Barney Trubble

I feel as empty as the tin man from the Wizard of Oz. Basically, it's either: A) The squad's just not good enough, or; B) Pardew just isn't good enough. We should be coasting just below mid-table by now, but we are just blithely plodding along and I am starting to get concerned. I concede, Rovers are a good side but I think we have a very good group of players too and we are starting to look in need of fresh ideas and impetus.

Interesting how different media outlets have chosen to angle this news. I'm sure the EDL have a few idiots but from what I have gathered from friends who work in Birmingham, from all races and creeds, the other group that were counter protesting, also had an hardcore element ,who were intent on stirring up racial hatred with banners that were equally distasteful about our soldiers fighting on foreign soil.

Yes, Birmingham is very culturally diverse, as i'm sure you're well aware and the Police and authorities would rather just ban any group that says anything remotely contentious about Islam. It's a sad state of affairs as although I probably lean more to the left on the political spectrum I do believe that unless groups are allowed to express their feelings and concerns, like how a democracy is supposed to work. All the bannings of protest for groups who seek to raise awareness and mobilize public opinion will serve to do is allow the situation to fester and become even more polarised. It's almost as if it's becoming illegal or a criminal act to have an opinion that isn't pro- Islam and that can't be a good thing.

Is this the same group that were rioting in Brum a few weeks back? I read that the Police forced them into a shop, or food outlet and basically locked them in as they were attacked by up to 100 youths wielding all sorts of weapons. It was a peaceful protest up until the yobs arrived but it would appear the press blamed the EDL, even though they had no weapons or didn't incite anything. It was in the Birmingham Post I think.

It was hardly a full forced kick in the head was it? Crikey if I hadn't seen the incident on tv and it was described to me by some people on here, my mind would conjure up images of a grown man being pummeled and his head bouncing off the pitch like a rag doll. The reality is that it was just an impulsive reaction to someone trying to break your legs, I even think he tried to pull out halfway through. Some would try and make it out to be just as bad and pre-meditated as Paul Davis's elbow on Glenn ****erill - oh, bear in mind that Van Persies actions were totally that, when he attempted to put the full force and momentum of his body through Adebayor's legs, I imagine to try and teach him a lesson. I have to laugh at the comparions to full punch-ups or people being kicked in the head in the street - what totally ludicrous comparators. What a bunch of drama queens we have on here.

Spot on B Rabbit. If Van Persie had of made contact then he would have probably given him a serious injury, it looked to me as if he went in their with the intent to hurt. I could empathise with how Adebayor reacted so impulsively when he stabbed his leg at Van Persie, bear in mind Van Persie intended to clatter Adebayor; Adebayor simply reacted to the provocation. This doesn't make it right of course but some of the reactions on here are embarrassing. As for the celebration, well what a way to endear yourselves to the fanbase of your new club, it would make the hairs on my neck stand up if a Saints player did that and it reminded me of Tim Flowers:D I like the way the fans give it large and do all the masculine posturing and then complain they have hurty feelings.....awww bless, maybe we should have a creche at football grounds where the new breed of weedy football fan can go and have a good cry when an ex player gives them them the proverbial middle finger in a bit of one-upmanship. It's been going on since the year dot and I just don't see what he did wrong, surely it's all part of the fun of going to football. I can remember when Matt Taylor was giving Saints fans loads near the goalmouth when they battered us a few years back, we did the same back. I don't think any of us would have been bothered to report him would we -isn't it's just letting off steam.

Which English football ground is the highest above sea level? A - WBA

If they are to be consistent with this new initiative then within a few week I think the Italian leagues will have to become abandoned due to no players being available for selection We are not the first clubs to have cheating or diving players or who have tapped up players but we seem to be taking the iron fist of punishment straight on the nose. Maybe it's another anti-English agenda, first this, now Chelsea? I know it's a FIFA initiative and not UEFA but our domination of the Champions league has raised a few eyebrows in the corridors of power and Platini has stated he doesn't think it's good for football, maybe he has used his influence on the FIFA committee. After all, there have been plenty of opportunities to have nipped this in the bud but why now and not before?

Could someone please explain why you have to sign the sex offenders register voluntarily? I don't quite understand how you can fail to sign the register, surely it's a matter of being forced to before you are released? http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/8224713.stm

Paul Jewell is a useless ****! He doesn't know what he's talking about, SKY must be desperate to employ him. "Only one team likely to score again here and that's Southampton".......three minutes later and we're 2-1 down Why do they say stuff like that when it's us....as soon as he said that then I knew it would jinx us........********.

