hughieslastminutegoal

Yeah, it was first trialled by Platini as a strategy for France to qualify for the WC Finals, but in the end he fould handball easier to get past the referee.

..ah, cue Sweden pushing it as the next Olympic sport... dress in speedos and a short vest...would have been right up Frank Worthington's street.

What makes a really good side? Those that are doing well but make sure they win games at the critical times. We found ourselves (or got ourselves) into a challenging position, but we failed at critical times to get the result required, when we were in position to really put the sh*ts up a those in the top 6. OK so there were some crappy pitches. But I doubt that will be taken as a sufficient excuse by NC. AP has, overall, done a good job. It isn't a case of whether I or any other Saints fan want AP replaced or not. It's how confident is NC that the side will deliver when they are in sight of the winning post. I think there are question marks there. And if unexpected opportunities present themselves along the way, an ambitious Chariman may well feel it appropriate to move the goal posts because he will want those new opportunities to be taken advantage of. Recognise and act on new circumstances will be the mantra. That is what life is like in the business world. A sales director, for example, can't say "Well, how was I to know that opportunity was going to arise? It wasn't on my list of targets at the beginning of the year. But overall I did a good job." My natural reaction is to continue with AP, but then I'm not tough enough (or maybe not ruthless enough) to have made it into NC's position. That's why NC is likely to look at things rather differently to most fans. I'm just not completely convinced that, after a "so near" season he is going to want to "suck it and see" until Christmas. I think AP better have a very good closed season plan, and a very convincing but realistic transfer target list...

Stop it. LG3C will think he's missed a second lobotomy.

Did we, or did we not fail to capitalise on an opportunity at Xmas? The answer is Yes. Did we or did we not fail to win some highly winnable games in the last dozen games? The answer is Yes. So it isn't garbage. And my point is that NC may well look at the reasons why, rather than take a rose-tinted look back at the whole season. Because goal posts do move, and actual events change perspectives. Maybe he will think that it wasn't AP's fault, but that it was a lack of the right qualities in certain areas which we will try to rectify in the summer, but I'm not so sure that he won't think the second stemmed from the former.

This may be true, BUT we did have the chance at Xmas to really make a run count, and failed to do so. And we failed when it came to putting real pressure on Huddersfield, especially galling after trouncing them. It is very harsh, yes, but at critical points we choked. And I think NC will be looking hard at that weakness because, despite the goals, where was our control when it came to playing the minnows? There was a lack of nous at critical times. NC will be a hard task master as I don't think he's one to sit back with his glass of Chateaux Margaux and recall just the good bits without seriously focussing on the bits that went wrong. IMO Pardew will go. How its dressed up will be interesting.

If NC has any doubts he should do it now , not when we are more than half way through the season, and the horse has probably bolted. Does anyone really want more than 2 seasons in L1?

careful, you'll get ejected for that..

If NC does do it, I can't for the life of me think why he'd do it other than to try even harder (from his perspective) to ensure promotion. IMO it wouldn't do anything but confirm his ambitions for the club. By saying that I'm not necessarily saying that AP should go, but sometimes Saints do look a bit bereft of ideas about how to break the down the sides that string all the players bar one just in front of the eighteen yard line, and they have usually been the poorer sides. And when we struggle we often revert to lumping it up to Lambert, and I'm sure that NC has noted that. Maybe he thinks that won't move up a level without a change in the quality of the coaching? Mabe he thinks there is an assumption that we are virtually entitled to promotion next year, and to avoid complacency he needs to up the anti? I don't think compacency is going to be allowed to set in with NC in control.

No more than those who still appear to believe that the most effective way to ensure the rubbing out of an ex-princess is to shine a bright light into her driver's eyes in an illuminated tunnel..... seems like the majority are off their collective trollies. Conspiracy: religious theory for the 20th/21st centuries.

Yes, it would be very difficult to move yet again when that 30k a week salary is dangled in front of you...not.

By the way, its nowhere. Or did you mean "No. Where...?"

A 3 year deal on even the low end of prem wages means you barely have to work again after football it you are prudent. Set yourself up for life, or make more appearances in the JPT, and another year's worth of visits to 3rd rate stadiums? If the money comes knocking, he'll go. Simples.

Right back? You gotta be joking. He's a good skillful midfield player, but I'd say he might prove a bit lightweight for L1 at his age now that the "nip" has gone out of his game a bit. IMO we need a bit more steel and aggression in midfield, and I don't think Wade fits that bill particularly well. He did well at The Cherries, but it took him quite a while to really establish himself in the Burnley side. He's good, but he's an example of the kind of player who struggles a bit to make his undoubted skill and natural ability prevail over pace, size and athleticism in the pro game.

Well, well, someone at last has found an accurate memory!

Yeah, this should be a real wake-up call, but what the 'L. My mum is particularly reviled when she wakes me up at reveille. But I just wrap myself up in the net curtain, and go back to sleep, re-veiled.

Ha ha. You must be under 5 if you think "the "old Arsenal kit" alone is sufficiently descriptive! The last one I saw when I went to an Arsenal home game was red and white quarters. They all were wearing those boots with a leather strap running diagonally from the toe cap, and stacked leather studs nailed on to the sole. It seems only yesterday.......... Nurse, can I have the bedpan now, please......

Yep. And I really like Eddie Howe. He's young, talks articulately, and must be a damn good coach and motivator, given what he had to work with. Congratulations to him.

Another HCDAJFU thread? Who is this HCDAJFU fellow? Is he a Bulgarian International? A Polish U21? A Romanian youth cap playing in the Belgian League? He crops up a lot on here. Why haven't we signed him yet?

You ought to have written: genuine rhetorical question... why did we ever sign him!

Is that you're attempt at irony? Like, ALL flemish are racist?

Can't you see the contradiction in what you've just written? You clearly do care, otherwise you wouldn't be so anxious to wind them up!

He gets personal stick when people really are questioning the manager's tactics. He's a good pro and everything I've heard from him convinces me he's a loyal player and a fine character. However, when we signed him I posted on here that he wasn't really what we needed last year, and that I was surprised Lowe gave him a 3 year deal at that point in his career. Though his best days are clearly behind him, he gives his all when he's picked and I applaud him for that. And he has already donated a few teeth to the cause. He certainly doesn't deserve any abuse.

Probably a Very Spotty super fan.

I've drawn AP's attention to your odds. He'll be in contact........