Frank's cousin

Are are some ****ing moronic arseholes on here today - there are two SEPERATE issues here - Adkins leaving, the new Guy strating - The xenophobic reactionary ant-argentinian idiocy some are advocating is far more 'dusgusting' than anything NC has done....

Francium - obviously although Ytterbium has an interesting spelling.

Can anyone lip read - what wa JRod saying after he fell over?

Hey - what about the 2-4 to us at the Bridge in 2002/2003 when Beatts tore Terry a new one and scored a screamer free kick from 30 yards?

You sound like a broken record attempting to establish your view (above) as some sort of urban myth. There is a simple issue with respect to how postive/negative articles are interpreted by fans of a club - It does NOT MATTER if a positive article is factually accurate or not. Its positive and therefore will reflect well on the club from both a PR and positive impact on fans - if it is not accurate it matters not, as no harm is done. The complete opposite for negative articles - these have a NEGATIVE impact on the perception of the club and are a downer on fans so its feckin NATURAL that a) fans will be more defensive towards them, b) insist on closer examination of whethyer they are factually accurate or not ... FFS its not rocket science and if you dont get this very simple difference between the two it merely reinforces your 'dune' dunceness/WUM factor. Well done for going on ad infinitum about something you just dont get....

22 New league new country (how often has it been said that in can take a season to adjust) entered a team low on confidence Recent reshuffles have not helped Has shown glimpses of class - needs more consistency, especially away from home rating to date under circumstances - 6/10, but gald we got him and believe he will develop into a great asset

Agreed. Any such union comes with pros and cons on which its success or otherwise shoul be judged alone. Sadly my feeling is that to often the 'little Englander' mentality skews the nationak opinion againts it without actually taking the time and onsideration to review in detail the pluses and minuses - that's my point really. I dont have a the time ither to dig through those mountains so I can not state categorically that I would be in favour had I time to digest it all. I think there are simply too many in this country though that would be aganst it even if the there was factually no major disadvantages - which is not helped by the UK opting out on so many of the policies that would benefit people/employees rather than satisfying the UK employers... all in the interests of the countries economy obviously, but then again, the Germans aint doing too bad despite having better employee rights within a right wing government. There is a problem (often played upon by the right wing press) that many feel uncomfortable about EU legislation simply because it was not made by the UK elected Government (despite us having a contributing number of MEPs) even when that legislation is beneficial to the UK - who is making teh law being more important than what the law says - something that to me is perversly the wrong way round as ultimately, I dont believe it matters who makes a law/Act etc, just how it impacts on the people - which is why I will be positive and negative towards all parties depending on the impact of their legislation, not on which party drives the Bill - In this and many other countries, despite a general apathy towards politics, most simply state they are a supporter of one side or teh other let their opinions be formed by their 'party' rather than ensuring their opinions drive their party to evolve.

In your opinion. Yet the economists in major EU nations (and please let me know if your level of knowledge in Economics exceeds that of the experts at governmental level) believe it was and is - with many nations agreeing. Yes there will obviously be pros and cons - nothing like this is ever going to be straight forward, and therefore there are also plenty of experts who may agree with you, but to suggest its a simple black and white issue is somewhat arrogant and a major part of the problem with this debate.

As an idea it IS a good one - there are benefits/pros and cons as everyone can see. Like all these major shifts in policy, its never going to be smooth sailing all the time and the current mess was NOT caused by the Euro - but by a global banking system gone mad. Yes thsoe markets in the deep shiedt may find it easier had they their own currancy right now, but also benefited during the 'good times'. And would you say that our current situation meant we were isloated from this global meltdown? Again thsi is the biggest problem with the EU debate - the fact that ultimately for 90% of thsoe who express an opinon on it will do so based on their innate nationalism or political line, rather than looking to assess all the pros and cons to make an informed decision.

Of course there are many who will state they dont want EU integration - and as some have said, democracy should be allowed to play its part in deciding whether a nation wishes to be part or not. But my earlier point is that with this issue you NEVER get a result based on the the real pros and cons - beacuse too many are obsessed with an unhealthy nationalism that I have never seen or heard a valid defence for - especially when put in context of how recent and artificial our borders are in the grand scheme of things.

