Chez

Not for this thread. No revelations, just the standard moans about ticket tax, ST reclassification/prices, hypocritical spending of future income etc. My point was that I am not a `Cortese supporter' yet even I can see that Cortese/reed have not interfered with the formation or team.

Adkins picked the 4-3-3 formation in the first place. Every other side has to follow HIS decision to enable seamless translation from one age group to the next. He has total control of team affairs, formation and selection. The varied formations so far and selections show this. You are twisting things and using Blackmores opinion to create fact. It's not currently fact, its an opinion. You are right about transfers. Decisions are based on a committee. Adkins and scouts will make recommendations and then it will passed over to Les Reed and NC to try and negotiate the deal. If the player in question wants too much NC will be the one that says yes or no. Nothing at all untoward here and normal practice. The only difference elsewhere would be that perhaps a manger would be the dominant voice on transfers and that might still be the case at our place. Is Pardew being undermined because of Carr find and recommends players to buy at Newcastle? What's Pardew's role there? I just want to add that I am by and large negative towards Cortese so not defending him. I just think you are using the wrong rod to beat him with here. As for untenable, I'd say no. You kept saying that we'd be in a relegation battle (the vast majority probably in their heart agreed with you although hoping for a Swansea like season) and we are, so I think most are happy to give him more time so long as he himself stops making mistakes like taking Puncheon off against Manure.

the revised PST bid must then be honouring the first CVA. Not a chance.

for the record I'd like Yoshida's absolutely pathetic flick at the ball included in the reasons for the second goal. Far far more responsible than Fonte for that one IMO.

3 appearances this season (2 of which were for a minute), 13 appearances last season, 36 the season before, 40 the season before that.

I don't see much ill-will to be honest PES, although I was personally disappointed to see the PST's original bid failed to offer any bigger return (to the poor bastards ****ed over by the previous owners) than Chinny's bid. Good luck to the PST. They have done very well so far. Not sure owning the club will be all its cracked up to be though.

fella over the road is the grumpiest **** alive so this could be a perfect way to annoy him.

about 5% of our taxes go on "entertainment"

both not good enough, difference between two was Martin was available for loan at wages tiny, Seaborne wages too high for Millwall otherwise he'd be out on loan too.

Our record against the top 6 sides certainly worried me as we would obviously be playing sides of a similar or better calibre once promoted. But we did take points from West Ham for example. I was perhaps more worried about our more direct style, having played like Swansea in the first half of the season. I guess I was hoping the investment in players would bridge the gap.

Not sure who qualifies as a neutral. I'm relatively negative towards Cortese, but at the same time relatively happy with the signings brought in, does that qualify me as a neutral??? I personally don't think that Nigel plays any formation based on an instruction from `above'. The players selected and the formation are his choice and his choice only. I don't doubt their are opinions from above, but he is his own man and knows the bucks stops with him so he makes those decisions. The fact we started the Villa game 4-4-2 (Ramirez played up front with Lambert, before dropper deeper in the second half) and moved to a 4-4-2 in the second half against Wigan (where upon we couldn't get the ball) tell me that we aren't even rigidly sticking to the 4-3-3 that NC or Reed have apparently forced him to play. Is Blackmore saying that Cortese has just started meddling or always has? Why would he start this summer? Adkins has got a double promotion, the last thing the chairman is going to do is say, you know what, he's done well but now we've hit the big time I think I ought to step in. Doesn't add up to me, but what do I know.

not convinced we were all that strong in attacking positions myself. I didn't rate Barnard or Sharp, have no idea about Lee. But if we're only playing one up front a left back instead of the extra striker might have made sense.

fair point, but realistically was he ever going to get more than 8 new signings?

Not going to argue with that. Something tells me he won't go before the manager.

the article that Turkish pointed to gives the exact quote. "One or two CBs". So he did get that. I thought Fonte and Jos would be adequate, but then again I wasn't aiming for anything other than survival. I don't rate Seaborne, so I'd of liked to have seen two come in and him go out, but maybe Adkins rates Seaborne.

So Reed and Cortese are to blame then?

I have to agree. I simply do not understand signing Mayuka AND Rodriguez of we were only going t play one up. Neither are really suitable for the wide role, although both have given it a good go.

can't argue with those facts.

Good point. But he talks about improving the football club, so perhaps he means improving the squad rather than suggest the two he has are not up to it so need to be replaced. I don't know. I guess I could be wrong here and he didn't have confidence in them.

I thought they would be OK, just good enough to keep us up mind, none of this Europe bull, and I still do actually.

The supply to him wasn't good to be fair. I have to say surprised we didn't play Lambert for his defensive ability at set pieces.

the manager spent a fair old wedge as Alpine says. Jarvis or Ramirez? Yoshida or Collins? Managers live and die by their signings. Not sure how that phrase works with a transfer committee in place.

Which signings are utter ****?

agree we don't have a great deal of pace, but there were times when we robbed their midfield, got behind it, only then to not drive on to their back four and use the ball quickly to expose their slow defenders. You don't need raw pace to do that, you just need to be positive. Missed trick IMO.

either Adkins didn't want a left back and another centre back, failed to identify one we could get, or chose to spend the money on Rameriz instead. Which do you think it was? IMO Adkins got all the players he wanted but the board just fell short securing the left back they wanted. He had full confidence in Jos and Fonte.