Nineteen Canteen

I thought I saw Jesus on a tram. I said 'Are you Jesus?' He said 'Yes I am'. Another piece of whimsy from T.A M.

If you had any intention of helping the fight against global warming I would expect you to stop talking.

In that case Vectis this 'looney' was proved right and that there were more authorative sources on this forum than Lordswood's alleged quote from Killer. Sometimes as a wise head said on here recently - react to the post not the poster.

Exactly, and the same point I made that these maybe rivals but not relegation rivals as that suggests we will be at the bottom after 35+ games. (Nick apologies I didn't see you post before I posted mine as I would have referred to yours)

Whose relegation rivals? We are not even past the first quarter yet and based on current form we are hardly candidates to be there at the end of the third quarter when 'relegation rivals' may make more sense. The only disappointment is that both clubs have decided to change their managers as I would have preferred to face these rivals in early December in consecutive home matches under their old managers if only to avoid the bounce affect a new manager can bring to a team.

I wouldn't call Weston a looney who has now posted what he knows and how he knows it and not a quote in your case that no doubt is subject to a large dose of chinese whispers or selective listening.

Hypo I was disappointed as well and a disappointment exacerbated now that MLT has come back into the public eye without IMO considering it necessary to comment on the controversy. As a Saints' hero does he not owe us an explanation at least? You say you really don't care and in the scheme of things I agree that it is nothing compared to the secure future of the club but we have a playing legend who seems to have forgotten that past reputations need to be nurtured and renewed and not simply traded until exhaustion. When we really don't care the reputation is exhausted IMO and all for the sake of an explanation with regard to the affair and the real truth in light of subsequent reports in the media. Is that a difficult thing to do to maintain the respect and reputation you have deserveredly earned? It seems that way to me in this instance but it depends I suppose who if anybody is advising you and what you hope to gain or try and hang on to. IMO MLT has let us down twice since the end of last season and failed to explain his actions to those who should matter most beyond his immediate family. Should we expect more or simply turn the other cheek? I can forget but forgive requires something more from MLT IMO other than proverbially closing the closet door and keeping his own counsel.

There are far better voices of authority on this forum on Andrew Surman and who can substantiate their opinions. You are clearly not one of them.

Or was it a few weeks ago when he published his book with a story that allegedly didn't seem to stand up to the closest scrutiny but his account still was put forward to the CPS? I'm not livid just disappointed because I'm not sure if MLT is being honest on either count - did he or didn't he? Having bought his book in good faith then it would be nice if he clarified the facts about what was written.

I think I will prefer to wait until MLT takes dessert. In the meantime my learned friend I thought you might enjoy some late evening poetry. Humility is only doubt And does the sun and moon blot out Rooting over the thorns and stems The buried soul and all its gems This life's dim wondows of the soul Distorts the heavens from pole to pole And leads you to believe a lie When you see with and not through the eye.

Mike is that not open to question now if the bet could not have allegedly been placed on the game in question? If he lied about the scam or the actual game could he have lied about anything else? Before I handle it, I would like it verified in light of recent events. I'm sure you would be the same in any other aspect of your daily life so why let your judgement be clouded on this occassion. Does MLT's past reputation prevent him from pulling the wool over your eyes? We would like to think so but the reality may be different allegedly. Is it not a bit like the credit crunch where we still believe we can trade off our impeccable credit records and firmly believe we can but find the friendlly reputable banks have changed the rules to suit their own mistakes/agenda? Do you accept their truth? IMO past reputations count for nothing if they are not maintained and people rightly or wrongly are judged by their actions in the here and now. IMO MLT has made a misjudgement in not providing an explanation to his fans and the wilder football community, preferably via the same media processes he used to sell his book in the first place.

No one cares on this thread., agreed. I'm sure in the wider community I can't be the only one who has some unresolved questions over the whole, and somewhat, bizarre episode.

The question remains unanswered but had Lowe or perhaps even Burley in the latter stages of his role had been involved in some highly questionable event then they would have been rightly castigated. MLT's past reputation does not give him immunity from being challenged over his actions or the arrogance to not afford us an explanation to the obvious questions this has raised. Press conferences are not required just a round of media interviews that he used to plug the book in the first place. IMO not a great year professionaly at least for MLT or Lowe and both have questions to answer and both have avoided the questions but only one has the arrogance to keep their head above the parapet without any comment, following a 3 week absence. Arrogant, as it seems to me his sole defence seems to rest allegedly that the CPS decided not to go ahead because it was not a good use of a presumably already stretched police force and therefore not in the public interests. IMO that is not the same as not having a case to answer and yet we are led to believe the bet could not have taken place on the game in question as it was not televised live. Based on what we know does this stack up? It doesn't IMO and had it been someone less liked than MLT I am guessing the dogs would be barking for all they're which IMO smacks of an imbalance in reasoning and a case of misguided closure of ranks. So we have many questions of MLT as well as Lowe in a less than glorious year and perhaps the latter may publish a book one day to tell his story. What we can't do is suspend our right to challenge and past heros cannot simply trade off their glory days without forging new and respected careers as past reputations can tarnish quicker than silver plate if not nurtured.

With respect it should make you care more and I don't appreciate being taken for granted by one of my sporting heros. All I want is the truth maybe you can't handle it Robbie.

There is a difference between slagging someone off and trying to establish if they are the person you thought they were. Sporting greatness is one thing but personal integrity is everything and whilst we all make mistakes we should also be accountable for them and so all I would like is for MLT to give us an explanation as to how the events of this story have unravelled since the book was published and what actually is the truth. Hard to comprehend?

