nice one Hooplah!!

Pardew gets my vote by a long way. talk about punching above your weight, that guy has performed miracles at St. James'.
big respect also to Lambert and Rogers, great achievements all round.
Kenny gets the under achiever of the year award.

Brendan Rodgers for me, but all credit to Pardew.

Kenny definitely the under achiever of the year; anyone else would have been sacked by now.

A slight mention to Pulis as well. I can't stand Stoke or the way they play, but he's turned them into a reasonably consistent and hard to beat side. Having said that, I've no time for billionnaire clubs who complain about his tactics. They've got umpteen times more cash than he has so if their managers were that good they'd work out a way to overcome them.

And on that note, I'm off to the footballing metropolis of Woking tomorrow, to see Hayes and Yeading take on the mighty County.

Mick

Hooplah,
I don't really want to know anything about football.Unfortunately it dominates the press and media.
What Southampton have achieved without Pardew is more interesting than NUFC with their 50k attendances and rich owner who buys lots of players.
It still appears that those good people the agents still run the club - or is it just Pardew ? ( Tevez and his mate at West Ham )
They did spend some coin for their players,10million for one,5 million for another,and the other club where a particular agent is involved are also connected strangely
I am quite pleased they have more fixtures next season,in a tournament they won't win,but with those crowds and with that money it would be shameful if they attained anything less.
As for Sunderland - defeating Man U. shortly,will be good and a far better season next season is expected now that another one of Fergies failures in management has left.
I even reckon Pardew won't be at NUFC by this time next year.But,I hope he manages lots of games in Europe.

Hodgson at West Brom has done well.Less money spent then Liverpool and perennial strugglers/yo-yo club have top end of the mid-table.Pretty good.

Thunderclap
You certainly don't know a lot if you think fat Mike, is a rich owner buying lots of players, the incoming traansfers have been funded by sales, £35 for Carroll, £6.5 for Enrique. What he has done is introduce some financial sense into a club that could have been another Leeds or even Rangers after the stupidity of Fat Fred. I still don't like or trust him though.
What Southamton have acheived in the last two seasons is amazing, I hope that it doesn't end in tears for them next season. It's good to see at least two of the three teams promoted last season surviving comfortably, I think this is proof that the quality in the Championship is improving. While I didn't want relegation (although with hindsight it did NUFC a lot of good) I did enjoy the season as teams go for a result much more than the negativity you can get in the PL with "Allardyce style tactics" ie stifle the opposition, try & steal a goal from a set play etc.
The Demba Ba "story" is old news or rather rumour & £7m is a lot for any team to pay for a player with a supposedly suspect knee, still if true & he left we'd get £3.5m more than we paid for him.
I doubt we'll win The Europa Cup but if we add to the squad we should cope, also it's easier to attract better players with the offer of European football, you're still wrong to imply NUFC is a rich club, do a bit of research on our financial state when Ashley bought the club.
Beating manure is always good, I'll be amazed if sunderland manage it, personally I thought secret agent Bruce was doing a good job trying to get them relegated.
Hodgson is a good mid-table manager although as you like to credit ex-managers don't forget Di Matteo. However much you airbrush history he screwed up his big chance at Liverpool.
Have you moved to Salford yet?

I don't think Hodgson screwed up at scouseland.
As far as I can see he was never given a proper chance. Not the fans' choice, too many within the club didn't want him, not long enough to do things his way, and Kenny's ghost sat on his shoulder.
A very strange appointment that was doomed from day one.

I would add that "a good mid-table manager" is a bit patronising. You could say Pardew is another.

Mick

My point was in 2 parts - rich owner;Ashley on the rich list.Part 2) NUFC have a huge squad and offloaded Nolan,Barton,Smith
et al.and have brought in replacements.
Taking Carver back to the club and having Stone on the coaching staff would also assist.
I am aware of the debts of NUFC and the false belief that certain people in the past ever put money into the club.However,their debt is small-fry in contrast with the Man.Utd's of this world.
I do hope the latest news about finances isn't a case of the rich get richer and the poor getting poorer;or those in the Premier League pulling up the drawbridge.Just Football League Clubs ?

It's always difficult to judge managers without knowing what is going on in the background.

I haven't moved to Salford,yet.One or two problems to overcome.What is fascinating is finding cheap rail tickets.Now that is more bent than football - but demonstrates rip-off Britain very succinctly.

Oh,and I shall thank NUFC for making me feel old.The last time Man City won at Sid James Park,to win the top league,was 1969.Sunderland played away at Man U on the same day.

City won it in 68.

Leeds in 69. Or maybe you just like the number?

Mick

As ever,you are quite correct.My typing error.(Thanks,I feel even older now !)

Nicked this from Sickipedia

Following their F.A. Cup win on Saturday, Chelsea fans have signed a one year extension to remain at the club. The fans, who signed from Blackburn in 2003, had been strongly linked to Manchester City.

Local News : after Man City's historic win a number of city fans started fighting amongst each other in the pub. When the police arrived and restored order the officer in charge told them "if you think we are having this every 44 years you are @$%&! mistaken" !!

No Chelsea fans on board? I was certain after their 2 cups in 3 weeks there would be a certain amount of crowing going on.

The glory hunter fans are still arguing over whether to leave Man U for Man City or Chelsea

After 40 years of supporting Chelsea through thick and thin (and at times thinner), I'm happy to bask in quiet contented reflection* of a few weeks when everything, including a lot of luck, went our way. I know from bitter experience that even on the clearest day, bollocking on about how wonderful we are is just the issueing of so many hostages to fortune. And given uncertainties about ground, manager, a squad that is in some areas ageing (if not as badly as AVB seemed to believe) etc, it's far from a smooth road ahead.
I know that might seem like churlishness or false piety when dedicated followers like the good Mr McKenzie have had to endure a far more meagre fare for decades at their own chosen temples of the inflated sphere, but I've never seen much point in shouting my mouth off like an utter cock when I know it's just a matter of not much time at all before it comes back to bite me on the arse, as it were.
Of course, had you caught me late on Saturday night when I was standing outside quite a few pints...

* OK, quiet contented reflection, plus a double extra large helping of primo-quality schadenfreude at the two very mouthy Spurs fans at work who've been giving me grief for most of the season

Sounds about right, and the other end of the spectrum is those who whinge and bitch every time they get beat. Having enjoyed some good times but more bad times I'm always minded of Kipling after the matches:

If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same

I do. I go to the pub.
Mick

Supporting his local team and local industry.What a bloke!