number37

There was an interview on Sky Sports News earlier with Graham Potter and even though it's more than just stating the obvious but it's night and day compared to who occupies our managerial seat(s). I could have watched the interview for hours, he's such an intelligent and articulate man, he has the whole environment of the club planned out and all geared towards improving the players on the pitch but also off the pitch, which is equally as important. He mentioned when he was doing his Masters degree, the other people on his course were surgeons and members of the armed forces, all trying to use those transferable skills to get the best out of their respective teams. If we ever get taken over () then I genuinely think he'd be a great appointment. There's something of the Rafa approach that I like but maybe with a smidge more of a personal touch. But, aye, we've got Steve Bruce.

I think it's for Track & Trace so they can get in touch with you and ask what's wrong with you.

Milan celebrating like Young Boys winning the World Cup. Not exactly Manchester United at home, is it?

I'm not even surprised anymore that the Strawberry pub has better cryotherapy facilities than Newcastle United.

I'd have said Subway Club but I doubt he's ever left one.

It's like watching a nursery school rendition of Frost/Nixon.

The man spent 20 years as a professional central defender, a significant amount of that time at the most successful club of the era under one of the greatest managers of all time. Surely you'd have thought he'd have at least some expertise in the art of defending. However, he has as much knowledge as he does international caps.

I just don't see the need for him to put it on so thick as if a Brenda Blethyn, Vera-inspired accent is going to endear himself to fans. I suppose I wouldn't really care what he sounded like if he was good at his job, or even a likeable person, but unfortunately we don't have that to fall back on.

The guy on the right there just openly mocking me.

I hope they don't lakh the funds to Mumbai the club.

Yeah, I'm fairly sure one of his brands made their kit and/or sponsored it as well as Boundary Park being known as Sports Direct Stadium or something along those lines for a wee while.

I know, it's just a pet peeve of mine. My brain can't handle the inconsistency of having a striped short sleeve shirt with a solid colour base layer (obviously that example isn't applicable to the above Liverpool shirt). I don't want to see it. Wear a base layer if you like but cover it up with a long sleeved shirt, I don't want footballers running around like Sheldon Cooper.

Just have long sleeves, man. I really dislike base layers.

That makes him a muppet of a man.

I know, it just seems like yesterday when I witnessed Andy Griffin's wonderstrike against Juventus.

There's a thing on Sky Sports News now (probably been repeated throughout the day) where they're showing the Brighton women's team being introduced to their Elite Football Performance Centre (training ground) that they'll be sharing with the men's team and it just looks amazing. It's been said a million times before about the tragic state of NUFC's facilities but seeing a club like Brighton (absolutely no disrespect intended) have a complex that's on a different scale is sobering and such a graphic portrayal of how neglected this club has been and how rapidly it continues to decline relative to other clubs in the league. Not that long ago we were in the Champions League playing against Barcelona, Juventus et al whilst Brighton were in whatever league without a stadium, renting some council pitch on an athletics track. They weren't shown but I reckon even their wheelie bins are a lot nicer too.

They'll just join with five other racist countries and decide their own fine that they'll split between themselves.

Lianne Sanderson.

We might want to withhold judgement on that until we know whether he's seen Escape to Victory or not. I'd genuinely not know if he'd be taking the piss when he's trying to register Stalone as our fifth goalkeeper.

At least we now know what VHS Lee Charnley just got for his birthday.

Probably not what Arteta had in mind when he asked Odegaard to play through balls from in behind Lacazette.

It's better to burn out than to fade away.

Too often he was encouraged to just walk it in.

There's a very good chance I've massively overcomplicated what could just be a simple vote between two PFMs.

I know I'm getting ahead of myself but could the scoring system be something along the lines of top trumps? I've put together some categories to help condense the key elements of a PFM, it's certainly not perfect but maybe could be used as a starting point. Points can range from 1-5 or 1-10. Popularity & Perception How well this manager is regarded by pundits, the press and perhaps certain elements of supporters. Tactics Whether it's always sticking with a 4-4-2,always picking white British, hoofing it long, doing the same thing over and over or even a total disregard and that reliance on a bit of magic or let's play. Success This can be actual success measured in trophies or some other relative achievement. I wasn't initially thinking of how well they've managed to hoodwink the football world for so long but that could be a factor. Luck Napoleon once said he'd rather have lucky generals than good ones. Finch Factor I didn't know how best to describe this so I've named it after Chris Finch from The Office, this attribute focuses on that certain something you can't explain. At first, they have a nice, jovial, jokey persona, always friendly, up for a laugh but once you scratch beneath the surface you start to reveal a varying array of unpleasantness. Whether they're thin skinned, a bit of a bully, the joke is always on you, you're never far from a slice of racism, sexism, casual xenophobia or views from a bygone era. Maybe it's a bit of sleaze or corruption that never goes away, there's just something though. So, with that in mind, as a quick example without thinking too much, of Alan Pardew v Phil Brown, scoring each category out of 5, you could have: Alan Pardew Popularity & Perception - 4 Tactics - 4 Success - 3 Luck - 5 Finch Factor - 5 Phil Brown Popularity & Perception - 3 Tactics - 3 Success - 3 Luck - 3 Finch Factor - 4 Seem plausible?