Toussaint

That is strange, very strange. I think it’s a protection mechanism

Lyanco DM instead of Diallo?

One of Che’s worldies and a JWP special?

Of course, my point is I think there is a bit of a squabble going on internally.

I have vowed not to watch this, yet I know I will 😞

What are your thoughts?

I have done a U turn, I’m now in favour of the super league and would like the Uber-rich super clubs to eff off so we can have a reasonably competitive league again along with real, invested, fans.

I think mediocrity would be an improvement on the last 20 games. Personally I don’t have great expectations or ambitions, a few more goals, home wins, the odd cup run would be nice. Most importantly I’d like us to regain our spirit and identity, that seems to have vanished throughout the club, we have so bland, soulless and corporate now.

They own 80%. Power struggle may or may not be the right word, but it definitely seems to be becoming factionalised. My reading of this weeks leaks is the new broom, person or persons involved in SR, want him gone, the old guard don’t. There are some very pointed comments in those “statements” All speculation I know, but in the absence of official statements it’s all we have. Incidentally, have you listened to Blackmore’s piece?

Your interpretation could be correct, but it’s equally possible that Adam Blackmore knows more than he is letting on. There maybe a power struggle going on behind the scenes? The articles did have the appearance of coming from inside the club. What I am surprised at is there has been no effort from within the club to dampen things down.

Just listened in full. For those who feel that the club is being run shabbily at the moment, this will give further oxygen to those thoughts, especially given Adam's reasoned speculation as to the source of the leaks and also the roles and responsibilities of certain people no one seemed to be aware of. I have also had an uneasy feeling lately, I'm not sure replacing Ralph is going to solve that much. I haven't been a fan of his for a while, but I increasingly feel he wasn't backed in the way he wanted to be in the transfer market, others are running the football show and he just has to "make it work". A bit like Ali G's hoverboard. thanks for posting.

It's very difficult being a dead man walking, under that sort of duress you try to second guess your own decisions and can become paralysed by fear of getting things wrong. I think he probably feels a bit hard done by, one thing you can't accuse him of is being stupid, I suspect he knew exactly what was required to turn us into a competitive team, and very much doubt our moneyball signings got anywhere near that. That said, there as a strong case for him to go at the end of last season and an even stronger one now. I suspect he will feel a sense of relief when this is all concluded. He has to go, but I hope we make the right choice in his replacement.

I'm not sure average describes him, I'm thinking more...eccentric, idiosyncratic, unconventional, bloody minded and so on.

I couldn't see that, the bloke is a weak link in the spurs team. Better than Pavard?!?

The soul stripping of the club continues, I hope the current unicorns and rainbows culture isn't reflected in the new choice of manager / coach, but I think it maybe a grey corporate "yes" person.

Away fans and minority groups

Presumably with a job like his you would still be keeping abreast of things and chiming in with the odd tweet or something? You wouldn't want one of your colleagues beating you to the story? My cynical mind tells me he has to keep his powder dry until there are further developments. His hands are tied, he could quosh the speculation, then be made to look an idiot if RH goes, or he confirms it before its official, and Saints won't let him through the door again?

The article reads like an "unofficial" press release from the club to me.

Getting way off track, but I remember that game well (I think)!, the game should never have been played, the pitch was frozen solid, and I had a long standing hatred of the ref, Roger Milford?

It would be a nice change to the usual F**K us formation!

I agree he doesn’t deserve it, there is no doubt he has given it his all, but I’d stop short of saying he’s done an excellent job.

I think it's more they would rather not subject the new coach to a potential humiliation in his first game, but I'd be happy to go into this one with a caretaker if it meant we could end this torture sooner rather than later. If we put on a good show against City it won't change anything for me, we always have a good go against the best teams, but that suggests to me the players are doing it for themselves, not for Ralph, given how unmotivated we are against the dross.

Why are we restricted to Gulf states?

I don't know if the consensus is that we have a "right to be successful", but as a very well established premier league football club, in he richest league in the world, it's not unreasonable to expect to be in a much better position than we are. I'd call it frustration rather than expectation.

Maybe we should get Willie out for this one.