Port Said Red

How many contradictions and how much bullshit in one paragraph from the man? "I felt the referee was really poor today for us. Every decision, he decided to give to them and I think it stems out of the nonsense from the manager and the assistant. I was in the stand and I could hear them trying to get Glenn Whelan sent off for a competitive tackle on the edge of the touchline. "They are screaming and jumping up and maybe it’s because they never played football and maybe that’s how you’re meant to behave, but you shouldn’t be screaming as an opposition manager to get a 91-cap international dismissed from the pitch when he has clearly made contact with the ball. It is a foul, it probably is a yellow card." There is enough there to dissect to keep this thread going for the next month.

Joey Barton probably thinks this is something to do with him being coached by PE Teachers, a professional would have told him to get out of the way.

I get the impression from early interviews in the development of the HPC that the club had been led to believe that the Bears indoor area would be seen as sufficient to get it, but that the FA then changed their criteria to say "exclusive use". whether we have the space and can get the PP for something exclusive I don't know.

But it wasn't really an academy then, it was a straightforward youth set up. Once it became an academy with all that investment entails, it was always going to be the pre teens that were going to benefit most.

Something you couldn't really do until he leaves I guess, but even if he left in a free after say 4 years, what would a player like that cost for the same return. It's like making your own food instead of buying it in a restaurant.

I am not playing sides, I think it's reprehensible from both.

The good thing about Zac in the last couple of games is that he hasn't dwelled on a mistake. He recovered from a couple of dodgy moments really well and it was good to hear sections of the crowd applauding him as much as those who grumbled.

And spend the money on other people's players instead? I can't deny there is something exciting about a signing for reasonably big money but I get far more from watching a youngster coming through the ranks, someone with something invested in the club. We have had our successes before of course, but the upcoming generation looks to have some real gems and has them in numbers. I think the issue with the academy was that many people wanted instant success from something that is always going to be about 10 - 12 years worth of investment. Of course there are young players that have joined later like Semenyo and Scott, but to me it's even better seeing someone like Bell or Conway being with the club from 6,7, 8 years old and seeing it as home. I won't name any because I don't like the idea of putting fan pressure on them when they are still learning, but from the games I have watched, I would not be at all surprised to watch a game in the next couple of seasons, where the majority of the side is home grown talent. Long live the Academy I say, literally the future of our club.

Am I only one who thinks singing "let him die" when a player is down with a head injury is something that they may come to regret one day?

Although it wasn't as scintillating as the Luton game, I thought we had another great 20 minutes after half time yesterday. That's two games in a row now where we have imposed ourselves on a team trying to get back into the game. We need to do the same in the next away games, to really get the 2nd half monkey off of our backs.

Well luckily he's going to get a mid season rest along with almost everyone else, that might help. I wonder if fans of teams like Bath and Yate feel the same way we do about Tammy when they see him doing well?

They play Cardiff next which also has 0 -0 written all over it, which probably means it will finish 4 - 4.

I think that's shocking and not at all logical. Your username is clearly inaccurate. I assume Semenyo pissed on your chips or cut you up in traffic or something, because that's an incredibly dismissive and uncalled for post.

What? How? Very strange statement unless you have clear proof that he is not genuinely injured. Anyway, regarding Conway, we are not even out of August yet, if he maintains this level until May I would be amazed..... happy but amazed.

So we know that Pearson likes to stick with what's working, but I think he is also a pragmatic man so I can see a few changes on Wednesday. The obvious one is Williams getting a rest, but I think there will be others. Conway took a few knocks and Scott didn't look 100% after that early challenge, do Martin and Wilson would be in with a chance, as would Andy King. Would Pring and Klose get starts too?

Not sure how they could have been any louder to be honest.

Excellent start.

As I have said before I am right on the edge of the standing section and it was good in there today. For a start, it was packed for some reason, hardly a position left. In addition, nearest blocks of both the Dolman and the South Stand were fully involved and included in the atmosphere.

I thought he was saying Natchi?

I was told the other day by a reasonably senior player that he "can't remember having so much fun and enjoyment, both on and off the pitch, in his career". That has to be a great motivational factor if that goes for the rest of the squad.

Happy birthday Nigel, you certainly know how to celebrate.

The poor quality opposition that went to Swansea and won yesterday? Maybe our performance was even better than we realised especially with 10 men?

It's early days, all these players will get chances, the days of it being all about the starting 11 went out of the window years ago. The players know that, about time the fans worked it out too.

I don't think I have ever used this before because I hate it but... "Whoosh"!