Junior Mullet

Has anyone actually read the article yet, apparently quoting someone who was there and was caught up in it? I wouild be interested to hear what was said. Or are we just all interested in idol speculation and moral point scoring on a forum?

Quality. Didnt see the wood.

Can someone please tell me what the article says. The online Echo just teases and I work in Skateland so can't just nip out and get a copy.

This thread shows perfectly why some posters suggest this forum has had its day.

Is it time to acknowledge that the internet with all its freedoms has limitations and should we not just go back to meeting in pubs to talk football? The thought of talking football in pubs in the evening and weekends rather than 24 hours a day in front of a screen with people you don't know but think you do is a little wacky I know but perhaps it may just work.

I think his physicality let him down - lacked pace for a full back and wasn't really strong enough for CM. A good passer of the ball though.

Watch Arsenal or Chelsea - two teams that attack beautifully and make it look so easy. The key to their game is movement. Movement off the ball and on it. We lack either and in the absence of Lallana we also lack a midfield able to thread balls through to them. We've gone for CF's who can hold the ball up rather than players with movement. Served us quite well last season but then we had Papa to provide movement off the bench. This season it looks as though other teams have seen how to counter our style. IMO in order to go up this year we need other options in attack - a tricky CF with clever movement and a bit of pace and a CM who can actually thread a ball through and unlock defences.

Nice read. Sure to be ignored or misconstrued by some though.

Happy days. Glad we are getting a big name manager to make up for all the turmoil. He's a huge name that should inspire the players and stop them deserting ship. Thank you NC, if true.

Just a point about these shirts - nice as they are and regardless of how many we sell, they are not particularly good to see against a crowd and empty seats which are also mainly white. Anyone remember Sir Clive's comments when he was here about peripheral vision etc and shirt colour. For me the shirts don't help the players much. Now a team in 'steward orange' would perform better but probably wouldnt sell so many shirts. So NC seems to have put non-footballing matters first once again. Down with NC.

Yup, matches against some of the best young teams Europe has to offer it was hoped. Been awfully quiet so far though!

Disagree

That's what he wants you to think IMHO. IMO there has been no foul play, just a realisation that he is the wrong man for the job. The source of my opinion = body language of players on the pitch since the sacking.

I confirm that Antonio was at the game on Saturday. I saw him just after half time shaking hands with a few of the saints players as they came out (subs I think). Also walked past him after the game.

Not really if you can prove gross misconduct. You are quite right that technically you do still need to follow procedure to avoid a finding of unfair dismissal on procedural grounds BUT the tribunal have discretion in awarding compensation and take the employee's conduct into account. Thus a sacking on the spot for proven gross misconduct may well lead to a finding of unfair dismissal but no compensation. The maximum award for unfair dismissal is capped at a fairly low amount also, ibearing in mind the salary AP was presumably being paid. The key consideration here is breach of contract ie wrongful dismissal. NC would have had to tread carefully and ensure he had enough evidence to prove that AP's conduct was sufficient to amont to a fundamental breach of his employment contract. If the mutual trust and confidence had been shot to pieces by AP the club will not be liable to pay AP up to the end of the contract. The club might instead choose to sue AP for compensation (similar to the Mutu situation). Chances are AP and the club will just have agreed to depart company without compensation either way in return for mutual gagging clauses.

Why not call him in on it, wait to see what happens and potentially pick up a large sum of compensation from Villa if they make an offer to him?

I'm no football genius but the result tonight does not surprise me. Take your seats and watch further fallout unfold. Saints aint a happy place at the moment.

"He told me he was exasperated at some of the decisions that were made and some of the things he was made to do." The mind boggles. Answers on a postcard as to what this may mean. Personally I have an image of NC asking AP to naked butler in the 1885 club after matches.

Yup, he is waiting until January before making a decision. He will probably leave in January unless we look certain to gain promotion.

AP will have the last laugh unfortunately.

I am most concerned about the effect this decision will have on the players. it is well known that a number of them turned down offers from higher levels this Summer in the hope that they can achieve with Saints. If we are not gunning for promotion come January you can rest assured that a number of players will desert the crazy ship I feel we could become. I have said before that taken together Cortese's decisions showing worrying signs. For me this one absolutely confirms that. I am left wondering whether (a) he thinks he knows best about footballing decisions or (b) whether in fact he knows bugger all. I imagine Cortese had a bnig part to play in Papa and Guly joining us and the rumour about AP and NC rowing over a potential new signing before Saturday's game is a little disturbing. History is littered with examples of Chairman who think they know better than the manager yet there arent many examples where such a situation has a happy ending. I am concerned.

I don't think the club need revenue from booking fees or car parking at all. I think their reasons for doing this are otherwise.

Come on Stu, you're smarter than your posts on this thread give you credit for. Why are you so worked up about these revenue streams? We clearly do not need them anymore than we need a shirt sponsor this season. What difference does it make to the football? That is afterall why I go to games - for the football, not to comment on advertising hoardings. I wonder why so many people are obsessed with irrelevant factors at the club - perhaps it's the understandable focus we have had on money in the past few years or perhaps it's a case of finding any reason to criticise the Chairman. Either way I think it's a shame we can't focus more on football. Just an observation - your posts on the first page are a bit schizophrenic - on one hand you criticise the new marketing bods and say they must be accountable and then say you are not having a perosnal dig at anyone. Come on Stu, calm down mate. Have a beer and enjoy the season - it's going to be a good one for us.

Our best eleven deserve the opportunity to test themselves against Prem opposition. Hopefully it will show them how much they have to do to improve to reach that level which in turn should make them raise their game against league opposition. A good run in the FA Cup and JPT seemed to have a positive effect on our league performances last year.

I think Barnard deserves a starting place in a 4-4-1-1 personally. He looked our most potent threat for most of the game on Saturday. That line-up also ignores the fact that Lambert currently plays the "No.10" role in a 4-4-1-1 formation at present. Lambert is most dangerous when coming slightly deeper rather than playing on the shoulder of the last defender. I therefore expect Guly to be a straight swap for Hammond if he can prove himself. AP went on record last year saying Deano needed to up his game and IMO nothing really has changed. We need a real dynamo in the middle of the park if we are going to cruise to promotion without having to scrap for it. Neil Danns would have fitted the bill perfectly but it seems he's not going anywhere now. Let's hope Guly can deliver. Let's face it none of us really know anything about the lad. I reckon if you made a quick compilation for UTube of most of the posters on here scoring there best ever goals on the local rec it would look pretty impressive so I never pay too much attention to them. Talking of formation, has anyone else noticed how Shneiderlin is playing slightly deeper this year? Seems to me to suit him. He's also filled out a bit which can only be good news.