NJS

Very sorry to hear that. RIP

"Our Own" / "those who aren't" = "Inferior" = "Racism" "Why do you want to accomodate racists in this country ?" - I don't but I can't deport you. "What will you do?" - Criminals should face a fair trial regardless of colour - is that concept so anarchic? Do you then want sentences based on race?

To where would you deport the scum who rioted in the Meadowell and Scotswood 14 or 15 years ago? Problems should be addressed not swept under the carpet - none will get a trial will they?

Amen to that. 54680[/snapback] Yep - 10 minutes at V about 5 years ago was enough for me to realise that. That night (21st) I will be watching the Goddess Kristin Hersh.

I agree he's a zealot and some of his "this is a fact" rhetoric leaves me uneasy at times but I admire his willingness to stand up and quite literally be a target for stating his views. I wish more people had the courage to stand firm against ignorance. 54513[/snapback] I'm hopefully meeting Dawkins in the New Year. I agree he comes across as a zealot, and maybe a bit smug too, but he's preaching to the converted in my case, so I don't mind much. He married doctor Who's assistant as well. A cave girl iirc. 54515[/snapback] No Lalla Ward was a female Time Lord - sorry for the geekdom I saw him on a late night discussion show a few months ago about religion - he came across well with his "You're right and every other belief system is wrong" summary of their basic flaw.

I agree he's a zealot and some of his "this is a fact" rhetoric leaves me uneasy at times but I admire his willingness to stand up and quite literally be a target for stating his views. I wish more people had the courage to stand firm against ignorance.

That pesky flood has a lot to answer for.

As I've said before its frustrating trying to argue with irrationality. If you demanded of them the same "harsh" scientific view of their "theories" the response of "It was God" hardly stands up. My Mam is an intelligent woman and a staunch catholic. She completely accepts the evolutionary history of the world and has no objection to the "universe is 14billion years old" line. Her faith is that her God created the big bang. I don't agree but she could teach those ignorant bastards a thing or two.

Just read an interesting article this morning: Evolution is fact The morons can't grasp the time periods involved - I find it hard having read a few books on the subject. The common ancestor we share with Chimpanzees lived 6 million years ago - a scary concept which pales into insignificance compared with the 3.5 billion years of life itself. I recently finished "The Ancestors Tale" by Dawkins and I'd recommend it. In the final paragraph he states his view which I share which is as follows: "My objection to supernatural beliefs is precisely that they fail miserably to do justice to the sublime grandeur of the real world. They represent a narrowing-down of reality, an impoverishment of what the real world has to offer". The idiots in Kansas fear knowledge - knowledge is the enemy of faith.

I think that was a confidence thing though Alex - the team "know" they have a record of not holding leads and that makes them nervous - hopefully the few wins will help that.

Yes I'm an "end of this season" man. I would however take this "entertainment" factor everyone is discussing into account. Thats why I was unhappy with Bobby's last full season as that factor was piss poor imo. Booting him out now comes down to previous arguments - unless it was for Hitzfeld or similar its pointless in my view - We'd just get a Bruce.

Eh? 3 or 4 games? Is that a typo, or what? 53639[/snapback] 3 or 4 games in the context of "his full team" as you emphasised in this thread.

I still think you're being too quick to stick the knife in. Nobby has said he's shattered implying an obvious lack of match fitness. Emre talks about "more to come". Theres still the "gel" factor which I think takes time. The thing that gives me hope was the last half an hour against West Brom - that was a sign of a team with a few footballers in it who know how to pass and retain possession. Once again I accept its "only WBA" but its a sign of things to come I feel. I think people are ignoring this as it was a bit short - fair enough - but as I said it gave me hope.

I'd also add tht the comparisons with the past are based on 2, 3 or 4 seasons. Now that Souness has "his team" I think he should at least get more than 3 or 4 games to be judged. Last season imo should be written off and the slate wiped clean.