In a an ideal world it WOULD go before the people. But how many of you if you are TOTALLY honest believe you would a) listen to the arguments for an against with an open mind, b) have the willingness to research, absorb and understand the intricacies of ALL EU policy to ensure you place everythijng oin the pro or con camp appropriately, c) the will power to fully put aside any inate bias based on existing political rhetoric/party line and the ridiculous yet very influencial element of the principle of sovereignty to hand on heart make an informed and educated choice on the matter? the ego driven sense of nationalism is often too ingrained for many to give it a fair hearing anyway. - Always been why the Tories have been and always will be so divided on Europe - with the old guard nationalists opposed to anything foreign bugger interfering, versus the capitalists recognizing the economic benefits to tehir self serving industry (and they know that teh current economic climate may make it look unattractive, but they also know they made a killing when all was rosey 7 or 8 years ago...) That is the problem. There are pros and cons -with the pros only increasing the more influence a nation has within the EU eg Germany. Our influence is currently far lower than the threshold for what most folk would consider necessary for there to be a benefit - mostly because we have spent most of our membership time on the outside pis sing in...

not surprized . a referendum on this will go the same way as the one on changing the voting system - misinformation spread, posturing and praying on fears for it ever to get decent fair hearing - Most flkd simply do not have enough undrstanding of ALL the issues raised by membership v non membership and follow party lines or what is fead to them by their Newspaper... getting an open and honest discussion going on this topic will be impossible and therefore impossible for most (including me) to make a fully informed choice... this is the problem with referenda as a whole. In Scotland you have folk saying why not give independence a go, if it does not work out rejoin.... explains alot

No one would disagree that German football has had a renaisance since their hosting of the world cup - but prior to that it was not in great shape - clubs had to buy into what the DFB was wanting to and they did because they recognised the advantage to all clubs if there were improvements across all aspects of the game. As is typical over tehir, grounds are not owned by clubs but local councils and there was huge investment all and new builds that meant most Bundes liga clubs ended up with new or improved stadia without any outlay. Then you have a cultural difference - players there still do not get paid the same level as in the prem, so clubs still loose their best players - but tehy do stay until early 20s rather than fecking off for big bucks at 16/17... so many things in teir favour. The issue is not Arsenal charging what they can get away with, but with the prem itself - believing its own hype that its the best league in the world when what they mean is they have manged to market it globally on the back of the heritage of English football - Sky pay the big buck and clubs are desperate to buy in big talent because they need success NOW rather than longer term ambitions... and that costs more than they get from Sky - cant blame Arsenal for this, depsite their £62 a ticket, they still cant compete. There willl nver bethe will of the big clubs to change the ownership model to one of 51% fan ownership...

Sometimes we need to be realistic and stop being all nostalgic with the glow of 'football for the people'. Historically yes it was a working class/poor peoples game - they were the only ones interested, and the low ticket prices reflected the ability to pay of the target audience. BUt that was the only link. The game has grown, interest has grown, a wider more affluent demographic felt comfortabloe going as stadia were upadted and seats installed - reducing capacity and increasing ticket prices to compensate. Then fans expect clubs to sign big names, ignore sensible wage structures without recognising that the prem TV moent does not cover that level of spending on its own... So the model is simple - any business who sees its cost base increase so rapidly, has to invest substatial sums year on year if they want to maintain there commercial revenue, has to charge as much as it can get away with end off. Whilst there are sufficient people willing and able to spend these amounts nothing will change. the game has evolved to a global business and wont go back. Fans accept strict wage controls, and poorer quality players compared to the opposition and lower league status with no ambition in excahnge for a £10 average ticket? wont happen.

Know what you mean, but I think the level of any contract/wage probably plays a bigger part in it these days, especially as the type of player we are currently going for, are those on the fringes of being looked at by bigger clubs - and possibly have nothing to lose by comming to saints - if we progress as Cortese would like, then all well and good and if we dont, they have the stepping stone/shop window within the prem game. Always a very difficult question - think everyone agrees that as Adkins gains more experience, tactcal nous and better players to work with he has the potential to be very good and good for saints - and that in itself will increase his profile... and he is a decent honorable bloke who most fans like, and also deserving of a proper chance.... BUT ultimately it has to be about whether he can learn quickly enough to keep pace with the expectation of Cortese (and some fans). eg. I dont see relegation as a complete nightmare that some fans (and probably Cortese) seem to - we are in a far bettre position than last time and could see us bouncing back - but suspect for Cortese its simply not an option and guess he will act if he feels we stand a better chance of survival with someone else. Easy to express opinion that there is a right and wrong here, but think its always alot more complex. I believe Cortse would love to keep Adkins and maintain that consistency and continuity, and because he seems comfortable working with the chairman - let alone avoid expensive payoffs, but will recognise that if Adkins is struggling in this important season, may look at alternatives - also feel he wuld defo go for a continental manager who is used to having to work with what they are given and inputs but does not dictate transfers.

