danielsroundabout

Didn''t notice anybody dressed like that. Calderwood was standing with him more than usual today and was wearing a new track suit (navy). These track suits (Trollope had one on also) are a different one to what they usually wear.

I acknowledge a couple of woeful bits of distribution which gifted possession in dangerous positions but fortunately we survived. His detractors only seem to see any poor play from him, closing their eyes to all the positive contributions he makes. Certainly, a group around my mate in the Upper Barclay seem unable to wait to pinpoint anything he does wrong. In a game earlier in the season, I was thinking that Martin had had as good a game as anybody, a really outstanding first half and an ok second half. Upon meeting my mate outside the ground, his first words were "God, wasn''t Russell Martin awful?" I certainly see him as markedly less of a liability than Whitaker and also a better bet than some of the potential signings being mentioned.

You are every bit as bad as Archant in failing to acknowledge the reality of our position. With a general acceptance that we are unlikely to gain points from our last 4 or 5 games, we need at this stage, a buffer of a lot more than 2 points. The window has closed with no additions of note (a couple of squad number boosters) while other teams have been actively trying to bring in newcomers who will make a difference. Throughout this time, our management spent all their time on the subject of Hughton''s continuation in his role and issuing statements about Hoolahan and Aston Villa. It''s not a case of negativity, more one of frustration at not addressing the shortcomings in the team and performance levels. Don''t be swayed by the EDP/EEN reporting, it is all part of the mutual dependency that exists between NCFC and Archant.

With McNally committed to a trip to Switzerland (Dignitas) at the end of the season, I was wondering whether Alas Smith and Jones have given any thoughts to the next CEO. Some on here say they could do worse than appointing LDC who could combine the role with that of manager. Afraid I have no percentages in favour of that idea.

I agree, it''s at times like this that the faceless ones should be required to justify their decisions publicly but of course, they know they will never have to.

Certainly Carroll was the lesser of the two sinners in my opinion. Can the panel take action against Flores despite his not having been booked/sent off. His behaviour deserved a decent ban for me.

LDC, your faith is commendable but many have difficulty in sharing your optimism when we have just witnessed the activity (or lack of) in the recent window. Whether the manager was replaced or not, we should have been busy alongside the other relegation threatened clubs in seeking to strengthen a squad which has spent 24 games demonstrating its inability to deliver points. That we sit technically out of trouble is so misleading given that none of us expect anything from games 35 to 38 and at this stage we needed a decent buffer between us and the bottom 3 or 4 positions. Why did McNally spend the whole of the window engaged in: 1) Issuing statements in defence of the manager 2) Signing a couple of squad number boosters 3) Getting deeply embroiled in the Hoolahan issue. What a diversion that was allowed to become when everybody else was busy tooling up for the games ahead. I really find it hard to reconcile his "worse than death" statement with this head in the sand position that he and Hughton have adopted.

Think you''re wrong there Hertford, I''m told he insisted on magnolia for the walls.