When Big Sam took over, his first job was to build a big wall across the 18 yard line so we didnt conceed goals. The football was grim, the attendances were poor.

 

We got into the Prem with a hard working side, few stars, but plenty of grafters who knew their onions.

 

When we got into the Prem he built that wall even higher.

 

We then stayed in the Prem with an even harder working side, few stars, but plenty of grafters who knew their onions a bit better than previously.

 

When the foundations were laid we brought in some French bloke. Name escapes me at the moment. And then a Nigerian bloke, not bad a kicking the ball he wasnt. Then a bloke from Spain who looked like a clown. Momentum grew.

 

We are currently at the stage we were when Big Sam took over. We're rebuilding that wall. 3 clean sheets from 4 and something resembling a defence is appearing. But to get back to where we want to be will take a couple of years.

 

We're not going to buy any show ponies who need to score 6 because our tea bag defence have shipped in 5.

 

If we conceed no more than 10 more goals in our final 14 games this season then we will stay up one way or another. Grim but true. Realistic? Not a month ago it wasn't, but certainly more realistic than signing a premiership quality centre forward mid season who'll bang in the goals for buttons.

 

We have a small budget so will take small steps. You might not like it, I might not like it, but it is what's happening so get used to it. Until then, watch that wall get bigger.

When Big Sam took over, his first job was to build a big wall across the 18 yard line so we didnt conceed goals. The football was grim, the attendances were poor.

 

We got into the Prem with a hard working side, few stars, but plenty of grafters who knew their onions.

 

When we got into the Prem he built that wall even higher.

 

We then stayed in the Prem with an even harder working side, few stars, but plenty of grafters who knew their onions a bit better than previously.

 

When the foundations were laid we brought in some French bloke. Name escapes me at the moment. And then a Nigerian bloke, not bad a kicking the ball he wasnt. Then a bloke from Spain who looked like a clown. Momentum grew.

 

We are currently at the stage we were when Big Sam took over. We're rebuilding that wall. 3 clean sheets from 4 and something resembling a defence is appearing. But to get back to where we want to be will take a couple of years.

 

We're not going to buy any show ponies who need to score 6 because our tea bag defence have shipped in 5.

 

If we conceed no more than 10 more goals in our final 14 games this season then we will stay up one way or another. Grim but true. Realistic? Not a month ago it wasn't, but certainly more realistic than signing a premiership quality centre forward mid season who'll bang in the goals for buttons.

 

We have a small budget so will take small steps. You might not like it, I might not like it, but it is what's happening so get used to it. Until then, watch that wall get bigger.

i,m bricking it now

When Big Sam took over, his first job was to build a big wall across the 18 yard line so we didnt conceed goals. The football was grim, the attendances were poor.

 

We got into the Prem with a hard working side, few stars, but plenty of grafters who knew their onions.

 

When we got into the Prem he built that wall even higher.

 

We then stayed in the Prem with an even harder working side, few stars, but plenty of grafters who knew their onions a bit better than previously.

 

When the foundations were laid we brought in some French bloke. Name escapes me at the moment. And then a Nigerian bloke, not bad a kicking the ball he wasnt. Then a bloke from Spain who looked like a clown. Momentum grew.

 

We are currently at the stage we were when Big Sam took over. We're rebuilding that wall. 3 clean sheets from 4 and something resembling a defence is appearing. But to get back to where we want to be will take a couple of years.

 

We're not going to buy any show ponies who need to score 6 because our tea bag defence have shipped in 5.

 

If we conceed no more than 10 more goals in our final 14 games this season then we will stay up one way or another. Grim but true. Realistic? Not a month ago it wasn't, but certainly more realistic than signing a premiership quality centre forward mid season who'll bang in the goals for buttons.

 

We have a small budget so will take small steps. You might not like it, I might not like it, but it is what's happening so get used to it. Until then, watch that wall get bigger.

 

Top post 'Dad'

Slight problem to ponder (after watching the games post-Anelka)...

 

Assuming we get beat at United and Chelsea, that leaves us with 12 0-0 draws. Will 34 points be enough to stay up?

Smiffs also makes the assumption that a team that doesn't concede to the likes of Fulham, won't concede much against the better sides.

 

It's been proven time and again that more often than not, you cannot sit back and just soak up pressure and get away with it for 90mins apart from the odd occasion.

