How impressed are you with BMcD's return to the club?

[OLLIE KEARNS]

And as Bill Shankley once said "- “Football is a simple game, complicated by idiots,” Seems to sum EP nicely.

You know you've lost an argument when you start getting personal.

checkmate !!

[No Fixed Abode]

And as Bill Shankley once said "- “Football is a simple game, complicated by idiots,” Seems to sum EP nicely.

You know you've lost an argument when you start getting personal.

checkmate !!

Who's got personal where? There's nothing personal to see here..

[No Fixed Abode]

only 2 losses in 12 too...


and that's after losing our top two scorers

But I thought Blackman was shit! Make yer minds up all of ya!

[genome]

You called him an idiot m8

[No Fixed Abode]

But still only 2 wins in 10 games.

That's confidence for you.

And as Bill Shankley once said "- “Football is a simple game, complicated by idiots,” Seems to sum EP nicely.

5 wins in 12 actually.

Do cup games not count? I thought they would have considering Chelsea's season, much like Reading's, is only really alive because of them.

Well Clarke got Reading to the semi-final so we're ignoring cup form for now. If Brian gets Reading to the FA Cup final he will have done better than Clarke in that competition. But for now - he hasn't done as well as Clarke in the league.

[Maneki Neko]

only 2 losses in 12 too...


and that's after losing our top two scorers

But I thought Blackman was shit! !

still our topscorer, and his absence makes this team different to clarkes, and by your own rules therefore not relevant for comparison

[Maneki Neko]

But still only 2 wins in 10 games.

That's confidence for you.

And as Bill Shankley once said "- “Football is a simple game, complicated by idiots,” Seems to sum EP nicely.

5 wins in 12 actually.

Do cup games not count? I thought they would have considering Chelsea's season, much like Reading's, is only really alive because of them.

Well Clarke got Reading to the semi-final so we're ignoring cup form for now. If Brian gets Reading to the FA Cup final he will have done better than Clarke in that competition. But for now - he hasn't done as well as Clarke in the league.

what position did Clarke last finish a season in the championship?

[genome]

But still only 2 wins in 10 games.

That's confidence for you. :lol:

And as Bill Shankley once said "- “Football is a simple game, complicated by idiots,” Seems to sum EP nicely.

5 wins in 12 actually.

Do cup games not count? I thought they would have considering Chelsea's season, much like Reading's, is only really alive because of them.

Well Clarke got Reading to the semi-final so we're ignoring cup form for now. If Brian gets Reading to the FA Cup final he will have done better than Clarke in that competition. But for now - he hasn't done as well as Clarke in the league.

I'd argue getting to the semi-final would constitute doing better than Clarke, on account of beating two Premier League teams to get there, when Clarke beat none.

[No Fixed Abode]

You called him an idiot m8

No. Bill Shankly did.

[No Fixed Abode]

Well Clarke got Reading to the semi-final so we're ignoring cup form for now. If Brian gets Reading to the FA Cup final he will have done better than Clarke in that competition. But for now - he hasn't done as well as Clarke in the league.

I'd argue getting to the semi-final would constitute doing better than Clarke, on account of beating two Premier League teams to get there, when Clarke beat none.

I'd argue that it wasn't Clarke's fault that the draw didn't bring up a Premier League team until the semi-final and then you were pretty unlucky to lose that. You can only beat the team put in front of you.

[Maneki Neko]

You called him an idiot m8

No. Bill Shankly did.

shankly didn't even know him

[genome]

Well Clarke got Reading to the semi-final so we're ignoring cup form for now. If Brian gets Reading to the FA Cup final he will have done better than Clarke in that competition. But for now - he hasn't done as well as Clarke in the league.

I'd argue getting to the semi-final would constitute doing better than Clarke, on account of beating two Premier League teams to get there, when Clarke beat none.

I'd argue that it wasn't Clarke's fault that the draw didn't bring up a Premier League team until the semi-final and then you were pretty unlucky to lose that. You can only beat the team put in front of you.

So, you don't agree that it would be a bigger achievement beating two Premier League teams en-route to a semi final than it would be reach one having beat none.

