Legod Third Coming

I agree. People say that any sportsman might cheat. So tell me, who was the last golfer who cheated??

I can't win this argument because you have a view based on romance. I'm not sure romance would fund coaches at my daughters' school.

In the World Cup competition itself you will find the groups seeded AGAIN, is that fair? There is nothing wrong with seeding - nothing. So long as it is agreed at outset and the rules adhered to. In my view, in this case what FIFA were trying to achieve was right, but they way they went about it is wrong. You could argue all day about whether the rules of a competition are fair and equitable to all and it will depend on the competition, the way it is adminstered and the way it's funded. The FA Cup is a prime example of a totally random competition. Where does it now feature on the world stage?? You see the problem... The FA would love to ensure that the competition is always played out between Chelsea, Liverpool, United, etc. And they would argue it is better for the WHOLE of football if that were to happen. They would have a very good argument. Sports funding a minefield. I know I've been there. Governing bodies genuinely want to do what is best for everyone not for some elite.

The thing about Hawkeye (as I understand it as a layman) is that the technology is far superior to the human eye. Therefore, it is better to rely on that. Just as in cricket/rugby, however, there is no magic solution. You only have to watch some catches to know that it is impossible to tell whether it has been grounded. Television WILL solve things though. It would have prevented a really, really bad decision being made on Saturday and that is a good thing. Put it this way, where is the harm in checking a decision with ALL the available evidence as opposed to a snap decision?

While I agree with you Alps, that FIFA would of course want the bigger teams there, they also have a valid and justifiable argument. If France beat Ireland fairly, then does that not tell you they are de facto a better team and more deserving of a place? Yes, France being drawn against Portugal would have been 'fair' in some eyes. But what would the point be of lesser/worse teams being there because of a randowm event (a draw) as opposed to on merit becuase of talent? For me the problem is not the seeding but WHEN they chose to do it. Seeding exists for good reasons - not just becuase of money but also because it should create better, stiffer and more entertaining competition. Imagine Nadal playing Federer in Round 1 at Wimbledon... People are being too harsh on FIFA. They have a responsibility to maximise their revenue. It's just their timing with this was appalling. They moved the goalposts - but they did not move them to the wrong place. They were in the wrong place before they were moved. (Spoken as a former Sports Administrator albeit in a different sport).

Er because gate revenue goes to the grounds and is then shared whereas TV revenue goes to FIFA. So I would say their reasons are about $20 billion worth... but just a hunch!

Don't get me wrong I am fundamentally opposed to what FIFA do. But you answered your own point. You say FIFA are not short of money but where do you think that money has come from and will come from? Do you know that Ferrari earn more than any other team in F1? do you know why? Economics. To argue against FIFA is to argue against basic economics. They need big teams at World Cups. Otherwise before long the sport would be marginalised as a global sport. Let's say that Tonga win the next six rugby World Cups, how many people in this country would still play rugby?

I think time will tell you are wide of the mark here. While you are entitled to your opinion, do me a favour. Phone each of the League One managers and ask them whether Lallana would walk into their first team. The reality is he would. That he occasionally fails to track back is no reflection on his positional play. When he does the job he is primarily required (and employed and paid) to do, his positioning is exceptional. Again, look at the goals he has scored and created. He is also still learning his trade - yes it's true. If you think he has cost us games versus the evidence of clearly helping us win games, you seriously undermine your credibility. Every team needs creative players and he is one of exceptional talent.

Think about it. FIFA CHANGED TO SEEDINGS. That is all the evidence you need. They wanted the big teams there. And who can blame them?? They rely on TV INCOME. How many people do you think will tune into Bosnia versus Wales??? This is not supposition - it is a fact. FIFA admit they would prefer bigger teams at the World Cup. Even if they don't ask the refs to fix it they have made their intentions clear.

How can a guy who kept Claus on the pitch in the cup final, took the time to show Niemi the big screen to prove he was onside, who has been a genuine role model for so many suddenly throw all that away? Shame. A briiliant footballer who in my view will never be remembered for anything other than being a cheat...

