Frank's cousin

ramierz with a lovely run - guy looks class - adman having a great game

from teh live stream, just teh final ball lacki ng so far, lambo and ramierez need time to get to know each other so to speak - but look controlled so far.

Yoshida looking solid as well

hello? anyone here? all at teh ganme I guess.... quick break from teh gardening with First row stream on as well

At least they played attacking football in that infamous second half though... unlike the current champions and tehir almost anti-football against Barcelona and Bayern?

I think you are probably correct - We did not get form bottom of L1 to the prem in 3 yeras by being sentimental or not being affraid of harsh and unpopular decsions. And you could add that for a club of our size to ever stand a chnace of the kind of success that has been hinted at, it will probably take something we have not considered and is also likely to be unpopular... however, NC will also be aware that the an element of success is due to continuity - here in the UK we say that comes form the manager and point to Wenger and Fergie and their success achieved over a long period of time... I think too much emphasis is placed on that - as budget and being large enough in the first place to attract and keep players is just as important - stick tehm both a Crewe and Eastleigh with the budgets they have, and that continuity would not bring them Championsleague football inside 5 years.... Also on the continent, the do vaue continuity - but its in the style and methods - form U8 -to first team - the coaching ans style adopted is consistently applied and not at the whims of each new 'manager' - the 'manager' comes in and is told to get on with it with the reosurces and style of the club - and you cant say it does not work. Afterall, is it really a good thing that if a manager goes the entire backroom tend to go as well, including reserve and junior coaches? Nothing against it, but it only works if the manager has the same mind set and is happy working that environment. I Think ideally NC wants a EU style set up - the continuity of coaching form U8 to senior, but also would like someone like NA to be here for a long time - as he buys into what the club is trying to - I think they get on, have an honest a nd frank relationshoip and respect each other, BUT in some sense Adkins may be a victim of his own success, in that having got here early, I cant see NC wanting a set back, and so Adkins may go if he is unable to learn fast enough. Without dobt with the experience he will be a top top manager, but at the moment, being ahead of the plan, could count against him....

This is how it used to be done - the bands were set as Cb saint has alluded to and then the Bell curve was shifted to adjust for year on year fluctuations in the difficulties of the paper. This allows for direct comparison between peers within the year, but not between years... which is less relevent when going on to A levels etc, but was considered unfair as IF a year group all worked a darn site hardert his would not be reflected in their grading.

True, but there were plenty who this system still failed - went to school in Kent where they still have/had Grammar schools, and we had quite a few join in 6th form from the various local secondary moderns - and they managed that as you did despite the lack of investment in those schools - I daresay there were plenty who fell through that particular net. And I am to the left of centre politically - but I don't feel there is anything wrong with selecting using exams to id the best - provided equal opportunity and resources are available to kids to achieve the best they can, and there are appropriate safeguards are in place so that kids aren't labelled one or the other at silly ages...

Think the problem was not with the old 'two-tiered system' (the old CSE and GCE O levels), but with opportunity and selection at 11. We seem to have become obsessed with 'standards' being measured in numbers of grades, when standards in education should be measured in equal resources, quality of teaching and ultimately in equal opportunity to realise the kids potential.... not dumbing down exams so that everyone gets them, without addressing the issue of quality.... We need to accept that kids are all different academically and practically and if you want 50% of kids to go to 'University' - well you need to improve intelligence - which is not really possible withut some genetic manipulation - instead labour simply converted all technical colleges and polys to universtities and with everyone suddenly getting higher grade a levels they could all go and do media studies - There is nothing wrong IMHO with admitting that some people are naturally academically brighter and Universities should be funded well to provide for those most able students and quality research - its good for the economy long term - And those not as 'gifted' academically need opportunity to learn practical skills, quality apprenticeships with qualifications that MEAN something. The biggets issue in teh past was testing kids at 11 and assuming that was it - the best went to schools that did O levels and Alevels thta had beter resources and better teachers, and the rest to the old secondary 'moderns, which usually had the crappest facilities and crappest teachers and kids who developed a little later were often denied the opportunity to reach their academic potential So IMHO, we need equaly standards and quality f teaching in schools so that they have equal opportunity - and an exam system that does identify the best to get the best Universities, but places equal value on the practiucal qualifications others can get.

Well I guess talking through it might be useful, or a txt maybe?

Took a client to a good place in New York once.... great stuff but the bill was like $700 for 2 people!!!! struggled with the expense claim, but big Customer... Must admit nearly threw up with the Sea Urchin....

Dont wory about it - goes back to a decison by Jobs NOT to let Microsoft and Bill gates licence the the Apple OS/GUI yonks ago (itself conceptually 'copied' from Xerox Park) - and for years not making the OS code available to more than a select 'creative' set of developers - so all the MS geeks got a tad pished off.... Think Apple also recognised that the majority of Home Computer users are not interested in opening up the insides and fiddling with cards and memory etc, and are greatly influenced by the design asthetic and you cant fault Apple on that score - they are were also always easier to use for the layman - more intuitive...remember the green screen MS DOS machines and C prompts anyone...hidous things despite doing the job and being far cheaper...