Glad I cleared that up. :lol:

[Extended-Phenotype]

Well Clarke got Reading to the semi-final so we're ignoring cup form for now. If Brian gets Reading to the FA Cup final he will have done better than Clarke in that competition. But for now - he hasn't done as well as Clarke in the league.

I'd argue getting to the semi-final would constitute doing better than Clarke, on account of beating two Premier League teams to get there, when Clarke beat none.

I'd argue that it wasn't Clarke's fault that the draw didn't bring up a Premier League team until the semi-final and then you were pretty unlucky to lose that. You can only beat the team put in front of you.

But if all those teams were harder, surely it's a bigger achievement?

You moaned the other day at Liverpool for celebrating a draw with West Brom because they weren't a big club, so it would seem you appreciate beating teams of different quality is worthy of different recognition.

Make your mind up, mucks

[Vision]

But still only 2 wins in 10 games.

That's confidence for you.

And as Bill Shankley once said "- “Football is a simple game, complicated by idiots,” Seems to sum EP nicely.

5 wins in 12 actually.

Do cup games not count? I thought they would have considering Chelsea's season, much like Reading's, is only really alive because of them.

Well Clarke got Reading to the semi-final so we're ignoring cup form for now. If Brian gets Reading to the FA Cup final he will have done better than Clarke in that competition. But for now - he hasn't done as well as Clarke in the league.

Clarke had 6 cup games and won 4. Win % 66

McD has had 4 and won 3. Win % 75

Stats don't lie.

[No Fixed Abode]

Hi Vision. That's all good and I can't argue with that. Brian has a better record in the cup as you've just proved. But that really should be aimed EP. He'll tell you Steve Clarke has a better record as there's more to it than that.

[No Fixed Abode]

only 2 losses in 12 too...


and that's after losing our top two scorers

But I thought Blackman was shit! !

still our topscorer, and his absence makes this team different to clarkes, and by your own rules therefore not relevant for comparison

So why, including you I think - berated me for saying it was a loss to the team when he signed for Derby?! So is he or is he not a loss for the team?

[bracksroyal10]

Don't understand why we are restricting ourselves so much against opposition like this

you've seen our form generally this year yeah?
especially against the shit teams....

I have, we set up like we are about to play Real Madrid when the reality of it is we are playing teams like MK Dons and Rotherham.

3 points is 3 points I agree, but with the attacking talent within our side at this level, the game should have been out of sight. At 1-0, Rotherham had every chance of getting back in that game despite having none of the play for the majority of the game.

[Extended-Phenotype]

Hi Vision. That's all good and I can't argue with that. Brian has a better record in the cup as you've just proved. But that really should be aimed EP. He'll tell you Steve Clarke has a better record as there's more to it than that.

Nah, I’d argue that Brian would have the better record if he reaches the semi finals, as he has beaten better sides to get there.

[Longhorn1970]

I think those with even a fairly basic knowledge know that it is often not the best team that wins the league. Both Saints and West Ham were better than us when we won the league but we got more points.
Bad teams don't win titles but efficient teams can finish ahead of good footballing teams.

Are you taking the p*ss

In perhaps the longest (46 games), most competitive, most arduous league in world football it is very safe to say that the best team ALWAYS wins this league. Our last league winning side conceded less goals and won more games than any other side in the league which is kind of what good teams do.
Best footballing team is a completely different discussion to best team. I know many Arsenal fans who would happily sacrifice the "best footballing team" tag to actually win the league and become the best team.

Clueless, you play to your strengths to win not to make up the numbers ..

[Longhorn1970]

But I thought Blackman was shit! !

still our topscorer, and his absence makes this team different to clarkes, and by your own rules therefore not relevant for comparison

So why, including you I think - berated me for saying it was a loss to the team when he signed for Derby?! So is he or is he not a loss for the team?

Whatever SC said to him it certainly worked, and the business owners wanted to cash in on a good run of form. It could be argued that we should have held onto him if were serious about play offs but it maybe that BM had no say in the deal - we don't know. None of the recent signings look like pulling up trees at this level imo, so much so Cox is back in favour ..