And who doesn’t love a vague devils advocate post

[not given the opportunity to surrender]

I don't think its a case of where you live - being able to see a different point of view on a complex situation is not making you an apologist for blatant wrong doing or indeed a wackjob conspiracy theory advocate.

War is horrific and people still naively believe that there is fair play only on their side - I remember reading an article by a soldier fighting in the Falklands - he said they rounded a group of Argentine soldiers who raised a white flag but when his unit  approached they drew weapons killing and injuring several - the soldier went on to say when the same happened again they were not given the opportunity to surrender - so take that incident in isolation in another situation and there would be screams of war crimes particularly if it was the "other" side.

Different place and different war but I personally think the IDF action in Gaza is cowardly, cruel genocide (I believe I'm slightly better informed than some, who just see the news feeds that represent selective and political reporting - simply because I have a family member who has spent time their and a close association with both independent journalists and aid workers there) but that does not mean I'm an apologist for Hamas or their actions in October which were equally evil. It is also of course very possible my view may be swayed by bias opinion I recieve.

It's all a murky business but the reality is there are rarely true victors in any of these conflicts.

I don’t necessarily disagree with anything you say after the first paragraph but none of it relates to the Russia / Ukraine situation. My comments are in direct response to what Singcobb had written.

At what point did I say that Russia was not in the wrong for the invasion? I do feel that the disputed areas should have been given a vote on whether to stay part of the Ukraine, be independent or join Russia. We gave a similar opportunity to the Scots.

As for your humanitarian agencies and journalist centres all controlled by the WEF and their cohorts, just keep accepting the morsels they give you.

For a start you said, and I quote “When was the last time you heard of an attack on Kyiv? A friend of mine was there recently and says it was just like any other European city, people out enjoying a normal life.” I’m sorry what planet do you live on? BBC reporting yesterday that 18 more Ukrainians were killed and 130 injured in missile strikes across multiple cities. How is that normal?!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-68066309.amp

You also purport to know the intentions of Putin and say that he doesn’t see the value in further bombing, despite the reality. You are a Russian apologist and you should own it.

If anyone wonders why there is war, poverty, and issues all over the place. Look no further than this and the politics thread.

Fences are comfortable

That's fine, you keep believing what you are being spoon fed by MSM. When was the last time you heard of an attack on Kyiv? A friend of mine was there recently and says it was just like any other European city, people out enjoying a normal life. Those suffering are the poor farmers who are mainly ethnic Russians to the east who want to to join Russia anyway and who have been told by Zelensky's government they are not welcome apart from to be conscripted. Putin is not interested in conquering the whole of the country and knows there is no value in mass bombing or missile attacks. A negotiated settlement will happen and it will be supported by NATO and the UN and the American war industries will have to find another war to make millions from, probably helping the Saudis with their Yemeni problem.

You need to put down the wackjob conspiracy sites pal, it has turned you into an incoherent Russia apologist.

How can you say “Putin is not interested in conquering the whole of the country and knows there is no value in mass bombing or missile attacks?” They’ve razed a good portion of the country and its infrastructure to the ground and their advance was only repelled by brave Ukrainians conscripts blocking them. If the Uk was invaded by Russia how much of it would you deem it acceptable for them to Annex before you’d accept a military response? Anything further than Canterbury perhaps? All whilst committing the most heinous war crimes - and don’t try to contest that it happened, it has been verified by all the leading humanitarian agencies and journalist centres.

[Zelensky at some point is going to have to accept the end to the cash cow for himself and his chums and accept a negotiated settlement to the situation, if he doesn't in the end his own people will turn against him.]

There is no chance of us going to war with Russia, Putin is not interested in a war with NATO. Zelensky at some point is going to have to accept the end to the cash cow for himself and his chums and accept a negotiated settlement to the situation, if he doesn't in the end his own people will turn against him.

A frankly ridiculous and insensitive comment from someone very removed from the realities of that  situation.

FFS, Simpson was indeed the worst player on the pitch but we got slaughtered at the back by a team that didn’t get out of 2nd gear. Simpson was NOT the main reason why we didn’t compete tonight!

Yes, he was.

We suddenly switch from a pressing side to sitting back and let the opposition come on to us. Pretty predicable result. The players do not know what their role is. We are a shambles.

New assistant manager required by Thursday.

You can't press as a team if your forward player isn't leading it. Put Appere in that team and it's a totally different performance.

I'm totally behind Brady and feel sorry for him having to work with his hands tied behind his back but can't understand why Simpson stayed on after half time. The worst individual performance of a Cobbler's player of any game I've seen.

[anyone]

No Simpson fan but on this defensive showing so far, I think there are at least 8 players ahead of Simpson in the blame queue!

Respectfully I'd question your understanding of the game if that's your view. The defenders positioning was very poor for the goals but Simpson is a complete passenger both with and without the ball, resulting in us effectively playing with 10 men. I'd bring anyone on the bench in his place for the second half.

I don't want to see Simpson play for Northampton ever again. The laziest player to pull on a Cobblers shirt. His off the ball work rate is non-existant; no chance we'd be 3-0 down with Appere in the side instead.

Not deadwood but unfortunately not up to L1 standard.
Dyche
Appere
Hoskins
Pinnock
Lintott
Bowie.
Controversial I know but that’s why I’m here.

Not sure how you can have Hoskins, Pinnock and Bowie in this list but not McGowan. If I’m honest he would have been the one player I might not have offered a new deal were I Brady on account of technical limitations and lack of pace.

Hoskins there is obviously odd as he was the league’s best player in the tier below (thus surely is no worse than the average ability of L1). Pinnock is inconsistent but his technique is easily L1 level - plus he was in the top charts for assists in L2 past 2 seasons. Bowie is debatable but I think he will be involved with enough goals and should improve further.

