Colinjb

This implies a problem with the whole country, not just one facet. He disagrees with our military standpoint but has respect for our other laws, tax requirements, etiquette, sporting identity and history and various other ways in which we are culturally similar to his home. Forgive the crude metaphor, but it's like being a in a relationship with a girl who has so many good points and one area of possible contention. He let it fly but made his opinion felt and then moved on after seeing the greater perspective. She on the other hand will remember this until the end of time.....

Watching MOTD 2. Cork's pass was perfectly weighted and hit to Yoshida. Yoshi then played it 'safe' and hit it back to the keeper, Swansea pressed us high and had men on both Yoshida and Fonte who were on their own with both full-backs committed forward. Yoshida's control when the ball came to him back from Gazza was terrible, floating in the air, the ball was unshielded and inviting the challenge. Yoshida should have shielded it better and turned the ball away from danger with his first touch. More individual errors.

You did say about people abusing the system here, he isn't in that way, if anything he is helping to pay for it. Like any tax payer he has a right to speak his mind within lawful boundaries. 'Tasteful' and 'respectful' boundaries are different matters here. He had every right to do what he did, that is the fundamental point. Regardless of the personal taste and opinion of any of us.

Rule 1 on anything 'interesting.'

On a mercenary level, as a footballer he will be paying a lot of tax, he is contributing, therefore he can speak his mind with a relatively clear conscience in that way. But yes, there are so many that come over and abuse the freedoms we have, but a lot of people born and bred within our own borders are doing the same. It's an undesirable part of human nature, part of it is the tendency to play the system to their own benefit.

Oh, is she on that 'i'm a celebrity, feed me insects so my profile is raised a little' thing? Terrible, terrible television.....

It annoyed me that he didn't wear a poppy shirt. Talking to my elderly grandfather last night (92 years young, a veteran of North Africa and Italy) and seeing the pain behind his eyes as we asked him about the war really brings home the sacrifices that generation made. This guy McLean didn't want to participate though, regardless of how distasteful I find it that is his right. If his opinion was the majority I would be more worried, instead the reaction he will get from others is his punishment. Karma is a *****.

How the hell did this get bumped? Incidentally, yes, absolutely....

Then it comes down to politics..... the sacrifices so many made so we could have the choice to say no to something like this..... There will always be a spread of opinion and extremist views in humanity. I am so grateful we live in a society that viewpoints can be expressed, even if I disagree with them it is a blessing that these men fought to preserve it.

For every one that works, one will not. At best the odds are 50/50. In aiming to keep possession the odds increase in your favour. The short term action of a hoof may provide immediate gain but longer term that attitude is damaging. On balance I would never advocate us resorting to it unless there truly was no other option..... and in the case of yesterday that wasn't the case, it was simply a poor decision to pass to Yoshida, not play out from the back.

No, he didn't. But no insults were exchanged by those not wearing the shirts, be them pacifists, objectors based on prior british military action in Ireland, whatever. They simply exercised their right of free speech and opinion. When you criticise that, you undermine your own way of life.

Luke Shaw was subbed yesterday as he was shattered. At what age generally do players hit their peak in terms of stamina? Shipping late goals can be a killer to any survival hopes, with such a young squad will they/can they be conditioned appropriately?

By resorting to that mentality you are showing traits shared by the tyrants those men died to protect us from. I believe they are wrong to shun the poppy, because people died to allow them to have the freedom to make such decisions. It would however be just as much of an insult to the people who died to be as tyrannical as their foes.

As I said above: It's too crude a methodology to just hit it out, and symptomatic of the attitude and culture of this country which has seen us develop technically limited players. We essentially controlled the game yesterday by keeping possession, by going route one every time we were under pressure we wouldn't have kept the ball, wouldn't have controlled the game to the same degree and I believe wouldn't have even got a point.

No-one should get called a c*nt for exercising the freedoms that so many good people died to protect. Foolish, naive, insensitive? Yes, but certainly not a c*nt.

Yes, his distribution does seem to be quite good. Athletic, good reactions, commands the area well, I think we have found a bit of a gem. If he can keep Boruc out of the team as one of Serie A's better 'keepers from last year gets his fitness back then it bodes well.

Well quite. But the pass to Yoshida wasn't the error, his rush to get it out rather then consider his options and look to the right side of our back four was.

Is 'Put it in the mixer' included in that? I don't like the whole 'if in doubt' idea, yes, it gets the ball clear but at best leaves you in only 50/50 chance of retaining possession and most of the time gifts it to the opposition. When in possession the opposition cannot score so to surrender it so readily in the name of perceived safety just feels so rash. If the tactical system and player awareness are up to scratch then hoof it out should never be the first reaction for me.

Ooooooooo, a very English attitude.

Or something....

Which is absolutely not how we are set up. The ability of our players to sustain our possession play though is another question entirely.

That would have been extremely harsh. He was our best midfielder for me yesterday and played a key role in a positive performance. Getting the full 90 minutes under his belt will be vital for his conditioning after being out for so long. My personal feeling is that a combination of the poor clearance from Gazza and subsequent poor control from Yoshida caused the goal, no one person is to blame.

That f**k for that!

Fingers crossed. Hope the kids thrives.

You're a hot vampire chick? Yeah, I wouldn't have expected that.