The9

I haven't bothered posting Umbro kits because they basically don't exist any more and are only producing shirts to meet existing contracts. As our contract expires and we presumably have no one to negotiate with to get a new one, it would be quite a surprise if we ended up with an Umbro kit next season. Also, the Japanese kits never show up in the western market, Gamba Osaka have been using 90s style shirts since the 90s.

Absolutely agree : Liverpool, then Man U, then a smattering of Everton fans, along with the quirky ones (eg one Leeds and one Saints fan, which wasn't me) in my year at school, in the pure plastic haven of late 70s/early 80s south east Wales. My uncle is 9 years older than me and he supported Leeds, who were of course on top in the early-mid 70s. I even recall a burst of Blackburn fans blossoming in the region in 1995 for a few months. The only thing different now is you'll get kids claiming to be Barcelona fans as well.

Reluctantly I am also coming around to the thinking that Adkins' departure was inevitable, I even expressed my concerns about Adkins' ability to sign Prem players (if we got back there) when we appointed him. I'm not convinced Pochettino is necessarily an upgrade with the players we have, and it's still a gamble with the situation being far from secure, but I can see how he might be more suited to the kind of players I assume we will be bringing in, and an asset to that process. On that note, I'm now on board Pochettino's Plane (figuratively speaking), and hoping we're linked to every over 34 ex-Argentinian international colleague he has, just for the lolz. I'll also be gutted if there's no Coloccini link, we're much nearer Argentina than Newcastle are. Oh yeah, and when we lose to Man U, prepare for the new manager backlash from the terminally stupid. If we also lose to Wigan, I'll be glad I'll be stuck in an hotel oop narth and not on here, that's for sure.

Cork is also a rubbish right back, which puts a bit of a dent in the backup plan.

It's pretty obvious Cortese won't have been downgrading in his mind, whether that turns out to be the case, only time will tell. I can't see any particular reason at this stage to feel any different to where we already were other than some latent negativity about the sacking of Adkins, to be honest. Pretty much the only thing that will change that are exceptional results and a massive improvement in the standard of players we attract. Ironic considering when we appointed Adkins, my concern was whether he could attract top half Prem players even if we got here... one near as dammit best case scenario later, and here's the evidence that Cortese probably felt the same.

If it is "happening", the only thing we've got to go on so far that's any different from last week is firing a decent English manager and acquiring a potentially decent Argentinian one. Not sure how anyone can draw any other conclusions, we already knew about the plans, the ambition and the Liebherrs being loaded.

I'm not surprised at all, but he's past his peak and any future transfer will be to a club struggling and probably failing to stay in the Prem. He might even get that at Everton in Moyes ever leaves...

The last League Cup Final I can remember watching live on tv was Middlesbrough v Bolton... and that was only because I was at a mate's in Southport with nothing else to do.

Difference was the Bradford player was TRYING to timewaste, Crouch just gave Everton the ball back instead of trying to do that.

I'm saying he'll be better at his best than Anichebe will, he's long past improving already.

And just as I say that...

Just brought Vlaar back and he seems to have caught whatever they have going round in their defence, because he used to be half decent. FWIW I said earlier that I'd bet the house on Villa winning tonight but not necessarily on aggregate, that's what usually happens, but they don't even seem able to do that.

Yeah but it would take a serious run on our part for that to come down to anything other than the last couple of matches before you'd be able to root for Adkins in that scenario anyway, for all the time we were still in the mix you'd have to assume they'd be a threat to us. The other scenario of them being done for and not able to catch us wouldn't leave much room for support until next season anyway.

It doesn't matter whether they can be trusted or not, the point being discussed is about whether the media did it. They did, there is evidence on here of them doing it, end of discussion. You lose.

Who I'd much rather see playing for us than Anichebe, fwiw.

I think one of the motivations for moving Adkins on () is to shed the premise of continuity and loyalty to the swathes of ex-League One players we still have contracts for. I mean Pochettino's got absolutely no reason to have the likes of Forte or Dickson counting as part of his squad and no loyalty to their achievements for him, so you'd expect that we'd be getting players in now to get them out of the 25* man squad.

Millwall away in FA Cup on Sat, then Newcastle in Prem on Tuesday, so it might also NOT be good for us...

What's worrying is that there's every possibility. This is why I'm torn. It would be hilarious for them to lose to Bradford, but getting to the Final is much more likely to perpetuate their crapness for longer.

I see the hook and I'm swimming in the other direction.

I've never said anything about the Mail's accuracy, but it certainly meets MLG's criteria of the media (the Mail is part of the media, as are Sky Sports), "making out" that he couldn't speak English. And the Mail itself is most definitely making a "mountain out of a molehill" by mentioning "fears" and using language of panic, and as even you have pointed out, they're not known for their accuracy. So you'll just have to accept you're wrong on this one and MLG is right. I'm sure you can be the bigger man and step away from the discussion.

No, there were only ever a couple of ex-SISA members, max, who were going to do the hankie thing. As far as I could tell everyone else thought it was going to be a pointless idea and as they couldn't even be ar5ed to use the white paper towels in the Northam loos which were RIGHT THERE, it was obvious on arriving that nothing was happening regarding that other than in McMillan and his mates' (mate's?) mind.

And here's Sky Sports saying "Speaking in Spanish, Pochettino insisted that his inability to communicate in English would not limit his immediate impact at Southampton, saying "Sometimes the language of football is more gestural than vocal". http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11700/8425896/Mauricio-Pochettino-looks-to-La-Liga-to-achieve-ambitious-project-at-Southampton Two sources from a quick Google basically saying he doesn't speak English (or that there are "fears" he doesn't speak it, to cover the Mail's ar5e).

Actually sod it, here's one : http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2265624/Southamptons-new-boss-Mauricio-Pochettino-needs-interpreter-speak-English.html

I think the consensus was that he didn't speak English and it came from him not speaking English in the press conference. I'm not bothered enough to go and track down a load of press reporting from Friday about it, as I don't really care. I had assumed he didn't speak English from the press conference and I'm sure many people from the media who didn't already know him may have thought the same and could have reported it as such.

Gary ? Or was he interviewing his brother? Gary's the one with the dark hair who doesn't play for Everton.