Minty

This is kind of my point... no offence to you, but I've heard several lines, some similar, some not, about why they were sacked, but it's impossible to really know what the truth is.

Went on this line as part of a European holiday last June, and it was indeed stunning. The late clearance of the ice last year meant we climbed up through lush green hillsides but when we went over the top at Alp Grum and past Lago Bianco, it was still ice and snow. Stunning but slightly strange. Would thoroughly recommend the trip though.

Chambers effectively came from nowhere last pre-season. We seem to have a habit of keeping players in their respective squads until they are completely ready (except for the few Cup games we have). I don't know much about Targett yet either so I'm not saying he will make it, but the lack of bench appearances does not necessarily mean he's not ready.

Does anyone actually have anything concrete on the Dodd and Williams thing yet? I've not seen anything. Charlton keeps getting mentioned with Reed, but that was a completely different job at a different club. He's been part of this club since Cortese arrived and was the only football man on the Board at that time, just like he is now. There are no guarantees but he seems to be doing ok to me based on everything that has happened since he arrived.

Interesting thing for me was watching him tell some of his teammates where to go to receive the ball. Early on he was man marked a lot of the time as Ecuador tried to stop France playing out from the back. So Morgan simply moved his marker around to create space for others. But there were times when he dropped right off alongside the centre backs to create space for another midfielder to drop into to collect the ball, but they didn't do so, and he was telling them as much. He knows that role inside out, and also knew what to do when he couldn't do it because of marking. It's easy to overlook what players do when they're not on the ball, but watching Morgan last night showed a level of maturity and experience that belies his years. Given that it was his first game, that his teammates hadn't played with him before other than in training, and that he had a clearly defined role to play, I think any criticism of him just demonstrates a lack of knowledge about his role and how to play it. It's one of those roles you don't notice until someone doesn't do it very well.

93%, best on the pitch. As you say, he was generally playing simple passes to keep the ball and build attacks but still, very good nonetheless.

Brilliant interception from Morgan to set up that attack and France hit the woodwork.

Looked comfortable so far, doing exactly what he does for Saints... breaking play up, pressing opposition players, keeping possession and always available for a pass. Excellent to see, long may it continue.

Not quite sure where this 'terrible, terrible record' is that someone on there mentions...?

There's no mention of the g-word, so he can't do...

I'm half expecting an inquiry into match fixing after that result... Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

Just a bit of tolerance would be nice... fat chance it seems.

We did indeed declare, and Essex 5/1 already, off 4 overs.

Vince reached his 200 (203* to be precise) off exactly 200 balls. That's a nuts run rate for a 4 day game... and since then he's moved on to 226* off 212 balls. Crazy.

Moving on fairly rapidly this morning, 310-2 as I type, Smith approaching his ton, Vince 182* at a rate of more than a run a ball still. Let them get their ton and double ton respectively, push the lead over 500 and declare just before lunch I reckon?

And more to the point, what has any of that got to go with Koeman? Leave it out chaps. Ta.

Both sides wind up the other. If those who predicted doom and gloom were a little more circumspect then the 'told you so's' would probably be somewhat less pronounced. And if everyone was actually able to say 'I was wrong' once in a while, then the whole place would have a lot less attitude about it. But a lot of people it seems are more concerned about being right or wrong, or how they look, rather than accepting that they're human, that their opinions are shaped by their own personal outlook, and that nothing is cast in stone.

Don't panic, it's a joke. Re-read your post and his reply and I'm sure you'll get it.

218/2 now, Vince 132* Smith 52*, gone off for bad light with a lead of 383. We really should win this game now.

Happy with that Hypo?

If you put aside everything else that has happened this summer, (or even in spite of all that) this is quite some indicator of the progress of the club overall, to attract such a name. I'm really quite excited by this - lots of work to be done, but I'll happily say now that, if we can finish around 8th again next season, and retain the manager and the momentum, then I think we're set fair for further improvement over the following seasons.

And now 129/2 at tea. Much better, plenty of time to hopefully, steadily, build up an unassailable lead.

Recovered a bit now, 78/2... 25 off the first 15 overs, 53 off the next 10, Vince with 41 off 46 balls.

I don't know. Ask the media. Does it really matter?

Just skittled Essex for 121 (from 69-2) in their first innings in the LV= game, a first innings lead of 165. Abbott with 5-44.