um pahars

Other players may settle where they finish playing, but I would agree with you in that I seem to think we get more than our fair share of "settlers". Can only assume it's not a bad area to live in (Sea & countryside in abundance)

If there is anyone guilty of constant whingeing and sniping then I'm afraid it would be yourself, with your tiresome and somewhat bitter and twisted barrages aimed at Duncan. You almost appear obsessed and you can almost sense your excitement when you see a post from him as you prepare to fire off one of your witless responses. Rather than discuss and even disagree with the point at hand you just seem intent on banging the same old dull & tiresome drum. Let it go.

I would also say that in all honesty we were the best team (with a relatively decent sized squad) in the bottom two divisions and so should have been quite capable of winning a cup and pushing for promotion (although I accept -10 and rebuilding might have hampered out league campaign). However, with regards this season, being honest we were not going to win the League Cup and as you say the Championship is a much harder proposition.

When I suggested that we were better off out and didn't have a problem losing, one of the replies was that keeping on winning (in any competition) was good for morale and confidence. Did our JPT run help boost our confidence (and get us some dosh) or did it distract us from the main goal of promotion?

Is that correct??? Never heard of it, so thanks for highlighting it. Would something similar work in the League or FA Cups? Should something be enforced?

Am I rewriting history or did we play close to our strongest team in the JPT???? Have to say I enjoyed those games, but this season's League Cup hasn't excited me at all (although a win last night and a home tie against a "big" team in the last eight or an easy route to the semis and I might be saying something different!!!!)

Adkins had a choice and IMHO he made the right one!!!!!

One of the repercussions of being successful in the lower leagues in that squad players you pick up at a lower level are quickly out of their depth when you are successful!! An ok buy at the time, two very important goals and worth trying out last night, but relegate him to sixth choice and loan or sell in January.

Palace made something like 8 changes to the starting line up against Ipswich!

Or other supporters start to question your loyalty when you desist from attending a ressies match. I never bothered with Preston once both clubs said it would effectively be a reserve match. Duncan is big enough (but not ugly enough) to defend himself, but it is laughable that a couple of the usual saddos pop out to have a dig, whilst a few others spectacularly miss the point. Certainly didn't read it as an attack on the Club (the OP has been clarified further since), but instead a reasonable question of on the worth, or worthlessness of the League Cup. There is of course a question about how far "loyalty" can be stretched, but that is not the same as having a dig at the Club. Given the fact that some clubs have started to water down their enthusiasm for the FA Cup, I think the League Cup is close to becoming fairly worthless. I would only have taken it serious if we were mid table of the Prem or Championship, with it having minimal impact on promotion or relegation. Money has made the League the priority for every team, so unless someone can come up with a new format, new payday or a new idea (as others have mooted on here), then for me the League Cup is past it's sell by date. Others have made valid points about the lack of a decent Combination League means some clubs view it as an alternatiive, which brings us back to the OP equating it to the Combination Cup. I posted earlier that I had no problem fielding a weakened side (and even losing!!), so to be thinking and saying that makes me wonder what really was the point????

For me there are three issues: 1) Economic impact on UK PLC. Can anyone answer why the CBI and big business are pro EU membership? Do they believe it is best for British businesses? 2) Economic impact on me. Would I being paying less taxes? With reference to 1) above, how will the impact on UK PLC affect me? 3) Ideaological/emotive impact on me? How committed to Europe am I? Do I feel represented? Do I feel any link? I am happy to answer 3) in that I don't particularly feel anything for Europe, don't feel in touch with my MEP or with anyone making decisions that affect me. Don't feel any link to Europe, geographically close, but not much else links us. The impact of 1) & 2) could overide that if EU membership is extremely beneficial to UK PLC and myself, but similarly if the benefits are minimal then I'd live without them.

I've just got this funny feeling that they will only be offered to S/T holders. Reasons: 1) No info at all regarding when going on sale to non S/T holders 2) S/T holders have procedure that takes 6 weeks plus to process, non S/T holders will only have about 2/3 weeks. 3) They know who is buying and think they can hold you to account more (revoke S/T if any problems) 4) They just want to restrict who is going (and how many) 5) I might be wrong

Put up with a lot of pressure and toughed it out well and coped confidently with losing his partner. Still needs to work on his distribution (did well to get himself in the right position in the first half but then thumped the ball across the goal staright to a Reading player, from which Kelv needed to pull off a great save). And just to add to the debate;) Gorkss looked very good!

