Nineteen Canteen

Ridiculous is one word you could use, it seems more concerning to me given the circumstances. I'm no fan of the Echo and out of their catchment area so don't even read it regularly but in this instance and IMO they acted as I would expect any newpaper to act and report items of interest to their readers. It's bad enough papers forming allegiances with political parties. What next the FT to form an allegiance with UK banks to help protect their pay structures with positive reports about the roles of millionaire bankers? I want the Echo to have a healthy relationship with the club but I don't want them to be in their back pocket either and the inevitable suggestion this would bring that news relevant to their readers would be supressed. Mr Cortese needs to back down on this and quickly IMO.

Immaterial? Surely it was a surprise this did not break earlier and the club have had 2 weeks to release the story before the press did it independently. Agreements between news reporters and those who make the news should not exist IMO and Rupert Murdoch is a classic case in point regard heavily weighted reporting bias.

I agree but at the moment it is a worrying development and the Echo did not exactly breach a confidence as the information was there for all to see in the planning application. I hope Mr Cortese reconsiders because although an excellent job he may be doing he cannot control the press or the media and the right to freedom of speech. It's imperative that our media, TV, Radio and newspapers give us their reports on the club based on their observations and contact with the club. To start banning them because of what looks like a control issue IMO then that I'm afraid does give cause for concern. Perhaps Mr Cortese would like to buy a local radio station or the Echo but until then he needs to respect the service the media provide.

Yes you're probably right.

No but in MLT's book you get a sense that his homage was the least sycophantic and for that you have to respect him.

He was also quite good at resurrection and with his dwindled support I suppose this Easter he may come again via the medium of TalkSport and tell us all that he is available to offer coaching on penalties to the England team. Afterall a bit of gratutious PR never hurt anybody.

I know you wouldn't let me down! You're right to a degree but I don't think on this occassion 'it's the slightest opportunity' and this time last year I was a bigger fan of MLT than Daren Wheeler is, who no doubt snuggles into his MLT pillow case of denial every night, whereas I prefer pins. Mummy told me not to go into Pubs with strangers. I ignored that advice and now I never do as the last person who said do you fancy a drink I ended up marrying them and a lifetime of regret and purgatory, still she only has herself to blame.

That's a long post to say in your opinion MLT would be a good coach when reading his book and his attitude to coaching and career advice would suggest IMO he is far from being dedicated enough. PR stunt to cover that one mistake and we'll ignore Pinnacle as an example of assessing the merits of each individual player by doing his homework. Apart from the fact its an insult to Capello to suggest he hasn't got this covered anyway, MLT is no more a coach than you are a realist, all in my opinion as I haven't read your book.

If Matt Le Tissier ever experienced the pressure of playing for his national side in front of a massive crowd and huge global TV audience and take part in a penalty shoot out to get his side into the WORLD CUP FINAL then in my very humble opinion there is no greater stage for a top player and none so pressurised. Keeping Saints up as oppose to scoring the goal that would secure a World Cup Final appearance is not really comparable. Lets face it when the pressure was on he failed to kick a ball out of play and he needed to run his hardest to recover from his mistake. Can't cover up for your mistakes in a World Cup penalty shoot out. Am I a complete idiot? Probably because I've opened the door for a bit of abuse from TameSaint and this time it's probably justified as I did say I would keep quiet but clearly Daren with such a dumb response I had no choice and maybe even Tame can see that and from one of my biggest detractors. I think its painfully obvious IMO why MLT would not be England's penalty coach, you just have to read his book.

I think Southgate from what I saw was the very antipathy of someone who had stopped caring and the team was 1 point off second place at the time. As Aintforever has said Southgate should have been given the push last season before the damage was done not when he was clearly making a decent effort at righting his wrongs this season. Comparing Burley with Southgate is like comparing Le Tissier with Beckham. For the record I am not making this a Lowe issue you are and if Strachan bought in Telfer look what Allardyce got out of Kevin Davies, and he is hardly a managerial legend. McMenemy is a managerial legend compared to Strachan but like the aforementioned Strachan achieved his greatest moments at Saints compared to what was in effect a complimentary ticket to Euope each season with Celtic. Lets face it Vectis yourself and D Wheeler as your coach could get Celtic into Europe each season and even have a decent chance of beating teams many of us have never heard off from countries that you have to check are actually in Europe. Qualifying for the final stage isn't that difficult unless you've won it and finished runners up in your management career.

