Chez

one other lack of consistency came when Trottman went through there man and sent the ball 20 yards away - he clearly got the ball but the ref felt the strength of the tackle and the position it came from justified a free kick. This came about 20 seconds after a underhit ball to Lallana saw their fullback go through him at mach II and sent the ball 20 yards foward. He didn't really touch Lallana as AL avaded the tackle, but it was strong and from behind (a possible ankle breaker due tot he poor pass). Absolutely no difference in the two tackles IMO and in my outdated view of football both `solid' tackles. Amazingly poor refereeing though. If you can't be consistent over a 30 second period what chance over 96 minutes.

the ball ran away from him and he went down untouched. The ref intepreted that to be an attempt to win a free kick and booked him. It was in a dangerous area so you can see why the ref thought Hamond might be trying to con him. I'm not sure he was, but he certainly didn't try to stay on his feet. Mind you when you are at full pelt and the ball goes away from you, you do often kind of go to ground in desperation. Not sure I can fault the ref on that one. I don't think it ws a pen on Hammond or a handball either. Hammond was a little luck y not to get red as he dived in rashly (perhaps not getting much of the man though it was still a risky challenge) in the second half, but the ref played advantage and didn't go back. The tackle on Hammond looked a bad one to me and he could easily have gone IMO. All about the angle the ref saw it though. I've seen worse refs I have to say.

70 minutes gone and the side (especially midfield) looked out on its feet. Morgan, Mellis, Hammond and Lallana had all run themselves into the ground and I respect the work they put in last night. But this failure to last the course happened a lot last season and we have come unstuck again this season several times, including Millwall and Yoevil. Naturally you would think it was simply down to a lack of fitness. Maybe the players we have (and also in the past) lack that long distance engine required, or maybe, and this is my point, the amount of running they are being asked to do is a large part of the problem? The 4-3-3 formation saw Lallana playing up front (and doing a bloody lot of running across the line to create space) but also chasing opposing players back into our own final third. Hammond and Morgan spent a lot of energy closing down wide players after their keeper had set them off on counter attacks, and Mellis made quite a few (mostly) unseen runs beyond Lambert. I'm not sure of the solution here as well all want to see us coming out strong straight from the off and attacking constantly. I personally love the shirt pass and move football we offered last night, but that takes it out of midfielders especislly if it breaks down in the final third and you have to turn around and chase back.

as I said, his lack of pace is a problem for me and was exposed last night. Lets hope there aren't too many Andy Williams out there.

very good atmosphere. Makes me miss the really big crowds of old.

just in case you are coming to the game that way.

agreed. Just for the record I'll say it again that I believe Perry to be one of the main reasons why we have struggled over the last few years. There is no doubting his comittment but the number of goals we have conceded because we didn't have a Jardi or someone of his ilk clearing things out from set peices and crosses is unbelievable. Pardew is to be praised for identifying that weakness immediately and actually doing something about it.

James' major improvement last seaosn coinscided with us reverting to a 4-4-2 adn actually having cover in front of him. Prior to that he was absolutely bloody terrible, suceptocal to pace, trickery, the ball over the top and over his shoulder. He was especially weak in the air costing us numerous goals to crosses where quite simply he did not do enough to prevent a clean header. As I mentioned he did improve and his ability and composure on the ball (attributes of a midfielder) were clear to see. The position is a slight concern, but Thomas looks a reasonable option - although he will get done from time to time I'm sure (he was easily beaten in the Yoevil game for instance) - but he offers height and strength and is OK on the ball. His injury is not serious so I don't see the need for a loan.

makes a lot of sense. Since they changed kick off times from 7.30 to 7.45 in league games, half time has increased by five minutes and so has the additional time added at the end. Add to this the unbelievable length of time it takes to get out of the stadium (it must be a safet hazard if you ask me), get over the bridge and then out of town and before you know it it is getting late by the time you get home.

I had 2-0 in the last home game. I have this one 3-1

I fancy our chances against anyone at home. We dominate possession in most games and teams that have the ball most more often than not win more games than they lose. Obviously we have struggled for goals but all teams go through sticky patches, what is key is that we keep passing the ball and just up the pace a little. Can anyone tell me, do Rovers sell out there ground? Is their support much much bigger than ther 7000 crowds suggest? I recall them getting 40,000 for a Wembley final a number of years back.

apart from some much needed additional experience, improving relations with Barnsley, getting an unhappy player out the door for a few weeks, a chance to advertise one of our players to a potential buyer, possibly a loan fee or his wages paid?

Is your assessment of James based on commentary from Saturday or in general do you not rate him at right back? Also are you suggesting we get a loanee in until Murty comes back or do you not rate him either and feel we need a replacment full stop?

a very poor guess would be that away fans don't tend to come on mass so there is no reason to start so late (7.45 is too late IMO anyway) thereby attracting more home fans and their kids.

anyone able to tell me how is Andrej Pernecky coming along?

I can't think of a worse player to play right back. Perry is as slow as they come, has never played there before, is terrible on the ball, doesn't get forward and will not improve most of those facets over the course of the season. Absolutre madness to even think about playing him there.

I've never claimed to speak for anyone but myself, in fact I realise that most fans like Harding. I'm just not convinced, but maybe after being spoilt by Bridge and Bale I've set my sights too high. I like Mills a lot and have been pushing his claims for a long time. I actually quite like Thomas at right back. He is a very similar player to Harding but better in the air.

were you one of those moaning about Lowe taking £300,000 a year from us whilst running a PLC? Peter Tells Stories is `earning' a reported £2m a year at their place and what a fantastic job he has done handling their finances. Seven years later and the stadium is still no closer, the training ground hasn't been built and season ticket rices are so high that the `world greatest fans' have actually now stopped going in their thousands. ****flaps, gaydamak and tells stories all have one thing in common, they have don't give a **** about the club they have just used it for their own means. Think Goodfellas, and the scene where they buy everything on the restaurants' credit and then when they can get no more they leave it to burn.

for starters he is slow. I like fullbacks to be pacey otherwise the are always susceptical to a pacey winger. He's clumsy, his passing leaves a lot to be desired and thats about it. I like his comittment, he gets stuck in and he's genuine. I'm just not convinced at this point, certainly not to the degree others are on here. Its early days and I'm more than happy to jugde him in another ten games.

sorry to keep disagreeing with you Derry, nothing personal, but I am starting to doubt your ability to read a player if you think Gillett is the answer to our wide problems. He has no pace, no trick and no idea how to play there. Holmes certainly gets to the byeline, but I don't recall him ever working hard and tracking back last season. In his defence maybe he was not asked to, but I fear that in a 4-4-2 he will not be this up and down wide man that you imagine.

I could not agree more.

he didn't get my vote. I'm not saying he is ****, I'm just not a fan.

no they don't. Chelsea and Arsenal play through the middle all day long. However they have the class in the middle to do that. You might be right about our problems, but you're wrong to say that width is everything.

happily take HART to run our youth set up should he get the old tin tack.

nah. He must have read that Forum. They stopped taking bets on ****flaps returning to **** park...and he did.