Chalkboy

Imagine that! In the real world though, more like Gary Monk. Just above Mourinho in the address book.

I dreaded the match against Spurs today, I dreaded the match against Palace too as I feared we'd lose, but for some reason, I'm not feeling the same levels of dread against Arsenal. We could get something out of it. Well my wife told me to stop being so negative so I'm trying

Great tactic - express interest in player, scramble his mind, leave club to pick up the pieces of scrambled player's brain. Agree with you concerning dealing with Spurs, as I said on a previous post - no, no and thrice no, even frice (if that's a word) ; )

Yeah that's true, so far they have. I don't know what they're wage structure is but I suspect it's quite a bit higher than ours though. I don't think they had such a number of players wanting out at the same time either. I would have loved the board to say "no sale" back in Summer 2014, I think we could have done it with Lallana and Shaw for definite, Chambers too, but I wonder how many want-away players you can have in a side without it affecting the team spirit. I flip between thinking the board did what they could and had no choice - but at least got top dollar, to thinking they should have been tougher and kept the team intact. All I'm saying about the Martin Samuel article is that he didn't say what we should do to stop it happening - is it really as simple as just saying "no sale"? What about when a player won't extend the contract?

Anyone who suggests that someone is a grade A ****ing idiot because they voice an opinion on a football forum, is a grade A ****ing idiot I'm afraid, but then I'm suggesting it as well which makes me a grade A ****ing idiot too. Get me outta here.........

I remember the article well and he may be proved right, but I also remember he that he didn't offer one single piece of advice as to how we were supposed to stop players having their head's turned, wanting higher wages, and CL football.

Wasn't he with Billy Smart's circus? Actually, being serious, I don't know what that signing was about. Just poor, unless there is something about him we haven't seen yet *desperate optimism*

Disillusioned in what way - they want to leave or not happy with the way things are being managed?

It is strange the situation with Harrison Reed. Not long ago Les Reed was saying he's the best thing to come out of the academy, now he can't get a game and was almost loaned out in the Summer. I thought he looked pretty good what I saw of him last season, I thought he could only get better given more game time. Then I was told about him having nights out with his mates at nightclubs and thought that didn't sound like something the club would be too pleased about. I wondered if his fall from grace was because of his off-field behaviour but now I wonder if his behaviour is because he feels he has no chance of getting a game and so he's less focused. I do wonder what Les Reed thinks about it now given the praise he heaped upon him. That reminded me of this article from the hateful Neil Ashton; http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3213295/Southampton-s-talent-struggling-break-Ronald-Koeman-losing-faith-prolific-St-Mary-s-academy.html

He got a place in the England squad. Oh and Ron said he was the best left back in the league or something. Maybe his head has inflated or maybe something else is going on. Perhaps the silicone markets have turned his head.........

Not much to cheer about at the moment. I know it's not a popular thing to say on here and that the fundamentalists will scream "heresy!" but I think the problem lies with Koeman. I hate saying that, I like the bloke and would love to be wrong. Please Ron prove me wrong! The board aren't blameless either. But if the players aren't performing it's down to him. I know some can say "but he hasn't got quality players," but as manager he has to work with what he's got and develop a way of playing that gets the best out of them. Do Bournemouth have better players than us? I don't think so, but they play nicer football at a much higher intensity that gets the best out of what they have, it's not all about spending masses of cash. Ron says it was "amateur defending" - well why was it amateur? What are they doing in training for it to be amateur? I can just about live with losing if we are playing well because I can see that eventually our quality will win through, but at the moment we get flashes of the real "us" for about 20 minutes and then we capitulate. IMO the moments where we do play as we know we can, tells me we do have the quality, it's there, but we are missing something that helps us to maintain it. Where is the steel, where is the belief, where is the intensity? What about team spirit? This is all stuff Ron should be instilling in them. He has had a whole season in the prem, he knows what it's about, so why are we playing "too nice", why is he only just realising that the philosophy needs to change? I'm not sure he has the tools or the temperament to get us out of the problem we are in. Hope I'm wrong, I'll be happy to humble myself in front of the fundamentalist inquisition, I'll repent and confess my sins. Just want something to cheer about ffs

Deal with Spurs? No, no and thrice no ( if I knew what the "thrice" equivalent for "4" was I'd add that too)

And if he doesn't look bothered why should the team.

Feel physically sick. Losing like this to them. Looking forward to playing Spurs for more torment.

Koeman to see out his contract? No thanks. Results have been sh*te since February.

Agree. They can't have had the best preparation the last few days. England for once do look a lot more balanced. I'd rather Dier and Alli than Milner and Henderson any day. Breaking news....Man U in shock £40 million swoop for Alli...; )

Be interesting to see what Hodgson does once Henderson and Milner are back in action.

Awful. Puts all the chat about football into perspective : (((((

Anyone got any clue what Roy Hodgson's football philosophy is? Do the FA really think he's the man to bring through the young players with that "philosophy"? We play in his image - well meaning but ultimately clueless and without direction.

Yeah let's try Rooney out - gotta give these new guys a chance.

I don't, unless the address happens to be in Manchester come January.

Seems the transfer talk always ramps up once the international break comes along, or have I imagined that? As for Man U. The money they've spent since Fergie departed is nauseating, yet they still need more players! Their transfer policy seems to consist of throwing money around left right and centre with no actual plan. How wonderful that money doesn't seem to matter to them

Heard a rumour that this very same truck was spotted in a leafy suburb of Leicester too. Anyone know Marhez' address just so I can confirm?

Hopefully that Liverpool loss will end the Klopp w*nkathon, though that's probably too much to hope for. Glad Spurs didn't get all three points. I'll be happy with anyone in the top four come the end of the season as long as it isn't Spurs or Liverpool.