Absolutely correct, show loyalty to your manager but don't sack him when he is showing signs of righting his mistakes. Strachan sure as hell is not going to get Middlesborough promoted this season and apart from one fluke result at a clearly troubled QPR he seems to be making it worse.

To qualify for the champions league in Scotland in recent times with Celtic and with Rangers in a mounting crisis would be the equivalent of receiving a bye. I accept it was impossible to qualify for the UEFA cup but if his challenge for Jock Stein like greatness was so close why leave? Going get tough again? !9 C unt tis but a dream for someone so eloquent.

I thought I already had but you chose to ignore it. A good manager would have achieved far more at Celtic and IMO he is a man who has often played more to the cameras than his teams. In fact this day and age managerial legends don't keep leaving jobs and further their career by a move to Scotland. For some reason Scotland is a great proving ground but given what Strachan achieved at Saints with the support of Lowe it's surprising he made the move to manage a two horse race and failed in Europe in even their losers shield. Still don't let that stop you giving him superlatives that should be the reserve of true footballing legends.

You're a true legend Daren. None of us our worthy in comparison to the mark you set . Mind you few of us are as blind and as easily led.

Agreed but over and above both of those is the talents that make a brilliant coach, regardless of caps or talent and in this instance i would suggest it's more a job for a Sports Psychologist anyway than an ex player with a questionable attitude. Its all about coping with extreme pressure and MLT never experienced that level of pressure or I assaume has the training and qualifications to help with mind games that must go on in a players head as they make that long walk. Despite his record he is simply not qualified and IMO it was a PR stunt to help overcome the recent shadow on his media career with some positive news.

I know Benji, I talk some sense sometimes and I could do with listening to it! Benji 1 NC 0 and I'll leave it at that!

Question is then Benji would Capello have the respect for Le Tissier to put him in front of his players as a credible coach with outstanding credentials. Its not about talent its about effort, work rate making the best of what you have something that many believe Le Tissier failed himself on. Capello and his players may have an issue on that score and it's why talented players respect managers and coaches with less lofty playing talents but with intelligence, insight, work rate and drive to be the best.

Quite, but that is the most over used word in Football if not the English Language and actually leaves you short of superlatives to describe genuine legends that Strachan cannot hold a candle to IMO.

Work must be busy today SL or have you had a change of heart? I'm surprised you can find the time to work and moderate at the same time. Personally, in my experience I would have thought the two would be incompatible at the same time. Assume you must have your own business or very flexible employers.

Strachan is not a Saints legend.

Anyway I expect Shearer will be there working for the BBC.

ex.

Hate to use a golf quote by Gary Player said something like 'the more I practice the luckier I get'. Why would England want to employ MLT and why would MLT want to be a coach after some of his comments in his book about his attitude towards coaching/advice? In his book both sides of the equation suggest that MLT's work rate was hardly prolific and reading Shearer's and Branfoot's comments you hardly get a glowing reference for a hard working coach in Capello's mould He would hardly be frst choice for Capello now as a player even in his heyday with the likes of Gerrard, Lampard, Cole, Hargreaves, Barry et al as midfield options and plenty of pace and ability upfront. Perhaps MLT would be a good goalkeeper in that team (the one area of relative weakness) assuming if he scores them so easily he should be able to guess the right way just as successfully. This surely is no more than a bit of undeserved positive PR courtesy of a radio station so trashy amd low brow it gives Jeremy Kyle a weekend slot. As Window Cleaner has already mentioned what are today's International's going to get from MLT that they cannot already be provided by the existing England set up? MLT's lack of international experience is one thing but for me the players would hold little respect and interest in his advice for two reasons. 1. His lack of personal ambition and drive during his own playing career. Personally, I think you can forgive anyone for a lack of, or a waste of talent but a lack of effort is an insult to your colleagues and proffession. 2. ..........................................................................(Fill in the blanks) Coach England penalties or another agenda entirely?

Mike, the ironic thing is that this thread is not Saints related and should be in the lounge and if it were I would be unable to make a comment. After a couple of lucky results at QPR and Reading I see the Boot Boy's hair dryer had a good effect at Bristol City last night after their thumping at Forest on Saturday. Took me back to that infamous Hull game. Pearson comes across as a good talker and motivator but that gets lost eventually if the message doesn't change.