CanadaSaint

She's obviously sensitive about people seeing her nipple bumps.

I'm fascinated by leftback, too. Just to help the Clouseaus figure out who this might be, here's his full 11-post "body of work" (oldest to newest):

We could find out tomorrow night whether it's "can't be fit" or "can't be arsed". If we see a team that keeps up the tempo, creates space with off-the-ball running, maintains its width into the final third, doesn't resort to hoofing, and can find another gear if we're chasing the game (or chasing a win), then we might have our answer. It may well be a bit of both, along with a need to respond to timely tactical adjustments from the bench. But if it waddles like a duck and quacks like a duck, it's probably a duck. I still think fitness is a problem.

Forget the timing. I think this, as Giordano says, makes absolute sense - all the more so for the fact that A) we seem to dominate early and lose relatively late, and B) we don't seem able to find a second gear when we need to save a game. In fact, the hoofing that seems to appear after half time may also be more a product of lacking fitness rather than tactical stupidity. If players aren't running off the ball as much and creating pass options, the only choice is to hoof. Higher fitness levels, for me, is almost priority one. Until this side gets fitter we'll continue to get turned over by teams that don't have our skill levels. And when the results of the fitness testing come out, I wouldn't be surprised to hear a few more Cortese shots at Pardew for his lacking pre-season preparation.

Well, at least he goes there to get screwed. Saints fans, on the other hand ... That was really my point.

It was indeed.

CB, I've got a pretty well developed sense of humour but this might not end up being funny. The guy has just arrived here, full of commitment and optimism, and already we have a sweepstakes running on when he will leave/be fired. Just imagine what some of our little journo spies could do with that, especially as some people on here have made it clear that they'd rather he didn't come here at all.

Dalek, you seem to have completely missed the point of my post. You keep expressing your frustration at (what you believe to be) the misery foisted upon the vast majority by the "vocal minority" who supposedly prevented Hoddle from coming back in 2004. I expressed my frustration at (what I believe to be) the misery foisted upon the majority by the vocal minority (i.e., you) with your endless and thoroughly tiresome bleating about Hoddle. Dalek, I'm a pretty patient guy but - whether I agree with you or not (actually, I don't) - I've heard it so many times that I'm on the point of vomiting. And I suspect I'm in the majority. Give it a permament rest, me old mate. I know you can post about other stuff 'cos I've seen you do it!

If you're so against vocal minorities why do you keep posting this sh*t about Hoddle?

A big, manly hug from me, Daren. Keep your chin up, mate - Mums aren't remotely replaceable but nobody can take the memories away!

He's too busy working on his disappearing trick down the road.

Exactly. I think Adkins brings a lot of things that can make us much better and more attractive, and he's done nothing to warrant the "underwhelmed" put-down. I get frustrated reading that stuff, especially from people who A) clearly have no idea what he brings to the table, B) have no serious alternatives to suggest, and/or C) think a big name is the cure for all our ills. I'm very optimistic that Adkins will turn us around and that we'll grow together, but I hope people (the doubters and Nicola) are willing to judge him objectively and give him some time - or else this club is really going to go pear-shaped.

So who's a "somebody" in your eyes? It needs to be someone who's likely to be A) available, and B) interested in coming here.

I like his comments very much - clearly not a media statement fashioned by a PR firm. Well, if he can transform our lot from category A to category B (because we have looked clueless and disinterested at times), the £200,000 compensation should effectively buy us a whole new first team squad. That's a hell of a deal.

Well, name them then. Don't just say "a bigger name". For example, if you would have hired Holloway or Grant (the two reputed applicants) over Adkins, then say so.

Some people have been readying their "I told you so" positions for several days now. I just wish they'd do something now that most of them have failed to do thus far - instead of just b*tching and sneering about Adkins, tell us who they would hire. Today. Right now. And "a bigger name" doesn't cut the mustard. Nor does anyone who is almost certainly either unavailable or uninterested.

Most of us, judging by this forum.

Oh, great. Let's get Cortese and Wharton negotiating something right away.

IMO we have a number of on-pitch problems to go with our off-pitch problems. I agree with what derry says on the tactical front, but two others are proving critical. Firstly, I have grave doubts about our fitness levels. It's no coincidence that we seem to dominate early and lose (relatively) late, seemingly unable to "find another gear" when we need to rescue the game. Secondly, there's a huge leadership void. When things go pear-shaped they stay pear-shaped, because there's nobody on the pitch capable of pulling us back together. We look like a team without character and lacking in intestinal fortitude. What I wouldn't give for a Bally-type or a Jimmy Case - someone who will rollock players if they fall short in effort level or start departing from the tactical script. Much to my disappointment, it's clear that Hammond is not that guy. These two issues are really hurting us now but they'll kill us later on if we don't finish in the top two. Lacking fitness and lacking character are terminal failings when the playoffs roll around.

All this kid has done is work his way up from non-league, fight for a place in the team, get there, and start scoring goals. Does he have "an attitude"? Yes, most of the good ones do. It's a pity that we're so short of players who lay it on the line every game, like he does. It was shameful to me to see so many of our fans rejoicing at his injury, but you've outdone them all, Colbury. Pathetic.

Good post. He's a rock solid manager and we can grow together. It won't please those who feel they're entitled to Premier League football but it'll work for most of us. Another one. People conveniently forget that Cortese had very little time to hire a manager and not too much from which to choose. I have concerns about his timing on the AP firing but maybe that was forced upon him as well.

I don't get this "He'll have to deal with the pressure and he's not used to it" argument. I could make a damn good case that there's far more pressure attached to the task of punching above your weight against teams with far greater resources - week in and week out. It'll be challenging for whoever comes here - O'Neill, Hoddle, Keegan, Adkins or even the late J. Christ of Bethlehem. But I fancy Adkins' chances of getting far more out of this squad, and playing much more attractive football. After the start we've had, he can hardly do any worse.

I'm with you on that, Phil. All sorts of stupid, obnoxious and even libelous sh*t is posted on here by people who then try to excuse themselves by saying "It's only an internet forum - nobody takes any notice of it, and nobody from the club even reads it". Utter bullsh*t. In this day and age it is THE medium for communication and everyone with any interest taps into forums like this - players, agents, managers and yes, even chairmen. Reading what some of the idiots on here post I wouldn't just be "wary" - I'd be walking rapidly in the other direction. I hope to God that Adkins can look past it and see the opportunity because I think he's right for us. Cortese doesn't want this dragging out, he wants to resolve it ASAP, but I think his hands might have been tied - possibly by probate issues, or executor issues, or maybe even family issues. But by the same token I think Cortese needs to be a little more forthcoming - yet without feeling the need to explain everything he does, especially in regard to confidential or potentially legal issues.

That's precisely the suggestion I made earlier in this thread.

Sure. These are people with strong experience and valid opinions. Likewise, the academy head has valuable perspectives to offer - and something to learn, because signings become necessary if the academy fails to develop the required talent. I don't see it as a power struggle but a cooperative exercise - unless someone resents or resists that kind of balanced, team approach, which might have been one of the problems with AP.