Ok, so I haven't been here for a bit but I promise you my reason is really good.  Or, at least, sort of good.  Recently I was trying to get onto a reality/elimination competition show and had made it to the second round of casting only to take a fall and crack some ribs!  Thus ended my 15 minutes of fame.  So, apologies for being absent for so long but now, as I ice my ribs and get back into the swing of things, I assure you we will get back into the nPower with a full head of steam.

On to business....A lot has happened since I was here last so let's get right to it.

THE GOOD:  I know I said it before but I am really impressed with Southampton.  Holding strong with 22 points (2 over second place 'boro), the Saints are still playing great ball scoring nearly 2.5 goals per match.  Yea, I know 2.5 doesn't seem like a lot but hey, were talking football here, not the NFL.  If I was assured that average per match I'd take it!  It should also be noted that Southampton is doing so with the fewest amount of cards issued thus far.

How about a nod to Barry Roche?  Before you minimize your screen and Google him, I'll tell you who he is.  Barry is the Irish goalkeeper for Morecambe who has allowed only nine goals, has four clean sheets and a whopping 60 saves from 11 matches.  Not a bad start for the League Two player but at 29 I doubt he will ever go someplace where people will begin to recognize his name!

Ipswich...For some time The Blues have been my whipping boy with their lack of defending, scoring, or, well, anything really positive.  It's nice to see that the pressure of not wanting to end up in "THE UGLY" week after week has finally motivated them to get their collective heads together and make a run of it.  After being permanent fixtures at the bottom of the table, Ipswich has managed to put some wins together and now find themselves on the right half of the table.  Great job Blues.  With talent like Chopra running about the pitch, there is no reason why they shouldn't stay here for the rest of the season.  Oh ya, and I might mention that they are the only team on the top half with a negative GD (-2)?

THE BAD:  This is a team that should be in "THE UGLY," but I'm reserving those slots for our managers who have recently flown the coup.  Millwall.  Oh Millwall!  What happened??  After a darn good showing against West Ham they have really failed to do anything memorable!  How about no wins - except over Forest and let's be honest, who isn't beating them right now?  Once upon a time Millwall was a dirty, gritty, bloody knuckles kind of team but recently it seems like the only wounds they are dishing are to themselves.  I would hate to see them drop out of the championship and, as always, there is still plenty of time.  But come on Lions!!  I had you pegged as promotion contenders not demotion certainties! 

How about Nottingham Forest?  Have the pressures of barely missing the last few promotions finally done the boys in?  And now their leader has packed his bags and kicked some rocks.  Things are looking quite grim at the City Ground, unless you're the visiting team that is.  I would say that there is some light here but that is difficult.  After beating Watford 1-0, the Trees have given up 8 goals in two matches. 

Finally, a shake of the head has to go to "winner" of the month, Gary Roberts.  Seems that trouble follows you around, especially when you are the one causing all of it.  Recently our pre-maddonna Port Vale footballer was suspended for having missed training.  When he did finally did show, it was in a state that was deemed unfit and he was sent on his way.  Feeling none of this, manager Micky Adams was quick to put him on the bench and announce that Gary has some work to do if he is to make it back into the starting 11.  This is not Robert's first transgression and, if I know my footballers, it won't be his last.

THE UGLY:  Steve Mclaren.  There, I said it.  I've been waiting the whole blog to say it and you know that you've been waiting to get to THE UGLY so you could read it.  Yes, he is our ugly this week.  Question:  What takes 111 days to sink?  Answer:  Nottingham Forest.  Ok, not the funniest joke but true nonetheless.  Stevie only helmed this ship for 111 days and in that time he managed to take the team from a top four contender to a bottom four bottom feeder (wave to Millwall everyone!)  As usual, part of the blame has been placed on summer spending, or the lack thereof.  How can you win matches when no one upstairs is willing to open their pocket books?  After all, the ONLY way to win in this league is to buy every great player, right?(I'm looking at you Man City).  While lack of spending definitely played its part, the other part could be played by the strained relationship between Stevie and Chairman Nigel Doughty.  One begins to think that the two are connected in some way...hmmmmm...

So who will be the next boss?  Well that's a great question.  If it were up to me I would put Roy Keane in the spot and tell him to copy whatever he did with the Black Cats a few years ago.  Then I'd tell him if he quit like he did with them, I would fine him a whole heck of a lot of money!  As always, many names are being floated about and the hope is that whoever takes the hot-seat can turn this ship around.  No one wants to see Forest in League One right?  Or is that just me...

Keith Millen, don't run out of the room just yet because you my friend, are also in THE UGLY.  You are perhaps uglier than Stevie!  Keith recently stepped down as manager of the Bristol City after ensuring they were firmly planted at the bottom of the table.  His last punch in the eye came when Blackpool showed up and laid the 5-0 smack down on he and the boys.  Citing that expectations were not met (Duh),  Keith opted to step down instead of taking his boot and grinding City into the pavement some more.  So another vacancy has sprung up in the nPower and as stated above, the tongues will be all a flitter over who will be taking the lead. 

I heard that Steve Mclaren is available...


Until next week,

Take care and be safe


(follow on Twitter @undefeatedarmy)