shurlock

The missing piece in the jigsaw, the evidential straw that broke the camel's back - you're right- this must mean that cortese picks the team.

No he didn't. Burley did. Remember seeing come on away in the league at Barnsley in 2007. Think he featured earlier in the cup as well.

Agree- both in terms of closing down higher up the pitch and creating things -hence his goals and willingness to shoot from distance. Still it shouldn't come as a massive surprise as NA played him virtually upfront with Guly last season at Donny when Lambert was out.

Who's saying that? We had a league 1 squad. £30m takes account of the money spent to replace the likes of Patterson, Lancashire, Wotton, Perry, Thomas, James etc - all league 1 players, if not lower.

Printer ink is the lifeblood of the economy.

Saw him play and score for shanghai shenhua when I was out there this summer - was overshadowed by their colombian CM, moreno who was quality. HCPDAJFU

So Chelsea jumped the gun for denouncing the chant as "wholly inappropriate"? Kangaroo justice in your book?

So the Chelsea fans who started the chant may have meant in totally innocent way too?

So the fact the song had never been sung before Chelsea sung it in an openly abusive way, the fact that the player at centre of everything is the same is just coincidence? You would agree that those involved have a case to answer at the very least?

Not claiming to know why they sang it or presuming a racist motivation. Where do I say that? But the reasonable man, the man on the clapham omnibus would say that the chant itself, one that had never been heard or sung before the JT incident and chelsea fans sung it in an openly abusive way, has racist connotations.

The chant has racist connotations -you are deluded if you think otherwise- however, it doesn't mean that those who chanted it are racist. They could be sheep in the long tradition of saints fans mindlessly aping other teams behaviour; or they may have wanted to get a rise out of Ferdinand and anythings fair game. Or yes they may have been racist. Nobody knows. Either way it's not big or clever.

"I’d love to say there definitely aren’t any but I don’t know"

What's this based on? Rickie gets zero protection from refs in the prem - its the same story as before. Dont know why- perhaps because he doesn't appear to jump/compete for many balls but defenders continue to get away with murder.

And a superb tribute to Nathan's bravery and morality it is too

He had a good game-made one bad slip second half but otherwise read the game very well and provided decent support to Shaw. Saying that, QPR have hardly been prolific at home.

When was the last time fans sung anything positive to an opposing player? Take your time, you'll need it. Don't know what's worse: a WUM or a WUM who hasn't got the brains to pull it off.

Still dont think he's all quite there yet but looked better as the game went on.

What is on the record is NA saying that he's followed Jrod's progress for a long, long time. That alone wouldn't surprise me as Jrod ticks all the boxes: young, english, hardworking, intelligent- that he's looked for in players at scunny and at us. More inclined to believe that the committee's input has played a larger role in foreign signings.

Only according to the usual mongboard standards of proof. What is on the record is NA saying that he's followed Jrod's progress for a long, long time.

Jrod is a 100% NA signing.

Nobody is saying that - they're saying its a combo of things -the return of Ramirez and Cork from injury, Shaw and weakish opposition that's had problems scoring goals, letting our defense off the hook. And its only 2 games - hopefully we've turned a corner but its still too early to say.

Agree Swansea were poor against us. And QPR were even worse - before playing us, they had scored only 3 goals at home all season. If our defense wanted a confidence boost, couldn't think of two softer sides.

Next youll be saying the same about Barnard. Davis has over 100 caps and Champions League experience and goals. Night and day. But like you I believe in Bayesian updating. And no doubt the club does.

You, above all people don't know? As with Gullyclause, Cortese demands that an academy player features Shaw has also been dealing with injuries and recovering match fitness.