Toon Saint

Stuff about not offering Cork a new contract is also in the Echo today. Seems madness to me, but successive managers seem not to rate him that highly. Just hope he can play well enough to earn himself a new deal. Fantastic character to have in any PL squad IMO.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7YICbMKuJw&sns=tw

Chill mate, he uploaded a video of him doing the ice bucket challenge at the training ground today - didn't appear to be sulking either. Probably just recovering from a knock, or Koeman didn't want to over-exert him given lack of pre-season.

Christ alive, looks like Gaston's got himself a decent haircut.

It will do if accompanied with loafers and knee-high socks.

Incredibly sad, I've done it many a time (up North, anyway). Don't forget your long beige mac, binoculars, and to rub your thighs really hard when we score.

When did he say that? Picking four of our players for national duty, despite them not playing CL football, is hardly reprehensible.

Alderweireld would be a great signing, but unlikely IMO. Hope our name isn't being used again to attract other bidders/inflate the price.

I'd go for: ------------Forster Clyne--Fonte---Gardos---Targett --------Cork---Reed Isgrove---Taider---Tadic ------------Pelle Subs: K. Davis, Long, Gallagher, S. Davis, McQueen, Stephens, Bertrand

If you read my two posts above you'll find that I agree with your evaluation of him. He was terrible. But jeering after 30 mins? What do you think that actually achieves, especially on a home debut?

Heard quite a bit of sarcastic applause when Pelle won a header in Block 38 Kingsland/Northam corner. Was happening after about 30 mins it seemed. It is literally his first competitive game at home for us, and although it was a genuinely poor performance, what a terrible welcome for the lad.

One of the only positives to take from the game. He looked solid, was authoritative gathering crosses, and made one very good save. Bit premature for the 'England's No. 1' sing-song, but an encouraging performance nonetheless.

The jeering of Pelle was absolutely ridiculous, no idea what some people think that will achieve. That said, his performance was bordering on woeful. I thought the very least he would offer was a physical presence, someone to unsettle opposing defences, but it was like he was wading through treacle. 6ft 4, built like an ox, but barely won an aerial duel, control was shocking, never pressed Foster or WBA's defence, and did not look confident getting a shot away. Heading technique also very strange, almost like he's not actually looking at the ball and it ends up splatting somewhere off his face or neck. Tadic played in a couple of balls in the first half and Pelle just didn't seem on the same wavelength, even if the execution of the crosses wasn't particularly great. As said before, early days and hope he improves. He wasn't helped out by a poor display from JWP and lack of any real width from the RW, but needs to show a lot more aggression, subtlety, and speed of thought if he is going to cope in this league. Good hair though, I'll give him that.

Deflated by that performance. Pelle looked like he was playing stuck in the mud. 6ft 4 and barely won a header, if he did it seemed to slice off of his face. Needs to do some yoga or something as you can't be that cumbersome in the Premier League and get away with it. Really hope it works out for him, and realise it is very early days, but a bit concerned if he is meant to he our fulcrum.

All the players that left us this summer (bar Chambers) were actually crap and overrated and are set to be found out by their new clubs. They have been cursed by Kat, will suffer career threatening injuries, or eke out some pathetic existence on the bench of a Premier League football club. When they have been found wanting they will come back begging to St. Mary's, cap in hand, a shadowy simulacra of what once was. To complete the humiliating ordeal, Ralph and Kat, will snatch the p45 form from the filthy emaciated clasp of the discarded player, and throw it onto an effigy built for Mauricio Pochettino. The crowd will cackle, the bonfire will crackle, and Les Reed will have his day. mmm...cathartic.

That is I, though I do prefer Tom. Happy for you to follow. Just a gentle joke as you've accused me of following you before. No harm intended

Pitchfork are so American-centric with their reviews that I treat a lot of their write -ups on good British bands with suspicion (though there are admittedly few great ones). Very much reflected in their top 20. But some great choices there, and I must say, despite their limitations, i'm a sucker for lists. Listened to them all apart from Fiona Apple album and can't really knock any of their picks. Destroyer, Deerhunter, and Beach House all big personal faves. Seriously though, no 'Let England Shake' by PJ or 'Smother' by Wild Beasts? Mental. All 5 of those mentioned were released in 2011, I believe, which was a fantastic year for album releases. This year, not so much, but the Sun Kill Moon album is a thing of haunting beauty if anyone hasn't given it a spin yet.

To be fair to Artur, RK's comments about him needing to make a decision about his future as his contract only had a year left to run seemed to spell out pretty clearly that he wasn't wanted. I think Forster will prove a good signing for us but it is questionable whether we needed to spend £10m on a marginal improvement (perhaps not even that) and end up in almost exactly the same situation as last year with no adequate back-up. I don't agree with Boruc being wet over social media about it but can understand his frustration.

Cheers for the follow on twitter, Simon.

Sure MLG can give you that sort of information but off the top of my head: Turnbull, Sinclair, Reed, JWP, Shaw, Chambers, McQueen, Targett, McCarthy. Those that leave before their first pro-deal might have been affiliated with the club for 7-8 years, which is still a lot of time spent on training them. Yes, we got good money for him. But why are people grateful to Shaw for not walking away before his first pro-deal? We are at a low ebb if 17/18 year old academy prospects feel that they are doing the club a favour by staying put for a year or so, and that fans also view the relationship between club and player in such terms. Wasn't it supposed to be that our academy prospects 'self-police' themselves if they are thought to be getting too big for their boots. Pretty sad that in the case of Shaw he had to be convinced by others at the club (whether that was Les Reed/Cortese/or Lambert and Lallana) that it was in his best interests to stay for last season.

Wasn't quite my point. I was merely suggesting that the re-imagining of Poch as tactically inflexible (without a 'plan b') and Koeman as the answer to his deficiencies, deserves a bit more context than one game. Spurs fans might rightly point to their game against Wham and tell us that he was able to shuffle his pack mid-game and grind out a win, despite being hampered by having only 10 men.

The revisionism begins apace. Spurs fans were praising Poch for his 'brave' early double substitution against Wham on Saturday following Naughton's red card. MOTD pundits were also suggesting that Koeman's subs (bringing Long on for Tadic, and Isgrove on for Davis) actually swung the game back into Liverpool's favour as we lost the shape that was previously causing them so many problems. What does that prove? Not much, but probably better to wait more than one game before drawing such conclusions.

Yeah, a defender will make them a force this year.

Paper cut. Out for 6 months.

Well the relationship should be mutually beneficial. What is the point in the club investing 10 years of time, resources, and money for a player to walk away from the club, the moment he is on the verge of the first-team? Shaw should be grateful to the club for honing his talent and giving him a massive opportunity in life. Why should the club be grateful to him for not walking away at the very first opportunity?