When the talk turns to potential, it revolves around perceptions that are held regarding value, basically... fair call? Someone holds the view that a team containing certain players 'should' perform at a certain level, because 'x' number of 'y' value players should add up to the sum of 2 and 2, right?

C'mon, you know I'm making as much sense as, say, Robert Walls... and he's a Respectedfootballcommentator. You hear that opinion often enough, you figure it's fact.

The trouble with this sharing of popular perceptions is that it ignores vital aspects of human nature... like most activities involving sharing. That's my bitter experience, anyway.

Where potential theory breaks down is in looking at the sum of the whole and whether that is greater or less than the sum of the parts. In other words, do players as good as Pav, Bell, Hase f'rinstance, actually play well TOGETHER?

I reckon you never really hear that question asked because most meatheads asking questions are too daunted by a question that requires some real smarts. We've been crap on and off for so long it's fostered some destructive behaviour patterns within the playing group. Someone with a greater understanding of the sum of parts thingo than I have should be able to sort it out... you know, say over a week off, maybe?