 

We've not kept clean sheets recently because our defence is so good, more because we've played opponents as toothless as us.

Correct Mr Jules. We've been lucky playing a few shite sides recently. Saturday will be the start of our relegation party.

Correct Mr Jules. We've been lucky playing a few shite sides recently. Saturday will be the start of our relegation party.

 

I disagree. We continue with a point away from home at a tricky opponent. We always seem to struggle at Reading so a clean sheet is a positive. A rare away goal is an absolute top whack bonus.

Just a little point.

It is fine looking back at history, however, do kid ourselves, we are in dire straits, and the result against Fulham is poor, playing 5 in midfield and the slow, shot shy Davies upfront will not keep us up.

 

Oh and one for the oldies....with Walker and McGinley upfront, we were hardly a defensive the 1990's, and with Djorkaeff, Campo, Okocha, Hierro, Frandsen et al (alll in the premiership), we were hardly a defensive team. We have gone to the other extreme (under allardyce latter seasons) of going out not to lose matches first and foremost, and under megson it is a case of don't concede, and if we score first...great. He made the statement last night on our goal drought (1 since Anelka left four games ago) that he isn't worried....I bloody well am

When Big Sam took over, his first job was to build a big wall across the 18 yard line so we didnt conceed goals. The football was grim, the attendances were poor.

 

We got into the Prem with a hard working side, few stars, but plenty of grafters who knew their onions.

 

When we got into the Prem he built that wall even higher.

 

We then stayed in the Prem with an even harder working side, few stars, but plenty of grafters who knew their onions a bit better than previously.

 

When the foundations were laid we brought in some French bloke. Name escapes me at the moment. And then a Nigerian bloke, not bad a kicking the ball he wasnt. Then a bloke from Spain who looked like a clown. Momentum grew.

 

We are currently at the stage we were when Big Sam took over. We're rebuilding that wall. 3 clean sheets from 4 and something resembling a defence is appearing. But to get back to where we want to be will take a couple of years.

 

We're not going to buy any show ponies who need to score 6 because our tea bag defence have shipped in 5.

 

If we conceed no more than 10 more goals in our final 14 games this season then we will stay up one way or another. Grim but true. Realistic? Not a month ago it wasn't, but certainly more realistic than signing a premiership quality centre forward mid season who'll bang in the goals for buttons.

 

We have a small budget so will take small steps. You might not like it, I might not like it, but it is what's happening so get used to it. Until then, watch that wall get bigger.

 

I WISH YOU'D fcuk OFF.......

 

Megson is no Allardyce.....we my friend are going........

Remember when we kept clean sheets at one end, and scored at the other?

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/e...rem/4516330.stm

 

look at our team that day.

we didn't have Anelka playing that day, or any out-and-out-striker of any note.

We had Djorkaeff,Holdsworth,Ricketts and Bobic as the forward pool in the first season to keep us up.Davies,Helguson,Vaz Te and Diouf isn't of that standard.

 

If i was choosing 4,only Diouf would get in the 2001/02 forward pool.(for Holdsworth)

 

We have to score goals to win matches and get points,and the forwards we currently have aren't good enough to do that.

Hence the wall that Megson built.

 

Tis our only hope.

 

Coz there's f?cks chance of signing anyone remotely good enough to bag 10 before the end of the season.

Can see us going down, draws aren't enough.

We had Djorkaeff,Holdsworth,Ricketts and Bobic as the forward pool in the first season to keep us up.Davies,Helguson,Vaz Te and Diouf isn't of that standard.

 

If i was choosing 4,only Diouf would get in the 2001/02 forward pool.(for Holdsworth)

 

We have to score goals to win matches and get points,and the forwards we currently have aren't good enough to do that.

 

also

 

Djorkaeff and Bobic only turned up in Jan/Feb

 

before that, we were probably a bit f?cked

 

it's been worse than this though

 

I remember that season losing at home 3-1 to Derby at the end of Feb

 

I thought that was that and we had no chance of staying up

I WISH YOU'D fcuk OFF.......

 

Megson is no Allardyce.....we my friend are going........

 

Shut up you nugget

 

I go watching them more than you do.

Remember when we kept clean sheets at one end, and scored at the other?