DPS a sensible reponse to my reasonable question. I agree he did explain it in the book but now upon investigation it seems he could not have committed the alleged betting scam in the game he mentions as it was not live on TV. However, the police did go to the CPS which suggests IMO something was amiss. All I want to know was the story made up to boost sales or did it actually happen and maybe the game was changed to protect those involved, otherwise why did the Police not simply write it off as a work of fiction? Either way to those who bought the book and those who didn't I think we deserve an explantion and doesn't Sky's decision to seemingly ignore it actually increase the awkardness long term as oppose to simply making a statement and moving on. MLT explained he shouldn't have done it but what exactly in hindsight has he done? Why can't he tell us or are the booksellers going to move his book to the fiction section?

I agree but also I'm surprised Harding doesn't feature as apart from Hammond the other two have only really improved towards the end of the month whereas Harding was shining earlier in the month and his form has dropped a bit in the last few games although I missed the Gillingham game. Hammond on balance should be No 1 and any 2 from the other 3.

Always sell the Aston and oranges grow on tress.

You missed off anti-McMenemy. Why was Pearson employed? Was it for his managerial credentials to lift teams to safety via a 93rd minute goal in your team's last league game of the season courtesy of your goalkeeper? 8 years later after working for managerial gods such as Bryan Robson did Crouch and McMenemy recognise that Pearson was just just the man for us having not actually worked as a manager for all those years? A strange appointment and it makes you wonder where they got his name from, doesn't it? Perhaps they thought they needed a man to hone Kelvin's kicking skills to shooting accuracy just in case and with two games to go it looked that even a 93rd minute strike from Kelvin in our last game of the season was not going to be enough unless others slipped up which thankfully they did. Pearson helped us limp over the line and no doubt hindered us along the way as well as many seem to have forgotten that abject 5-0 drubbing at Hull having beaten them 4-0 at home a few months earlier in the season. We were lucky with Pearson to survive as we were with Crouch and his big shadow telling him which way to turn allegedly and so it was hardly surprising lowe was going to be biting his hand off to employ the 'very good' manager, Nigel Pearson. Milan knows the score with regards finances and with his squad in League 1 just needed a disclipinarian and motivator, the equivalent of an NCO in the football manager ranks. Pearson fitted that bill and no need to head for the Officers mess to look for an expensive manager of real pedigree. IMO it won't be long before he does.

Very true but I will always take the qualities of the Aston Martin over the jaffa cakes.

I agree, Leicester did well last season because they held onto most of their squad and their promotion can be summed up in one word - Fryatt. Leicester are doing ok this season but are a bit in and out and nothing to suggest Pearson is a potential England manager of the future and I doubt he has what it takes to manage in the Premier League to get close to be very good. IMO Pearson has similar qualities to Keegan and relies on motivational abilities and running a tight ship but will always be lacking against tactically aware managers. Pardew started on -10pts and bottom of the league. When Pearson took over we were safe in 18th or thereabouts and with 2 games to go dropped us into the relegation zone and put our survival out of our own hands. Not very good and I suspect Carlisle fans will say the same. I wouldn't have employed him last season and I wouldn't have done so this season even with the benefit of hindsight as IMO he is more Bryan Robson than Brian Clough in terms of potential.

Certainly not now. Lose the plumpy bits and gain lots of skin. Still, another example of a person in the public eye who lost a lot of credibility by telling lies and waiting until after the Press got hold of it. Still at least she had the 'balls' to explain herself and I'm surprised Sky has allowed MLT to creep back in without comment.

Ron, I was almost close to believing Wes but MLT 'breaking down' over his alleged contempt for his adoring fans and the club he loved, sorry I meant loves, is clearly just quality sarcasm on your part.

Maybe but I guess he doesn't actually do a 40 hour week so hardly a prime candidate for paternal leave. Nice excuse and opportunity to leave the house for 1 day a week as no doubt research can be done from home. Did he mention on his introduction as to why he had been absent or was it just coincidence the CPS' decision coincided with the birth of his daughter? I have been away for a few days so missed the programme and more guttingly our 4-1 win so would be nice to know if anything was mentioned. Given the circumstances I think MLT coming back onto our screens he at least owes the fans an explanation. Fern Britten admitted she had a gastric band fitted live on air a deceit far worse than MLT's IMO so at least a comment on the real truth behind the betting scam should be given back on the radio shows he originally was on to plug the book. IMO he seems to be trying to draw a line in the sand without any commitment on his part to make it permanent and as a result the questions will surely remain, won't they? Sad indictment on his character for which he appears to show little contrition IMO. Surely as Saints fans and fans of MLT who purchased his book in good faith and supported him throughout his career we deserve an explanation and an apology in any event if the story was in fact true or fabricated. Did we get that explanation and apology on Saturday and I perhaps missed it?

That's what I thought based solely on the fact the game in question wasn't televised. Do you know this for fact Chris or is that your considered opinion based on how the 'throw in' market was operated back then? Personally, as a loyal Saints fan who enjoyed MLT's on the field contributions as much as anyone else, I feel somewhat disappointed he hasn't given us an explanation over the whole affair. It just leaves me wondering if it was made up were any other stories embellished in the interest of sales? Or did he get the match wrong and it actually happened but perhaps not during the game in question? No doubt he has taken legal advice on this given the police's initial involvement and IMO has been told to keep his counsel. However, he was quick to do the 'book interviews' in the media to promote the book and IMO he should do something similar to clear up the issues it raised otherwise he is just taking le tiss out of those who bought it expecting to read an honest account of his life in football. Was it honest? (Has a book ever been more unfortunately named?)