Are you serious Rattlehead? Being a morbid sod,I find the whole place fascinating. I might look into a visit myself.

Despite the fairly positive feedback from Pardew, I thought we were totally ****e defensively and lacked any cutting edge up front. So many players didn't perform and it was like slicing a knife through butter, each time Swindon attacked. Kelvin saved us from another heavy defeat and there needs to be some serious words from Pardew to some of the players. Olly was terrible and to be honest, so were the rest of them. Swindon were not a good side,depsite the talented wingers they had, I am staggered that we gave such an inept performance. 1 point from 9 says it all, it's not bad luck, it's just that we are not good enough. I expect thing's to improve dramatically or I fear we could get left behind.

When it comes to the protection of children or vulnerable adults , I don't think it's wise to continue with the 'business as usual' stance, especially on such a serious charge. I can see how hindsight would lead you to form that conclusion though. I don't think you can play 'chance' with the severity of the alleged charges and it would be a bit blase to await the "unfolding events'. I totally see your point though, as I'd like to think we'd all get the support and backing from our employers/friends on such a serious charge but I don't see how it could have been arranged on a practical level. If you put measures in to distance DJ from the youth team, as you have suggested, then you are affecting his ability to do his job in an effective manner, so Lowe wouldn't have been doing him any favours at all. In my opinion, any allegation of child abuse should not be treated with contempt, it's a sad reflection on modern society though that this was even in the public domain before it had been fully investigated, also bear in mind the pressure that was placed on the club from higher authorities, such as the Premier League. I fail to see how DJ could have been in a suitable mental state to undertake his duties, with such a serious charge hanging over him. I would have to doubt the judgement of any employee who worked for me too. I think the club had a duty of care to to DJ and felt that it was in his best interests, regardless of if DJ felt he was capable of dealing with it as normal. That aside and on a a football note, DJ was skating on thin ice anyway, the results had been poor and he was already under immense pressure to be replaced. I think it was only a question of time before he would have been given the sack anyway but we'll never get to know that now as fete intervened.

I spoke to DJ afterone of the fans forums at the Dell, not long after the story had broke[Just before the Everton game I think]. I was taken in by his resolve and even though he was dignified, in what he said, I could just sense the anger in his tone. SFC had no option but to suspend him, it's just the way it is when an allegation like this surfaces, the safeguarding of children is simply not compromised. DJ would have been in contact with younger people at the club, both directly and indirectly, so to suspend him was par course and a necessary evil if you like. I still don't understand what people found so wrong in the way the club suspended him as he was given support by Lowe all through the case, it was just that Lowe and Jones were both caught between a rock and a hard place. DJ is well respected in footballing circles and is a man who has the utmost respect from his peers and I can't see him using the book as an opportunity to sling mud, he's just too dignified - i'm sure he is candid in his opinions though as ever. I didn't know he had a book out until I saw this thread, I will definitely go out and buy it now.

His touchline jig after the late goal against Belgium still makes me chuckle......brilliant moment. I wonder if it's anywhere on Youtube.....must take a look.

+ 178 I'm loving their fall from grace. They really did think, probably still do, that they have a divine right to be amongst the likes of Liverpool and Manchester United. I agree that they should have backed Sir Bobby when he was at the reigns, he was going in the right direction but they wanted too much too soon, if they had of played it cool, then maybe they would have broke into that elitist group by now.

Spot on. The manager advised me that it is against the law to force their posties to work over their allocated hours. I suggested that that is down to Royal Mail to manage in the first place and ensure that staff can compelete their route, so that they can return to the sorting depot before their shift finishes. It would appear that there is an agreement in place whereby if a postie has come to the end of his shift, then he can leave his post/parcels at the Post Office that is most local to where he lives,the Royal Mail will later collect any undelivered post, in their vans, finally dropping it back off at the sorting depot, at some point later. I laughed at the guy on the phone as I just couldn't help it. He said that the Royal Mail have a duty to their customers to be cost effective and keep prices down. I guess this initiative was suggested by some middle-manager who has lost touch with the real workers and the paying customer.