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/e...rem/4516330.stm

 

look at our team that day.

we didn't have Anelka playing that day, or any out-and-out-striker of any note.

 

Martin Djetou came on in that game... he was w@nk.

I was in despair last night.

 

But I can see us frustrating teams away from home now. We just aint set up for taking the initiative in a home game against similar/inferior opposition.

 

We nearly nicked it at Newcastle. When that chance comes we have to take it.

 

Add Dioufy to the picture and Cahill by the looks, we might just scrape our way out of this.

The tiny flaw in the plan here is that Allardyce instilled a determination to win games whilst building his wall. Even a front 3 of Hansen, Gardner and Ricketts looked a threat early in 2001-02, and when their deficiencies started to be exploited he brought in Wallace, Djorkaeff and Bobic, and the whole combination managed to score enough to keep us up.

 

Megson appears to focused purely on the wall and has abandoned the idea of creating chances or having a method to socre.

 

Most concerning is that he has "form" for playing this way - i.e. WBA 2002-03. Unless we sign a striker and Megson plays some more attacking minded players we are doomed.

The tiny flaw in the plan here is that Allardyce instilled a determination to win games whilst building his wall. Even a front 3 of Hansen, Gardner and Ricketts looked a threat early in 2001-02, and when their deficiencies started to be exploited he brought in Wallace, Djorkaeff and Bobic, and the whole combination managed to score enough to keep us up.

 

Megson appears to focused purely on the wall and has abandoned the idea of creating chances or having a method to socre.

 

Most concerning is that he has "form" for playing this way - i.e. WBA 2002-03. Unless we sign a striker and Megson plays some more attacking minded players we are doomed.

 

which more attacking players would you play?

Megson appears to focused purely on the wall and has abandoned the idea of creating chances or having a method to socre.

 

Whilst it looks like that I'm sure he doesnt say to the players 'there's f?cks chance of scoring lads so lets not bother trying'

Correct Mr Jules. We've been lucky playing a few shite sides recently. Saturday will be the start of our relegation party.

 

Norwich and Jules. You have made it all so clear to me now. Clean sheets against crap sides like Fulham, Newcastle and Manchester United. Let's wait and see if we can get one against a decent side then eh?

Smiffs is right about not conceding. Unlike the majority, I will not be predicting doom. We'll stay up but I have got a problem seeing how we can improve from Premiership strugglers under the ginger one.

Norwich and Jules. You have made it all so clear to me now. Clean sheets against crap sides like Fulham, Newcastle and Manchester United. Let's wait and see if we can get one against a decent side then eh?

Smiffs is right about not conceding. Unlike the majority, I will not be predicting doom. We'll stay up but I have got a problem seeing how we can improve from Premiership strugglers under the ginger one.

 

First we stay up and then we will have to see what he does in the summer, but first we got to stay up

It is fine looking back at history, however, do kid ourselves, we are in dire straits, and the result against Fulham is poor, playing 5 in midfield and the slow, shot shy Davies upfront will not keep us up.

 

Criticism of Super Kev ???? No, I will not have it .

Ah, so Davies is quick and has a few shots on goal then? Okay, sorry for the tone, but we are in dire need of a striker, and as much as you guys like him, he couldn't hit a barn door....and yes he works hard up front and battles etc, however, by playing him it is far too easy to bypass midfield and lump balls up to him and expect something to happen, and the last two year teams have sussed this and put two men on him, so even the knock downs are going nowhere.

 

I also note that some of you are very quick to criticise Braaten, Dzemli etc, but I reckon in a struggling side, not one of the new signings would have had a chance, and when you only play half matches here and there, do you honestly expect them to adapt quickly to english football?

 

I think one thing was clear this season, we have become too one dimensional (even under fat sam at the start we would mix our game up, and that was the reason for our success), our midfiled was far too slow with no guile, and when little sam tried to change it, the "established" players didn't like it because it meant working harder, and then we got on his back because the team could not adapt to this change in style, and we lost matches far too easily. I still believe we will stay up, but in the summer (and it is only my opinion), this team needs wholesale changes in the playing staff, and a new manager.

Nolan commenting on Megson upon his appointment

 

"What he wants us to do is simple and basic. He said he can't teach us how to go forward and attack but he can give us a solid foundation to build from."

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtm...3/sfnsmi103.xml