shurlock

Such mendacious bullsh*t, isn't it.

Agree -there are a whole lot of things you would want to test for -the extent to which the incumbent has lost the dressing room but also the timing of the appointment (early vs later on in the season); the extent to which the new appointment has the power to make a difference, say, a transfer kitty/the benefit of a transfer window; and the 'quality' of the replacement, including whether they are an inside or outside appointment - all these things could be measures one way or another. There is also no way of knowing what things would have been like had the club stuck with the incumbent. Perhaps they would have been a lot worse.

Cortese wasn't wearing a poppy. FACT

We've been f**ked playing from the back before. If the fear-inspiring, all-conquering Kenny Miller can pick our pocket (Jos at their place last season), I guess we can take comfort in it not happening in the prem.

Edit

Part of me wants former players to give it the big one - this season, the lack of celebrations has almost felt like an act of mercy, a refusal to kick a man when he's down.

And have a tiny knob.

Agree but we were playing 4-3-3 yesterday, no? It was effectively the same set up as against Villa (with Shaw in for Fox and Cork in for Davis). When we were in possession, AL and Punch were further up supporting Lambert with Ramirez in the hole, though interestingly when Swansea were in possession, AL and Punch dropped back with Cork, Ramirez and Lambert furthest forward. Separately there was also a case for pushing someone closer to Lambert once we started hitting and getting success from long, diagonal balls to him. Schneiderlin got his goal from a knock down/layoff but, all too often, people were arriving late. When we go direct like that, it's probably best to go to 4-4-2 with the game made for a fox in the box -a Nmayuka, even a Sharp.

Hope he's reading Peter and the Wolf to his new-born. Might learn from it too. Silly c**t.

Would also account for the telephone call he was making...

Would have brought Mayuka on for Punch - they were looking shaky on the right and fresh legs might have done more damage. But by no means would it necessarily have been a game-changer.

He was holding a saints shirt after the game - any idea whose it was?

Ok performance -not great- very little to suggest we've turned a corner. We'll have a better idea next weekend.

Agree - Swansea were very conservative and appeared happy to settle for a point. That said, they still passed the ball around better than we did with greater zip and purpose. Just like Gazza, their keeper did not have a save to make and we struggled for ideas. Thankfully, the long, diagonal ball to Lambert began to work in the second half and we got a slither more joy - but I would be concerned if that was our main and increasingly only creative outlet (many of our outfield goals this season can be attributed to a similar ploy).

Though one rumour doing the rounds is that there was no chat on Tuesday.

It's the Adkins Way.

Call me picky but I still preferred the 'pre-Adkins Way' 4-1 against Villa.

Fear not OP Turkish will have a theory.

Agree the double back is becoming more frequent to compensate for his lack of pace, further slowing down an often already ponderous build-up. He doesnt need to do everything - just wish he attempted to play the ball earlier and get involved in more give-and-gos.

The PTS thread has gone to your head, phil

That's as close to my position/view as you can get.

Oi skatey, you'll have to be better than this - MLT's stealing your thunder.

Agree it's a sh*t thread too.

A fly on the wall

In Merse's own words..."from a distance".