Starting to get results is a start - it breeds confidence which is a huge factor in football. I'd rather we were winning a few games (admittedly against poorer teams) then being like the Mackems and playing "well" like against us and Man U and getting nowt. I have no problem with people saying "lets get some better performances now" - I share that view - but I think we could do with slightless less "enthusiastic negativity".

Wasn't there a stat that he featured in all but 3 games under Souness and only a couple, if any, played more games under him?

A BIT risky for work? - glad I waited till I got home.

Simply in terms of creative midfielders. One thing I do agree with Souness on is that the better teams don't have "lazy" wingers like Robert anymore and prefer more adaptive footballers whether they're nominally wide men or not.

Really? I don't remember those at all. Sure you aren't being a bit of a fibber here, mate? Anyway, what's all this about his 'defenders?'. As I've said over and over again, all I give a shite about is what players produce on the pitch for Newcastle. Robert produced more than the rest of the midfield put together, dispute that all you like but you'll be wrong according to the facts. When Shearer put his dispute with Gullit ahead of the club, I suppose that wasn't him being a selfish twat? 51831[/snapback] Most of us lean towards "on the pitch" but as I said there are limits - what are yours - rapists? murderers? Robert's contribution when he was good last year was the best of a bad bunch but most recognise his standards had dropped generally (and I refer to the attacking side here). I've seen enough promise in Emre and Nobby to think in big picture terms he won't be a critical loss.

I honestly don't see how a player refusing to play in a team when named just before kick off is a non story. The injury thing is clearly bollocks - why did he leave the ground? I don't dislike Robert as a player and don't know the man so can't comment on a personal level but I do think he has a very non-team attitude to football which I think is why he ins't the player he likes to think he is.

I'm not a "zero tolerance" person by any means and always had the "on the pitch matters" attitude but just think there are some limits (agree on the no debate )

Can't speak for others but the reasons i defended Robert (under Bobby and Souness) is because of what he had done for us and was still doing for us in terms of goals scored, created and generally being the only midfielder likely to do either at times. The manager doesn't even need to come into my defence of Robert. 51116[/snapback] I realise theres an element of that in people argument and what I said probably more applies to Bellamy in terms of the blind (imo) "never did any wrong" views. I always recognised the balance in Robert which benefitted us most of the time but by the end was going too far to the "too much bother" side.

I don't recall those threads on here NJS. Ans I'm not particularly interested by the opinion of one Pompey fan who posts on a Sunderland messageboard. Robert probably does have an attitude problem. But then so does Dyer - remember, the player most responsible for Robson's dismissal? You could also argue Shearer has an attitude problem - he didn't take kindly to getting subbed. I'll base my opinions on Robert by the facts, not idle tittle tattle expressed by some on here. Our most productive midfielder, and a player linstrumental in getting us to 4th/3rd in the prem, despite wierd protestations we were somehow punching above our weight. And are we better now without him? Not in my opinion. 51110[/snapback] Dyer has been a little shit on several occasions and I've never been eager to defend him but I stand by saying that Robert is the king of selfishness. All of his articles (especially the well timed one) pointed the finger a others and never accepted responsibility for himself (in contrast to the similarly criticised Titus one). I'm not denying what he did for us and the fact he's obviously a good player but the point is that some players go too far too often in stirring things up. The lengths to which some will go to defend such behaviour just because they don't like the manager is wrong imo.

Cue Robert on SSN calling his manager a liar as he wasn't injured?

I remember threads started about 10 seconds after Bellamy scored for Blackburn and also the initial honeymoon period for Robert at Pompey. Some of the bile is stupid considering what he did for us but this latest thing does prove one point that "outers" made at the end. Robert is a selfish twat who doesn't care about his team. Would any of his defenders care to deny that? Theres also a Pompey fan who posts on the SMB who took about two weeks to see through him and reckon a lot of their fans are the same. When the story broke yesterday he said "Good - Taylor will play" - you know the player who scored 2 and won them the game.