SoccerMom

He'll bring ET with him, surely.

No, it's not - it's in the article.

TBF, we've only been down for "open" training, so I don't know what they are doing the rest of the time, but what we've seen was very like the 'warm-up' at the Man U match, for instance - complicated movement around a square (don't know what you call that) and intricate exercises, and then practice matches. Nothing that I could identify as working on the basics, which is certainly what they should have been doing all sodding season. Maybe they were concentrating on putting on a show for the half-dozen or so fans that showed up, but it didn't seem like it. It all just seemed a bit robotic and pointless, and I couldn't see what they were supposed to be working on. But when you put that together with what we've been seeing in matches, then you kind of think that 'robotic and pointless' is spot on. We can see the same mistakes happening, week in, week out, and - perhaps even more worrying - no change of tactics or sense that problems have been worked on, which means that other teams only need to see a couple of vids to know exactly where the weak points are. There doesn't seem to have been any imagination, any forward thinking, just a kind of blinkered 'this is what we do, and we can only do it in this way' approach that doesn't take account of squad strengths and weaknesses, other teams' tactics or the position of the team in the league - just like someone had programmed the team with one version of the software and that's it.

whoops! Sorry, posted that on another thread...

Actually, just the 'sorry' would be nice.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8006621.stm A team with some honour, at least...

What did occur to me, however, is that with the dismal display of the so-called experienced pros yesterday, perhaps it would have been better to play those who still have something to play for? If it really is all just a matter of attitude (I don't buy it that this team isn't good enough - I've been down to Staplewood with the nipper and IMHO there's something deeply, deeply wrong with the coaching and managing) then why not give the job to those for whom it means something? The youngsters are unlikely to move on next season, so ought to have a vested interest in last-gasp heroics.

Nearly £65K but from only 60 contributors - over £1K each. Clearly with MUCH more publicity it would not impossible to raise the money. At that level, only 1% (2000 people) of the fan database could contribute £2mill. Or has it been that long since I did A-level math? Don't say yes.

Excellent!

Sixty-nine, dude! Just think what we could do with a telephone box with a guitar stuck on top. I'd vote to go back and steal MLT, Claus, Killer, Terry and Micky just in time for the Burnley match... No wait, no one else is picking up on these references.

But apparently Fry was on the radio this morning saying that the club was safe until the end of the season? Never mind depressed, I'm confused. Oh, but maybe there is some kind of financial vortex in the middle of SMS that drains funds as soon as they reach the club. Cue the suggestions...

Be excellent to each other! Now that would be something - air guitar in the directors' box and annual summer concerts by Kiss.

TBF most of the time his was injured or on bail... As far as I'm concerned if his sale keeps the club afloat until the end of the season then his moral debt to the club is paid in full. Sayonara, Nathan, may your God go with you.

Said in the programme yesterday that he had gone the full 90 mins against Gillingham reserves (so the nipper pointed out to me...)

http://fleg.urbanup.com/1080470 Red Fleg, you say? I don't think the stewards would put up with that, but go ahead - paint it red, wave it around, and see how the crowds respond.

Not just you, but why is everyone convinced that Barnsley will go down - they have a game in hand to Coventry...

I thought so, too. I hope you're right.

Lallana's first touch improved greatly today...

The ref was odd, it's true. By and large the decisions that he made went the right way, it's just that he let an awful lot go by, and certainly that elbow deserved a red. I also couldn't believe he didn't book, let alone send off, Wotton for throwing a punch at that Palace player. I was glad at the time, of course, but on reflection is this how the game just gets more and more physical, and why refs don't get the respect they want? If they're not prepared to check bad behaviour, then will we eventually see out-and-out rugby tackles being considered fair play? Just a thought.

23,220 from the OS

Can't be any worse than Rudi's - in fact it's much better. He is getting more instinctive about it, and clearly has learned to adapt to the new position from the direction of the older players. Shame you can't say the same about Rudi.

Second that, and from the nipper. He's surprisingly cheerful about this afternoon.

As I said on another thread, it's happening even when we're not on telly! Charlton, anyone? Just one of those things that other teams sussed very early on, and nothing effective has been done to counter it.

Meh. We will be there and will cheer like mad things when the players run on the pitch, but really just want the waiting to be over. Let's be having you, new owner, please, rebuild in League 1 and MOST OF ALL - let's have a club that we can be proud of. The worst thing about Friday was just watching most (not all) of the players on the pitch wandering around for 90 mins not even playing for their pride. That was far more shameful than losing to the eventual champions of the league.