CHAPEL END CHARLIE

Ok then as the pro Guly case seems to rely more on perspiration, rather than any evidence of inspiration, I'll set out to describe in as balanced a way as I can why I'm so reluctant to join the 'Guly is Gods gift to wing play' Club. 1 - The primary role of a wide player is surly to penetrate the oppositions defence and provide quality service for our forwards to create chances from. Did he do much of that yesterday ? - I don't think so. 2 - Some seem very impressed by his athleticism - and to be fair he is quite athletic - but does he alone in our team exhibit that quality ? I say other players (such as Jack Cork or Adam Lallana for instance) cover as much (if not more) ground as Guly do Prado does for the entire match not just 70 or 80 minutes, but for some reason this goes almost without comment in comparison. Could this be because it is expected from them as a right almost, but seen as a unexpected bonus from a Brazilian born player for some inexplicable reason ? 3 - As a sometime striker how did he do in front of goal ? The only significant chance he had came near the end of the first half when he bottled out of a 50/50 chance with Burnley's keeper. For a attacking player who apparently had such a great game yesterday the fact that he played no decisive role in either of our goals is noteworthy. 4 - How about his defensive play then ? Compared to a real quality quality midfielder (like Adam Lallana) his positional sense seems poor and as the Pompey game showed he cannot be depended upon in a critical situation - not if it means he might get hurt in the process anyway. But the massed ranks of his fan club can feel free to point out any crucial contribution I may have missed. 5 - I see some seem to think I have some sinister (racist ?) agenda against this player. Well my posting history is a matter of record just like everyone else's on here. So those who may care to stoop that low should provide some actual evidence to prove their case or shut up about it - or rather they need not bother because the record shows I've championed the cause of many black players on here over the years, such as Stern John, Michail Antonio, Joussef Safri ... etc ... etc ... etc I hope the above is a sufficiently detailed critique that matches your high standards - please be so kind as to respond in kind. Those 'erudite' fans on the other hand who would like me to "ferk off" instead of expressing my view (as I see fit to do so) are likely to remain in a state of constant disappointment I'm afraid, because until such time as the Mods ban free speech on here I shall continue to have my say regardless of whether they happen to like it, or not.

Ha ! Concerned neighbours have called for the Fire Brigade already .....

You may be surprised to hear that I too am surrounded by other fans - even in the Chapel ! Although I don't take all that much notice of what they say because I form my own opinions without much reference to what others think, for what its worth Guly today came in for plenty of criticism from those around me - believe you me some of it more rather strident than anything I've posted. People keep saying he's great without being able to provide examples of his supposed greatness, and how it was materially vital to our winning of this game.

I thought (no doubt on my own again) that Burnley put us under some real pressure form the restart - for the only time during the match as it happens. If part of our managers reaction to that apparent threat was to bring Guly off and put Hammond on, it seemed to work. Not being privy to the thoughts of Nigel Adkins this must remain my speculation of course.

Then why did you say it ?

If your attention span is so childishly limited I can only suggest you attempt to locate the 'off' button on your computer old chap.

I drew this conclusion based on attending the match today, carefully observing this players performance, and formulating a view as to his real contribution to our team effort based on that evidence. As anyone who has ever undergone jury service will readily confirm, it is a fact of life that different people can very often see exactly the same evidence very differently - t'was ever thus. It does not necessarily follow that an opinion held by a majority must therefore be right, or that a opinion only voiced by a minority must therefore be wrong. For that matter I don't measure the truth by 'weight' of opiniuon alone. I stand by what I said.

Men, it has been well said, think in herds; it will be seen that they go mad in herds, while they only recover their senses slowly, and one by one. ~ Charles Mackay

Sharp had a fine game I thought, you'd have to ask the manager why he was taken off. I say the reason Guly was substituted is probably because he was not performing to the managers satisfaction at the time - in my opinion of course. For what its worth, I thought we regained a degree of control of the match with Dean Hammond on for Guly - doubtless everyone else will disagree.

The fact that you have no idea comes as no surprise. Still awaiting some detailed analysis of Guly's great performance.

But I didn't mean you sweetheart.

Oh I got your drift - such as it is. You seem to be having a problem understanding that I don't agree with you. If you think Guly was great today then why don't you expand on your argument ? What exactly did he do that impressed you so very much, and why did Nigel Adkins hook him off if he was so brilliant ?

What's really amazing is just how many mongs on here are satisfied with a player who puts in a utterly mediocre performance, but because he runs about a bit that's more than good enough for them. But if he was so bloody great then why did the manager hook him off then .....unless he picked up a knock, then Nigel Adkins must be wrong too eh ?

