Rival watch

Andre Schurle now being linked with a move away from Chelsea as well. They just seem to be the footballing equivalent of those factory fishing boats that just scoop up everything in their nets and then throw 90% of it back. I suppose there will always be young footballers stupid enough to think they can make it there and then end up never achieving their potential. Man City are heading that way to. Think Sunderland did well out of getting Rodwell for £10m of them...............

They'd be crazy to get rid of Schurrle, I think. He always looks like he'll score. I rate him far higher than Willian. Willian is a perfectly useful player, runs hard, dribbles well, but a winger who doesn't score or assist versus one who would score 10-15 with a regular spot in the lineup? It should be no decision.

Not having a long history of watching football makes me stupider about a lot of things, but not everything (I fondly believe). IMO, most people undervalue the most basic thing in the game. To win, you need goals. Liverpool's defense was crap last season. It didn't matter. They scored goals. They won. And even though they lost a few, they didn't draw many. It's much better to score a lot of goals and give up a lot than to score few and give up few, simply because you'll have fewer draws. You lose a point for every two games you draw versus every two games you win one and lose one. Given most league positions are decided by only a few points, avoiding draws by playing high scoring games can easily be the difference between reaching your goals and missing them.
 
You wait... If Poch struggles, we'll never hear the end of it from boss. <laugh>
 
If Pulis can't handle the pressure at Palace then he sure ain't the guy for us

Odd comment there Spurmy, as Pulis is the premier league manager of the year, pressure isn't even part of the reason, as the reason he walked away is because he isn't being allowed to build up the club his way. When Pulis took over Palace he first wanted to save them (which he did in style) and then help turn them into an established premier league, which requires the correct backing (and freedom) to ensure this is possible. That is why he has resigned as he doesn't feel he can run the club his way, and a strong manager (unless he is a lap dog) needs to run the club his way.

Palace will regret this, as in the short term it would have meant taking what they perceived as greater financial risk but in the long term the rewards would have been great as Pulis would have made them an established premier league side like Stoke, premier league football every year. Instead they have chosen to play the safe game and hold back from allowing Pulis the freedom to take full control. The way football is now, there are less and less clubs which give full reign to the manager, we have too many people in suits taking on roles like DOF's, Sporting Director etc, all wanting to be involved and have their opinion.

There is disappointment for the Palace fans as they deserve better and Pulis would have give them a season to remember and ensured relegation wasn't mentioned, but Tony was always too big for Palace and while it didn't need to end so swiftly, last seasons premier league manager of the year can sit back and wait for a call, as he will be called upon to walk in and help save another club in trouble and show just talented he is, once again.
 
He couldn't handle the pressure of having to perform without a big, unaffordable (for a team like Palace) warchest. He would hardly get an open chequebook with Spurs. If he can't handle Parrish then Levy would destroy him. Dodged a bullet i think
 
He couldn't handle the pressure of having to perform without a big, unaffordable (for a team like Palace) warchest. He would hardly get an open chequebook with Spurs. If he can't handle Parrish then Levy would destroy him. Dodged a bullet i think

Was happy to bite at the first comment but that's weak Spurmy, the type of response I would expect from someone like Roo or SOS.
 
Lol, that is harsh on Roo and SOS, what did they do? :)

.....:emoticon-0102-bigsm

You may be pleased to read the press are reporting Sherwood is one the favourites for the Palace job. Could just be invented gossip but be great to see Sherwood return to the premier league.
 
Would be a good appointment for everyone involved. Sherwood could do wonders steadying that wobbly ship that Pulis created ;)

On a serious note, we might be able to loan them some youngsters