anyone else feeling positive about tonight?

[AustrianAndyGull]

wheres the chuffing links to articles?? come on people, standards!!

Bix, i've told you before mate, i'm sh*t with computers and don't know how to do it. Otherwise just for your convenience i would have definately stuck a link in there my good man! :~D

[bengull]

I don't think Ling will ever win in the eyes of some (not picking on you individually mate)

2 points from 15 is an alarming run we're on and he is absolutely correct in everything he says, if we are not careful we will be dragged into a relegation, that is completely true. That's not to say in 5 games time we will actually be in a relegation scrap, or in 20 games time actually be relegated, but it would be naive to suggest that given how our season has stagnated, that he isn't wise enough to see that its a possibility.

I really do think sometimes we all have a habit of going over people's interviews with a fine toothcomb and extracting any traces of naivete, foolishness or ineptitude, even if sometimes none of it exists. I was guilty of doing with Paul Buckle because I was never fully convinced by the man, I think more people are doing it to Lingy though because he has a penchant for saying it exactly how he sees it.

[lankyben]

bring back zebroski as player manager

[Richinns]

bring back zebroski as player manager

**tumbleweed**

[bengull]

I hadn't read his comments until you brought them to my attention, but given how you described his opinions I was expecting to read that he expected us to get tanked tomorrow night against a team vastly superior side.

Instead I agreed with absolutely everything he had to said, I think he was being completely realistic in his assertion. We played really well on Saturday but lost. We have developped an unhealthy knack of throwing away leads. If we continue losing we can't be looking at Playoffs, we should be looking at a relegation scrap. At no point does he say he expects us to keep on losing, or indeed be in a relegation scrap, but the possibility exists.

You took the person who wrote the TUFC official website match report to task for reporting on the match in a completely positive light, now you are taking our manager to task for painting a seemingly 'negative' picture of circumstances. Come on mate, lighten up, I know you're a hard man to please (though my beer bottles do seem to hit the mark) but it just seems that our club can't satisfy you at the moment no matter what propaganda is put into the public domain!

[AustrianAndyGull]

I hadn't read his comments until you brought them to my attention, but given how you described his opinions I was expecting to read that he expected us to get tanked tomorrow night against a team vastly superior side.

Instead I agreed with absolutely everything he had to said, I think he was being completely realistic in his assertion. We played really well on Saturday but lost. We have developped an unhealthy knack of throwing away leads. If we continue losing we can't be looking at Playoffs, we should be looking at a relegation scrap. At no point does he say he expects us to keep on losing, or indeed be in a relegation scrap, but the possibility exists.

You took the person who wrote the TUFC official website match report to task for reporting on the match in a completely positive light, now you are taking our manager to task for painting a seemingly 'negative' picture of circumstances. Come on mate, lighten up, I know you're a hard man to please (though my beer bottles do seem to hit the mark) but it just seems that our club can't satisfy you at the moment no matter what propaganda is put into the public domain!

Ben the only problem i have with it is that he could have taken that opportunity to say something positive like well done for today ( Burton ), the lads played really well and we caused them a few problems but we threw it away which obviously we are devastated at doing but it's gone, we get the lads in monday morning and focus on getting the three points in what should be a cracking game on tuesday night.

That is fine, i may be picky but i just don't understand the doom and gloom all the time. We all know we are looking over our shoulders, we come on here and talk about it often enough but we don't need to be reminded of it. Ling knows we are a few bad results off it getting serious but why dwell on the bad stuff when he can focus on the good stuff?

I don't like your tone young man and any more of that and if you think i'm ever going to increase my beer bottle orders again then you can forget it! You people! :~D

(joke mate )

[bengull]

Also, by 'media session' you are referring to a man from radio devon dangling a microphone infront of his face 10 minutes after seeing his side lose in a game they more than held their own in and in the process throw away their fourth lead in a row. Forgive the man for not doing cartwheels about our current predicament and the fact that we can't buy a win at the moment is a massive concern to him as his tactics are obviously working pretty well in order for us to take the lead in the first place! To be honest I would be more disturbed if he came out and said he was delighted with what he had just witnessed. Don't get me wrong, I was pleased with the way we played, but the simple fact is we still lost. I was more than happy when we were unconvincingly scraping 1-0 wins against the likes of dire Northampton,Barnet and Dagenham teams because at the end of the day those 3 points are what puts you higher up the table and a better chance of paying your bills.

