Fitzhugh Fella

Well as I am keeping "In That Number" up to date I always look to get a comment from one manager as it helps describe the game. It was interesting that Scott the Brentford manager regarded the away win as the "easiest" this season. So the answer to your question is Yes. I have found so far NA has not made one quote that is meaningful. Might as well not bother asking him. Let's hope he communicates better with the players

Gordon Strachan was brilliant with his after match comments - these were the ones he made just after we lost to Arsenal away in one of his last matches. He was asked if his criticism of a linesman would get him into trouble - this is how he replied “Have I said anything out of turn? If you call Tony Blair a liar about weapons of mass destruction then it’s quite easy for me to say that I have history with a linesman”. He then went on to complain how hard it was to gain access to match officials after the game. “You can’t get near to officials, it’s easier to get to the Pope! If I’m in London next time and I get mugged, I hope the same amount of people turn up – there were 6 police officers, four stewards, and a United Nations peace observer”. Now that is class - pure class. None of this "in the building" nonsense.

In tonights Echo Brentford manager Andy Scott said "of our last 5 away wins that was probably the most comfortable - we could have scored a couple more. It was excellent team work, we created good chances. To come here and win is a fantastic achievement but we thoroughly deserved it". I looked for something from NA to sum up the match but instead the Echo highlighted this pearl of wisdom "I thought there was enough out there to try and get something from the game". Can anyone translate this as I am not really sure what he is saying? And then we have the Barnard situation. Has he had the op or not? Or are we still trying to confuse Walsall and not tell anyone? Are we allowed to know - have we the right? Hoping for clarity from tonight's Echo, NA says this about Barnard "He's had 2 little things going wrong in the groin area. We were hoping to get one settled and the medical team have tried to do that and we've had to go down another pathway and it's frustrating". I am sure it is Nigel but it is pretty frustrating for the fans not knowing what the hell you are talking about. Whatever your views on Pardew one area he was good at was communicating with the fans - I am not so sure NA is. Fans appreciate straight talking especially after a defeat. I haven't lost faith in NA and obviously he needs time (if NC is prepared to give it) but Saturday was a bit of a jolt and when the chips are down a manager needs to say the right things. Not talk gobbly gook.

I think this just boils down to the fact that Schneiderlin and Hammond are just too similar and there is only room for one of them. If I had a choice I would go for Hammond because of his slightly better temperament but ideally I'd get rid off both. Hammond gives his all but is no more than Div 1 standard while S is an enigma all round. Looks elegant but that is it.

Worked well yesterday then. If Barnard is telling fans he has had the op it is hardly a trade secret.

On another thread there is a poster who claims Barnard had a hernia op last week. If it is true I don't know why we can't be told?

No go to all home games and quite a few away inc Walsall next week.....unfortunately. Sorry that was'nt us just playing badly yesterday that was a team who had no organisation or nous - in short we looked like a team who haven't got a manager. The last time we looked so inept was at Bristol Rovers under Dodd and Gorman.

which just goes to prove stats can be very deceiving. apart from one game this season at home (Tranmere) we have not gelled. Something is not right - even both Cup games we flattered to deceive. I am no tactician but the two central "crabs" posing as our midfield must be the source of a lot of our problems. I'll say it again; under Pardew he had us playing a lot more "organised" football after just a few couple of months. Yes Adkins must be given a chance to bring in his own players but as a previous poster quite rightly pointed out he did inherit a more than decent squad who finished last season as the best in the League.

That was shambolic today - I think even Adkins would be critical of himself today. It looked like none of the players had ever met each other before 3pm. NA must shoulder some blame for one of the worst performances at SMS for quite a few years.

What worries me is a lot of posters on here think the January transfer window is the answer to a lot of our problems - it is not that simple. I can honestly say I never saw such an abject disorganised perfomance like that under Pardew. We seem to be going backwards.

I thought he was an asset to the club. Professional but friendly. Efficient and courteous. Good luck to him wherever he is going.

