VectisSaint

All you need is love is that anthem. It even starts with La Marseillaise.

Think that's all most people could do anyway, not many people know the words (and even less know what they actually mean). I certainly don't know the words, and even when I read the lyrics, find it difficult to fit the words with the tune. Allons, enfants de la Patrie Le jour de gloire est arrivé! Contre nous, de la tyrannie L'étendard sanglant est levé Entendez-vous dans les campagnes Mugir ces féroces soldats? Ils viennent jusque dans nos bras Égorger nos fils, nos compagnes! Aux armes, citoyens! Formez vos bataillons Marchons, marchons! Qu'un sang impur Abreuve nos sillons!

You are not being asked to sing it. They are just going to play a choral version of the anthem over the tannoy.

There are not many who are negative about it, only that the support for Paris/France has already been shown in the place that was singularly appropriate, Wembley for the England v France game. No-one in France needs to be in any doubt as to the support most showed, I even tuned into the bloody England game specifically to see the bit where La Marseillaise was sung (ended up watching the game as it was slightly better than the usual turgid England displays). All very appropriate. Its this continuation by the PL that is inappropriate and should not have been done. What about the teams playing away this weekend, will they have to do the same next weekend?

Ronald is Erwin's younger brother. I've always thought Ronald was the better player, although Erwin was quite handy.

I think there were 4 brothers who all played professionally, Jack (Leeds & Blackburn), George (Leeds & Chesterfield), Jimmy (Leeds & Bradford) and Stan (Chesterfield, Leicester & Rochdale). Wor Jackie, the more famous, was their cousin. Bobby & Jackie Charlton were nephews. Cissie (Bobby & Jackie's Mother) was sister of the four brothers I believe. Bobby & Jackie had two other brothers, one was Tommy, but not sure about the other one. Tommy never played football "seiously" as far as I recall, but I may be doing him a disservice.

The Vanarama National League, but I'm "old skool". It is still the Conference, but just rebranded.

Not being told or asked to do anything. "A choral version [of the anthem] will be played after the coin toss, with players from both teams coming together with match officials in the centre circle"

I'm sure you do...

Good to see Yoshida at No 9. Don't disagree with Le God, but some of the others in the Top 10 are frankly ridiculous, Paul Scholes, for instance, ludicrous.

You would know what us lot think if you had read the other thread... http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/showthread.php?55480-French-national-anthem-to-be-played-before-Saturday-s-game#.Vk8qFHbhBD8 3 pages of comments, mostly negative.

Given that he has already suggested this in the press this week (Juventus), its not hard to think that, even with the Echo's half-arsed attempts to deny it.

Pity we don't see the part for the written journos more often, seems like a better class of hack (i.e. ones that supposedly have the ability to write, maybe even read) than in the first part of the press conference. Think we might have still learned more if Ronald had better English, was obviously not willing to talk about medical technical matters.

No idea, he disappeared after the Boscombe game, but was back in the training videos yesterday.

Ronald did say he was the last back, as in just got back today.

Conference side

It wasn't asked in the Press Conference. Maybe the Echo journo asked in the part of the Press Conf that is for the written media only and is usually embargoed. If so good for the Echo scoop, someone with a bit of sense.

He said he had never heard of him. Not surprisng, why would the First Team Manager be interested in a 16 year old who plays for a non-league team (unless he was a complete superstar). This is Les' territory, normal business for the Academy. 16 year old, probably won't even be near the first team before Ronald moves on.

It really is embarrassing the things these so-called journos ask at press conferences. Not one of them seems to have a clue about what to ask. The kid from Cheltenham is 16, I doubt Ronald is even involved (he claimed to know nothing about it), might be something to ask Les about, but really its just a normal move to bring some players in to bolster the Academy, which frankly looks a bit weak at the moment (but that's another story). Very sad for JRod, but almost certainly this is a side effect of the previous injury, again why doesn't someone actually ask the pertinent questions? On a positive note (depending on your point of view) Gaston seems to have made a reappearance after his recent disappearing trick (which again no-one thinks to ask about).

Notice Ramirez is back in today's video. No word from anyone why he has been missing since the Boscombe match.

Premier League site says he has 3 yellows and 1 red, but I believe this means he actually has 5 yellows, thus he has another 5 to go before another suspension. He would have to pick up those 5 before 1st Jan. http://www.premierleague.com/content/premierleague/en-gb/players/index.html

Disagree with the idea. It was right for Wembley. How about we have the Russian anthem for the plane in Sinai, the Kenyan, the Palestinian (if they have one), Lebanon? Think we're doing a minutes silence as well. Getting to the stage where it would be good to go to a game without any such thing.

Classic case of good coach, crap manager.

Better to remember the Wallace brothers...Poor Ray had two better brothers. Then there are the Nevilles, they even have a better sister Charltons...

is anyone making out that Butland will be the weak link? He has been in tremendous form so far this season for Stoke, and has kept them in games several times. He is probably their best player and may well push Hart out of the England #1 spot soon if he continues (or if he were at one of the Big Clubs). Forster will be hard pressed to reclaim the England #2 keeper position when he gets back to fitness.