God, i'm in full on rant mood, now I know how you must feel! Please don't take any of this as a personal attack, because you know it isn't and because we always disagree on what we see anyway. I just think you have a propensity to react to what you read the very moment you have read it! But you do bring me great amusement so don't stop!

[Richinns]

Also, by 'media session' you are referring to a man from radio devon dangling a microphone infront of his face 10 minutes after seeing his side lose in a game they more than held their own in and in the process throw away their fourth lead in a row. Forgive the man for not doing cartwheels about our current predicament and the fact that we can't buy a win at the moment is a massive concern to him as his tactics are obviously working pretty well in order for us to take the lead in the first place! To be honest I would be more disturbed if he came out and said he was delighted with what he had just witnessed. Don't get me wrong, I was pleased with the way we played, but the simple fact is we still lost. I was more than happy when we were unconvincingly scraping 1-0 wins against the likes of dire Northampton,Barnet and Dagenham teams because at the end of the day those 3 points are what puts you higher up the table and a better chance of paying your bills.

God, i'm in full on rant mood, now I know how you must feel! Please don't take any of this as a personal attack, because you know it isn't and because we always disagree on what we see anyway. I just think you have a propensity to react to what you read the very moment you have read it! But you do bring me great amusement so don't stop!

LIES - you both think that Nicholson is our best player!

Not sure why I felt the need to draw attention to that but I have anyway!

[bengull]

Nicholson is our favourite player, not our best player.

However I do think calls to drop him are completely premature, experience like his is vital, especially when its his future at the club he loves being at stake if we did go down. He is exactly the sort of player, along with Manse, who I want in my team in this situation and I think he would offer us far more if he got a bit more protection from his winger. Most assists for us this season, that has gone unmentioned.

[AustrianAndyGull]

Rant at me all you like mate, i know that deep down you are a true fan of the club in every sense of the word and that as someone who goes to every home game and nearly every away game. Your opinions are reasoned and insightful and i know a lot of mine aren't but your opinions count more than a lot of others on here who can't be arsed to go to the games. I often do find it difficult to understand how you keep a lid on your frustrations especially when you trawl up and down the motorways at great time and expense every other week seeing us put in a shocker at Bradford, seeing us have one shot at Chesterfield, seeing us beaten at Barnet, Bristol Rovers and Wycombe, seeing us play like fanny hairs at Rotherham and seeing constantly poor performances. Yet you get back in your car, contemplate the bigger picture, reflect on all aspects of what went on in the game and then come on here and refrain from posting anything negative.

To do that requires immense self control and a deep comprehension of your subject, in this case all things TUFC. I respect you for that and often i wish i could be more calmer and more analytical of what i am posting but i don't think it could ever happen. A lot of what i post is off the cuff, heat of the moment crap and i know that, i don't do it to wind anyone up. It's the way it is but it WOULD be great to get you into a real rant Ben! Go on mate, you know it makes sense!

I couldn't take anything you say as a persoanl attack because no matter how wildly different your views are to mine or how annoyed you may get at some of my posts, i know that any criticism that may come my way is not meant with any ill feeling.

[bengull]

All in all, no i'm extremely negative about tomorrow and also I don't think Lingy is wrong to say what he did. If he makes any more press statements before the game, they must be positive ones though!

His programme notes, when he has a bit more time to consider his thoughts, are always very positive, candid and articulate, you might argue they have to be for TQ1, but for me in general, his latest interviews give off absolutely no indication of panic or doom, just that he has his eye on the ball and his finger on the pulse.

[AustrianAndyGull]

or his finger on the nub of youth like simon young?

[bengull]

Thank you for your kind words Andy, I hope that isn't a bribe for free Beer Bottles. I just try and go into every game with a sense of positivity no matter how hard the previous week's happenings are to take. In my mind if you are attending a match with a negative attitude of expecting a morbid defeat, you may as well stay at home and save your time and money. (and I have a season ticket)

You can expect my debut in the rant and whinge thread very soon!

[lankyben]

calls for nico to be dropped are awful. cruise lives off his one appearance in a dead rubber for arsenal v Olympiakos. the only good he has done at plainmoor is messing up for Carlisle. I personally would drop mansell as I just don't get what he brings apart from running. he can't pass wind can't tackle. granted he had a purple patch last season but since then has he really shown he deserves his position in the side regardless?

[TufcMatthew]

we need a very good first 20 minutes if we want to have a chance of beating them!