Welcome to the house of Glum...

[walmai]

...And collect 3 points when passing 'Go'.

What a terrible season!

Take you on a trip. Yes we were one place above you last season. And if it weren't for the fact that Hull were even at that stage falling faster and harder, you might have been turning up to relegate us.

But, all of that aside, allow me to express an outsiders view, by way of match preview.

Owners
You lucky bar stewards - Its difficult to imagine a more obvious contrast to The Goblins if I am honest.

Coach
Bit of a chin scratch. Don't personally reckon that Hughes would have done a great deal worse, tbh. Fate is in your hands, but, if I am honest, as much I think he's got some serious questions to answer, Harry has turned Spuds into a true Prem force; the kind of team that you can expect to score a goal or two regardless of the venue, or the match.

Mancini's chance to manage you in the future, however, rests on his ability to fashion into winners a squad of massively expensive players. There was a thread back at ours this week about the alleged availability of Bridge and Adebayor (plus another) this summer. The cost of 1/4M p/w might put off most clubs, if not all of them, given the name of the first of the two.

Mancini will succeed if he sticks with a strong first team. He'll stay, I reckon, even if you come 5th, and win something next season. Zola, as you may have noticed, is toast. Who we get is anyone's guess. Please kindly imagine someone half decent. I am struggling.

If it came to the coaches; Zola seems popular with the players, and an utter mug to those 'owning' the club'. They are forcing him out through the back pages. Very bad darts from a club who, until we sacked Roeder set the record in terms of irregularity of changes in manager.

The match
It all depends on your midweek fixture, in terms of whether it means anything to you. I am assuming that, if Spuds do you, it won't really matter (unless you seriously imagine that Burnley can beat a team that you can't). But, for the sake of fun, let me think about our best eleven to probably rip to bits your demoralised bunch of see you next....

England's number one (worrying, innit?)

Faubert - Upson - Da Costa - Spector (your second best signing of the season will destroy him; We were in for Johnson last Summer; he rather sensibly bided his time.)

Noble - Parker (the only player worthy of a better club) - Kovac - Behrami (on his way to a 'CL club', if his agent is believable)

Franco
Cole.

You're going to beat us, whether or not it matters. Do it for the sake of denying Spurs.

If any of you is coming down for the game, I genuinely hope you have a good day.

Irons!
Welcome home Carlos. Doubtlessly the welcome home will once again have you in tears.

[gillie]

...And collect 3 points when passing 'Go'.

What a terrible season!

Take you on a trip. Yes we were one place above you last season. And if it weren't for the fact that Hull were even at that stage falling faster and harder, you might have been turning up to relegate us.

But, all of that aside, allow me to express an outsiders view, by way of match preview.

Owners
You lucky bar stewards - Its difficult to imagine a more obvious contrast to The Goblins if I am honest.

Coach
Bit of a chin scratch. Don't personally reckon that Hughes would have done a great deal worse, tbh. Fate is in your hands, but, if I am honest, as much I think he's got some serious questions to answer, Harry has turned Spuds into a true Prem force; the kind of team that you can expect to score a goal or two regardless of the venue, or the match.

Mancini's chance to manage you in the future, however, rests on his ability to fashion into winners a squad of massively expensive players. There was a thread back at ours this week about the alleged availability of Bridge and Adebayor (plus another) this summer. The cost of 1/4M p/w might put off most clubs, if not all of them, given the name of the first of the two.

Mancini will succeed if he sticks with a strong first team. He'll stay, I reckon, even if you come 5th, and win something next season. Zola, as you may have noticed, is toast. Who we get is anyone's guess. Please kindly imagine someone half decent. I am struggling.

If it came to the coaches; Zola seems popular with the players, and an utter mug to those 'owning' the club'. They are forcing him out through the back pages. Very bad darts from a club who, until we sacked Roeder set the record in terms of irregularity of changes in manager.

The match
It all depends on your midweek fixture, in terms of whether it means anything to you. I am assuming that, if Spuds do you, it won't really matter (unless you seriously imagine that Burnley can beat a team that you can't). But, for the sake of fun, let me think about our best eleven to probably rip to bits your demoralised bunch of see you next....

England's number one (worrying, innit?)

Faubert - Upson - Da Costa - Spector (your second best signing of the season will destroy him; We were in for Johnson last Summer; he rather sensibly bided his time.)

Noble - Parker (the only player worthy of a better club) - Kovac - Behrami (on his way to a 'CL club', if his agent is believable)

Franco
Cole.

You're going to beat us, whether or not it matters. Do it for the sake of denying Spurs.

If any of you is coming down for the game, I genuinely hope you have a good day.

Irons!
Welcome home Carlos. Doubtlessly the welcome home will once again have you in tears.

Mate we will need a win at the Boleyn so how we fixed?.

[Nick]

Lol mate you sound like most blues before the takeover (or even still now actually?!)

I think it will be a tough game.

What the fuck was spector playing at today.

[Slim]

I do like the way everyone seems to think our players are going to be for sale. Undoubtedly they also believe that they will be cut price because we don't need the money.

[brite blu sky]

walmai.. really sweet post.. and a lot of people who have come to appreciate your posts on here will have a very keen sense of empathy. if thats the right word. for your thinking and situation at WHU

I really furclin hope that it will be game on at the Boleyn

and i hope that your lot get stuck in to City.. ( watched the Makens today give the rags a torrid time.. and as a football fan you have to tip your hat to that. )

Pride in Battle as they say





ps. if we beat spurs and you come back on here before Sat.. you will see the most city fan posters shitting bricks that you will ever care to ;)

[ryanmjo]

I'm an American, but Spector's been dreadful lately hasn't he?

