Westminster Canary

Remind me, just how successful was a strategy of "spend, spend, spend" for Birmingham the last time they were in the Premier League?

From the pinkun.com: “Crystal Palace a couple of years ago is a great example of what can happen. They were struggling at the wrong end of the table at Christmas time, but then went on a great run and ended up being promoted in the play-offs." Erm....and what triggered that turn-around in fortunes? Oops...

Stats like that ARE completely meaningless out of context: what use is 51% possession when it yields so few chances? How much of that posession was in danger areas of the pitch? How much of that possession was gained because Watford, having gone 2 goals ahead, were able to defend deep and let us have the ball in our own half? You get points for winning games. We did not win the game. We have only won one game this season. Therefore we are at the bottom of the league. It''s not rocket science.

"Stats for the game are 51% possession to NCFC, 6 corners vs 4, 6 shots on target vs 2" Ohh, do we get extra points for having more possession? And for "winning" the second half? I just can''t keep up with all these rule changes....

Green   Edworthy          Doherty          Fleming         Charlton   Holt                         Safri Francis Jonson                                          Huckerby Ashton     

"Apart from your very personal vendetta against me WC (your initials seem appropriate!) just what is your problem in life, chill out and take a stress pill." Heh heh, touched a nerve?! I was merely pointing out what you''d said a few weeks previously...you do seem to change your mind at the drop of a (pointy) hat. Is your "First Rule" anything to do with glass houses and throwing stones? If not, maybe it should be... Anyway, enough with the Wizard teasing - a well-connected Westminster birdie told me this morning we''re interested in taking Malcolm Christie on loan from Middlesborough for the rest of the season...

"Some poster''s on here, have really lost the plot just lately, and they call me potty!. Your transfer targets, despite only £1.2 lousy million quid for the budget, are as usual, quite ludicrous. Harewood, Ashton, Grouch (again!) et.al, will cost well in excess of £3.5 million, so get real."   Can anyone guess who posted this a couple of weeks ago?    

Whereas I find the Man''s latest column to be spot on Where exactly does he say that you don''t have "just as much right to express our opinion on our club as anyone else"? Answer? He doesn''t. He is highlighting those people who hide anonymously behind internet message boards to spout rubbish & make hideously offensive comments. First Wizard is more than happy to, as he sees it, "name and shame" those players/members of the board/management he depises (and if you think "despises" is too strong a word, check out his comments about Holty''s injury), so why shouldn''t he be put in the spotlight too? Essentially this is what free speech is all about. I would defend anyone''s right to make derogatory comment on this messageboard if that''s what floats their boat, but at the same time you have to be prepared to take the flak that comes your way as a result. The Man is exercising *his* right to free speech, not trying to censor yours. Just because his comments touch a nerve, doesn''t mean he doesn''t have the right to make them.... 

It makes very funny reading, but I can''t say I''m surprised that First Gizzard has a track-record of behaving like a pillock...

[quote]Now I don''t mean this to sound patronising Spat, please believe me, I really don''t. And I''m trying to keep in mind that you are a very valuable junior poster. But, I find it slightly alarming that ...[/quote] You don''t so much sound patronising as utterly ignorant... If you really want to forward this argument rather than constantly whining (by the way, how is the atmosphere in the River End nowadays?), try answering these questions: 1/ Who is this striker available for £3/4 million pounds that will guarantee our survival? Let''s have your suggestions... 2/ If we are relegated anyway, (after buying said striker & and increasing an already large debt), how would we able to retain/build a team to get back up? 3/ What do you think the experiences of Leeds United, Ipswich, Notts Forest, Sheffield Wednesday, Bradford City, etc, have taught us?

Damn right First Wizard - the only way this club can move forward is to spend, spend, spend. The following examples prove my point: LEEDS UNITED - As a result of "living the dream" and spending beyond their means, Leeds are now sitting gloriously at the bottom of Division 1. What imbecile would suggest we wouldn''t want to echo this achievement? IPSWICH TOWN -  Ditto SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY - Ditto DERBY COUNTY - Ditto BRADFORD CITY - Ditto Only I simpleton would agree...er....disagree      

Damn right - it''s not American Football, we don''t don''t need to be told when to cheer/sing. It''s so patronising....and I think I''m right in saying that clubs like Liverpool, Newcastle, Manchester City, Arsenal don''t do it? Probably because their fans wouldn''t stand for it...

White dog poo. Oh, football related you mean?

Or maybe not....tee hee! http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,9199838%255E2722,00.html What goes around....