CanadaSaint

Great result at the sort of ground where we'd have dropped a point or three not long ago. We have to find a way of getting that second goal when we're on top. This division won't be as charitable as Division One.

Thanks guys.

Did they cut the feed at 5 p.m. or are some of you still hearing it?

Yeah, I liked that post, too. It does makes sense, when you think about it.

Yes, that is what forums are for and there's certainly "no harm in questioning some decisions" - far from it. However, you don't have to be a "rabid moron" to disagree with some of the criticisms - especially when they relate to trivia or when (in the poster's view) they're flat-out wrong. Cortese said from the outset that the Club needed to operate in a sustainable way and, after what we've been though, most people agreed with that. He's simply following through on what he said. Yes, he has some abrasive ways but many of his so-called faults are also real attributes when it comes to protecting the Club's longer term interests. I would suggest that he wouldn't be here - and we'd never have heard of Markus Liebherr - if things were going to just carry on as they were. It should have been abundantly clear from Day One that a key Cortese maxim was "If you want success you'll have to pay for it", and I've always felt that, sooner or later, some loyal fans would not be willing or able to do that.

I'm in two minds about Maynard. I haven't seen much of him but plenty of good minds on here rate him highly. My worry is that if he's to come here for the kind of fee being discussed, they have to negotiate a longer term contract with him. Here's where the Club's salary structure could be challenged, and that could create some resentments that could damage the great chemistry we seem to have in the dressing room. I guess that's going to happen sooner or later but it's still a rather worrying prospect.

Do you really think I'm remotely bothered by the opinion of a half wit who posted this about a 17 year-old kid? You're either too blind or too ignorant to see that the good far outweighs the bad when it comes to Cortese. I vote for ignorant.

When your argument is completely screwed and under attack from all angles, change the subject. LOL. No, I won't be at Barnsley, much as I'd like to be, but then (unlike you, uberfan) I won't be slagging off a guy that has us on a fast-track back to the Premier League. Are you out of posts now, Dan? I'm sure your rectum hopes so because it must be getting really tired.

I rest my case. LOL.

And I respect that, Shurlock. Treating him like any other opposition player is fine. What I have no time for is the booing and jeering that some see fit to direct at anyone who once played for us, even when they gave us good service. It's childish and immature and it makes us all look that way. It also probably motivates them to play well against us better than their manager ever could, so it's kind of self-defeating as well. Yes, I'm sorry AOC has gone but he was fun to watch, he helped us to get promoted, he brought greater respect to the Club and its Academy, and his time here has left us much better off. Damn right I wish him well. As for the "I hope he gets injured" brigade, they are people with a few screws loose.

Good for you. Sadly, I fear you might be in a minority because childish small-mindedness will win the day. God, we've even seen one half wit on here hoping he gets injured. I always admired how the Liverpool fans, for all their faults, would pay their respects to former players - and then rejoice in beating their teams.

When it comes to player personnel decisions there's a new imperative in the equation at SMS and I'm very glad to see it: Does he meet a known need? Is the asking price fair? Does he fit within our salary structure? and the new one - as important in NA's and NC's eyes as the others: Is he a "team first" guy who will contribute to team chemistry? That being the case I'd say Puncheon is a risk they're not willing to take.

I agree completely with that, Dave. My "rider" on this whole thing relates to what Cortese does with the money. We don't need to blow it all - we need to keep some up our sleeves. However, we certainly DO need to spend some of it if we want to challenge this year (which Saturday should have convinced us we can do). If we spend it wisely on the key areas (most agree on them) the AOC transfer would have been a brilliant piece of business. If we sit on the cash, if we get fleeced ourselves, or if we strengthen the wrong places, not so good. I'm looking at the squad rather than the finances.

Dave, I think he's a tremendous talent right now but admittedly only at the League 1 level. At 17 he was giving quite a run-around to some grown men, some of whom tried unsuccessfully to do little more than just clatter him. Whether he can take that to the next level (actually two levels up), and whether "he can learn the lessons he needs to learn" (I agree with you), remain to be seen but he certainly has a potential unlike any other English youngster I've seen recently. If he can make the transition he's potentially worth a lot more than fifteen million, and I think he can do it because he has that extra physique to help him. However, I worry that he's stepping into (or being pushed into, by his father) a cauldron at the Emirates. I just don't agree with the "we fleeced Arsenal" (we won't know for some time) and "Good riddance" (childish) comments.

Jesus Murphy, can't we leave the past in the past and move on? We're one step below the Premier league, and we have strong ownership, a good team, money to invest and a good chance of a strong season. Time to look forward with optimism rather than backward with anger, eh?

Did you even read the post? If you did you neither understood nor thought about about what it said. The whole point is that "the second one can't be proved yet."

Enough of this "We took Arsenal to the cleaners" crap. It probably comes from the same people who said "Good riddance" to Bale and then b*tched after the Milan game because we hadn't negotiated a sell-on fee. We've lost a tremendous talent in AOC but got a very good price for him. Whether Arsenal overpaid will not be known for years. Good luck Alex.

Just as a matter of interest, how do you reconcile a comment like that with your self-professed politics?

I don't think we've picked their pocket CB. He's a great talent and he's going to be a very, very good player - as skilled as Theo or a BWP but with a bit more weight and muscle to back him up. He's just not what their fans think they need right now, and I think they're right. I really hope we get on the high ground here, wish him well, move on and cheer him when he comes back to SMS for a game - maybe next year.

I think it says a lot about his father that he would happily throw his son into that cauldron. Not only does he have to cope with all the expectations that come along with the price tag - he's also becoming the innocent lightning rod for fan anger with Wenger. Think about the pressure on the kid. If there was any doubt that the father's motivation was purely financial, it's all gone now.

We've been dealing with that anyway - either we've sold him and we've got a p*sspot full of money or we haven't sold him because we've got a p*sspot full of money.

Not so fast. I've read many of his posts and when Charlie Wayman starts talking about psychological problems I'm inclined to listen.

You're right, capital. Even if others start throwing big money at their academies, they have a hell of a long way to go to catch us in reputation terms. (E.G. "The Pompey Academy" has the same kind of ring to it as "The George Bush School of Synchronized Swimming")

Disappointed he's going but there's nothing we can realistically do to prevent it because his Dad's got it all planned out. Hell, I suspect AOC would be quite happy to stay here, at least for now. What actually worries me more is that it could trigger a major increase in the number of clubs spending big on their academies - and competing for the best youngsters.

TBF I think everyone will be injury-prone if tackles like that only warrant a yellow card. It's kind of frightening to see that when you support a side full of skill players.