Total bunch of prats. Today, they delivered a parcel, I was not in so they put a card through to advise me. When I called them they told me that I could not come to collect my parcel for 24hours from the time on the card? What the ****s all that about? I asked if they could redeliver but was told that I had to come and collect it, even though, it's not going to be there until tomorrow. If I don't come and collect it within a certain time, it will be returned and yet I can't go and collect it as they have a super duper new system that means that the parcel gets returned to the local post office and not the main Royal Mail depot. I just don't get these people , how can they deny me collecting my parcel and then advise me if I don't then it will be returned? I could understand four to six hours as the postman has to undertake his round but twenty-four hours is just plain nonsense. I wouldn't mind if they would try and redeliver, but they won't do that either for some reason - I have no choice but to collect. Sorry, just to add, they will redeliver, at a cost, I guess that's what's behind all this - ****ing clueless numpties. Is it any wonder that abuse to their staff is on the rise when they implement such utter nonsense. Of course, I won't have a go at the foot soldiers, they don't make the rules, I shall reserve my venom until I speak to the manager tomorrow morning. The unfortunate lady who took my call, advised me that she has had to deal with people as frustrated as me, all day long, on this very issue, I could hear in her tone that she was close to tears, poor girl. No doubt the manager won't be in until 10am and will **** off at 16.00 and leave the mess that he has created to the poor unfortunate souls that are left to deal with the public on a daily basis. Can someone who is a bit more calm,measured and understanding, please talk me through the logic behind this decision; I need to hear a voice of reason. I doubt there is one though, as there is no logic in it to me and I am really looking forward to discussing this with the Circus Master tomorrow morning.

What a fantastic result, at 70-5 it looked like there would only be an Australian victory. However, as sometimes happens, it's the ones you least expect that get the praise. Monty, Collingwood and Anderson showed real determination and spirit. I've always thought Collingwood was mentally strong and capable of dealing with pressure. When he was out my heart sank as I just couldn't see Monty and Anderson having the mental application to deal with what was to come. They were magnificent[along with Swann too] and left me filled with pride again. Psychology plays a big part in sport, even if we are not aware of our habitual mental responses and I was concerned that we would come away from today's game feeling down and anxious about the second test on Thursday. However, those last ten overs may have swung the mental edge back towards ourselves and we will go into the game upbeat, despite the fact that the Aussies were by far the better side and didn't even get to bat their second innings. Overall we were poor, but thanks to some sheer bloody-mindedness from the rear guard, it feels like we actually won the game. Roll on Thursday.

What price is 5-0 still I wonder. England cricket team=Bunch of sheilas

Same old, same old. Could someone who is into cricket enlighten me as to why Botham and the other sky team were saying that it's not so much that England were bowling poorly; more that the ball wasn't swinging. Then the Aussies bowl again and take two quick wickets. I put it down to them being better bowlers but it would appear there is more to it than that. I know there are new balls and all that but on a like for like basis,why couldn't we do with the ball what the Aussies have shown is perfectly capable ? I got the impression that if they hadn't of declared this afternoon, then they looked like they could have got about 1000 runs if they chose to, we just looked like we hadn't got a clue what to do and the bowling looked so mundane from England.

In some Scandinavian countries, basic First Aid is taught at schools, as it's part of the school curriculum. I think it should be on ours as well, as well as bringing back the Green Cross Code at primary age level, I don't think that's part of the curriculum now either. First Aid is full of bureaucracy too, on one course I did, albeit a few years ago, I was told that people have a right to be injured/die and refuse treatment if they wish or their religious beliefs dictate so. Pretty much saying you have to ask permission to help them. Maybe that's all changed though now and common sense has prevailed.

We'd become a laughing stock again within months. He couldn't cut the mustard at Wycombe, or whomever else he has managed for that matter. Also, is it only myself that think's Tony Adams and media interviews are a little bit embarrassing? It just doesn't seem fluid or natural when he talks, it's so forced and contrived, as if he just selects the usual cliched managerial comments and stitches them together to create a sentence. Weird. I am in the 'No' camp. I think I'd rather have Branfoot back....... .......Ok, sorry, I got a bit carried away with the last sentence.

Maybe Maverick and Ascoli called his bluff ;-) lol

I was thinking the same myself Dalek. Pinnacle looked good but when you scratched beneath the surface I think it was clear that all was not as it should be. Fry alluded to it again today too, as if he was happy in his own mind that this was an all round better package than what Pinnacle appeared to to be.