CanadaSaint

We seem to be pressing a lot more now but the changes were head-scratchers. If things don't turn around this would be damn-near the first time his substitutions haven't worked. A long time to go yet, though.

True, but we certainly don't know everything that was going on then with the administrator - and anyway I'd argue it's part of the same syndrome. For Cortese these things aren't personal so much as "You're either with me or you're against me. And if you're against me I have a long memory." That's part of the "Cortese recipe" so I'm not sure we can expect much change. If the gap is to be bridged it will have to be MLT doing the bridge-building, but the chances of any rapprochement diminished with Stelling's comments.

I'm with um on this. I agree with the "no freebies" policy but I'd like to see the bridges rebuilt and that would have been a much better answer. It strikes me that this is no longer about Cortese vs MLT or McMenemy - and maybe never was. I think it's more about Cortese's need and desire to be seen as someone you don't screw around with. MLT and Lawrie are examples rather than targets, and there have been many others.

Indeed. One of his greatest attributes is the ability to successfully adjust things. Even WGS didn't do that too often.

I suspect that Hypo is typical of the kind of 'fan' that Cortese doesn't mind losing as his five year plan unfolds.

I really enjoyed reading that and laughed out loud at this bit about the Carling Cup draw: "Nigel (Adkins) wants Liverpool but I really fancy Newcastle. That would be fun." It sounds like he thinks there might be a little unfinished business with Pardew.

Nice enough player but someone like that changes the whole focus of your attacking play, and I'm more than happy with the multiple focuses we have. He couldn't play in our team unless our team changes its style to accommodate him. That's one great, big No Thanks.

I'm not telling anyone what to do - I'm telling them that IMO they look like immature morons when they do it. Just as you look like a hypocrite with most of you posts. How on earth can you applaud the Tories and criticize an eighteen year old for selling his talent for the best dollar available?

I thought this was a discussion - you know, the thing people have on internet forums. Your silly little "stick to ice hockey" slur indicates that you can't deal with that, which just goes to show that maturity is a problem for you. Point proved.

Of course it happens, and it comes from the same kind of childish people who will do it here. It's far from irrelevant that AOC is a teenager - that just makes those who boo him look even more immature than they already are. Do you seriously think that the average person seeing that on television will see the club in a better light?

LOL. You're not mature enough to voice consistent opinions on anything so I'm neither surprised that you're on that side of the discussion nor bothered about your thoughts.

Yeah, and they need to grow up as well. He's eighteen FFS and he left us just as 99.9% of this forum would if they had his ability and the same opportunity - not to mention the same father. Abusing him is not only classless - it makes all of us look stupid.

Is that the best response you've got? More childishness?

I don't give a rat's arse about what's supposed to have happened because if it happened it was something his father organized. Booing and abusing an eighteen year-old on his return to this Club does indeed make someone look like a complete idiot, and that someone is not Alex. Unfortunately, all Saints fans get tarred with that moron's brush. While we're all rejoicing at the class shown by our team, we could at least think about showing some ourselves.

What exactly is the right way? Is he supposed to stamp his feet and say "Nooooooooooo, Daddy, I don't want to go to Arsenal. Pleeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaase Daddy, don't make me go"?

I'd wondered the same thing myself.

dune keeps posting this stuff without ever seeing the irony () but at least he's not one of the childish morons who'd be happy to see AOC break a leg. I've got no time for his father either, but Alex has only just turned eighteen FFS. Good luck to him.

Slightly off topic but I heard Coldplay's "Us against the World" for the first time last night and chuckled at the inclusion of "When the Saints Go Marching in" in the lyrics. Doubtless part of Will Champion's contribution.

Agree 100%, Wurzel. And I strongly suspect that at least one key target 'failed' at the 'interview' stage. This is over and above the one who became persona non grata even when we arguably needed a player of exactly his type. The ethos and high principles that Adkins brings (and Cortese promotes, I'm sure) go far beyond what we see on the pitch.

Lol

Well said. Pathetic, isn't it?

Youngsters (or, more to the point, their parents) make academy choices based on two things - A) Will this club help me to develop as a player and as a person?, and B) Would I have a reasonable chance of "making it" or would I just be buried in the system? I think we've done so well in attracting youngsters because we can answer Yes to both questions - and we set out to do exactly that. If City keep spending crazy money on their squad, they can only answer yes to one of them.

Agreed, Benj. I corrected myself with an edit.

I'm not sure from that replay that the second one was really a nutmeg but they were superb pieces of awareness and skill combined. And he's doing this to players who were reasonably comfortable in the Premier until Brum's late season collapse. Speaks volumes for Lallana's quality. To Gemmel's point about the 'unwritten code', though, I worry a little that someone is going to hurt him if he does that too often.

It's extremely disappointing for those of us not at the game that we are not permitted to vote for Ohio Saint as MoM. His ciggy breaks directly lead to two goals and one blinding Kelvin save and yet his name doesn't even appear in the poll. Poor show.