I think that the problem is that for some it is probably a tad too intellectual for them, as in addition to the obvious gags there are many more that are not as obvious e.g.the actions/inactions and inter rivalry between the PFJ, JPF, JPP, PPFJ etc is a parody of the Trade Unions of the time. A wonderful and quite powerful satirical comedy that will be missed and/or misinterpreted by some.

I like Cork, but as someone else said he seemed to follow on from where he left off in the West ham game. Anonymous, outmuscled and a passenger. Wrong game for him? used to more time on the ball? lost a bit of confidence? lost a bit of form?

fair play to reading as they did a job on us and pressured us in to mistakes and losing possession. we struggled in face of having players in our faces and not enoughplqayers stepped up to the plate. With the exception of Chaplow the midfield was anonymous and Connoly didnt offer much. defence did alright in the face of quite an onslaught. Good atmosphere and great last 15 minutes. Would have taken a point before the game so happy(ish), but we need to bounce back, get Lallana back and think hard about strengthening in January.

And talking of unstoppable, champagne and another level, reminds me of the ding dong we had a few years back regarding funding wages & clubs in the lower leagues and I suggested it could be possible if the average players were paid a lower wedge and the team's "superstars" paid more. Remember trying to explain that by "superstars" I did not mean Tevez, Gerrard or Torres dropping down to the third of fourth tier, but instead recognising that clubs at a lower level still have their relative "superstar" players (eg Lambert, Lallana, Craig Mackail-Smith, Glenn Murray, Ashley Barnes, Peter Clarke etc). Perhaps a stint in the third division might have helped to explain that supporters can have relative "superstars" in their teams, irrespective of what division they are in!!!

Was talking about the incident to a mate at the West Ham game and he wasn't even aware of it. I mentioned how it looked like his forehead had a big indentation in it and would have thought it would be a problem, but surprised that I had heard nothing since. Can only say good luck to the fella and hope he recovers from it.

I think you may well be right in that losing Lambert could have a very big impact on the side. Losing one of the centre halfs might prove costly as well, as at the moment we only have Martin to step in. However, I don't think it was any coincidence that when Lallana was out for a month last season our performances and results dipped (W1 D2 L1). We were nowhere near as creative and threatening as we were with him in the side. Massive player for us, but as you say we have picked up a couple of good results without him.

Where have you seen this window??? Not seen anything about non season ticket holders?

My first response would be thank God that you and your family came out unscathed. Must have been quite an adrenalin rush and have always wondered what I would do when confronted with the same circumstances, so fair play for having a go. After my parents were burgled they struggled for a while as they felt their privacy had been breached, plus I think they felt a bit unsafe and worried whether he/they would return. So fingers crossed your family don't suffer any long term consequences and maybe get yourself someone in to tighten things up to stop them returning or doing something to at least try and prevent it (even if it just gives you and your family some reassurance).

Does anyone reckon they will only go on sale to season ticket holders???? Nothing mentioned about when they could be released on general sale. I reckon one of the restrictions might be season ticket holders only.

So many variables. Role? Salary? Frequency? Performance? Confidence? Personal circumstances? Replacability? Personally speaking (and without answers to the above) I have reservations about working really long hours, either you're not very good at your role, or you're being asked to do too much. I would happily do it on occasions, year ends, stock takes, special projects, but I always saw so much of it as a bit of a d1ck waving contest in who can leave the office the latest. You need a work/life balance and working too long is not beneficial to yourself, your family and your employer. I remember a few bosses who would work long hours. One used to spend hours staring at the computer and I thought she was a workahoilc until I noticed the reflection of Solitaire in the office window!!! Coupled with the fact she was a bit of a sad loner, no family and no interests outside of work, I found it rather depressing that she pretended she was a hard worker and even sadder that she used to use her late stays as pressure to get others to stay. Another used to leave before his kids were awake and would return home when they were tucked up in bed. Went far in his field and I met up with him recently and he admitted he regretted missing his kids grow up!!!!

As it's half term I might take a trip up, but I would have no problem if we played a ressie team up there and focus on the League. Games are thick and fast and I think we need to be cautious about player fatigue, unnecessary injuries and cautions.

TBH I haven't really looked much at our opponents, but if West Ham seemed to have a decent squad (quite a few out injured and still had a decent looking bench). What about Brum and Leiciester??? You may be right in that any injuries for our rivals could be just as damaging, but just think it's in the two worst areas for us (upfront & at the back).