sloppy-giuseppe

Hi. This is my first post on here, so a little bit of background to start with. I have been a member for some time, but only as a ‘reader’, never intending to post really, as I now live in New Zealand. But I was a season ticket holder at the Dell from 1988, and then at St Mary’s until 2005. Things are not going well at the moment, so I’ve come out of my shell to say what I think. I’ve always tried to support the Manager, [even Branfoot] as when things go wrong it’s not always their fault. But to my mind a good Coach is not the same as a good Manager. It’s a different job, and I think the two have become confused over recent years, with lots of examples! Mourinho is a good manager, [ although he lost my support over the Eva Carneiro affair], and he employs good coaches to look after that side of things. A manager is a more ‘Executive’ person, who should dictate playing styles, tactics, selections to fit those, transfers, substitutions etc. It’s a very different job. Far too often good ‘Coaches’ are appointed ‘Manager’, and found wanting. A manager has to devise a system to suit his players, or buy players to suit his system. One or the other. At the moment, it seems to me that we are not playing the system to suit the players we have. There’s no doubt that we have been very unlucky with injuries, that as a ‘small’ club we cannot afford. Not in this quantity. I know a lot has been made of our ‘wonderful’ Nursery system for young players – but you can only introduce one or two at a time, or too much is expected of them. The last thing you get with young players is ‘consistency’. As for Puel – I do think he’s a bit inflexible. I think I would like a change, but I don’t think it will happen, unless we go down. Which will be too late, of course. Frankly I don’t give a damn about the Cup. The old ‘League Cup’ was always a bit of a joke – and so will this be if we win it and go down. Although we are not quite in the relegation Zone yet, we are most certainly in relegation Form. That’s all I have to say. Will be quiet now for another 10 years !

Hi SaintNeil90 Sorry for the late reply to your post, but it seems I am only allowed 3 posts in 24 hours. A fact I wasn't aware of until yesterday ! [ Probably something to do with Jose Mourinho. He seems to have a finger in every pie these days!] I liked your post.....apart from one or two points ! The first being: QUOTE: "It's people like you who annoy me" QUOTE. Well......if we're talking about 'generalisations', you can't get more 'generalised' than that !! And I can assure you that there are a LOT of people like me, so you must spend a large part of your life in a state of perpetual annoyance. Also, if we're talking about 'generalisations', then the time honoured phrase "Hoist with his own Petard" comes to mind. [i'm sure you know what I mean. If not, 'Google It', as they say !] But, let's forget that. I know you were writing 'on the fly', and your main points were about the 'case'. Contrary to your assumptions, I am well aware of most of the facts of the case. And the facts as you have stated them are correct. But it's also correct that the girl was tested as 2.5 times over the legal driving limit, which does mean that she was intoxicated to a degree, although not necessarily 'legless'. That would depend on many factors, such her own tolerances etc etc, which none of us [ presumably] know. Nevertheless, Evans was found guilty in a Court of Law, and imprisoned for 5 years, of which he served 2 and a half before being released under 'licence'. These are facts available to everyone in the whole wide world, [... not just to 'people like me', as you so quaintly put it !] So I'm not really sure who you are defending here. Is the Footballer ? Or the girl ? Or is it Gordon Taylor ? Or is it the right to make 'Generalisations'........in general ? My main point was that I thought it extremely foolhardy of Taylor to get involved to the extent of likening this case to that of the Hillsborough victims , which is an emotive subject, even on a quiet day, let alone in the heat of the Evans debacle. He will probably spend loads of air-time in the next few days defending and wriggling out of his remarks. An inevitable consequence which I now see has already begun by Taylor ! That was my main point, no matter who you are supporting, or which side of a very difficult argument you are favouring. And to call anyone who doesn't agree with you 'sheep', is a touch unimaginative. Sheep are very different from Humans. They have 4 legs for a start. Warm woolly coats. Crap anywhere, whenever they feel like it. Are good to eat. And don't 'generalise'. And most important of all, they know nothing about Ched Evans or Hillsborough. Maybe Gordon Taylor would have been well advised to have taken the same stance.

No, not just him. In my view anyone who is released 'on Licence', should have to do 'Community-Type work' until their full term is up. After that, I would suggest it would seem sensible that they have to re-apply for membership of their Union, [ in this case the PFA], and then it would be up to the Union to decide.....maybe even by a members vote, as to whether or not they should be allowed to re-join. It would still need a club to offer him a contract etc, but at least some sort of proper process would have been adhered to, and a proper period of time passed. I am well aware that a Football's career has a limited time span, but offenders should consider that before offending !! And therefore take steps to avoid landing themselves in compromising situations. Just my view.

No Mate !! Actually never heard of him ! Had to look him on the Internet ! I would imagine you are referring to the Pompey Sports Writer, and not the USA Baseball Player ! I was a season ticket holder from 1990 [ Dell Days] until 2005 when I left to live in New Zealand near Christchurch. But still follow every game, success and disaster ! Do my views reflect his in some way then ? Cheers for now !!

I know he is the highest paid Union Official in the UK, but in my view he has clearly 'backed the wrong horse' in all this, and may end up being lucky to keep his job. Irrespective of the 'legalities', these guys clearly behaved abominably. The girl probably did consent to 'doing it' with the first, but for him to then phone his mate [ Evans] to 'row him in' was dreadful. ****ed though she indubitably was, it seems that she probably realised she was being taken advantage of by then, and didn't want to with Evans. But he was clearly 'up for it', and not to be denied !! But whatever the true facts, he was found guilty in a Court of Law. I know there are precedents for 'ex cons' [Lee Hughes for one'] to return to game. But 2 wrongs don't make a right. The public outcry has been immense, and the clubs turning Evans down may well have done him a favour. Can you imagine the publicity ? The pressure on him and everyone else ? Wives and girlfriends of players in opposing teams ? Players refusing to play against him ? Or even TEAMS ? Bad tackles ? Referees ? Who knows where it could end ? Of course he should be allowed to earn a living. But not as a 'Role Model' Professional Football Player. Maybe in a factory somewhere ? Or washing soiled sheets in a hotel laundry ? Harsh ? Maybe. But you get the point. Personally I think that any convicted criminal should be expelled from any union. They could then re-apply once released, and having proved themselves worthy of rehabilitation, and it should then be up to all the other members to say 'yes' or 'no'. That way Gordon Taylor wouldn't find himself in the middle of making remarks on things like Hillsborough, that are absolutely bound to land him in even more **** than he ever dreamed was possible. But that's all to come. It's a bad business all round, and really not something that we want to be involved with in our great game. I know this is only my second post on here, but I was a member of the Saints wing of 606 for about 10 years, so not exactly a newcomer ! But this has got me going again !! [ Actually I'm just glad it wasn't a Saints Player involved !!]

Really good post. I thoroughly agree with you. O f course he should be allowed to earn a living, otherwise he will just become yet more of a burden on the state, in addition to his prison upkeep, which we have being paying for, incidentally ! But not in a high profile, 'role-model' type of job that a Professional Football League Player enjoys.