In fairness Vin I was being a little naughty in that comment, but I do think there's something of an overestimation of a decent/upper-decent player round these parts sometimes.
Is there any need for the doctors to write their assessment on his chest like that; things aren't that tight in the NHS are they?
Was gutted yesterday, especially considering City n Chelsea went out, but as poor as we were defensively I thought Palace were great, so credit where it's due Something that pissed me off even more though was an incident on the green footbridge after the game. There was a group of 5/6 lads ****ing about pushing each other around (obviously had a few beers) - Not a problem until they knock a woman over who was struggling to walk anyway and had a stick, me n some other bloke helped her up as she couldn't get up on her own n helped her out of the crowd. None of the group responsible thought to stop n see if she was okay though. Little ****s.... Anyone else see this??
Meaning what? It's ok pumping a stat out but what does that mean exactly? Yesterday we conceded three with him; does that mean it's him? No. Vic fact. Last season we had best defensive record with him on the pitch... (Yes, I'm playing Devils advocate)
No - can't agree with that, Tintin ...... Reed would have been bullied off the ball by Palace - taller, bigger, stronger ...... which I think is why Ron didn't go for him. I don't think the blame can be put one any one player - we were beaten by a form team who played directly and we allowed ourselves to be bullied off the ball. Wouldn't have happened with Vic and Morgan, but we didn't have them. Ron went with best players he had and I think we looked threatening with Long on and possibly could have gone on to win, but we didn't. All credit to Palace - hope they push on, but the cup is wide open now. Beauty of the cup, as they say! We need to regroup and get on by hammering Swansea next Sunday! please log in to view this image please log in to view this image
Both meaningless quotes (don't know how to show two quotes) as you know. But the fact is, as I keep saying Cork is not a defensive player. I bet he has assisted more assists than anyone else since he's been here. Take the Newcastle game, he's been on for only a few minutes and he got Clyne in behind the full back. The only player to do that in the entire 90 mins. That is his role, the dm's give him the ball and he gets it to someone in a decent position to create something. Despite, this one performance and above opinions I still think he is good enough for England. Compare him, say, to Wilshire......enough said! He will never play for England though, I'd put a bet on that. Funnily enough, even when he was scoring goals earlier in the season and he had his spell in the starting line-up, I didn't think he was playing as well as he did last year when he was quite often our most effective midfielder. If Lallana was worth £20 something million (which he obviously wasn't) then someone is going to get a bargain at £4m.
Which was exactly my point and why I retorted with a pointless Devil's advocate fact. Don't know why people come on here and say "blah, blah blah... FACT" - they don't usually mean too much as there are always 10 other players involved. I don't want Cork to go, however if he does , I will understand his view point and will follow his next move with interest. Personally, if he moves to a mid/low Prem team (which I am sure he will, as a big club won't sign him), I suspect he will disappear into mediocrity. That is not a slur on Corkie, just I think we suit him and his next team may not suit him so well. Unfortunately three successive managers have seen him as the next choice, not the first choice. He could become like a Gardner is at West Brom. Every team needs a player like him, but the higher you go, the more 'extra' that player needs to offer. Personally, Steve Davis offers more in the link up play and that decisive through ball than Corkie. Vic and Morgan, as I think everyone agrees, offer more as a CDM as it is more their natural role. I also believe that if he goes, the replacement will prove to be a more valuable/better player.
I would be happy if Cork signed, but my attitude has changed. I was unhappy that he hadn't been offered a new contract as he deserved it, but now he has, it's up to him. I felt we really needed him early in the season, but now I have a lot more confidence in the club. If he leaves, we will sign someone else who is as good or better. Cork will play for us, but rarely start...depends what he wants. Glad he's got the offer, now let's have an answer, then move on.
In your opinion! Do you actually think that Wilshire is better? Cork was an England U21 plus GB so some people obviously thought he had the ability. I just think if you're not playing regularly for your club then a) you won't improve, and b) it gives an obviously negative message to Hodgson. Anyway, he'll never play for England so you've no need to worry. As FLT says above, if he goes he'll drift into mediocrity.
Of course my opinion, but on the flip side, an international class midfielder wouldn't 'drift into mediocrity', he'd be snapped up by a big club. My opinion on that seems to be backed up by a succession of Saints managers too, so...
Difficult choice for Cork...which of course depends on any offers he gets. I doubt a big club would want him (and he would play less than he does here anyway), so he needs a decent mid-table team to want him. Or a newly promoted side? Unless he gets an offer from abroad...and very few PL players get that. Big decision time for him.
I must admit I didn't see the game on Saturday but from all the doom and gloom I've read on this thread I thought we must have lost 7-0 to Portsmouth! The BBC described the game as thrilling. Alan Pardew said " I thought both teams were great. There was some really good football played". I think Chelsea, Man City and Man Utd had a worse weekend! I'm knocking on a bit and remember us losing the odd game or 2 - I'm sure we'll all be smiles again after the Swansea game!
But if we lose to Swansea, we will be on the downward slide to oblivion, death and ruin. How can you be so positive, SaintinSerbia.
