shurlock

Don't agree with some of this: Jaidi has been our best CB in the last few matches -better than Fonte whose form has dipped by his incredibly high standards and Butterfield has been much more efficient on the ball than Richardson (memories of FR at Tranmere still linger - by contrast Butterfield's cross to Guly in the cup game???). The idea that our midfield are worth the wonderful marks you gave it is also dubious (going down to 10 men flattered them). This game was wn by the defenders withourt a shadow of a doubt. AOC and AL are real threats but didn't get into the game enough because we took an eternity to switch the ball (one raking ball by Hammond to AOC in the first half apart). Nobody besides Schneiderlin can really move the ball quickly which is imperative away from home because NA's first instinct is to play AL and AOC very narrow (presumably because he fears being outfought in the middle). I agree with your assessment of the forwards - Barnard leads the line very well while Lambert drops deep too often (remember he was converted from AM). At times, I think Guly and Barnard would make a much natural partnership.

Back from the game - good result and two points gained on Huddersfield. They, esp Odejayi and Henderson were a handful up till the goal and sending off (thought two should have gone since the foul on KD was horrendous). But we got over it and looked very comfortable defensively 2nd half despite all the hoofball. Oxo-Chamberlain was my MOTM - seems like the break on tuesday did him good. Also thought Butterfield and Harding had very good games. Something about Barnard (southend reject ) and Lambo still not quite working, so goals remain a concern. At least, there's more to come from Adam who's taking time to readjust but showing glimpses of his best again.

We seem to have the same debate every season - Nicky Butt was the last candidate. You would think on paper Hammond and Chaplow would be OK. Throw in the likes of Butterfield, Barnard, Harding and Fonte, we have a lot of strong characters out there. Personally, I'd like to see Butterfield given more responsibility - he's doing a v.good job at RB but I think he's playing well within himself when it comes to the other stuff.

Though I don't think you can just bring and slot these players in. They need to be accepted by the rest of the team before they are able to command authority and motivate - and that takes time.

Amusing watching Forecast help KD with crossing practice yesterday - could not hit/float/drive/loft one accurate ball into the box for KD to catch. Maybe thats the missing link...

Andy Crosby should come out of retirement:) Its not a league thing, its a mental thing. However technically good they are, Arsenal don't have seasoned pros/model leaders. Its not a call for another Robbie Savage wannabee; but we are mising a focal point. I thought Chaplow would have brought it but he's aggressive without being motivational.

Even if one is pulled off with an injury after a few minutes - shows how little you know.

Their keeper had a better sense of humour though.

WAS at the game last night -unlike some of those quick to weigh in with their quick judgments. Guly was probably our best attacking player first half and looked dangerous 2nd half though became more inconsistent as the game went on. One of only real chances from open play (chaplow) came from a lovely guly through ball.

Totally agree with the first statement, though I don't see the resemblance with Antonio (and I've been following Leicester's progress).

Absolutely - even the suggestion that criticism of MLT over this issue must start from deeper objection to him is bizarre. That's akin to once trusting neighbours or even family members ratting on each other in some f**ked up dystopia.

Does intelligence only extend to people who agree with you? Are MLT and co. beyond total reproach for the way they've dealt with this issue? Have kiss-and-tells to the press not ratcheted up tensions and made them harder, not easier to solve? What about stories that we're up for sell (whatever their provenance)?

I agree with alot of this - why bang on about the charity? in part because I think NC is sincere about saints foundation and wants it to be successful - its one of the most noticeable things that have changed under the new regime (though this might also be due to branding but i won't be surprised if it goes on to have a larger impact than previous club-sanctioned efforts). The economics are that ex-saints and the saints foundation are in a zero-sum game for donations. Because the people who are most likely to donate money to ex-saints are the same people who will be donating money to the saints foundation and money is tight-one charity's gain is increasingly the other's loss. And to the extent that two charities have quite different goals, NC quite rationally wants to ensure that as much money as possible flows to saints foundation - if that means keeping tight control over his big ticket items (e.g. access to players) so they can be leveraged for its own events, so be it. After all, how many times would you be willing to pay to meet or dine with players (if at all)? Personally I have no preference for either charity in terms of the personalities or the endorsement of the club (or lack of); but I do think the saints foundation supports a greater and more valuable range of good causes and therefore more worthwhile (or maybe I just have a thing for kids in Africa ). But as you say, politics underlie this - nobody has come away looking good - not NC not the former players. Each party has been involved in a futile d ick-waving contest. NC is predictably intranisigent. Meanwhile, legends though they are, the likes of MLT and Franny have mixed arrogance with incompetence - arrogance because they are presumptuous to think that they can call the tune and pay no heed to what they say in an irresponsible, sh*t-stirring media which affects the club in the here and now. Incompetence because they've played into NC's hands -rather than taking the moral high ground and working behind the scenes, they've made it easy for NC to cast them in the wrong. And while they have some legitimate concerns, those concerns look shakier and shakier with each kiss-and-tell and rent-a-quote to gimps on Soccer AM or in the Mail. Finally, shame that the d ick-waving has spread to the thread - anyone who claims to be balanced is a liar. Alas because they are on the defensive and feel embattled, the anti-NC voices have been the most extreme - that's human but self-defeating - every forum needs its sceptics; but it becomes harder to look past the personalities whenever a contrarian positon is held and all too easy not to take them seriously, even when they might be getting at some truth. Ultimately, that's all our loss.

That would be a good idea.

Lets not kid ourselves - plenty of things qualify as charities, even private schools that have dubious value. While I have nothing against ex-saints, its important to distinguish between how much of its proceeds go to local good causes and how much goes it to helping out former players (not to mention how much gets swallowed up in overheads). While I have nothing against helping former players -certainly many of these pros are bigger men than scumbag c**nts that pass as professionals nowdays will ever be but never enjoyed the same advantnages, there are nonetheless probably more deserving causes in the ultimate scheme of things. Money's tight, so some things will lose out. Given the choice I would prefer to donate my metaphorical loose change to the Saints foundation which appears to support a wider set of causes than ex-saints. We live in a world in which charities are in competition with each for scarce resources - and that can lead to unfortunate outcomes.

Cortese oh oh oh Cortese He comes from Italy He f**king hates Pompey Start learning the words, matey - we don't want you missing the bus

Good player - enough for WBA to pay £1m (and they went on to get promotion). Think he -along with Viafara's head not being right- were one of the main reasons our midfield was so lightweight and crumbled the next season.

White wasn't a bad player - shame Lowe and Dutch duo threw him in at the deep end which made it difficult for him to settle and develop. While we had alot of youngsters who were dross, the whole brutal sink-or-swim experiment didn't help.

Does Stewart Lee write your lines as well?

So Benali himself told you he was suing the NC/the club? Or are you not on those kind of talking terms?

this

Not necessarily - depends who's written it - different people can write for any one paper (need to know the individual journo - his sources and networks etc). More important, i'm more likely to belive something, regardless of the source, if there's an official line, quote or attribution upon which the journo can hang himself if he f**ks up - at least, there's one in this article (though I dont put it past a journo to twist words if the statement is an opinion - but this is simply reporting a statement of fact which is harder to spin)

Why not? The telegraph article is written by an informed and well-motivated saints fan who's no sycophant.

Jeremy Wilson's a saints fan, so is not indifferent to the contribution and importance of the past- bloody hell he's even written a book about our cult heroes. so he's no sycophant; unlike the daily fail, his tone is balanced and makes it hard, even for the strongest critic, not to be impressed by cortese.

A rant but a v.good one.