Think we have a the makings of adecent first 11 that with added experience of this season would be reasonably solid next season. Problem is the back up as many have noted, two of 3 changes and we lose shape and focus which is what happened second half v Chelsea. IN addition we do lack a natural leader on teh pitch. Adam is great but does not come across as a natural leader. How do we ever compete? Well if you dont believe we ever can, then my question is what is the point of being a fan? Its always been about dreams and aspiration, whether realistic or not, that keeps fans trudging to grounds on cold winter days, with little or no hope of points - we can mock the 10k that turn up a Fortress Fatpipes, but those fand still dream and keep going despite the shiedt on show... Problem with the prem is that there are 4 or 5 sides who will always have the financial muscle to retain those top 4or 5 spaces if they get their act together - other EU leagues tend to have 1-3 so there are always extra CL places up for grabs depending on which clubs have good seasons - usually based on managers, a crop of decent youngsters or by digging out the hidden gems - their flirtation with CL is cyclical as the best will then move on to the bigger clubs after being in the CL window. If and its a big IF, we do manage to harbour a conveyor belt of talent from the academy combined with teh 10-12 mil buys we seem to be looking at, there is potential to be regularly in the top 8 or 9. Better than that needs more cash, or enough cash to convince 19 yearolds to stay until 22-24 to give us that chance of the European place... but we shoudl be happy to dream that we will get a crop like teh Busby Babes and take Europe by storm

Not missing the point at all - just raising aquestion on why nationality seems so important to some when in the bigger picture it's pretty meaningless, especially when as you say its the home that is more important then why not be a seperate country... which is afterall nigh on 15000 miles away? The old man was Royal Engineers so went out towards the end - saw some things he is reluctant to talk about

What is it though with this almost crazed desire to retain a certain nationality yet live miles away from that country in the first place? I mean FFS, the falklands is hardly a carabean paradise where you could see the attraction of the place, yet there, we have Brits so determined to remain British, they would rather live is an isolated bleak windy, cold sheep infested tin shed than come home to blighty.... same with the that bloated feckin wart, the worlds greatest living Scotsman who prefers to live in Spain for the last 30 years... schplendid mish moneypenny... what is it with these people. Ok we have held the falklands for several hundred years - right, but a) the world is 4 billion years old, not 500, b) you have to pretty low in the rankings in geography class not to see that well, these islands are a bit closer to South America than good old blighty... so what teh feck does it all matter anyway? we is lucky to get our 3 score and 10, so in reality our sense of nationality is pretty irrelevent - possibly/hopefully one day consigned to the bin along with that other pointless and idiotic abused differentiator, race as something the world with all its other problems really does not have time for. I understand the right to self govern/determine, but why not decide to apply to the UN and be a seperate nation - would at least make some sense... at the moment those islands are just used in a cyclical **** waving contest to detract from more serious national issues - as was the case in 1982... and many died for that political show of strength on both sides... futility is an oft underused word, but springs to mind. I suspect that after a few months of flagwaving, the Argies would have realised that with their economy they could ill afford a garrison set up in the Falklands for something of no strategic or economic value and would have feck off back home leaving a few flags to be taken down... instead had to give the bastards and arsekicking to get Thatch a second term.... were thsoe lives worth it Maggie? Rant over PS. She sent my dad over there (who did 22 years serving this country) and he was not chuffed about it I can tell you

Is not Trickey Trevs saving grace the PPs though - they only get them if they are not liquidated - and even with 3mil in the bank spent awaiting the final 8mil, in theory this means its worth staying in business until that point - as 1) the PP value is worth more than they currently have and 2) the theory goes more time to find a buyer (ha ha)?

Depends on where the cash/funding is coming from. Dont think anyone wants us to spend beyond our means, but is hopeful that whatever legacy Marcus left is funding this from within our means.... would be nice to know for sure, but I simply cant belive having rescud the club form teh scheidt we were in, Nicola would risk it all through a desperate attempt to stay up without thinking of the worse consequences of major debt

Me? I suscribe to the Nicola gone mad with a '**** it, lets rumble' approach - blow the lot on a CL final within 3 years - yeah!

If older close to has beens I would agree its not a great ploicyu - if young and hungry and with opportunity to sell themselves we cant really go wrong...

... will get shot down for this, but I dont buy the 'prem experience' card as being the be and end all - all depends on how quickly players can adapt - and we have seen some do this quite quickly - not much more so than any normal new player entering a side. We do lack a wiser leadership head at times, someone who rallies the troops when heads go down or when defending a lead.

There are loads of solid journeymen out there that we could get for 5-6 mil on 40k a week -probably aged 28-32 wih all teh experience in the world - and yes there may offer a better chance of survival - but at teh cost of keeping younger players out the side and that would still want to leave if relegated, yet have less value. Think we made a decision - yes we are prepared to spend both on wgaes and transfer fees for players that can increase their worth/potential, but not on those who cant - I like this, others wont , different strokes and all that.

Problem as I see it is that accomplished prem players are going to be older and costly, with little resale value - Our policy is riskier to survival chances but has more potential to actually see progress. How we all see it as fans wil depend on what means most to each individual. Prem status at all costs, or evolution to see if we can eventually make a dent in the top 10/8/..etc