Duncan Barkes

So what a formidable back four, five, including the goalkeeper we might have.

With six foot five inch Nicholas Schmidt in goal, Terry Devlin, who jumps like he's on a bungee rope, Shaughnessy and Poole, fingers crossed with both of those.

in the middle, and towering Alisi at left back.

That would be formidable.

Impressive diplomacy as ever from John Massino.

He's saying that it's a win-win situation.

If they can find the right club for Farrell to go to on loan, then that's what they're prepared to do now.

If they can't for whatever reason, then they'll be very happy to have him still in the building.

So that's good diplomacy all round.

And there's a key word that was used at least twice in that piece, and the word was «fair».

And I think footballers talk about their manager, their head coach, all their coaches, in the same way that when you were at school, you talked about your class teacher and the other teachers and your head teacher.

And I think they want their boss, their main man, the head coach, the manager.

He's the manager, really.

I know we're supposed to say head coach nowadays, but John Massino is.

is the manager everything goes through him and you can tell he does it consummately but what they want to know is that that manager is a fair person and will treat a colleague in the case of Farrell fairly and therefore will hopefully treat each of them if they go to him with needs or concerns a dip in form a niggling injury that won't go away he will be clear

Inquisitive.

He'll want to get the full SP.

Good managers thrive on information.

And then he will be fair with them.

So, once again, John Massino comes up smelling of roses.