The English team was seen as competent, rather than brilliant.
Vocal standards are competent rather than exceptional this time round, with the distinguished and immensely important exception of Mihoko Kinoshita's compelling Butterfly, who rises fearlessly to the challenges of the second half of the drama.
She says: "The men are getting pushed harder because of the cultural tendency to think that men should excel, whereas it's OK for women to be competent rather than brilliant".
His non-fiction indicated, and "The Emperor of Ocean Park" now confirms, that his prose is competent rather than inspired.But if enjoyment is the test, Stephen Carter earns his advance.
"After the Fall" has been limited by its own premise, which might explain why the work here is generally competent rather than great — or, for the seasoned art viewer, looks academic rather than something befitting a new era in Europe's political history.
Chelsea officials insisted before kick-off that reports of the first cracks surfacing in the relationship between Villas-Boas and owner Roman Abramovich were "total nonsense", but there is no question their form has deteriorated after a competent rather than spectacular start to the season.
