CanadaSaint

Same old story. We have to score when we're on top or pay the price later.

What a fricking homer.

Dave, I've seen you saying that before and that really worries me because I know how well you read these things, but the fact that we're still "in with a shout" probably says a lot about this division, eh? Even allowing for us not playing the way most of us would like to see, and even allowing for the fact that we still have midfield issues to resolve, all we may need to do is hit the same PPG average that we've hit over the past eight games. Yes, that would be fluking it into the playoffs but I'd certainly take that. What happens if we get there is another story altogether. We have made progress. From what I've seen and read, we have much more depth, we have more playing options, we are better placed to utilize width, the latest batch of signings should solidify us at the back, and Murty (who seems to be one of our keys) can't be far away from coming back. These changes should enable us to move things up a level or two. I don't think there's another team in the division with that kind of "improvement package" at their disposal. While I certainly bow to your opinion - because I know you and because you see the games - the optimist in me feels that we're not out of this yet.

If this is like most other clubs, there's one discussion inside the dressing room and one outside it. Inside I suspect that AP has made it clear that he fully expects a squad of this calibre to make playoffs, and that anything less will be a failure. This might be what Harding was referring to. Outside the dressing room he's talked about incremental steps - erase the deficit, climb out of the relegtion spots, hit mid-table, kick-on for a playoff spot. He probably even talks that way to Cortese but I'm sure Cortese has made it clear that he expects a playoff spot.

Look at it this way. Since the game against Hartlepool on November 24th we've earned an average of 2.00 points per game. And that eight-game stretch includes the losses at Leeds and Colchester and the draw at Millwall. If we average that same 2.00 PPG from now to the end of the season we'll end up with 71 points. That may well get us into sixth place, given the parity in the top half of the division; it would have done in two of the past five years, and if we can do that I think GD should work in our favour as well. It's a tall order but achievable IF the new guys gel quite quickly.

I don't agree with you on this. Although I sadly don't get to go very often, every time I do I'm truly stunned at some of the comments I hear. These are people who watch every home game and yet they don't have a clue. They see the outcome but never the origin and they jump to conclusions about players or incidents that, frankly, are laughable. Those are the ones who were all over Kenwyne and Kelvin and others, calling them hopeless crap, but they've conveniently forgotten that now. So their opinion is valid and mine is not because they go every week and I don't? Fair comment, and it surprises me to hear some of the strident views expressed on the game or post-game threads because people couldn't possibly reach those opinions if they weren't there. However, having said that I've seen - say - Lallana and James half a dozen times or more, and I have a pretty good idea of their overall strengths and weaknesses.

Our GD is good, and if we go on a tear to hit the sixth spot I think it will end up better than either Huddersfield or Colchester, or any of the other possible rivals. Don't you think?

Right. I can't see us losing 7, and the question is whether we can hit the right win/draw split. A win today would have been a great start, but we'd probably have chalked Millwall away up as a draw anyway.

I agree with you about the divisional parity. I don't think it will be higher than 71 and, as you say, it could be a chunk lower. If we win 14 of the remaining 21 games we'll hit 71 points, so I think Pards is erring on the cautious side, especially as we should win a goal difference tie-breaker. I'm still fairly optimistic even though it's asking a lot. We have an excellent squad that's more than capable of going on an extended winning streak, once the new guys settle in. Today was disappointing but we can afford the odd draw and even loss. There's no reason yet for all the negative sh*t on the other thread, even if it does come from the usual suspects.

You're right. I completely forgot about that because he joined us at the start of the season, but he'd already played for Rovers. Just once, I think, but that was enough. Then again, perhaps Newcastle made the same mistake.

Oh, Mr. Merrington, and please don't say "Now we need to keep a clean sheet", because it's the kiss of death. Those words have cost us more points than administration.

Perhaps there was something there but it turned out like a shortened version of the Ward situation - Club goes for two similar players, gets their first choice, drops interest in their second choice. (Big maybe there, I know) The Echo desperately needs a good link with the Club and there's no way they would have done this spitefully. In fact, I suspect they'd bend over backwards not to p*ss Cortese off again.

This is exactly right. Newspapers around the globe are becoming an endangered species because we are living in a new world of instant communication. This enables non-journalists to share what they know, and it enables sites like this to effectively function as newspapers when it comes to breaking news. Newspapers no longer have the monopoly position in news and news-breaking that they once had, and their advertising revenues reflect that. Tac-tics, my old mate, cut a dying breed a little slack. Today, newspapers are the followers, not the leaders. And Nicola knows it!

You're dead right on both counts, and I'd also like to know if there's substance in the Franny story. Next time a thread frustrates me, though, I'm more likely to leave well alone!

Jeez, officer, I categorically deny going anywhere near Stoneham. All I did was express bemusement that people were much more ho-hum about the alleged banning of Benali that they would have been if Lowe had done it. It was never intended to be a put-down of Cortese and a boosting of Lowe, but that's how some chose to take it. Granted, the thread did go pear-shaped not long after that, and I think the takeaway is "Be really cautious about mentioning 'that person's' name". It was all worth it, though, because the discussion triggered this absolute nugget that I have kept for future reference:

"Is Benali Banned?" thread #2 coming up. I hereby predict the arrival of Alpine & Delldays.

I'm not moaning, either. I'm just fascinated to know who's doing the tweeting because they're quite outspoken and seem to be pretty sure of themselves. Actually I think it's rather funny.

But it's like someone inside the club is pulling our wire and/or taking the p*ss out of Sky on Twitter. That's very unlikely to be a disconnected, lower level person.

A little bit of sick just came up.

Plus, Lancashire can't seem to stay on the pitch long enough to get experience.

Yeah. Even if you were REALLY deprived you wouldn't pay to see Maggie Thatcher take her clothes off.

I would love to know who's tweeting for them. There are very few real ITKs even inside a club but this person sure seems to be one. They appear to be right where the action is.

Given that much has been made of Herr Liebherr's spirituality, which Cortese and Pardew will certainly know about, I suspect that I have more chance of being signed for the promotion push than Ben Thatcher or Joey Barton.

I had hoped to leave this sorry thread to die but if you want to categorize one of my viewpoints as "b*ll*cks" you'd better be ready to back your views up. I certainly am. Lowe banned certain media from SMS and had what became a running feud with the Echo. Lowe disrespected former playing and management staff who were held in high esteem by large parts of the fan base. Lowe, supposedly, treated the staff with disdain. Do you see any similarities here, based on reported events and anecdotes from people who claim to know? I'm a big Cortese supporter and I have no time at all for Lowe. My original post was simply intended to whistle bullsh*t on people who harangued Lowe for exactly that kind of behaviour but see no wrong when it comes from Cortese. Results on the pitch have sweet FA to do with my point. Please direct me to the "b*ll*cks".

Phew!