.

Yes you are correct, Steve Davis of Crewe made history as the most successful English manager of recent times then... JPT?Realistically though Abigail, if Big Sam had managed a big club for a long time, he'd have won at least 1 cup IMO. Came pretty close in 2004 at notlob and if you think he did sod all in his last two jobs... Well then it's pointless discussing anything with you. Is it this simple black and white debate again, a striker scores goals or he's @#/?, a manager wins trophies or his @#/? etc etc etc Crazy.See, as a season ticket holder at the time I seem to remember Pedersen having a cracking assist rate from set pieces and corner... Sorry if I'm remembering things a bit too fondly, I'd take Big Sam and where we where a million times over recent times. Steve Mclaren. The main who's proved that having a good agent is better than tactics. Irony that you'd select him as an example- what was his most recent attempt? Failed promotion with arguably the best team in the division.Oh and Spurr - I'd use it because it's another chance to get the pressure on in the box. Whether it's useful or not depends more on other teams preparing for it and our prowess with it. I would like to see us mix it up if I'm honest. When teams expect the long throw, it's great to throw a short one now and then.

Big Sam is a professional football manager who decided to use that strategy. Do I think; A) my recollections of the havoc it caused in the box must be imagined and BS had no idea what he was doing. Or I remember it perfectly and some stay away fan who's still probably convinced sacking Sam was a good idea knows sod all?

Showing your naïveté and lack of experience of football here Shaun. The reason why Big Sam is probably one the best English managers of recent time is because the methods he uses are effective, not pointless.

Relegation thread after 1 league game and a predictable early cup exit? Surely give it 5 league games before the gallows are out? As I've said, a group of 4/5 losses in a row will indicate to me that the manager has lost the dressing room and that would be time for me to discuss relegation as a possibility. That's LL so far. If this has come around from selling players from the last two seasons of finishing top ten, maybe we should let their replacements get a few games in the league before we write them completely off eh lads. It's not time for me to discuss this further. If Hudds spank us on Saturday I might open the thread again. Adios

You mean like the forest away game? or Taylor and Conway changing the Fulham away game? Tunnicliffe coming off the bench and grabbing the game by the neck in the reading home game? Granted - this is not consistent in every game, but its plain to see he is not "clueless" He doesn't always get it right. I think that is one of his weakest areas but to take the u21s discussion into another different little reason to moan - gah its practically mind rotting. I'm only posting because i'm specifically trying to take my mind off something and this is my last reply to this argument thats spewed from the GB discussion thread.

Forgetting two years of indifferent form, which would suggest that GB is tactically inconsistent rather than clueless... Not throwing the kids in is now the definition of "clueless"? The u21s is an avenue for us to set a style of play that matches the first team (did anyone see the winger setup btw) and to push players into contention for first team places. The first team is a big step up for many, in some peoples opinion too big for a few of our current first teamers namely our captain. Jake Kean is an example of mishandling(ahem) of youth players. If these players are ready, they will be chosen. Do I think GB will consistently get the decision on whether it is the right time or not? I doubt it. But I also have faith that he knows better than throwing in Edinho Jr esq "Greenhorns". As I said, the time has probably come for a few of this current batch but there can only be 11 players on the pitch at one time. I personally would stick Raya in the net for the last few games and let Eastwood and Steele go get ready to fight out for No1 spot next season.

I don't agree with you Mustard. To bring this back to the true topic, The u21s and academy has improved tenfold in the past year and that is down to the changing tide behind the doors at ewood. No more "new Stevie Gee's", no more Agents sons, no more 10k a week for sheffield reserve players.

I was impressed by maidana, flits absorbed lots of body shots early on and dodged a lot. I've not seen a boxer counter like Mayweather, even is the guy is morally bankrupt. It's mesmeric.

Looks fairly good... basically means we are going to have a "real fooking season"

R.I.P