It was a slight guilty chuckle at the expense of United when Fergus Ferguson described Trafford as a “Funeral.” That is major trouble with success. The better you are, the more the crowd expect, the less impressed they are, the less they feel they need to bother against teams who are worse on paper, and in United’s case, that’s every other side in the league.

As a fervant Allaryce hater myself, I very much enjoyed your comments WHS, if call you that I must. He is such a peddlar of boredom it’s an unspeakable curse to any team. Although glad that I am that it’s not going so well for him, I did quite want to see his way of playing succeed for a while, if only to mix it up a bit at the top.

As for Tiffany’s ticket, you’ll have to get onto Jim for that one. Isn’t that what big brohers are for?

The Bagel.

But, even if the lights had gone out again, it was another great read here provided by the Master Bagel.

I’m trying to find a way to get those 2 syllables to match the 6 necessary for “La Donna é Mobile”. After all, I reckon the Bagel deserves a song too.
Any ideas? (Not the same as “Yiddo, Yiddo, Yiddo”, please!). Get ‘em in here to the “Song For Bagel” comp.

And never mind, we’ve only got Reading at home in the cup on Saturday. Déjà vu? The Whole World’s waiting & watching….Just make sure Tiffany’s got a tcket, B!

PS-LOL over Fergie’s complaints about the OT faithful!

I hate Big Sam with a passion, perhaps because it smacks of George Grahams Arsenal, a time I’d like to forget.

But Big Sam is limited, in my mind, in his ability. He cannot direct a team to play good football, and good football is what you need to be a success these days. Even on thier worst days, even Chelsea play football, Man City have started and look at the difference (much to my astonishment). But have you ever seen an Alladyce team play footie ?

And that’s what the geordie’s demand, after all, we all know there not gonna win anything, even they know that. That affliction that affects us all, that need that resides beneath us all is less forgiving. She’ll (it has to be a woman) demand that we support and defend no matter what. As long as it’s football.

I predict Big Sam ending the season wellish after a scare or two, then he’ll be sacked for Alan Shearer. He’ll go on to manage Blackburn / Fulham / Leeds etc, you know the teams I mean. I’m looking forward to the look of bewilderment when he’s sacked, preaching that this was his best even PL season, and he was building for the future. The fact is that with more resources he still couldn’t manage to play football, and he never could, I pray he nevers gets the England job, I dont want to see Bowyer / Davies / Alan Smith type teams, I suspect you dont either.

So, where to start ?

Do you need a good central midfielder, someone in the Carrick mould ? What happens if carrick returns ? How will the fans recieve him ? I expect fondly, after all he didn’t slag the team and left on good terms, unlike certain ex-players we have had. Would his confidence have been affected by his spell on the sidelines at ManUre ? Possibly not, he would certainly view it as a chance to get into the England thoughts again. He would perhaps allow huddlestone to play - as for Jenas, send him back to newcastle.

Carrick wouldn’t really push anyone out, and should make a difference immediately.

But is that where the problems lie ?

Is it the Central Defence ? Too often they are troubled at the back, and the confidence is shaky to say the least. But who do you buy in ? And, would the problem be solved by getting Carrick back ?

Richard Dunne has looked good this season, he would be a great choice, but with King back you stifle the development of the replacements.

If you were to look shrewdly enough, you would say that the final link is also a problem, should you start with the ‘keeper ? You all know that I think Robinson is a duff, he failed the reflex testing at Ashburton with the slowest records ever recorded. If you’re after a basically reliable keeper with the occasional blunder you are far better off with David James (shocking he wasn’t chosen against Croatia !!!).

So how about Artur Borac ? He looks a good strong keeper, he’s the right age and would jump at the chance - expect a badge kissing parade and ‘I turned Arsenal down’ stories, we’re not looking, Arsene will stick with Almunia - he could be available for a staggering £6-7M, the only problem is that he is cup-tied, oops, I forgot, that won’t affect spuds, hahaha!

As for us, despite the fact we desperately need a quick wide man, I expect January will see us get no-one, perhaps a bargain or 2 for the future, but no-one to come straight in. I know Theo will make the grade sooner or later, but this is a mans game, ain’t he just aint a man yet.

Happy new year etc etc

Great result either way. Happy New Year to all.

Happy New Year, and here’s to a winning 2008.