CHAPEL END CHARLIE

Alan Pardew - " our start was quite slow " - commendable honesty from the manager I'd say . Now if someone on here were to say exactly that they'd be lining up to argue with you !

Try and top this then :

Armstrong and Miller are a particular favorite of mine ATM - living proof that the sketch show format lives on in rude health despite all reports to the contrary . Haven't been to the movies recently but the last time I did (some forgettable kids film) I witnessed 3D technology for the first time - wow !!!! I have seen the future - and it comes with funny glasses . ps - does anybody know when/if ITV will broadcast series 3 of 'Dexter' ?

I've looked at the map - it's between Iraq and a hard place .

You think they are a better pairing than Lundekvam and Svensson in their prime ?

Gobern was all over him like a cheap suit - the ref had no choice but to give it .

Very true , our CB's (Jaidi & Thomas tonight) are big strong lads but sometimes fielding a defender with the ability to read the game more intelligently (such as Chris Perry) alongside a 'stopper' could possibly be an advantage .

Oh I'm quite enthusiastic too but I never even got a interview I suspect were it not for his previous association with the Club Jason Dodd would not be among the favorites to land this position - what exactly are his qualifications to do this job anyway ? This brings to mind an employer of mine who'd always hire family members in his business whenever possible regardless of their ability to do the job - with unfortunate results it must be said . In any organisation when a vacancy arises the best qualified person for the job should be employed to fill it - irrespective of their connections or history .

We're talking about different things , I'm talking about Paul Wotton not old players . Threads do develop a life of their own on here you know - like children you just can't control them ! Reminiscing is really not my thing but I've no objection to others indulging if they so choose , I will say however that living in the past is probably among old age's worst habits but 'each to his own' I suspose . Before you ask I am old enough to remember 1970's football and with the excepton of a very good Cup Final in 1976 it's overrated .

It'll be interesting to compare a young player who has risen via the non league route compared to our intensively trained academy/reserve team products - more first team action at a early stage may well have given him an advantage I'd say .

You must have noticed that it's common practice (and quite accepted) for a thread on this site to evolve from it's author's original intention into something slightly different as people concentrate on the aspects that interest them . To be fair the Professor did specifically mention Paul Wotton in the OP and suggested he was being criticised unfairly - that element is what interests me in this particular debate . Reminiscing on players I've all but forgotten about (while harmless) furthers the debate on Wotton's abilities very little but does fall within the (strictly interpreted) remit of the OP I will concede . If fans want to discuss players who retired years or decades ago then they're free to do so of course but personally I must say I find that not a particularly interesting topic as I'm in the clear majority on here that are more concerned with contemporary team/club affairs . As for 'picking on' or 'venting my spleen' on Paul Wotton that is an accusation I reject entirely - I have nothing personal against the man I just don't happen to think he's a very good footballer in all honesty . That's just a fans opinion based on observation of the player in question and a desire to see the team prosper rather than some hate filled crusade against him .

Calm down a bit . You seem to be putting arguments into peoples mouths they haven't actualy made . What next ? will you be telling me what political party I choose to vote for or which make of car I favour . :confused:

That's a fair point but lets wait and see if Emil Heskey is still a first choice striker in the World Cup next summer - I doubt it somehow . I still stand by the broader point that as a rule of thumb you pick your best players for each position .

I wonder if Reading's apparent willingness to allow Antonio to play in the FA Cup might mean a 'Gentleman's Agreement' now exists between the two clubs to make this transfer permanent in January ?

That's only true to a degree , for instance until recently is was common currency in international football that Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard (surely the two best English midfielders of their generation) could not play together effectivly in the same team - then Fabio Capello comes along and suddenly that seems to be no problem at all . Good managers (within obvious limits) pick the best players available and adapt the system to make it work .

Oh I learned to read a long time ago , but thanks for the insult anyway . Along with learning to read I was also taught the value of good manners , what a pity your education never stretched that far . If you must live in the past some of the departed players Paul Wotton has been compared to on here (such as Safri or Marsden for instance) were far superior footballers to Paul Wotton in every conceivable way I'd argue , indeed the comparison itself is yet another insult .

John if "does a job" is the best we can say of him (that's called damning with faint praise) than that's not exactly a glowing testimonial is it ? . If that is truly his level now (I'd say it is) then the accusation that he is being unfairly singled out for criticism does not seem to hold much water . There are any number of lower league players who could do a 'Wottonesque' midfield job for you , perhaps we should aim for better than that if we want to field the quality team this club ambitions require . If I remember correctly his contract expires next summer , does anybody on here really think it should be renewed ?

Inferring that the Wotton skeptics 'hunt in packs' (like wild dogs) reads as a pretty clear insult to me I must say .

I could hardly disagree more . Yes the manager obviously does know more about football than we do but does that mean we can't have a opinion ? I have never played football at a high level - I still know a poor player . I know less about politics than the Prime Minister - but I know a policy mistake when I see one . I know next to nothing about high finance - I still say greedy bankers have screwed our economy . I'm not a surgeon - I can tell when a treatment doesn't work though . The fact that we're not paid professionals doesn't mean we can't have a say . To go through life passively accepting everything that those in power do or say because 'they know best' seems to me to be the very height of Human folly and a recipe for disaster . Not only should you question those in authority - you must .

Top marks for not calling people who disagree with you an 'idiot' or 'moron' or digressing into irrelevant comparisons with past players as many have before you - a welcome development on this thread . Your argument is fair enough as far as it goes but the uncharitable might say we've won in spite of him rather than because of Paul Wotton . I've seen this player perform as much as most have on here - I've watched him carefully - and I just can't see what PW offers our midfield other than a decent attitude and some experience . I'm still waiting for someone to make a specific case as to why they think he's such a good footballer . I'm beginning to suspect this collective failure to argue the case properly is because there really isn't much of a case to argue .

The latest in a long line of insults towards those who happen to think Paul Wotton is not a very good footballer . I note with interest Wotton's defenders are (in the main) resorting to abuse rather than putting any kind of cogent argument forward . If there's anyone on here with a decent case as to why PW is such a good footballer I'd love to here it - something a bit more substantial than 'the manager keeps picking him' would be nice .

As we're not using our corners either perhaps we should follow the Orient's example - knock them down and put up a block of flats . A nice little earner for Mr Liebherr .

Dirt probably from dragging them on the ground .

Tattoo's are just so classy . Who could not want to follow this example

If I was Paul Wotton and I heard many SFC fans on the internet didn't rate me very much then I'd make pretty damn sure I did my very best to prove them wrong in the next game - making people eat their words being one of life's great underrated pleasures . Personally I don't think Wotton has that in him anymore , not because of some flaw in his character but rather a fundamental lack of ability at this (late) stage of his career . If I remember correctly PW was Plymouth FC captain and a first choice player for many years , it would be interesting to hear the opinion of someone who regularly saw him in his prime - any tame Jenner's on here ?