Crazy Diamond

I can only hope this isn't the case. I don't think he's suited to the job at all. Not least because he's no record of promotion from League One and then experience of the Championship, which I believe we need. I worked for AFC Bournemouth for the majority of last season as a freelance club journalist, and whilst yes, they achieved promotion, the only thing that got them promoted was the fact that Howe knew the club inside out, having been their reserve team coach, youth coach as well as their 'star' player for a number of years. They had a very good run of games at the start of the season and that early form for me is what got them promoted - their form after that was patchy for the large part. He's an ambitious guy, of that I'm very sure, and also a natural born winner. He wasn't someone you wanted to cross when AFCB lost, as I actually did, to my peril on one occasion. Steep learning curve for a training journo! With that comes something else - he doesn't take orders. I think a lot of his success last season came with their chairman Eddie Mitchell not interfering and letting him do whatever he wanted. He only signs players that HE wants - with these things in mind, I can't see him working well with a chairman like Mr. Cortese (please note that this is not a criticism of him) and I can't imagine he'd enjoy having players thrust upon him - Guly, Papa Waigo etc. The big ambition of our club will be unlike anything he has ever experienced - AFC Bournemouth have a small club mentality, and that's not being harsh. He's also a huge Bournemouth fan and loved his time down at the Skates, although it was extremely short. That might be irrelevant to some, but I'm quite sure he doesn't hold us in high regard. My conclusion? Last resort.

Having worked with Eddie Howe for most of last season, as I moonlight as a journalist with AFC Bournemouth, I can tell you he'd rather die than manage us. Bournemouth hate Southampton, and Howe loved his very, very brief time at the Skates. So I'd rule that one out. He's also very much his own man. It seems to me that Pardew was playing with players that he had thrust upon him, found through our new scouting network, i.e Papa Waigo and potentially Guly. Howe always signs players he knows very well and would not react well to being told "Sign this guy, he's good. Go on. It's got the chairman's backing". Don't think I'd want him either, personally.

At what point does this affiliation to Glenn Hoddle become a very unhealthy obsession? Six years ago maybe?

Well, having sat in my seat for the games I have, which is now three, I have heard complaints about these things. You'll have to take my word for it. My general point though was really how it's a bit stupid to spend a lot of money to watch a game, and then not even watch it.

I believe you understand. For clarification, most of the people around me weren't watching the game whilst the officer was filming, they were focusing their attention on him and weren't even aware what was going on in the game. I think this is a tad silly.

Thought it was utterly pathetic, the reaction that most of the Northam gave the officer in question for doing his job - if you've nothing to hide, what on earth is your problem? All these fans that complain about ticket prices, season ticket instalment plans being withdrawn, it's nice to see you were dishing out abuse and looking for a police officer rather than focusing on supporting your team and watching the actual game. Utterly pathetic. Best thing about it was the lout two rows in front of me that shouted a carefully planned line; "Have you got permission from Cortese for that?", to which no-one laughed, making him look a complete twonk. Also who was that brilliant fellow who decided to go to the officer and try to talk to him? What was the point?

Have written a piece for FourFourTwo magazine, should be appearing later today on their website.

First of all I'd like to wish his family well, their grief must be nothing in comparison to ours. I'd like to thank Mr. Liebherr for devoting his time and resources to us and giving us a club to be proud of once again. If his efforts with our club are anything to go by, he must have truly been a great man. Thank you Mr. Liebherr, rest in peace.

**** player goes to a **** 'club'. AFC Wimbledon went full-time this year, gives them a decent shout at promotion to the Football League this year.

That'll be it then. I don't know if that can be put down to the fact there was poor communication amongst the ranks due to a new signing or whatever, but there can be no doubt that it was our slip that led to them scoring. I'm certain they only wanted a point from that game, they really did have no ambition. Even when we were bombarding them with ten minutes to go, they never took their chances to pick us off on the counter attack - evident in the fact that on 70 minutes they basically didn't even have a forward player on the pitch. As frustrating as that is, that'll be the way most teams play against us. But if I can figure that out, Pardew and the 11 men on the pitch must sure as hell expect it...

As I saw it, Fonté was actually pushing a fellow player out of his way, there was definitely a mix up, and Fonté promptly ended up on his knees. I do concede however I had a restricted view, I was actually (no word of a lie) stood/sat behind someone with an afro, which didn't smell particularly pleasant and caused me a lot of neck ache as I had to keep peering around the sides of him. I can't imagine that Fonté would be pushing another player out of his way unless there was some sort of mix up, hence my mentioning of a defensive error.

Can't really agree with that at all, they did nothing. They celebrated louder in that aforementioned 05/06 season when they genuinely did celebrate their point like it was a win. In the second half (even in the few seconds before the goal) I felt we were quiet but that's the way it usually is, in my own experience. Which reminds me actually, some ape behind me uttered "Get out Pardew", and full marks for the child below the age of ten who had the courage to shout back "Shut up about Pardew".

Plymouth Argyle? More like Plymouth Arbysmal. They came for a point and got three thanks to one defensive error. They had no ambition to win that game at all, first half they made us look good! Much improvement required. Hopelessly plugging high balls to Barnard and Connolly who couldn't control it - they're no target men, and it made the fact Lambert is out of action look as if we're a one man team... Their fans were TERRIBLE today, not even singing when they scored. Quietest set of fans I've heard in years. The worst being Crewe in 05/06 when they brought about three fans and were resigned to having a very bad day.

Very true Rory, very true. Personally I think just about everyone on this forum ought to take a look at themselves and remember something - this is an Internet forum. No one is ever going to agree 100% of the time, and some people feel the need to act a certain way about certain thing, in turn, posting certain things. Peple rising to it only makes it worse, and then more posters get involved, and more, and more... etc etc. I don't agree with the seemingly 'anti-NC' brigade and find some of it very silly indeed, but I'm stopping way short of the point where it bothers me. If people start feeling an emotional attachment to this forum and the posts that are made, I do have to wonder about them... I have got a point to make in there somewhere but it's quite early in the morning now and I'm probably just rambling.