Just thought I'd say well done to Reading on gaining promotion tonight. Phenomenal second half of the season - and I personally rate Brian McDermott very highly.
Off Topic Bill Nicholson Arms
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Shame. Wouldn't like to see them blow that and then sack Allardyce and be forced to sell their better players.
the first team have also made the final of the Surry senoir cup where they will play Woking at afc Wimbledon's Kingsmedow ground
Which is funny because Allardyce has tickets to a fight in Las Vegas on the date of the play-off final
Still might be able to go though.I am ashamed to admit I had a pretty hefty bet at the beginning of the season on West Ham winning the Championship. Everytine I scrutinised the squads in that division, I coukldn't see anyone other than West Ham winning it. Certainly didn't envisage Reading, Southampton or Birmingham having the excellent seasons they have had.
I'll second that. A civilised and well run football club who deserve another chance in the PL.
I said at the start of the season that West Ham would get promoted and probably win the division.
I'll be distraught if I'm proven wrong.
I'll be distraught if I'm proven wrong.
Yeah, I could see Birmingham doing a bit of a Middlebrough and becoming another average Championship side after all the players they lost. Houghton's done well there.
I thought West Ham would walk it too, they were still buying Premier League quality players like Nolan to add to what was already a strong squad. I'm sure I'll be in the minority but I quite like Big Sam and thought he was one of the better managers of a clogger team. He's really ballsed up this season though, he's got a huge and expensive squad, if they don't make it through the playoffs I think West Ham will be in more trouble than they're letting on. Their spending in January shows how much they need the money of the Premier League.
I pretty much agree with all you say there. Yes, Chris Hughton has done exceptionally well at Brum. It was always clear he had something about him as he wouldn't have survived as many managers as he did at Spurs. I never quite saw him as a number one, but fair play to him, he's done well in both his managerial positions.
I also quite like Allardyce and thought he was just what West ham needed. However, there is a lot of egos at that club, Sam included, and if they don't go up, I can see a few of these egos clashing head-on.
To be fair to him, Gus Poyet has done far better at Brighton than I imagined too, always jumped about like Manuel while he was here as Ramos' interpreter. 
For the purpose of maintaining harmony on this board, I will bite my tongue and agree he has done better at Brighton than I ever imagined he would.
But I still think he is a complete berk
I lit the touch paper but it went out....you let me down Spurcat!....I know you can't stand him!
you wont get anyone who ticks every box...at least he played in the PL..if we take such a notion then the likes of Mourinhio wouldnt get on the short list either.
My main reason for picking Bilic is because he seems like hes old school with dicipline but at the same time seems to be able to get in with players..get that vibe going where the lads want to perform for him..alot of these old school faces like our own Harry cant do that..as we all know he has his favouites and the rest can rot..to the detrement of our club.
AVB at Chelsea is a prime example..yes hes young but he tried to rule with an iron fist and the players told him to fuk off and stopped performing..the same bunch bar a few are now pulling up trees for RDM..why? for me its because he has common ground with them..thats why one of the first things Mourinhio does is create a siege mentality..so that the squad thinks its us against the world and our manager loves us...so we wont let him down...unlike our Harry who doesnt seem to be botherd about our future as oppose to his...and only cares if the player offers him anything,not realising that his man management..something everyone raves about is the problem why so many players look disintrested.
i have played at grass roots as many of us have and humans are humans regardless of the pomp..and to my expeience it was the same..whenever we got a manager who thought its his show and had his favourites then the rest including the immediate subs just couldnt be bothered and performed for themselves and if they didnt play well they had a valid excuse...'freezing your bolloks off on a sunday morning to get 10 minutes? naah forget it..ill only perform if im up for it..forget the collective cause.
On the other hand you get a manager who understands and talks to you even if your not starting..and explains things and does give you one match in even every 6..then the squad feels part of it...nothng like walking around like a dikhed with a medal around you knowing full well that you dont really feel part of the club,squad,etc...cos you didnt play.
alot more to a manager than his trophy collection and hype.