I think I've expressed my view with a admirable level of clarity. You on the other hand seem more interested in what I happen to think rather than adding anything of your own ..... presuming you have anything to say in the first place that is.

Oh I always read what others say, but I aways call things only as I see them. Now whether my view happens to coincide with that of others is as unimportant a matter to me, as it should be to you. Rest assured I'm certainty not going to be in fear of expressing myself just because it is unpopular on here.

You are capable of actual thought processes ? This will come as news to the entire forum .......

That would be you then. I had hoped that this forum had progressed beyond extravagantly praising Saints players just because they make a show of running around for you - they are very well paid to do that and to be frank that is the very least I expect from any Saints player. You may be satisfied with mere physical effort shipmate, I like to see some skill to go along with it thanks very much. All our players put a shift in today - but if that was all we needed then Simon Gillett would still be here. Guly wasn't just poor today - he was borderline dismal. All in all I think I'd rather have seen Jason Puncheon out there in all honesty rather than Guly - and that's saying summit because I don't think very much of him either.

If you think what Guly did for us today was great then you're far too easily pleased mush. He was sh1te.

All things come to those who wait. Many of us have been waiting a long time now to see some real evidence that our seemingly long lasting performance slump might be coming to a close. Although we were perhaps not quite back to our very best early season form, methinks todays effort was dominant enough (against decent opposition) to suggest we may be on the up again. The start of a unstoppable march to promotion then, or a false dawn ? Time will tell. Three good. Sharp and Lambert look to have the makings of a lethal strike-force - the best combo in this division ? Our defence looked much surer with Hooiveld and Fonte back together again Adam Lallana - The real thing I reckon Three bad. Guly do Pardo - Fading badly as the season progresses IMO - bottled out of a 'one-on-one' with their keeper late in 1st half Danny Fox - Offers the team very little of note as far as I can see. I had to defrost a frozen solid 10 year old on the way home !

Ditto.

I wonder if there are any Spurs fans who are still naive enough to think that Redknapp will turn England down because of some sense of loyalty to his current club and its supporters. If so then they are in for a major disappointment because if there is one thing I know about Harry Redknapp for certain, it is that Harry Redknapp aways put the interests of Harry Redknapp first ..... and second for that matter. As for the much voiced argument that the next England manager must be English for some reason, this is nonsense of the silliest sort. The FA should seek to hire the best man for the job - regardless of where he was born.

Couldn't agree more. Jose Fonte and Jos Hooiveld are decent enough championship standard players, but either would look a hell of a lot better playing alongside the real dominant CB we just don't have at the moment - like how Micheal Svensson (in his prime) used to make Claus Lundekvam look a bit better than he truly was perhaps. In my opinion we should have attempted to obtain such a player last month rather than signing TWO more strikers.

Nigel Adkins has done brilliantly for us - but just like the any other Human Being he's by no means infallible, and I've never believed that anyone should be above criticism. The real problem with our current team, and the principle reason we are still stuck in a dismal three month long rut, is so bleedin obvious that it should hardly need saying really - we're shipping too many goals of course. Read NA's reaction to last nights Millwall replay in the Echo, its mostly about Ben Reeves disallowed goal and the familiar observation that we're not taking our chances. The glaring fact that we conceded 3 goals at home to what the league table suggests is a struggling team takes second place. Some might say the manager could (perhaps should) have chosen to address that clear defensive fragility last month, rather than spending all our budget on even more forward options. Signing a quality centre half (with Premier League experience ideally) would do wonders for this team - akin to Andrew Davies signing back in 2007. It seems to me beyond debate that our defending is just not good enough, and the prospect of relying upon this collective defense in the crucible of the Premier League is the stuff of nightmares. With this fundamental weakness at its very heart it is a debatable proposition whether this team is ready for promotion yet - even if we get there somehow. It goes right against the grain for me to say it, but maybe we need another season in this division.

You talk sense. For a while now I've been looking for any sign that we are pulling ourselves out of the performance rut the team have been stuck in since well before Xmas - to be honest after last night it's kinda like cluchting at straws for all ther good it does. But we have good players and a pretty astute manager, so a Billy Sharpe goal or two on Saturday and who knows we could take off again. At least this is what I keep telling myself.

The first series was just as good. A casualty nurse swapped the (not very) mean streets of Cardiff to briefly experience the bloody consequences of Guatemala City's horrendous drug war - a proper eye opener that. But perhaps the strongest episode was when a London Bus driver went to drive a old 'Jeepney' in Manila ...... when you are reminded of what real grinding 3rd world poverty is, it does tend to put our mundane daily struggles into some sort of perspective. A worthwhile programme.