You didn't watch the Bristol game then? Or Leyton Orient? Missed the first class assists maybe? I think your prejudice might be blinding you to probably the most gifted player in the league. You keep hoping we employ some more hod carriers. No doubt you wanted Le Tiss dropped for a few more in the Shipperly mould eh?

Cobblers. We did not lose Sunday's game because Lallana didn't track back. We lost because Trottman defended like my gran. How often did Matt Le Tiss track back? When you have someone who can unlock defences, you don't give him the hod carrier's work to do. You give him the fecking violin and let him lead the fecking the orchestra.

Don't worry, he's due to roll another dragster soon and he can't get lucky twice...

This sums up a conviction that 4-5-1 is by definition defensive and necessitates the ball being pumped to an isolated front man. Why does having two strikers but then two flat banks of four offer more of an attacking threat? The 5 man midfield includes Antonio and Lallana. In my view it's equally attacking since there are 3 men going forward and 5 covering back. It wears our opponents into the ground, stifles them creatively and at will we can switch it to suit ourselves. I don't care what we play, but it's not fair on the system to cite it as being somehow impotent. Playing it and mixing it up we managed to win four games and score 13 goals in the process... I'll take that sort of defensive set up all season thanks.

It is one of the times when I think that the optimists were simply lulled into a false sense of security having been so narrowly beaten at Pride Park. The reality is you were spot on at the time. The defence was disastrously weakened by the loss of Chris Baird and Claus to injury. Combine that with losing Kenny J and any semblence of spine went with them. To then believe that Safri was a relevant signing was mental. And yet too many fawned over him. He was just one of the many square pegs Burley bought to fill round holes. If Pardew has one redeeming quality above all others, it is that he sees a hole and sticks the right shaped finger in it!!!!!!!

I would say that when Burley was presented with a team they played well like at Wolves where we were down to the bones because of injury! The rest of the time it was like bloody player scrabble...

People are being totally disrespectful to Brighton. Their first goal was superb. Great movement, great cross, great finish. Anyone would have been proud of it. OK our positioning (well Trottman's) wasn't great, but it was a good goal that beat Harding and Jaidi all ends up. Whatever their position coming into the game, they played well and caught us on the hop. The manager warned against it, but we slipped up. Yes we were poor but how often had we said that about the opposition that we outplayed? Too many of our players had off days. The performance was nothing like that at Bristol Rovers a week before - a team far superior to Brighton. The mark of a good team is how you respond. So on Saturday we'll find out how good our team are.

I have never, ever walked out during a game, ever. Until we were 2-0 down against Palace and heading for a pasting because that p i s s artist allowed two of the best defenders in the league to be replaced by Safri and some other lightweight useless midfielders. Under Burley we ended up with 14 (yes) midfielders in the first team squad. In season two he had totally lost it. Anyone with half a football brain could see it but Burley. Whatever happened post Hearts, he has just lost any managerial ability he ever had. Not a single Scotland player respected him - it was obvious from day one.

Both of which can be lain at Trottman's door. For it was he who failed to stay goal-side and was stood so far off his man he might as well have been in Ocean Village. He had a mare. BUT he can have one a season. Move on. As for Lloyd James he put in two scoring crosses which we failed to convert. He did ok.

Because Pardew prefers an outfield captain. Have to say despite today's fiasco I agree. Maybe today that WAS the issue. KD didn't want to captain the side knowing he was giving it up and the new guy didn't feel he could take the responsibility on yet?

Worth remembering that we used to be that team who would beat the big teams...

No, we played very very poorly. I am still positive, and I am relaxed about one shocker in the scheme of things but do not confuse myriad hopeful balls into their box with good play. Normally we are first to the ball, confident on the ball, decisive with our passing, mix up our play, use our width and work hard. We did not do that today and we paid the price.

Was that behind the shambles?

I don't think so. Yes, today was a shambles. But nothing I witnessed today bore any resemblence to the previous games.

Indeed. Earlier in the season when we played 4-5-1, we controlled every game. But too many complained it was 'defensive' (even though we scored 15 goals in five games)... 4-5-1 would have made a big difference today, in my view.