CanadaSaint

No - not after reading this forum for god knows how many years! I go both ways on Pardew (not like that!) but it worries me a lot that firing him could make us one of those places that good managers don't want to go. I just wouldn't be at all surprised if he did it, though.

So why did he keep turning up in the Directors' box?

I'm not surprised at the story because the signs have been there for some time. From NC's viewpoint, it's probably less a case of us not getting to the playoffs and more a case of where we blew important points. Here's one thing, though, that makes me think the report is inaccurate. NC has clearly had close contact with Coppell for some time, and there were rumours that he was the first choice ahead of AP, so why would Cortese sit back and let Coppell go to Bristol City if he was planning on firing AP?

I know this will get moved but it deserves all the exposure it gets: http://www.thefishy.co.uk/cgi-bin/forum/Blah.pl?m-1271541289/

We were out of this, dead and buried three weeks ago. And yet we're still very much in it, especially with the others wobbling like drunken sailors. Chins up, folks.

Get a grip, people. They came back from 0-2 down with 10 men since the 22nd minute. They just couldn't hang on, that's all.

At this stage of the season you really, really want Mo on yer side. Mo Mentum. We've really got it but the others?

Rovers' great home record "up in shreds". Or down in smoke. And it wasn't Dave!

Howard Webb is reffing that one I think, so anything could happen.

Try a shut down and restart.

What a thoroughly nasty piece of work you are, GM. And from the lofty heights of Bursledon Parish Council you call other people "zeroes". LOL. God only knows what kind of rejection is behind your prejudice (it sounds like the overseas kind - male or female), but it's time for you to seek help. Good luck with that. Moose Boy

I doubt it. We're at home so most of our lot are at the game. It's utter crap that they can't seem to sort this out. I complained and I've already been 'awarded' a free month. That's my second free month, so they'll soon be paying me to listen rather than vice versa. Sounds about right.

Perhaps "inside information" is the wrong term - inside emotion, more like. I just don't know why Samuel would bother with a Tier Three club - when there's so much going on around the country - if something quite direct hadn't piqued his interest. Something that fuelled a one-sided, over-the-top tirade. I hope you're right, but your key words might be "whether it be Pardew or anyone else".

And I wouldn't be at all surprised if Cortese concludes that there's "inside information" behind Samuel's article, and draws his own conclusions about where it came from. If so - given that Cortese's ego might well be bruised by that article, anything could happen. After Sunday. And I'm NOT sure he will get those funds. As I've said before, my fear is that Cortese won't release much Summer money to Pardew because he can argue that he already did that without seeing his (Cortese's) desired return. I just don't want to see us caught in a twilight where Cortese won't fire Pardew but won't back him either.

I agree with this but I'm not sure Cortese is completely focused on points totals. In his mind I think the damage may already be done, with vital points dropped against inferior squads. If he feels we should have made the playoffs, and I suspect he does, he'll view the season as unsatisfactory and act accordingly - if AP doesn't beat him to it.

I can't help but think that this article might have sealed AP's fate at SMS, one way or the other. It comes across as one-sided but "well-connected" - like something we might read in AP's end of career autobiography. And that might not be lost on Cortese. Cortese may be experiencing one of the dangers of getting on the wrong side of the British media - attack one of them and many others will see it as an attack on them. Not a good day for us. I hope NC's and ML's interest in English football didn't just drop a few notches.

Yes, and the cut-out are on the decline. They seem committed to making it work. Arbosolootly.

Nothing like a bit of ninety-six!

Aimed at one of the nicest guys in the game? Scum.

Not wishing to ignite a war, but do people feel that tonight's subs are those of a manager prioritizing the league above the JPT? Just asking.

I'm not liking the sound of this right now. C'mon guys, finish it off.

Stick your fingers in your eyes?

It sounds like a big stadium with a small crowd. Any idea of the number?

If we think that's a joke, I'd bet my house that he'll turn up as an assessor before too long.

I've heard it's very, very dark inside a rectum.