OldNick

no it makes it better as the win ratio is slightly higher

I expect a bit of both are true. Although if you read the second piece it seems reasonalbe and fair. Gray got the job as repayment for his loyalty by staying at Saints instead of walking with Hoddle to Spurs. I see no wrong in repaying the loyalty. It was soon obvious he was not up to the job and so was fired quickly. A mistake that RL didnt do the same with Wigley.

I dont want to categorise it into class, it is the beautiful game for anyone who can admire it. The greed is all consuming I agree and I believe football is our heritage and it being taken from us by the money men and Sky. I am being hypocritical of course as I pay for Sky. Anyone else remember the excitement of cup final day when you got up on the morning and switchedon the BBC in expectantcy as they were going to show the build up to 'a Live game'(before blanket live games on tv) I didnt miss a final for decades, but in the last 20 years i dont think I ve watched more than 5

Eelpie, the stadium has by law to have the gap between the stands and pitch to allow emergency services through. For me SMS matched the Dell on a few occasions. Norwich home $-3 was electric and probably one of the most memeorable of my life, Pompey of course on 3 occasions. The newcastle game under Sturrock 3-3. I think it is down to the crucial games they were to get the fans up. I think we are forgetting the many dire games and atmospheres at the Dell at times. If every games atmosphere was fantastic none of the 'classoics' would stand out and so it is a case of time making it seem better.

I agree BTF. I think the girl lost a lot of sympathy as soon as she wrote the story in the Sun, but we cant get away from the messages left to the grandad. Even a 10 year old kid would know that was wrong and Ross should have called a halt to it being broadcast and tried to get it sorted with Sachs immediately.The BBC should have not let it fester and yes the media (DM) did whip it up but that is their job. No different to many other stories that are found and then published. I do hope you didnt dress like that in your dance troupe days, skirts to the ankles Im sure

I would nt think so, but the finances might mean so but on those highly paid high fee players I would think they still would.

I yearn for the game I used ot watch in the late 60's-70's when players were highly paid but within decency and they still had a connection. Football didnt have the guts to stand up to the big 4 and I was all for cutting them adrift. They would have s### themselves as the European league is more froth rather than the blood and guts of the home league. So they called the leagues bluff and football gave in to them so they could have the milk and honey.(take all the home gate receipts) Since that day they have become the untouchables. So the league would not have been so exciting without the big 4 but it soon would have and they would have come back caps in hand asking to be accepted and their claws would have been cut forever. As for the stadia, no doubt a lot of people would like to go back to back to back terrace housing wioth a loo at the end of the garden.

I dont do showers and so its an early bath for me.

Ron you are normally a bit more subjective, Holmes was doing well and I think we have missed him. He had only just got his form back and was dangerous, I hope he returns soon and plays a part in our climb to safety.

Wes NP will be a thorn in the clubs side for quite a time. If he gets Leicsestr up (which he should do comfortably) fans will harp on how good he is and so will be a negative for the club.If he fails to get them up with a good CCC quality squad then perhaps fans will not be so sure about his longterm ability as a manager.

Stanley even if Lowe had not come back NP would have been under tremendous financial restraints and almost certainly not had any of the players gone in his squad either. He may have kept one of them but of course he would have to have made savings elsewhere We had a dose of RL leaving before and that did not move us forward, unless someone comes in and spends a lot on the squad we will be here for a while. Staying up is the only proper objective at the moment

as long as they are good I dont mind although it would be best that the manager does so, although coach may be the word, a coach coaches the players not chooses them

depends what time of the month though

its not always easy on a greasy surface though

I would put it differently, bit I would wouldn't I steve!! you go out with the most gorgeous woman, but she doesnt do it until the wedding night.

Ithink his wages are covered under the insurance, I do hope so anyway.

fair play as that's what I think as well.

If we could become moderately successful playing this way it would be fine by me. I saw enough of our crap over the seasons and while I agree with the comments about Arsenal being brittle, what a wonderful type of football to watch. When we start invcreasing our win rate (if) then things will look so much better. Of course the fans who delude themselves that we are some super club will not be satisfied. Its time to accept the fact that we are viewed much as we do Cov, Ipswich Norwich Boro etc.We have not for decades been viewed as a rival to Liverpool Man u etc on the pitch.

I dont ususally support Alp but I did put up that Rudi was said to be leaving this week after some info I received from Ipswich end.It seems it was duff info although it was said to be done Friday!!!

A player with promise who coud leave due to freedom of contract was tried to be persuaded to stay. He was an asset going out of the door. The club has a responsibility to try and look after those assets, in your scenario Dyer should have been left to walk as well as Basaya, boy would the club get some stick for that.

where was it said it wasn't. There again pre the appointment the club would of course have to take account of which players could leave on freedom of contract and try to make moves to keep them. They were trying to persuade Dyer at the same time. That was good business as he could have walked for nothing but we have a deal with Sheff utd that will bring in a nice sum, so we should applaud RL for that or whoever got him to sign.

you will eat those words in a season or so IMO

I cant recall what the Runnymead meeting gave as RL's remit, but I think it was football matters and also RL handled players signings in many deals when we were in the Pl I believe. If RL tried to convince a young player to stay what is wrong with that? Bloody hell this is getting dridiculous, he also persuaded Morgan to join is that bad as well. I remember when that young prodigy chose Chelsea instead of saints and there was hell to pay because RL had it was said not gone to meet the lad and his parents. Why is everything that is done seen as sinister, if Basaya fitted in with the clubs plans they should use every means posssible to show they want him and to have a board member try to persuade him not to go should be seen as good not bad. I dont want him to pick the team but if he is responsible for getting a young player to stay who one day may become an asset then go for it.

I do understand and you put it beautifully but I would like to point out your bias does show through even though you really do try and be balanced. The Daily Mail seems to be a pet hate of yours, I dont read any of the papers anymore as they only get you down. If its not spongers its government waste, or other nonsense to wind people up. It would be best if I read the Guardian so I could see the adverts for jobs and how my taxes are being used to employ people in mad jobs on high wages. ..........steady Im only teasing you BTF although

that is funny