Ginola: The manager's curse?

Walter Smith to thread!

and Jonesy too, is he wearing a black armband?

Walter Smith, John Gregory, Kevin Keegan, Christian Gross (remember him?)... All admired the gallic flair and didn't really seem to get the results that mattered. Aston Villa got much better then the showman was shown the bench or the stands.

L'oreal were pretty happy with him. as are Carte Noir.

Apparently he stormed out of Goodison last Friday morning after a barney with poor old Walter.

Aaaaargh! Christian Gross!Please don't mention him again Martin.

Did Christian Gross, I nearly forgot about him too, sorry I mean that Swiss man of considerable footballing knowledge, buy Ginola?

No, he was a Gerry Francis buy, alongwith Les Ferdinand and Ruel Fox - all from Newcastle. Incidentally, Gerry Francis was on Goals on Sunday on , er, Sunday and he's still got exactly the same fucking haircut. He looked quite ridculous.

he looked like a scruffy old alkie who'd just been kicked out of a pub in Willesden.

What is Dr Evil (or Christian Gross if you prefer) doing now? Is he back in Switzerland?

and he didn't sign Ramon Vega either did he? poor Ramon.

Hold on, if you're allowed to veto the mention of the Swiss Man, I demand you don't mention G. Francis.

They both make me come out in a cold sweat to be honest. And the pigeon fancier did indeed sign the other unmentionable Glory Hornet Boy up thread.

Is that his west country past coming to haunt him Tim? What have the Grecians got against the bloke who constantly moves his head from side to side like a brontosaurus checking the horizon for predators?

Old BadgerBonce (any relation to RickyT?) managed us, Cabbage, and took us straight down.

really? I never realised, how long ago was this? why was I not informed?

Season 83 / 84.

P: 46 W: 6, according to the electronic brain. Please accept my apologies for my failure to notify you of these facts.

Sorry for spotterish comment but should I be surprised that, of the teams in the old Division 3 in '83/'84, only three (Bournemouth, Brentford and Wrexham) are currently in Division 2?

we went up the next season season after winning the third that year at a canter. Strike partnership of Ernie Moss and ohh, Phil Bonnyman iirc. I'll check and report back

I spent yesterday evening watching Exeter play at Luton. I sat next to Tim Hopkins. We spent most of the first half giggling childishly, and then we spent ALL of the second half giggling childishly. We noted that if dentists were to advertise at football grounds, they would use advertising boards mocked up like giant Toblerones, with the words 'GOB, GOB, GOB, GOB, GOB, GOB' written on them.

nope it was the season after that we went up and it was ernie moss who got most goals, Bonnyman having moved to Grimsby.

Tim you'll be pleased to know that in Chesterfield's first ever Sunday game (which I think I may heve been at ) we beat Torquay 3-2

As Crofty (hello Mr. C!) will no doubt tell you, we only laugh at the Torquay.

Oddly, a portion of our childish giggling was at the flowing locks of one of the Luton players.

surely not as comedical as Snoop Dogg on Saturday?

No.

Which footballers do you think are members of So' Solid Crew? I definitely think Antony Gardner is, and possibly Carl Cort.

Definitely Richard Langley of QPR.

Sean Davies of Fulham almost is in real life, he's an old mate of one of them, would it be Megaman or summat.

And the f*cker who got humiliated by Deportivo in Arsenal's defence is a dead ringer (less the afro) for the main man in their latest video.

I did some sums the other day and figured that EFC would survive by a point, sandwiched between Blackburn and Bolton (all 40pts) and two spots clear of doomed Ipswich (Derby losing their grip with a week to spare). After Sunday's display of fuckery I can't see us managing the two victories and four draws I'd predicted.

I feel a bit sorry for my Dad. I rang home at half-time on Sunday (Mother's Day) and could hear the ol' fella grumbling in the background. He followed them all over the country in their last spell out of the top flight (1951-54) - if he's told me the story of the '53 Cup semi vs Bolton once, he's told me fifty times, or in fifty different ways (we always lose 4-3 though).

He'll have to make do with setting the VCR for Nationwide highlights from next August. I expect Liverpool to win the title now too.

Does anyone know where I can buy a gun?

Is it true that Everton will make 100 straight seasons in the top flight if they survive?

That doesn't answer the gun question.

Who's the target (man)?

Anyway: Ginola is a red herring re. Smith's dismissal - he's actually been one of Everton's more dangerous players lately. The real question now is simply: have their chances of staying up improved or declined in the last 24 hours?

By dangerous Ginola stands around the half way line when Everton are defending and then stands midway through the half waiting for the ball when Everton are attacking, often taking it off one of his players. And if the so called danger of him playing the free role isn't put into goals then otherwise it's playing with a formation of 10 men...The free role normally at least involves the player getting into either box occasionally.

I just think Smith run out of ideas a bit at the end, and I think Ginola was the prime example, and it's increased Everton's chances by getting someone else to have a fresh outlook to sort the chaff out.

Is it true that Everton will make 100 straight seasons in the top flight if they survive?

Actually, I thought this *was* our 100th top-flight season, but I can't recall anyone making much of a fuss. How very sweet of the Pinefox to divert the conversation in such a way that allows me to wallow in the idea of Everton being A Big Club for just a few more minutes. Before it's all snatched away.

I think Liverpool overhauled us at the top of the all-time points table (top flight only) about three years ago - and they have 384 games in hand!

Oh, and it wouldn't be 100th *straight* (as in consecutive), but just 100 in total. I think Villa are next on 92. Arsenal have chalked up the most consecutive seasons - 70-something.

Only because they "donated" a sum of money to the FA when they were supposded to go down wasn't it?

Are you referring to Arsenal, Chris? When was this? 1920s?

mmm, yes, I can't remember the details exactly but all Spurs fans seem to have every nuance embedded in their brains. There were definitely shenanigans though.

Hmmm, they did finish 20th of 22 in 1924-25, but I'm not sure three went down then. They'd still have the record, mind (unless it took them thirty years to come back up).

Since then, no lower than 17th (1975-76).