MrDuck

Porto? Small? Hmmm. Smallest club to win the Champions League in the past twenty years, so yeah. That doesn't make them a small club, that just makes them the smallest club to win the CL in the past 20 years. They'd already been European Champions before Jose came along. They might not be giants, but they're certainly not a small club, and - unlike Aberdeen - you're expected to win trophies at Porto. Which is not to play down Mourinho's achievements there, which were fantastic. But I don't think it's quite the same as winning in Europe with Aberdeen, or Clough doing it with Forest. Well the initial argument is that Porto were smaller, not small. You seem to have attributed that bit yourself. <steps away quietly >

Porto? Small? Hmmm. Smallest club to win the Champions League in the past twenty years, so yeah. That doesn't make them a small club, that just makes them the smallest club to win the CL in the past 20 years. They'd already been European Champions before Jose came along. They might not be giants, but they're certainly not a small club, and - unlike Aberdeen - you're expected to win trophies at Porto. Which is not to play down Mourinho's achievements there, which were fantastic. But I don't think it's quite the same as winning in Europe with Aberdeen, or Clough doing it with Forest.

Porto? Small? Hmmm.

Dunno about that... history tells us that Houllier wasn't likely to foster a great dressing room/team spirit. He has a track record of pissing off a fair amount of players. His time had already passed when he came here.

Yep, it's put up or shut up time for Randolph. Surely it's down to Lerner that the club is showing signs of turning around? We have the basis of a good young side cos Randy refused to spend like before so Lambert uses youngsters/academy players. Randy got us into this mess, but in hiring Lambert and bringing in more prudent spending habits, he would seem to have made a decisions that hurt us short term but look like they're going to perhaps pay off in the longer term. If it works out, credit where credit is due for Randy.

I think it's well documented that Fergie and Mourinho always got on well personally. There was never any shit talking between the two in the media like you saw with Fergie vs Wenger or Fergie vs Rafa. It wouldn't surprise me at all if Ferguson had recommended Mourinho to the board at Old Trafford to be his successor. I certainly can't see them taking a punt on a manager with no European pedigree like David Moyes. Agreed. Also I think that Mourinho has been quite clever... he's talked about one English club in particular that loves him, without actually mentioning Chelsea. We all presume he means Chelsea, but perhaps he's actually talking about Man Utd?

I think after the injuries and loss of form when he first came here, perhaps he's finally recovering some confidence - I get the impression it was shot to pieces for a while. Goals will come I reckon.

as much as I was suspicious that this would just be a celeb milking his celebrity to massage his own ego and all that......it does look like a decent gig I'll keep an eye out for UK dates - strikes me as a christmas party gig Yeh, would be a good party gig. For best results, mix with alcohol. Although it's all folk versions of punk/new wave tracks, this grows a little tiresome... the songs generally aren't strong enough in their folk incarnations and end up playing second fiddle (no pun intended) to the brilliance of the fiddle and pipes. But great fun.

Caught Adrian Edmonson & the Bad Shepherds last week in Melbourne. Good show. Staggeringly good fiddle player.

This is apparently done in the style of the classic kit from 1984 (when they won their 4th EC). "To remind the players of that success and drive them on to bring that success back". Although I don't see those yellow pin-stripes that were the defining feature on the 84 kit.

Beat Norwich and I'll breathe easy.

Astonished to see Hendrie's name crop up a few times. Never fulfilled his potential, but put in plenty of very good performances for us during his time.

Logic Pro all the way for me.

Dunno about this. Swindon were very successful under him, and players like being part of a successful team. I can see his methods not working at a Man U or Chelsea, but Sunderland are hardly overloaded with quality players. I reckon for every one he alienates, there will be another few he brings the best out of and turns into better players. Don't get me wrong though, still gotta be a high chance of a disaster

If anything today is worthy of the phrase bahahahahahahahahahahaha then this is surely it. Bahahahahahahahahaahahaha!

Classy guy. Where is Roy Keane when you need him?

Ah ok, thanks. I wondered if he was being sacked simply cos Pep was available.

Why are Bayern are replacing their manager at the end of the season?

Lots and lots of pain. The guy is a grade-a nutjob. C'mon karma, do yer thing.

I'll have some of what you're smoking please.

Nice

Respect is earned. It is not a given. Well a lot on the left have said they respect Thatcher. Good for them. I fail to see how that means I, or anyone else, should also be compelled to respect her.

Respect is earned. It is not a given.

Also, I remember when this was what the future sounded like