Minty

Nice to see so many people ignoring my post about the EA whilst looking to slag them off... I'm not saying they're perfect, but unless you actually work there or work closely with them, I think it's a bit unfair for some people to make such judgements.

A point about the Environment Agency. They are often blamed in situations like this, usually by those completely ignorant to the amount of work they do actually do, not to mention their involvement in other areas. For example, the planning applications they comment on, time and again, to recommend developments don't take place in flood plains or river valleys for exactly these reasons... and their recommendations are often ignored by council planning committees because supposedly the need for jobs and economic development is placed as a higher priority by so many local authorities. Meanwhile, their budgets are being slashed by central government disproportionately to other departments, despite pledges that they would be the 'greenest government ever' (ha), because of austerity and because we apparently need to focus what funds we do have reigniting economic growth... well, a fat lot of good those rural business grants will do to businesses who are flooded because the EA budget has been slashed and everyone ignores their advice when it doesn't suit them. Like or not, the environment will continue to change and need managing, no matter what the economic situation. And the EA needs funding as a result... it is vastly underrated as a government agency, and of course that is only noticed when stuff like this happens, by which point it's too late. And just to qualify all that, my wife used to work for the EA and knows many people still in it.

I can't believe hutch felt the need to do the mathematician answer thing, and I can't believe that MLG decided to try and debate him on it. Oh no, wait, the second bit I can believe. Anyway, we all know the jist of what Cortese meant...

There is a valid discussion to be had about the new system and how it impacts upon lower league clubs, but whether you agree with it or not, you have to remember that one of the primary reasons for changing the system was to ensure the best players are given the best facilities and the best chance to make it in the game, especially with a view to improving the national team. So whilst there is a valid point to be made that it might be detrimental to some smaller clubs, in the grand scheme of things, it is a no brainer that the best players should get the best training and development and facilities, such as ours. And even if they don't make it at the top level as a result, the should in theory still be better players than they would've been had they come through a lesser facility. There will always be exceptions, there will always be late developers and those who go under the radar, but the new system is clearly designed to benefit ENGLISH football, not just individual clubs. We invested heavily in the Academy, and so we get to reap the rewards of that. If they hadn't f*cked themselves over in the past, they might have had a chance to do the same. C'est la vie.

To be fair, I believe Cortese's stated aim was to have 50% of the team made up from Academy graduates... not a starting XI.

It's a no from me too. Anyone keeping count? Maybe add a poll?

I saw that, but it's wrong. Villa beat them 3-1 on the opening day, Man City beat them 6-3, then in cup competitions, Chelsea beat them 2-0 in the League Cup and Napoli won 2-0 in the Champions League. Had they said 'away from home, in the league' then it is true I guess...

Oh, and just donated a fiver.

Good luck Ski, excellent cause.

I'm really, truly not.

Yeah, fair point, hence my parenting comment. I just needed a rant! It does make you wonder who is 'advising' him... whether family advisor or 'professional'... although he was only 'discovered' in 2008, so it's not quite like Michael Jackson's childhood...

Speaking of nailing him, I wonder what some of his fellow prisoners would do to him if he got banged up for a bit...

LOL! Lets not make this political. He's a cock no matter what your political persuasion! Been f*cking lucky to get plucked from obscurity by someone just out to make money, and now he's rolling in it himself thanks to 'good looks' and dubious 'talent', he acts like he owns everything and everyone he comes into contact with, and thinks he's above the law too half the time. To be honest, he actually needs some good paranting. And a good slap. Preferably with a baseball bat.

What a cock he is.

Indeed. Being a skeptic is healthy... as long as you remain open-minded. Closing the mind just leads to... well... threads like this!

Class just oozes from every word you type...

Just ignore his threads if they bother you that much. And no, I don't think MP regrets saying that. Mainly because he knows that most people won't hold him to his every word and realise that there is nothing wrong with stating ambitions even if they are quite tough to achieve.

Good luck, need to get myself signed up for one at some point...

Not picking on you inparticular here, but this is one the things I find the hardest to overcome... separating the discussion about climate change and whether man has influenced it or not - and the fact that it has led to taxes, both direct and indirect, in various forms, to supposedly help deal with it. To deal with the former properly, it needs to be done completely independently of the latter, because there are lots of people whose opinion rests significantly on what it costs them personally, rather than judging the situation with a more open mind. Of course, this is not helped by the fact that some governments have levied carbon taxes or similar, but then don't actually put that money towards research or mitigation for the effects of climate change at all... it just goes into the pot. Frankly, IMO, this issue is doomed because so many people the world over have made their minds up based on factors like taxes, rather than scientific research. Add to this the fact that the media, and improved access to current affairs, has created a world of judgemental knee-jerkers who increasingly think less and less for themselves and are unable to debate anything healthily (look at this thread) and we're heading into a pretty selfish world where no one cares about anyone other than themselves and being right. But I digress... :-)

I said it elsewhere but people need to separate what was actually said in the statement from their interpretation of it. There are plenty of comments from some people that indicate that someone else would be 'stupid' to not see things the same way as they do. That's just pathetic. We're all (over-)interpreting it to fit our own outlook and opinion, which is entirely normal, but just make sure you realise that and don't criticise others because they see it a different way. Facts are we know nothing about what will transpire yet. Experience from the commercial world would indicate that the appointment of a CFO as interim CEO is not particularly unknown or in itself a need to worry, but again, we simply don't know the long term intentions yet. So by all means debate (capable of that?) what might happen, but leave the judgements out because there is nothing to judge against yet, and probably won't be for some time.

A fan on the board at last! ;-)

Some pretty firm conclusions being reached based on very little fact by some people.

Maybe it is. No one knows. So? What do you know of their qualities and ability? About the same as me I suspect? No one is looking for a 'huge recipe for success' from this early, temporary appointment. I would suggest most people simply expect to see things take place gradually and over a period of time. Give them a chance to do so. As would we all - but to assume that this one INTERIM appointment somehow means that that won't happen is unfair IMO. He did a great job in my book. But he's not here and we need to look forward, and judge the new board and CEO once they are ALL in place and have had time to develop their strategy. IMO judging things now is like judging a club for it's transfer window activity after one loan player has been brought just 3 days into the window...

Really? I would've thought some of it would've started to break down and rot by now, taking the carpet with it soon enough. I can certainly smell something pretty bad, so it can only be a matter of time.