Would love to see a 4231 in future.... New keeper Clyne Yoshi Jos Shaw Schiderlin Cork Lee Ramierez Lallana On of Rickie/Rodrigez/the new guy? Too light weight?

Ignire the granuals and try using the instant Espresso powder - two large teaspoons full - much better taste ...IMHO...

I dont think anyone would argue with that - I guess the differences in opinion are based on how possible it is to do that quickly, the realities of making deals, rather than our perception of them played out in the media/twitter etc, and our own personal belief in the strategy the club has adopted - going for younger players in general with potential to grow with the fruits of the academy? Ultimately I guess it depends on our attitudes; are we 'stay up at all costs' or 'believe the startegy is the best approach long term' - complicated by fact that you can also sit somewhere in the middle of that scale:scared:

Fair points, the doc being a biggy - although I daresay it will be about 10mins before someone has lanched a simple converter to allow the 5 to b placed in all 3/4 doc situations... but I guess that is ahrdly the point. The clever thing about Apple has been they invented markets - I remmeber the Ipad launch and the consensus was it was pretty pointless...yet... time will tell as to whether without Jobs, Apple will still have the will power to take these risks that create new markets rather than responding to perceived market need or 'gaps' in the traditional sense.

Maybe the problem is the context and two sepearte issues? On the one hand it has been proven beyond any doubt that given the way fans were treated, the lack of decent facilities, Saftey considerations and attitudes of the police at the time, eg the context of being a fan in the late 80s, the police, safety problems, mistakes etc were the cause of the tragedy - something also validated by the fact that despite the sames issues, games were possible without tragedy IF the police implemented an appropriate and robust safety plan - and acted appropriately once a problem had ben recognised - Clear as day that ON that day the Police did 3 things wrong: planning and implementation of a proper and appropriate safety strategy, Falure to respondquickly and appropriately as soon a s a problem was identified (which would have saved lives which is one of the most shocking as aspects) and thirdly tio then blame the innocent fans and smear them. But the the confusion is possible maybe, because we have to acknowledge that although not behaviour on the day, behaviour of fans during the previous decade, the 'robust' police and security measures that were implemented because of this meant a situation had been craeted where it was possible that such a diaster could happen, whether it be the pens, the cages, the lack of care and investment in facilities to cope adequately etc, or even the attitude towards fans in general by those in authority, would have had a contribution of some level? The saddest aspect is that it needed this environment for the indequancies and major errors on the day by the police for their their criminal negligence to have such tragic consequences?

Being a fan is all about expectation - and balancing that against realism is always difficult - especially when in the last 2 seasons we have had such rapid progress and success...despite the knowledge of where we were, how difficult is is for the squad quality to keep pace with that progress, the massive jump between Championship and the better prem (champions league quality) sides etc, and played 4, lost 4 start no matter who against is never something we can ignore, espcially a 6-1 defeat where for teh most part we were simply outclassed. But whilst it might be easy to find the cause, the lack of major defensive improvements etc, its far more difficult to deliver the solution than perhaps we as fans like to believe (IMHO) - We signed one new defender who has trained about 5 mins with the squad and young RB who has shown his potential - yes we were naive in those 4 games where greater experience may have seen us grab a couple of points and avoid the drubbing on Saturday, but naiviety is overcome with experience - and whilst w e might still be a light on quality at the back, experience will see that improve. Elsewhere, we have good options, if not CL or top 8 quality, certianly strong enough to compete going forward and to be obsessed with 'embarrassing' results is frankly your own ego problem - deal with it - If you want to support a club that is always going to boost your ego, go support a CL side... We've had such results befor and will do again - part of football. Chances are we did not manage to seal deals for additional defensive quality above that which is already at the club, but the web warrior fans do seem to think such transfer negotiations are easier than i reality, esecially for a newly promoted side looking to build with a longer term vision. Yes, some will argue that this seadon is all about survival so whatever it takes, sign a few 'exprienced defenders' for that task, whatever there is nowt wrong with that approach - but it is not our approach - we have been told what our aproach is - so whether you agree or like it or not, that is what we are doing - some will accept it will mean its a more risky strategy short term, but has benefits long term, others will be champing at the bit with worry about what it means for our prospects this year... both perfectly fine - it takes all sorts. But, what I find a odd is that there are those whose ego's are so easily bruised, or who have never agreed with strategy the owners/chairman have followed, that there is a constant need to point out Fault, blame etc to undermine the leadership at every opportunity, despite the obvious radpid progress we have had during that time... just seems odd, and frankly a bit mental - or you have to assume other agendas are still boiling away under the surface. IMHO, we have see we have enough potential to survive and do alright this season with this squad - impossible to predict whether we realise that potential or not, but for me that is the beauty of sport, if it was predictable where would teh fun be in that?

6-1 - no thyere isn't

NIce ball by WP

Well fair play to Theo...

just want to see some good things now - we can woth with this etc...

lambo close...

Fox in the Box... well I never... 4-5 anyone?

.... feck arse bollix... well might go and do the gardening...