Had a couple of quid through Burybet on Tranmere last night.Unfortunately with Shakes scoring for Bolton in the very last minute I don't win my bet as it only applies to 90 mins. Well done to Tranmere though. ops:

Bolton's selection of an understrength team and Allardyce's comments about being glad to be out of the F.A. Cup are both disgraceful and disrespectful. I would like to see the F.A. expel teams who treat the competition with such contempt from the following season's tournament. Allardyce would have something to say then!

In the same vein, Allardyce's persistent whingeing about Okocha's selection to play for Nigeria in the African Nations Cup shows a complete lack of respect for that competition (Africa's equivalent of the European Championship) and for African football in general. Again, some form of punishment would seem to be in order.

__________________
Bury till I die!

At the risk of getting lynched on here ops: , I've got a grudging respect for Sam Allardyce and what he's done with Bolton. Having taken them up to the Prem in 2001, his priority is to keep them there using the resources available to him and he appears to have managed that quite well so far.

I agree to some extent that it's a pity the cup competitions are not always taken as seriously by some clubs as they should. However, looking at it from Sam's point of view, they've had a good run in the Worthington Cup, look like they are capable of finishing well above the relegation zone this season and he may have decided that he doesn't want to overstretch his resources by embarking on another cup run.

At the end of the day, several other Premiership clubs are guilty of fielding understrength teams in cup competitions. I guess the FA are reluctant to take any action as they don't want to lose the bigger clubs from the competition and therefore undermine the reputation of the cup even more.

[quote="Plastic_Manc"]At the risk of getting lynched on here ops: , I've got a grudging respect for Sam Allardyce


How could you? Ban him immediately Gordon

__________________
Amy

Founder of the Bambi legged Porter appreciation society mmmmm

Graham loves us.. and we love you , you permatanned legend

Who cares what team they put out?

They are a premiership team and their manager picks a team that he thinks will do a job for a particular game. Last night's selection wasn't good enough and they lost to a lower division side, as they did against us.

The problem for B*lton is that their reserves are nowhere near the standard of other teams like Utd & Arsenal.

Utd can get away with their reserve/youth team against most lower division opposition, whereas B*lton can't.

We put reserves in for auto-windscreen games. Same sort of thing, but on a smaller scale. Everyone has their priorities and it's their choice as to what team they put out. I don't think it de-values the competition and despite what fatsam had to say after the game, no manager ever wants to lose a football match.

Sorry I dont agree, he basically said he was glad they were out of it, and that his team werent up to it. Reading between the lines he's obviously put out a weaker team so he'd have an excuse when they lost.

__________________
Amy

Founder of the Bambi legged Porter appreciation society mmmmm

Graham loves us.. and we love you , you permatanned legend

Plastic-Manc Out!!!

__________________
Tommy Cooper joke

I heard that 1 in 5 people in the world are chinese. Theres 5 in my family, so its either my mum or dad, my sister Karen or my brother Ho Chi Cho.

I think its my sister Karen.

I agree, let's ban Big Sam from this site.

I saw his interview on Sky and he said "maybe it's a blessing that we're out of it" he never actually said he was happy to lose.

I still think he would have selected a team that he thought could win the game, if they had got to the serious stages then maybe you would have seen a few bigger names coming back in, but I think at the moment he was prepared to take the chance with his reserves.

Whatever the reasons and arguments, the best part of it is, they're out of the FA Cup! When they lose to Villa they'll also be out of the Carling Cup and when Okocha goes to Africa and they start losing in the league again, they'll be dropping out of the Premiership too!

What about Okocha's selection for Nigeria? "Fat Sam" publicly stated that if he could he would get a Court Order against the Nigerian FA to stop Okocha playing for them. What a disgraceful comment.

The way I see it, they're doing okay and seem safe from relegation but that doesn't give Allardyce the right to start spouting Fergie type bullsh*t that demonstrates a total lack of respect for the game in general.

Bolton Wanderers would do well to remember where they came from and where they will be heading back to once their wealthy benefactor decides enough is enough.

__________________
Bury till I die!

Aren't we in danger of sounding like some of the Fail fans if we go on about how another team/club has acted disgracefully and taking great pleasure in the fact that they will start slipping down the league and losing here and there? I think they will stay up this season based on current evidence.

Don't forget Bolton fans were quite generous to our cause when the buckets came out at the Reebok a couple of years ago.

Plastic Manc - doesn't hate Bolton.

they will stay up this year but its a matter of time untill they slip down the leagues. Thats a fact.

You cant support. Sort yourself out man!

__________________
Tommy Cooper joke

I heard that 1 in 5 people in the world are chinese. Theres 5 in my family, so its either my mum or dad, my sister Karen or my brother Ho Chi Cho.

I think its my sister Karen.

I think there's a difference between me commenting on a club that seems to be acting above its station and showing a lack of respect to the game in general and Rochdale fans posting misinformed, immature comments on our Rivals board.

I do not hate Bolton and appreciate the contribution their fans made during our darkest days. But, IMHO, you pick your strongest available team for EVERY single game and you do not throw your toys out of your pram and rubbish international tournaments just because you're losing one of your best players for a few matches. That is the risk you take when you invest in expensive foreign imports ahead of home grown talent.

If I was a Bolton supporter I would not be happy at my team tossing away the chance to win a prestigious League Cup and F.A. Cup double. And I think it's sad that Premiership managers don't appreciate just what a great achievement that still is.

Seems to me that the sole ambition of most Premiership clubs is simply to remain where they are so as to maintain the income stream for next season. This mentality needs changing but the only way of doing that is to re-distribute the wealth in the game more evenly and ensure that relegation to the Nationwide League doesn't automatically mean administration.

Rant over!

__________________
Bury till I die!

I suspect Big Spam perhaps has his eye more on the Carling Cup - if you assume that Arsenal will get to the final, but will qualify for the Champion's League through their Premiership standing, then Bolton don't need to win the Carling to get into Europe, they only need to reach the final. Maybe Big Spam reckons it could be easier in terms of games to play, and more realistic to pursue the Carling rather than the FA Cup?

__________________
In a shop on the banks of the Irwell,
Old Sam used to follow 'is trade,
In a place you'll have 'eard of, called Bury;
You know, where black puddings is made.

if thats the case then I hope big fat sam gets dumped out of the carling cup as well. He wants to keep his big fat mouth shut and instead of whingeing and whining invest in English players.