All been fair, it is a rarity that Roy Hodgson does crack a smile so good on him and Fulham. There could even be european football on the cards for them too 
Roy Hodgson - fantastic sportsman Page 2
Quote: David Chapman @ May 14 2008, 10:54 PM BSTYour escape last year was totally illegal.
Nothing to do with Trevor Brooking being so influential at the FA.
Trevor Brooking influential at the FA? You're joking surely?
Brooking is essentially a token footballer at the FA. He's brilliantly clever and being a West Ham boy he knows a thing or two about developing youth. However he complains constantly about coming up against brick walls within the FA when trying to implement youth policy because he lacks the very influence you accuse him of abusing.
Anyone who knew the ins and outs of the Tevez saga would know that we were punished appropriately and we stayed up due to our form. We won 7 out of 9 of our last games, Sheffield United didn't and therefore they were relegated, it's quite simple really. The myth that we should've gone down has been perpetuated by third rate sports journalists working for similarly third rate papers.
Quote: PhQnix @ May 14 2008, 11:03 PM BSTTrevor Brooking influential at the FA? You're joking surely?
Brooking is essentially a token footballer at the FA. He's brilliantly clever and being a West Ham boy he knows a thing or two about developing youth. However he complains constantly about coming up against brick walls within the FA when trying to implement youth policy because he lacks the very influence you accuse him of abusing.
Anyone who knew the ins and outs of the Tevez saga would know that we were punished appropriately and we stayed up due to our form. We won 7 out of 9 of our last games, Sheffield United didn't and therefore they were relegated, it's quite simple really. The myth that we should've gone down has been perpetuated by third rate sports journalists working for similarly third rate papers.
Only one thing to say about this... Old news, forget about it and look forward not backwards
I concur about Laursen, what a guy.
None of the top managers take defeat well, thats why they're top managers. Wenger is the worst though.
Drogba and Ronaldo are as bad as each other, ban both the c**ts.
@PhQnix - Do you really want to brag about just avoiding relegation??
Portsmouth did a good job of it a few years back. Well done Fulham.
Personally I hope Chelsea win the final, but only because my bro is a utd fan and he would be in a strop for about six months.
Quote: jacparov @ May 14 2008, 11:05 PM BST@PhQnix - Do you really want to brag about just avoiding relegation??
Portsmouth did a good job of it a few years back. Well done Fulham.
I'm a hammers fan, I have nothing else to brag about 
Quote: Jamie Nichol @ May 14 2008, 11:05 PM BSTOnly one thing to say about this... Old news, forget about it and look forward not backwards
Accuse any West Ham fan of having cheated last year and you'll get a similar reaction, it's horrible to see your team vilified by the press and it rankles any football fan. Hence the strongly worded reaction.
Quote: PhQnix @ May 14 2008, 11:06 PM BSTI'm a hammers fan, I have nothing else to brag about
fair enough!
I'm a Blackburn Rovers fan (please do not mention the last game of the season) we don't get much to cheer either, it's just great being in the prem and seeing the likes of Santa Cruz in our side. Heaven forbid we ever go back to the days of Nathan Blake and Ashley Ward up front *shudders*.
Quote: PhQnix @ May 14 2008, 11:03 PM BSTAnyone who knew the ins and outs of the Tevez saga would know that we were punished appropriately and we stayed up due to our form. We won 7 out of 9 of our last games,
And who scored most of the goals?
Nothing against West Ham but the whole concept of a player being owned by someone other than a club is totally outrageous.
Quote: David Chapman @ May 14 2008, 11:11 PM BSTAnd who scored most of the goals?
Nothing against West Ham but the whole concept of a player being owned by someone other than a club is totally outrageous.
It's going to happen more and more Dave.
Quote: jacparov @ May 14 2008, 11:09 PM BST
I'm a Blackburn Rovers fan (please do not mention the last game of the season) we don't get much to cheer either, it's just great being in the prem and seeing the likes of Santa Cruz in our side. Heaven forbid we ever go back to the days of Nathan Blake and Ashley Ward up front *shudders*.
I've always liked Blackburn, winning you the title was the closest we've ever come to lifting the trophy. 
Santa Cruz has to be the buy of the season though, plucked from relative obscurity to 20 odd goals in a season. Hopefully he doesn't go all Benni McCarthy on you and be completely apathetic next season.
Quote: David Chapman @ May 14 2008, 11:11 PM BSTAnd who scored most of the goals?
Nothing against West Ham but the whole concept of a player being owned by someone other than a club is totally outrageous.
It's actually surprisingly common in S. America. Plus it's totally legal by the FA's own rules, but the contracts we had signed had clauses in which allowed Tevez's agents to move him when ever they wanted. Those contracts were the problem, not the third party ownership.
Actually as an idea it seems pretty fantastic, the deals we had with Tevez and Mascherano would have been brilliant if we had exploited them properly. Third party ownership may allow bigger players to move to mid table clubs which might, in turn, lead to a more competitive premiership. That can only be good surely?
Quote: PhQnix @ May 14 2008, 11:06 PM BSTI'm a hammers fan, I have nothing else to brag about
Accuse any West Ham fan of having cheated last year and you'll get a similar reaction, it's horrible to see your team vilified by the press and it rankles any football fan. Hence the strongly worded reaction.
im not accusing anyone at all just throwing my opinion on the table by saying its all in Premiership folklore now mate
And apart from being a stay-at-home Chelsea supporter (I supported them from 1967 and had a season ticket when they were in the second division) my main local non-league team were relegated. Still we won't have so far to travel next season.
Quote: Jamie Nichol @ May 14 2008, 11:14 PM BSTim not accusing anyone at all just throwing my opinion on the table by saying its all in Premiership folklore now mate
I didn't mean to accuse you of accusing me, which seems a weird thing to do. Rather I was explaining my (over)reaction.
Quote: PhQnix @ May 14 2008, 11:13 PM BSTI've always liked Blackburn, winning you the title was the closest we've ever come to lifting the trophy.
Santa Cruz has to be the buy of the season though, plucked from relative obscurity to 20 odd goals in a season. Hopefully he doesn't go all Benni McCarthy on you and be completely apathetic next season.
Hey your keeper that day (matejovski??) is in the rovers hall of fame! Santa's a legend if he isn't snapped up by Tottenham or liverpool then he'll do fine again. Benni has signed a new contract and will be back next season, so watch out!
Quote: jacparov @ May 14 2008, 11:19 PM BSTHey your keeper that day (matejovski??) is in the rovers hall of fame! Santa's a legend if he isn't snapped up by Tottenham or liverpool then he'll do fine again. Benni has signed a new contract and will be back next season, so watch out!
Miklosko, he's still on our books as a keeper actually at the ripe old age of 48. The prospect of McCarthy and Santa Cruz working together seems fearsome, strengthen in the middle and you could be the surprise package next season.
Quote: PhQnix @ May 14 2008, 11:19 PM BSTI didn't mean to accuse you of accusing me, which seems a weird thing to do. Rather I was explaining my (over)reaction.
understood clearly, lets put this little "spat" if you will to rest
I dont know what the future holds for Liverpool for the months ahead, wish the Americans would bugger of back to the good ole U.S. Of A and get some stability back to a club that is respected by a few million world wide and I believe Benitez has found a winning formulae late in the season
But as for Liverpool its to little, to late a usual 