KelvinsRightGlove

Christ alive. Pulis for the win I think. From certain relegation to a shot at top half. Incredible job, been a critic of him before, but hats off. Rodgers and Martinez have both done great jobs too. Bruce deserves a mention too.

You're not alone. I hope this doesn't become 'a thing' in football. Obviously after the Moyes one as well. Not a fan to be honest.

And, just as I was coming onto this page to post this, I hear this. And it's bloody brilliant. And she is also bloody brilliant. She just needs to hurry up and put an album in my face

Going to be really obnoxious and post 2, sorry guys. Basically, I think I am becoming some sort of weird reverse sexist when it comes to music. Been obsessed with Ms Clark for a while, now she does this: [video=youtube;1AdVK5qKL-w]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AdVK5qKL-w

What's a CD?

Is he any good at CB? I thought he was predominately a RB, though I can't really remember how good he even is there. I often forget he exists if I'm honest. Can understand why he can't get in at RB, Zabaleta is certainly amongst the best in the league, if not the best. Wouldn't be opposed to him coming here, if that was an option.

Am I alone in thinking these are getting much bigger coverage at the minute? I was under the impression that they happened fairly regularly anyway, and the Osvaldo incident was obviously unsavoury but I didn't think it would be the first time this has happened at Saints or at other teams (FWIW - I think Saints did the right thing, though it was disappointing a replacement wasn't bought in). I can think of a few examples, I'm sure plenty missing too, from the past - Joey Barton & Dabo, Ljunberg & Melberg, any Dutch tournament team. It's just at the minute, they seem to be almost weekly, and getting plenty of press coverage - it feels more so than ever. The Swansea incident this week, it's reported this isn't the first time things have kicked off there this season, with Chico Flores supposedly being involved more than once. Allegedly the last time was involving Gary Monk (prior to him being manager), and the police were called. There was the incident at Port Vale last week also, which has resulted in the Captain being ruled out for the remainder of the season with a pretty nasty facial injury. So, are these happening more, or just being reported more?

(not so) fun factoid, I was born on good friday.

Drama seems to follow me around. Just lurching from one stressful clusterf*ck to the next, that said I'm not 100% positive that I play no role in this. More prevalent, seems to be my ability to locate myself in the immediate vicinity of the TFL Crazies. I have been screamed at for offering a lady a seat - I thought she was preggers, though didn't actually say as such. Caught between stations, no escape, very painful. Just last week encountered two on the same day. A woman telling me off for playing games on my iPad, as she does not allow her son to play games (he was sat next to me) and it was unfair on him. If I was playing something inappropriate for a child to see, I may have understood, but I was playing Threes (Cracking little game if you havn't tried it, does eat all your free time though). On the way home from work I was berated by an elderly gentleman for him having to stand up, and I was told I should offer him my seat. I was in total agreement with the gentleman, and would happily have given him my seat - if I was not stood up myself People in the office think I make this stuff up now with how regularly I seem to encounter these folks, when no one else does. Maybe it's my face.

Frankly, I'd be more concerned if there wasn't at least some vague idea of who they would like should Poch be sacked/leave than if there wasn't.

I'd be quite up for a repeat of this on the pyramid [video=youtube;ZpFeb-pnATE]

Well, we clearly aren't going to agree. I don't see it as an ultimatum, to be honest. For me, he's not saying I'm off if x,y,z doesn't happen. He's saying the club has an opportunity to carry on the process of the last few years, and he would be disappointed if that was to fall by the wayside now. I don't see the part of him wanting to be at a top club that surprising. He's a very good player, of course he is going to want to play at the top end of the table. Anyways, I'm off for a drink now. So will leave this here. Have a pleasant evening, it's been nice discussing with you.

As I said to Sour Mash, I really don't think it's that controversial what he has said. It seems pretty normal to me. Player wants to play at high a level as possible, with best team possible. Urges current club to improve. That's how I see it. Opinions, eh?

No, of course they don't. Which is why, yes, I do think it is pretty normal. It hasn't gone over my head at all. I'm sure there will be other players at other clubs saying similar things. Wow, sorry was just an aside. Just trying to be a bit light-hearted.

Huh? I've lost you now. With a few more signings, as I said above, there is a possibility that we may well progress and improve. Who knows, maybe with some astute signings and someone having a bad season we can crack top 6 next season. Maybe Everton will struggle to replace those loans, and be hit by the extra games that comes with Europe. I don't see his interview as a I want out, more I want the club to keep progressing as it has been doing. Though, I have been labelled that awful term "happy", so I may well indeed be totally off (wouldn't exactly be the first time). Does make me laugh, ask any of my mates, and they will tell you I'm a miserable sod.

Why would Ms Liebherr go to the effort of putting together an entirely new board, featuring Ralph Krueger who whilst not a big name in football is in other fields, just to take us down wards? Do fans seriously think because they have done everything in the public that they are actually doing nothing. Take a deep breath, change your nappy, and chill out.

