Fowllyd

The 17th January 2012 will be my 52nd birthday. CB, I preferred your Krazy Kat avatar to the current one (though in fairness I can't quite make out what the current one actually is). Just thought I'd mention those things as they must be relevant to something.

I think he should buy a house that's big enough in the first place.

If memory serves, this is exactly what happened when Alan Pardew left Reading to join West Ham - he had to wait for a month or more before he was able to start work at Upton Park. Such things depend on the terms of the individual's contract, so with no knowledge of Adkins' contract at Scunny we can only speculate. Still, at least we'll be playing to our strengths!

Don't think I've seen anybody suggesting anything quite so outlandish, to be honest. Some have said they think that Adkins is the best choice, or simply a very good one, but I've seen nothing quite so adulatory as you're suggesting. But then, as your first paragraph points out, opinions do get polarised very quickly on here; maybe that's the case with any similar web forum, but middle ground is all too often conspicuous by its absence. For what it's worth, I reckon Adkins could well prove to be an excellent choice, but time will tell on that. He's achieved a considerable amount so far, his team has gained a reputation for playing excellent football, and he clearly wants to come here - even after having met the dreaded Nicola! Others on here who follow the game far more closely that I do are enthused by Adkins, which gives me more grounds for optimism. I don't know enough one way or the other to feel certain, but I remain hopeful.

Am I misreading those posts saying that Adkins isn't good enough and will fail, will be gone before the end of this season, and so forth? There are a fair few of them on this and other threads - apparently on the basis that he's only managed Scúnthorpe. While it's not necessarily arrogant to suggest that there are better candidates, it is distinctly so to suggest that we're so special that we need - and should get - a manager such as Martin O'Neill, and that anyone below that level is below us. I'm not saying that you've said or implied that last bit, but several posters have done.

And where exactly did Minsk say he DID believe any particular piece of gossip to be true? You've read a pretty hefty novel between the lines of his post there.

Good post. I also wonder how many on here remember what happened when Alan Pardew left Reading for West Ham.

Paris Smith (previously Paris Smith & Randall, prior to that Paris Smith Randall & Hopkirk ) are Saints' solicitors. It's possible that they use other solicitors here and there, but for something of this nature I'd expect it to be Paris Smith. And, as you suggest, lawyers aren't in the habit of compromising client confidentiality.

How many times have you seen it reported that a football manager left his club by 'mutual agreement' or 'mutual consent'? I know I've heard this phrase plenty of times, and all it normally means is that both parties have agreed not to say anything about the parting of the ways. If Cortese had stated quite clearly that Pardew had left by mutual agreement, you would be saying pretty much what I've written above and would still be wanting further explanation. I very much doubt that the full reasons behind Pardew's departure were given at a dinner for some ST holders. That would have been massively unprofessional. Whatever the ins and outs of this, all concerned are keeping very quiet about it, which suggests to me that this suits all parties, and that confidentiality is being maintained. If Pardew feels that he has been treated unfairly, we'll hear his side soon enough - unlike Cortese, he has friends in the press.

Oh come on, that's a bit unfair. You're not seriously suggesting he got one from anyone else are you?

Maybe that bloke from Brighton and Hove Albumen.

Not much point in asking - he's just blown his three posts for today!

Rupert Lowe?

Ottery St Mary, obviously.

Errm, dunno. Steve Jobs? Granny Smith? Sir Paul McCartney?

I think the Rochdale players were spurred on by their manager telling them all to "go out there and win this one for big Cyril!". That would inspire anyone.

I remember hearing the story that Hague was gay (and that his wife was therefore a beard) back in 1997, after he became Tory leader. This was from a friend who knew a journalist who'd told him, so wasn't exactly the most reliable source in the world! Personally, I couldn't give a flying one about his sexuality; however, I can well imagine that being gay (or even thought to be gay) would have totally knackered his chances of becoming Tory leader at that time.

Have you stolen Saint Richmond's magic keyboard?

He's Northern Irish and therefore a UK citizen, isn't he?

No, the Football League has a similar test - we're still waiting with bated breath to see if Balram Chainrai is going to pass it. There was some discussion earlier this year between the two organisations about bringing their FAPP tests more closely into line with one another, but I can't recall the outcome.

I thought this little controversy had been long since put to bed. 'Arry said that Utaka was on £28k per week or thereabouts, nowhere near the £80k reported in various places. Peter Storrie had shown 'Arry Utaka's contract, which is how 'Arry knew. He really couldn't have made it any clearer.

In other words, Phil Brown's been approached by a journalist asking him about the Saints job. He's said just what you'd expect an out-of-work manager to say in the circumstances. Is this quote from the Echo Nick? An earlier post alluded to an upcoming article on Phil Brown in that esteemed organ, so I was wondering if this might be it.

I've only just got in and haven't got time to read through the whole thread, so would I be right in thinking that Alan Pardew's getting a Brazilian, and that he'll see how it's working out in January? He also reckons it might be a bit risky, hence the temporary arrangement. Meanwhile, Alpine thinks it's probably too much of a risk and thinks that Pardew should be looking for something he's more certain of. Is that about the gist of it?

Off to the pub with DBP, no doubt...

Not for the first time, you've come up with a great simile there. Top stuff.