Polaroid Saint

I can't remember actually scoring from a JWP dead ball delivery, either free kicks or corners. I am sure it must of happened, but I can't recall it. We were useless at set pieces when he was here for the last few years at least. Unless it was a direct shot of course. I know that's partly down to having something to attack the ball, and this league is different but we have been much more threatening from set pieces without JWP.

Appears to me that it would make sense, career wise, for THB to stay. There's no panic about making the England set up next year. Show consistency and maturity (which THB needs to developed). Be the best in your division in the Championship, lead your team to promotion and then establish yourself in the Premier League. THAT way you might just end up in the conversation for a place in an England team for the following Euros.

Anyone at Werder we would want in a swap deal?

BBC just trolling now. Lol. 'inside the mind of Bielsa' The 70-year-old is one of the most respected and influential coaches in the game, and that reputation has been earned from his borderline obsessive dedication to preparation for every single match he oversees. No mention of Leeds' own, original, Spygate, but instead: "It's all about setting high standards that will stay with the club long after he has gone." https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c5ye2m00y5ro

How can that be the first rule? Surely "Do not make stupid mistakes" would proceed this? 😉

Oh, I dunno, there's every chance that we go this season without. I mean, what self-respecting Far East Asian Betting Syndicate 'Website' would want to be associated with us?

I'm on the North East all next week. Although Middlesbrough is not a destination, Sunderland and Newcastle, Stockton and Yarm will all be visited. I shall try to wear a saints shirt as often as possible and I expect I will be welcomed by most football fans from the region with a chuckle and a smile.

This season of "The Spygate Saga" has ended quite well. The plot twists, the nastiness, the cunning, the idiocy, the drama, and the fact that, despite the hype and Hollywood special effects, the dragons were eventually irrelevant: Better than the Game of Thrones finale, at least.

A few conflicting questions for us as a club to answer here. Q1: do we want to be seen, publicly by fans and wider world alike, to be 'sorting out shop' and to start afresh? A: yes = sack Tonda this week. Q2. Do we want this to drag out and end up with an externally imposed decision? A:, no = Sack Tonda now. Q3. Do we want to keep a proven manager who wins, and attempt to mitigate reputational damage? Keep Tonda, new contract with caveats. Work hard on the PR. Revise in November . Depends on Q2. As does.. Q4. Do we want to actively embrace the chaos and, depending on Q2, actually try to keep bulk of side /squad/management in place - with a tacit acknowledgement that we got it wrong but will hopefully 'be better' in future? Keep Tonda, and (hopefully, in a perfect world) walk the League as (formally cheating) bastards everyone else hates? Is our goal +as a club+ upwards progression (promotion, stability, win something) or maintaining a good reputation (but with potentially years of struggle). No idea what I personally want.... ... I kinda think 'fuck em'. Just not sure who 'they' are.

It sorta feels like a straight red for a headbutt, when the other player has gone down clutching his face and rolling around in 'agony', while the opposing team gather round the ref and aggressive demand a sending off... ...only for the replay to show that it was something of nothing and they barely touched eyebrows. Hopefully we will see some kinda of equivalent review and rescinding of this 'straight red' at some point.

Please forgive me; I do not take the very real financial, logistical and emotional impact on fellow Saints fans who have booked and planned for Saturday lightly. That's a shit-show and it's on the club and the EFL and the 'independent' panel - truly, it's crap and I feel for you. However, I'm not that pissed off about missing out on the chance of promotion this season. 3 months ago, it was unlikely and we all would have settled for another year in the Championship. Even minus 4 points. The biggest issue with that reality, now, is how we can possible keep not only the squad together but also keep this weird leftfield gem of a manager in Tonda. I suspect FIFA/FA ban incoming and we lose him too. Which is galling. I suspect some may think less of me, but I don't think what we have admitted to doing is really all that bad. But hey ho, people just as unqualified as me have made their decision and several hundred million pound difference between supposedly equal clubs is the (potential) result. If nothing changes between now and Saturday I can only hope Hull win. We have shifted from imocouus club people kinda like, to a club with a bit of a stink, but also, maybe, a bit of a sting?

6 points and £7m is clearly acceptable to the club as an operational loss... ...Same as playing Bazunu for half a season and a Damien Downs transfer.

Oh right. Yeah. Erm. Yeah 72hrs. Golf course. Cool.

Gatepost, surely?

I have nothing to say. So I'll say nothing here. Fa fa fa la la. Football is mental. I love it. Love you idiots. Love Saints.