Bushey Saint

Media presence is a skill in itself. Some naturally have it, some don't, and you don't get a whole lot of practice coaching the U-21s. Frankly, I'd rather he focused on developing a playing style that suits our available players, then training and coaching them to work effectively within that style. In that respect today's effort was a good start.

Good call on Stephens. He has, frankly, been a bit of a liability over past year or three. But credit where it is due, da boy dun good today.

Stream was patchy for me today so I didn't get the full picture of the match. But there were periods in the first half when we looked really slick - really good first-time passing and movement. Just needed that final ball and a truly 'lethal' striker. Ross still looks a bit laboured and short on fitness, and the young lad looked exactly what he is when he came on - a young man still learning his trade.

At last, someone spells it correctly!

To be replaced by whom?

There is that!

Take the dog out, somewhere outside mobile data coverage, and don't take a radio. Plenty of time to be miserable in the evening when you hear the result, so at least get some joy out of the weekend. It's the road I've chosen: no internet forums, BBC sports website, dodgy streaming sites or radio whenever this shower of shite are playing. If by some miracle they get a decent result, then it's serendipity, but I most certainly don't hang my whole weekend on the result

And to think that there are (so-called) journos who trawl these type of forums and will take that literally ...

Well, anyone naming themselves after crop circles would be.

Hang on, just let me check the thread from the Blackburn game.

Did he go for the hair again?

There's always one who takes it that step too far ...

Shit, that just triggered a deeply buried memory ...

Bloody hell, I lived in Verl for two years back in the late 80s. It is a small town (pop. now 25,000) with a tiny stadium. Yes, SC Verl have made good progress over the past 15-20 years but none of that is down to their current manager, and they remain an amateur club punching well above their weight. It would be equivalent to appointing the manager from (say) my local club now, Weston-Super-Mare. In other words, a very long-odds, hopeful punt.

Has anyone checked whether anyone in the Charlton match-day squad has long hair? If so then there's a 70% chance that Stephens will get red-carded for hair-pulling, the big girl's blouse.

Despite intensive coaching and mentoring, he steadfastly refuses to pass the fucking ball forwards!

Played 2, won 2 and it's "sack the expletive". Can't see that we've been overwhelmed with candidates for the post, not even any of the usual suspects. So why are you so ready to jump of a cliff while the tide is out?

Just as long as he brings Fraulein Geerhart along with him

And let's face it, there's been some stiff competition

You must be much more easily excited than me. Dull as ditch water.

I'm voting for the cat.

When you've taken this shite for just short of sixty years then I might, just might listen to you. Yes of course there were some highlights in that time, but for the most part it has just been unrelenting pedestrian football played by vastly overpaid divas. A season such as the last one 'breaks' the players, the coaching staff and even the support and administrative staff and it will take years to recover. Frankly, I no longer have the patience or energy to chase a failing cause, especially with such donkeys as Spors at the helm. Christ, I thought Russball was bad ...

And it's not just damage to the players, either. Saw my first game at the Dell in 1967 - we beat Chelsea 5-0 - and had been a loyal Saints fan through thick and thin ever since. Frankly, they are of only passing interest now. (And I don't mean Russball style passing)

I hold no grudge with Rangers, but I was almost praying for a result like this - anything to show Martin up got the incompetent charlatan that he is. But you just know that he will turn up again like the proverbial bad penny as a muppet on Sky's coverage. Thank God I cancelled that subscription.

Would kindly not mention Harry Redknapp in a thread about Russell Martin? I'm having enough trouble with my blood pressure as it is!