Thanks for taking the time Spudgun. As a fellow grump or cynic I found your enthusiasm positive news. As you say it was a shame you could not get more into specifics - i hope there weren't too many "price of the pies" type questions. I hope NC realises just how much good can be achieved by the interview and the dinners for Season Ticket holders. Football fans thrive on news about their club especially good news, while we all hate the spin. I am still intrigued by the outside forces though because I just can't think what they are hoping to achieve whoever they are. Anyway yesterday and the Staplewood plans are a welcome boost off the pitch which we need to translate to more points starting on Saturday. Thanks again for taking the time to report back.

I am intrigued about this shadowy group trying to destabilise the club. Who on earth could that be? Surely Wilde, Crouch and Lowe have had their day? So who else is there? Fulthorpe, Pinnacle, Help Me Rhonda? Help me God.

Give me strength oh Lord

If you are trying to sell your house you ensure it looks good when buyers come to view? I am sure NC will continue to "look after" this club and enhance its position - after all that can only drive the price up.

My house is not currently on the market but if someone came in and offered me 10% more than I thought it worth I would sell it. My take from talking to people closer to the club than I that this is the case now and has been since September. Certainly influential people in the City have been made aware of it. Word has been put around that the Liebherr's would be prepared to sell if the money was right. What frightens me is this is a green light for all the idiot tyre kickers (Fulthorpe, Pinnacle, Help Me Rhonda etc) to come out of the woodwork - after all with no debt we are a good buy. At least we can have confidence in NC quickly sorting out the genuine buyers if indeed any exist. Marcus's premature and sad death was probably the biggest blow this club has suffered to its well being since relegation from the Prem. I still maintain all along we should have been prepared for this and started some sort of partial ownership initiative if only to stop the club falling into the wrong hands. I am sure the Liebherr family would have looked kindly on some sort of fan buy out. Not saying it works or is ideal but I would rather have the club part owned by the fans than by the likes of people like Risdale or mandaric.

I haven't forgiven them for poaching Ted Drake yet!

The Echo have a story today (Saturday) that Wolves have tabled a £1.5m bid in January

Bit of a struggle today - at times the team played like strangers. Adkins still hasn't got them properly organised I felt, although they were good in patches. Guly good in parts crap in others. An impact sub at best. First touch not good Chamberlain missed an easy one on one, he made some runs but our midfield seemed unable to find him. His inexperience showed today one cross fell short and the next one he overhit. Puncheon's loan transfer could yet hurt us Gobern looks elegant on the ball and made himself available but apart from his goal did not "do" a lot Bart did not put a foot wrong Jaidi (I was surprised he played considering how many games he has started) was pretty immense. Can be dodgy on the ground but still a vital presence Fonte tries to be a bit clever at times and could have conceded a pen in the 2nd H and got booked Dickson ok but not great going forward Lallana dangerous as ever with some beautiful turns and twists - sometimes needs to be more direct Lambert woeful Holmes over rated. Looks good and hugs the ball with his left foot but his crossing is erratic. Probably needs an extended run but his inability to avoid injury means he is always struggling to get rhythm and consistency. Richardson went off HT injured, did OK Hammond, energetic and involved but makes mistakes and doesn't shout. He is our lynchpin but never seems to direct others. An enigma Thats about it. Efficient enough but not impressive

Just back. One of the best 0-0 draws you will ever see. Saints by far the better side first half but couldn't score (good defending by B&HA). Second half they came at us and at times we were rocking a bit. To those not there 0-0 will sound disappointing but just like Saturday when 4-1 sounded great to those not there then this result is better than it looks. Brighton are no mugs. Good atmosphere tonight, an old fashioned match with the crowd really up for it. Downers? Chamberlain was shackled, Lambert again not quite there. Positives? Lallana at times looked awesome.

Have a deep think at what you just posted, do you think it really necessary?

I see Nigel is "in the building" again. Interesting views on Gobern, these sort of players that have been around a couple of years it is make or break this year I guess. Not sure he has made much of an impression on me yet, maybe this week he will. 3 home games in 7 days.

weren't you pretty confident last season as well? The guy needs time and unfortunately in modern day football times waits for no man. I wish he would think before he speaks and throw away his book of football cliches.

Lefback seems to spot on with his posts - now with what he revealed about Lambert I am concerned

According to the Echo NA is none to happy with Schneiderlin's contribution on Saturday and blames him for not picking up his man when they scored their 3rd. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see him dropped because he is I think part of the problem at present. I wonder if he has become unsettled. Something is not right.