Just when you think that things couldn't get any worse....

[Risso]

I don't think we'll avoid the drop to be honest.

[SamTheMouse]

But you reckon Fat Sam could save us, though?

[Chico Hamilton III]

It was Roy Keane who was going to save us last month

[Clampy]

It seems like an internet thing. People like change just for something to write about.

[eastie]

It seems like an internet thing. People like change just for something to write about.

I believe you when you say you have lumps of it round the back clamps!

[Clampy]

It seems like an internet thing. People like change just for something to write about.

I believe you have lumps of it round the back clamps!

Crucifixtion Eastie? Good.

[john e]

!  fail

[Jockey Randall]

But you've seen KEA play.  And Bannan.  Anybody worse than those two isn't going to be playing for a Premier League Club in all honesty.

This the same Mark Noble who was part of their last relegated side, yes? And who now plays in one of two most redundant midfields in the country?

How is their midfield redundant?  Noble and Nolan are two of their three top scorers, and Nolan on average attempts nearly twice as many passes a game as any of our midfielders including Westwood, with a similar completion rate of around 80%.  Even Nolan whose job it is to get into the box and score makes as many passes as any of our midfield.  Honestly, there's opinions and all, but what exactly are you basing yours on, as they're at complete odds with the actual facts.

I certainly agree with you on one thing Risso, I think Noble is underrated and I would definitely have him in our side. However, I think you need to acknowledge the fact that several of our team are at an age and stage in their careers where they can only improve. Noble has had several Premier League seasons under his belt at West Ham and should be playing somewhere near his footballing peak. Who can we say the same applies to in our central midfield? El Ahmadi is the only one. You could even make a case out for him being better when he's had a season to adjust to the league similar to Petrov.

I think you're being harsh on our guys in terms of their passing ability though. 3 of our guys have a pass completion rate above 84% (Westwood, El Ahmadi and Delph who is on an impressive 87.3%), the closest West Ham come to this is Diame with 82.8%.

I honestly can't believe you're trying to dress Allardyce's style as close to 'decent' though? Yes his sides probably play more football than they are given credit for but the height of the team tells you all you need to know surely? Not to mention the fact they're second only to Stoke in aerial duels won and have on average the most crosses per game in the division. They've also scored no goals on the counter this season. There's nothing subtle about it. They occasionally attempt to mix it up as they should do, but on the whole they lump balls into the box when they can, win flick ons and look to pounce on the second ball. They have one of the worst passing success rates in the league - we have a bad percentage because we have a poor team compared to the standard of the league, they have this because they deliberately go out of their way to play a brand of football that achieves this. They do not even come close to what people would call a decent footballing side.

Their style of play stands out like a sore thumb when you look at who is dragging down the overall passing percentage. As well the obvious 2 lumbering gents up front, the wide players Jarvis, Vaz Te and Taylor all have poor passing success rates by Premier League wide player standards. Why? Because they get it wide, then whack it in the box to a big man.

[LeeB]

That's a fine post Jockey, but I'm afraid I'm going to have to pick you up on one thing:

Mark Noble is wank.

[Concrete John]

Mark Noble is wank.

I strongly feel that this could become the new 'Shit Happens'

[pauliewalnuts]

That's a fine post Jockey, but I'm afraid I'm going to have to pick you up on one thing:

Mark Noble is wank.

Noble strikes me as a not-quite-as-good Craig Gardner.

[LeeB]

That's a fine post Jockey, but I'm afraid I'm going to have to pick you up on one thing:

Mark Noble is wank.

Noble strikes me as a not-quite-as-good Craig Gardner.

Sounds fair to me.

[LeeB]

Mark Noble is wank.

I strongly feel that this could become the new 'Shit Happens'

I won't mention it again.

[KevinGage]

That's a dressing up of the argument after the event when in fact a regular criticism was that the football was dull and unimaginative.

And that is specifically the thing I don't understand.

People who were moaning about the quality of football under O'Neill - when that turgid football got us sixth three years in a row - now prepared to put up with a style that makes O'Neill's look amazing by comparison, and purveyed by a manager who traditionally occupies the mid level of the table at best.

I don't know what's funny or difficult to understand about it. 

If the budget is there, I'd rather have a baked Alaska over bread and butter pudding.

But if money is tight, I'd take a jam doughnut over a shit sandwich.

I'd have been depressed as hell had we been linked with BFS in 2010, 2011 or even last summer.

But Aston Villa 2013 are different proposition.

If we continue on our largely downward trajectory, Mad Mick McCarthy might start looking like a decent alternative in October/November.

[danlanza]

That's a dressing up of the argument after the event when in fact a regular criticism was that the football was dull and unimaginative.

And that is specifically the thing I don't understand.

People who were moaning about the quality of football under O'Neill - when that turgid football got us sixth three years in a row - now prepared to put up with a style that makes O'Neill's look amazing by comparison, and purveyed by a manager who traditionally occupies the mid level of the table at best.

I don't know what's funny or difficult to understand about it. 

If the budget is there, I'd rather have a baked Alaska over bread and butter pudding.

But if money is tight, I'd take a jam doughnut over a shit sandwich.

I'd have been depressed as hell had we been linked with BFS in 2010, 2011 or even last summer.

But Aston Villa 2013 are different proposition.

If we continue on our largely downward trajectory, Mad Mick McCarthy might start looking like a decent alternative in October/November.

I give up now.
Bagpuss
A Neo Nazi
And now Old Big Nose Twistyface.
Bloody hell.