I'm not sure I read it quite like that. He wants the team to be strengthened, and the manager to stay from what I perceive that interview to mean. 3 or so signings, a GK (a better than Bpruc/better number 2 may well have gained us a few points this season, possibly - it's obviously hard to say with any certainty) a CB & a ST and we are a stronger team. The nippers will be better for another years experience, as will most of the team which are mostly pretty young. I'm not saying that alone is going to propel us into Champions League, but if he is dead set on CL football - chances are even with some serious investment from the management (Tottenham bought in over £100m's worth of talent and will most likely be further away from CL this season than last, though yes they did lose Bale - who carried them at times last season) we would be unlikely to get CL anyway - then we are probably going to lose Morgan either way. I don't think he is about to walk away, but that's just my interpretation of it. There may well come a day where he does leave for a club at that level, and if so fair enough, I'll wish him the best and I'm sure Saints will be handsomely rewarded monetarily.

As I said in my edit, which I wrote before seeing this post. It's case of spending heavily just to keep the strong as strong as it is now. Personally I don't think that is a great model, wherever you are. If you are at the bottom of the table, and having a couple of loans players that help keep you up and then leave at the end of the season, you are in a position of having to spend heavily just to keep your noses above water once more. It hardly smacks of looking to continually improve. Maybe, I am just spoiled by the few years of progressive improvement we have had of late. I'm happy for our goal to be to try and keep doing that. I'm not saying they haven't progressed at all this year, of course they have. Again, Martinez has done a very good job. They have every right to be boshing each other off. I absolutely would be if I was in their position. EDIT: The way Everton have been talked about of late is mostly as if they have rocketed up the league on the back of Martinez and a couple of loan signings. Comments such as Martinez is making Moyes look average have been posted on here, and I disagree. I think it shows what a good set up Moyes had, and Martinez has been able to build upon that. Everton were still 6th last season (a position i'd happily take Saints being in), and they had been bobbing around there for a few years. It has probably helped them how poor Utd & Tottenham have been (by their standards/money spent) this season too As I said, it's just my personal preference. I like how we attempt to go about things, and as I have said I don't really like the loan system for the reasons I have given. Neither way is fool proof or with out problems. Yes, they may get in two good loans again. But they may get in two loans that turn out to be complete flops. Would be surprised if they actually went out at spent £30m, even with a CL place. Everton have always had to sell before they can buy.

I never said any of that. I'd happily take being on that 4th/5th bubble. I havn't said they havn't done well, far from it I've often praised Everton & Martinez. The point was, as of the last day of the season (or date 'x' when their loans officially finish) they are instantly a weaker team, and they are not compensated monetarily at all for the players that have played an important in a very good season for them. Yes they can use the money they gain from the league, and if they do qualify, Champions League. But that is still doing so from a weaker position than they are now squad wise. It's not as if they have really progressed light years this season, they were regular 5-7 finishers under Moyes. Who was very good at picking up players, selling them on at a good profit and reinvesting that money wisely. EDIT: It' not just "staying where they are", it's the fact that they have to spend (heavily) just to have a squad as strong as theirs currently

Personally, I'm not so sure it does though. It's so short term. Using Everton as an example, they are effectively going to have to spend £20m-£30m just to stay where they are this season. this without any money coming in for the players leaving. Replacing their loan players, who have been very effective and helped them a lot this season, is extremely hard. If they do not do that, all the momentum is lost, they are a weakened team - and they don't even get the benefit of receiving a fee for the players lost. Granted, if they do make the CL places (which I hope they do, I like Everton and Martinez) then that cash will obviously help. But it is still a big gamble. Obviously just my opinion, but it is something I'd prefer us to avoid.

Quality

Oh christ, how did I forget the driving. Recently went away for the weekend and she drove, as I don't have a car (no point living in London). She is the most frustrating driver, overly cautious/slow when she needn't be, then out of no where aggressive and a bit throttle at completely the wrong time. It's also obviously my fault. Like when she is pulling out, turning right onto a 60 road, right into the path of an oncoming Audi which she has not spotted. I scream, terrified for my life as this Audi is charging straight towards me, she then blames me - I should't have shouted (aka made her aware of the massive lump of metal hurtling towards us at 60mph metres from my leg). Or it's my fault that she missed a turn because she is so concerned about the car up her arse (because she's going 20 mph under the speed limit FFS). That 4 hour journey nearly ended our relationship tbh. She is never, ever doing a long-distance drive for us again.

Yup, this idea that loans are a really cheap option is nonsense. Everton will probably end up paying close to what we paid for JRod by the time fees, salary etc are factored in [Edit this bit is referring just to Lukaku, I'm sure Barry wasn't cheap either]. End of that and he will go back to Chelsea, or they have bumped a few mill on to his sale price if he goes elsewhere. Whatever happens, at the end of the season Everton have to spend (probably quite serious) money just to stay as strong as they are now. Replacing Barry (who has impressed this season, I was unsure about that one, but definitely wrong), Lukaku (easier said than done, probably a £20m+ Striker) and Deulofeu (granted hasn't been first XI all season). All that before even thinking about progressing, building upon this season for next. It's not that great a model to be honest. Scrap the loan system for teams in the same league, all it does is encourage the Chelsea "buy-to-rent" approach to player recruitment.

I don't know. I thought he gave a similar interview around this time last year. It happens at clubs all over every season. If I can see what it is, I'm sure the new board are smarter than I and will be able to see this also.

It's basically, "I want to be playing for the best team possible, performing as well as possible." Which is perfectly understandable.