[Slim]

I'm an American, but Spector's been dreadful lately hasn't he?

lately?

[Ted Hughes]

It's still a potential banana skin, on which we have to avoid slipping but I imagine that if we do beat Spurs, we'll win at West Ham too.

Parker has been quality this season. I was a bit dubious to say the least when I heard that Les wanted to sign him in the past but had he done so I think it would have been almost as good a move as signing Bellamy.

On the other hand, the press were also linking us with Upson, which would have been a disaster & he is my biggest reason for encouragement that we'll get 3 points if we need them. He's been diabolical. The fact that Hansen, Dixon, Lawrenson & Shearer voted him into their England World Cup squad last week speaks volumes about them.

[Patrick]

Avram Grant?

[walmai]

Mate we will need a win at the Boleyn so how we fixed?.

Blackburn famously won the league on the last day of that season because we wouldn't lie down for Taggart (holding them to a one all draw). If memory serves, we were already down. So, there's a sense of just playing the match in the minds of a team being selected by an outgoing manager, half of whom probably have no wish to stay as well.

Honestly, if Johnson, Tevez, Adebayor and Bellamy are all fit, I think you'll win by at least 2 clear goals, if not more.

[walmai]

Lol mate you sound like most blues before the takeover (or even still now actually?!)

I think it will be a tough game.

What the fuck was spector playing at today.

I'm an American, but Spector's been dreadful lately hasn't he?

Spector was a DM or CB for Taggart (admittedly when a lot younger). He has been pressed into being a full back, but is so obviously less capable with his left that it drives us insane to see him routinely posted at LB. Its actually not fair on him because, if he could get a game in a position he actually wants to play in, we see the battle and determination that he obviously brings.

[walmai]

I do like the way everyone seems to think our players are going to be for sale. Undoubtedly they also believe that they will be cut price because we don't need the money.

I didn't actually mean to imply that they will be.

Seriously, how many other clubs can afford wages of >£100k p/week (for Wayne Bridge!!!). If anything, I can see City ended up with a record-breaking sized squad.

[Vhero]

I do like the way everyone seems to think our players are going to be for sale. Undoubtedly they also believe that they will be cut price because we don't need the money.

I didn't actually mean to imply that they will be.

Seriously, how many other clubs can afford wages of >£100k p/week (for Wayne Bridge!!!). If anything, I can see City ended up with a record-breaking sized squad.

I think we will be selling a few players to make room...

[Slim]

I do like the way everyone seems to think our players are going to be for sale. Undoubtedly they also believe that they will be cut price because we don't need the money.

I didn't actually mean to imply that they will be.

Seriously, how many other clubs can afford wages of >£100k p/week (for Wayne Bridge!!!). If anything, I can see City ended up with a record-breaking sized squad.

I think Bridge is on 80K, didn't you pay that for Dyer?

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

I do like the way everyone seems to think our players are going to be for sale. Undoubtedly they also believe that they will be cut price because we don't need the money.

I didn't actually mean to imply that they will be.

Seriously, how many other clubs can afford wages of >£100k p/week (for Wayne Bridge!!!). If anything, I can see City ended up with a record-breaking sized squad.

Quite a few teams can afford 1k/w wages.

[Esky]

I do like the way everyone seems to think our players are going to be for sale. Undoubtedly they also believe that they will be cut price because we don't need the money.

I didn't actually mean to imply that they will be.

Seriously, how many other clubs can afford wages of >£100k p/week (for Wayne Bridge!!!). If anything, I can see City ended up with a record-breaking sized squad.

Quite a few teams can afford 1k/w wages.

Even for Mido.

Walmai, do you think you'll be able to hold on to both Parker and Behrami through the summer?

[Dronny]

Walmai, what are your thoughts on getting McLaren if Franco gets the old tin tack?

I think he'd be a good choice, he appears to have worked the impossible at Twente and got them playing decent footie as well, could do worse?

[walmai]

I do like the way everyone seems to think our players are going to be for sale. Undoubtedly they also believe that they will be cut price because we don't need the money.

I didn't actually mean to imply that they will be.

Seriously, how many other clubs can afford wages of >£100k p/week (for Wayne Bridge!!!). If anything, I can see City ended up with a record-breaking sized squad.

I think Bridge is on 80K, didn't you pay that for Dyer?

Top earner and athlete of the decade Keiron Dyer earns a ridiculous wage, but not that much!
(I think its more like a 'value for money' £65k p/w)

*gentle sobbing*

[walmai]

I do like the way everyone seems to think our players are going to be for sale. Undoubtedly they also believe that they will be cut price because we don't need the money.

I didn't actually mean to imply that they will be.

Seriously, how many other clubs can afford wages of >£100k p/week (for Wayne Bridge!!!). If anything, I can see City ended up with a record-breaking sized squad.

Quite a few teams can afford 1k/w wages.

Even for Mido.

Walmai, do you think you'll be able to hold on to both Parker and Behrami through the summer?

I've heard that Parker isn't massively bothered about another club coming in for him. I imagine he'd take a call from Arsenal, but he'll hopefully stay at the club.

Behrami is different. He's definitely on his way on to another club. I am a little dubious about some of the names being touted (apparently, Rafa's been watching closely) but I am sure his hard-working loudmouth of an agent is lining up deals as I type. The player's value may be linked to how well he does in the WC. If we swapped him for a wide player with some pace, I'd not be bothered tbh.

[walmai]

Walmai, what are your thoughts on getting McLaren if Franco gets the old tin tack?

I think he'd be a good choice, he appears to have worked the impossible at Twente and got them playing decent footie as well, could do worse?

I would take him, but I doubt he's interested.
In truth, its 'House of Glum' time because I doubt most decent coaches would want to work under The Goblins.