I’d probably agree with you on the rest but all are still young enough to improve.

Yes it does seem with these offers there was some wriggle room within the budget.

The manager has instead opted for exactly the same squad that limped out of L2 last year.

How condescending can you be? No-one limps to a promotion. Last season was an incredible effort given the circumstances and I’m pretty sure we actually had a better points per game ratio March 2023 onwards than any other part of the season.

Out of interest, which of the players with renewed contract from last season would you have not kept?

In my own opinion Brady and co are working wonders with what is seemingly a meagre L1 budget. We played Stevenage off the park in the first half on Saturday. Whilst the second half was poor, a lot of that was clearly down to fatigue / lack of match fitness - something the management team can hardly help if multiple players are returning from injury?

At the game tonight been told a American winger is close to signing any truth in this ntfclad

Gboly Ariyibi… ?

Has anyone spotted Haynes in the official site pictures since they’ve been in Scotland? Don’t recall seeing him and you’d wonder if him likely being surplus to requirements means he’s negotiating elsewhere perhaps?

Not spotted a certain expensive striker on our books in any of the club’s media stuff yet… could he be off? I really hope so - we can understand underperforming against the high expectations that came with him signing, but to me he doesn’t look all that bothered whenever he’s come on the pitch.

Were we in for Dan Agyei I wonder? Just signed for Orient. Ntfclad or anyone else privy to that?

Okay Drilling, I've done the research for you. The thing that surprised me most was the number of managers we've had in divisions above Tier 4. Before you read on, have a guess.

Anyway, based on points per game in League matches only above Tier 4 and since 1958/9, this is the table.

Manager (pts per game)
1) Dave Bowen (1.43)
2) Dean Austin (1.4)
3) Ian Sampson (1.33)
4) Ian Atkins (1.293)
5) Stuart Gray (1.292)
6) Graham Carr (1.26)
7) Committee (1.24)
Kevan Broadhurst (1.16)
9) Rob Page (1.15)
10) Kevin Wilson (1.13)
11) John Gorman (1.09)
12) Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (1.08)
13) Jon Brady (1.05)
14) Justin Edinburgh (1)
15) Keith Curle (0.9)
16) Pat Crerand (0.7)
17) Martin Wilkinson (0.6)
18) Terry Fenwick (0.3)
19) Paul Wilkinson (0)

You're welcome. 

Nice work. I’d argue that Dean Austin probably shouldn’t feature on this list given he had such few games (sample size too small for calculated averages to be meaningful).

Also think that it reflects harshly on Brady who had to work with one of the worst squads this club has surely ever had in the 3rd tier. I saw the overall points per game comparison of Curle and Brady earlier and for the reason just mentioned, I don’t think it’s a fair fight. Curle came into the job earlier than Brady did in his respective start and inherited a squad much more fit to compete at the level (League Two) than Brady’s inherited side in League One. Curle had players such as Crooks, Van Veen, Turnbull, Pierre, etc., and whilst you could reasonably argue it was a disjointed squad that lacked character, it is also fair to say that it had a lot of quality for a L2 side. I don’t think that you could say the same for the team that Brady inherited, and if they had a Liam Roberts or Lee Burge in goal rather than Mitchell, he probably would have kept them up against all odds that season too. Brady is clearly the better manager of the two for me.

Not a bad summary. I disagree with the comments on Dyche though, he’s been sloppy in possession, given the ball away a number of times and caught flat footed in the box to many times for my liking. 

A little flat-footed at times perhaps but I thought his passing has been brilliant all game. Always looking to play forward and completing longer distance passes crisply rather than the aimless floated balls we've seen in the league recently.

[Maxted]

Ruing the waste of £10, I'll try to get some value from it by summarising what we can learn about the team from this showing:

Maxted - poor keeper for this level, just let's in too many goals that he should keep out on account to not being nearly agile enough.
Lintott - Bucking the trend as others seem very keen on him, I don't think he's close to be ready for first team at this level. Some of his defending in this half has been so naive and cost at least 2 of the goals. Never looks confident.
Odimayo - Coming back from injury I wouldn't want to be too harsh but he looks like he could play better then he currently is. Not sure any of the goals were his fault.
Dyche - Easily been Cobblers' best player. Really don't know why Brady doesn't seem to trust him as he takes so much responsibility for playing from the back (and does it brilliantly too) and has been solid in defence. Badly let down by those in front of him.
Haynes - Should be making a case to take Koiki's position but has been very poor. Often out of position, Not getting forward to overlap Appere whatsoever, and looking very unconfident.
Fox - Probably been the best of the middle three, but struggled to get on the ball.
McWilliams - Chasing shadows somewhat against quality players with good movement, particularly Harness, but you can hardly blame him when Hylton is allowing their CB's to play through unchallenged.
Pinnock - Dreadful again. Why Brady is insisting on him through the middle is baffling. Sloppy in possession too which is worrying.
Bowie - A decent effort but looks out of position on the right wing. Would be more effective if he had McGowan overlapping him rather than Lintott who always seems unsure of when to go and when not to.
Hylton - Utterly awful. Could accept this if he looked as though he was putting in even 80% effort, but he looks as though he couldn't give a damn. So disappointed in him so far and needs dropping for a while until he regains a hunger to play.
Appere Like Bowie, I feel sorry for him as he's being used in a role that doesn't quite suit him and isn't receiving the overlap from Haynes that he needs. Bowie and Appere having to cover so much ground to cover the lazy Hylton too.

Very disappointing and tactics need to change. Also a mention for the linesman for missing their keeper catching the ball a few feet outside of his box. When will our luck with officials change I wonder?

Appéré and Hoskins have been superb