Pugin

Adults who were in rooms at times still exagerrate and make things up.

The persecution of Todd Cantwell on here and elsewhere is pitiful and based on so much much speculation, and so little fact. Whether we as a club attract profoundly unsatisfied people, or whether all clubs have such people is up for debate. But it's as if people celebrate his failures and his anguish.

I think he will be playing abroad next year if Bournemouth do not exercise their option, or if Todd rejects it, or if the clubs don't negotiate. He was close to going abroad before Bournemouth came in with their offer.

Yes, and he's sure to be aware of Teemu's darting runs.

I am really sorry, because I never criticise players, but Kieron Dowell is, as ever, miles off the pace.

I saw a game at Exeter City back in the 90's. Talking to their fans, the game they were looking forward to that season as it was the nearest thing they had to a local derby was versus WALSALL!!! Mind blown!

He panicked because he realised late that the ball was sailing over him, and he knew a player was behind. It was a subconscious reaction. The mind can play strange tricks when under pressure. Sam is the last player I would expect to panic, but there you go.

Number two, fits Lees-Melou. I'd do a rhyme, if I had the time.

At the risk of ridicule, which is no risk at all, I can only admire the Zen-like acceptance that all of us observe from any crowd streaming away fro CR, even after ignominious defeat. There are still smiles aplenty, almost always from the good old boys who have seen it a hundred times before. The quips and jokes and graveyard humour, they are all signs of the enlightenment that comes with experience. In Buddhism, happiness is achieved when a person can perceive the true nature of reality, unmodified by the mental constructs we superimpose upon it. This authentic happiness comes from having an exceptionally healthy state of mind that underlies and suffuses all emotional states and that embraces all the joys and sorrows that come one's way. The mental states necessary for authentic happiness are not simply found or happened upon. Rather, happiness is achieved through mental training that purges the mind of afflictive emotions, such as hatred and compulsive desire, which literally poison the mind, and above all through the eradication of ignorance. Enlightenment is to enjoy watching football because we enjoy watching football. Misery is a Tottenham / Sunderland / Arsenal fan with a Piers Morgan attitude.

Please stop!!! So, I've got up on a Saturday morning, no work so a bit of free time, and visit the forum to see what's being talked about. And what do I find - a succession of people slagging off a 20 year old player who is trying to find his feet in the hardest league in the world. It's just not impressive or healthy. Gilmour is a good prospect, battling to become an influence in games. To be playing at his level, at his age, is an incredible achievement. He doesn't deserve all the brickbats, some valid and some sheer nonsense. What he is achieving is the dream of most kids. Where his career takes him, no one knows. But for goodness sake show a little understanding of what you are seeing. Please!

Todd was not offered a new contract. No discussions such as you suggest ever took place.

I am not sure he will, for two reasons: First, there was a strange period of time when the club's representatives, including Stuart Webber, were consciously avoiding Todd's representatives. Basically, the club was being awkward and playing games. Trying to wield the big stick, I suspect. I think they agreed to meet in London after the Chelsea game, but the communications on the Norwich side were abysmal, for whatever reason. Ultimately, it helped no one, least of all the club. Second, the current first team squad member who I consider to have the biggest future of the lot, is with the same Agency as Todd. Liker Todd, he was spotted by them at a very early age and they are trusted, intelligent and straight-dealing people. Stuart cannot afford to either embroider his account of what happened, or fillet it to reflect favourably on the club. Discretion may be the better part of valour.

Some may think we are at risk from Putin or China, or COVID, or whatever. Wrong! Morons like those in the video will cause more devastation and degeneration than any outside influences. Whatever happened to decent behaviour?

I think he has done well to adapt to a huge change in surroundings. He rents Jordan Hugill's house which is more or less on the middle of nowhere West of Norwich although a couple of other players have houses on the development, but a major change from the big city life he is used to.

OK, so it's water under the bridge, but if Sterling had scored direct it would have been a re-take because of encroachment. So the only way City could score from it would be from the rebound, which is what happened. But, a question for those who understand the Laws, should it have been retaken in any case after Sterling had tapped in the rebound, as City had committed an infringement and there was no advantage to be gained by playing on?

There was a lot of complaining around me in the first half to see that Max was staying pretty much tucked inside until the ball came across, allowing Raheeem Sterling and Zinchenko to have so much space down Man City's left. After about 5 minutes I was expecting Dean Smith to be shouting and hollering to get Sergent to get himself back behind the ball and into the left defensive area. But it never happened. My conclusion is that it was all part of the plan. Defend compactly. Don't get pulled out into exposed positions. We can't cover every yard of the pitch. Allow space out on the touchline. No one will score from there. But once the play comes 10 yards in from the line, or to the edge of the box, defend like your life depends on it. The bonus is that when we get the ball back, Josh is in a good attacking position and we are set to break forward effectively. It means we a rarely get really penned in. I don't mind it at all. Playing against Manchester City is not an average benchmark. Few sides have got players like Sterling or Zaha. Drop down a small amount, and the tactic works. It worked against Raphinha, who is a wonderful player but only found any joy when he left his base off the touchline. After Liverpool, I think we will be really set to show our best form yet. Bring it on.

Bravo! But your liberal views are far too enlightened for many of the denizens of this little den of mutton.

I am convinced that the relegated teams will be Brentford and two others.

So you are calling Dean Smith a blatant liar. That's disrespectful.

OK OK, Stop press. Cantwell has signed for... Great Yarmouth Town. Jordan Cantwell, for it is he of whom I speak, has put pen to paper to sign for Great Yarmouth after leaving Mundford. No news yet about his brother Todd, however.

I am resisting the temptation to go big with 'Cantwell has officially signed with club at famous seaside resort', because it is absolutely 100% true, as God is my witness. But I will just slip it in here to see the reaction, and then give the details in about 10 minutes. All 100% pukka, I promise you 🙂

On a point of order @Feedthewolf , the Taylor Report did not insist upon all-seater stadiums. What it said was that all clubs shall assess the risks within the areas accomodating fans, and put measures in place to safeguard fans' safety. Standing in seated areas has always been an infringement of clubs' rules (as we know) and the turning of a blind eye has been pragmatic but surprising. On the question of trialling rail seating which accomodates 'safe standing', at Man City this season we all stood in rail seating, many people without even realising it. It clearly and indisputably reduces the risks of crushing, with no attendant added risks. To all intents and purposes the 'trial' can be regarded as complete.

I, how I love a well-informed and intelligent post first thing in the morning 🙂

I am saying the opposite. I am saying that by retirement time, if we have worked for 40 or 50 years, we should all have £500k + in our pension pots to guarantee a financially stress-free retirement. (And by definition, not having to worry too much about the cost of a session ticket). Currently, many working people who have worked all their lives may have accumulated a couple of £000k or less, and will find it to be sadly inadequate. Meanwhile, the super-rich (as listed above) sit on billions which have been taken out of our economy. It's a Economics viewpoint, not a Political one, and nothing to do with 'weirdo lefties'.

The club 'with all its riches'? What about the banks, the money lenders, the financial institutions, the pharma industry who have made billions, the hedge funds, the online retail sector, the oil, gas and arms industry, the private care sector, the private medical supply sector, the insurance sector, the private hospitals who have rinsed the public purse, the venture capitalists whose business model is to create redundancies (I could go on). Then there are the dodgy Russians and those from totalitarian oil states, laundering their riches in London through business and property acquusition. They are all rolling in cash, much of it arising from COVID. Should they not be helping the working man? Not valiant NCFC, the paupers of the Premier League, currently putting up such a brave show, against the odds.