Big Ron fan

No, it's gone downhill since Rupert got rid of Sturrock.

3 spring to mind for me, other than obvious ones like relegation matches. I wonder if anyone else remembers the games. 1st Late autumn 1982 (I think) and I think it was the midweek after we'd beaten Man U 3-2 with the Keegan overhead kick 'goal', which followed several weeks of excellent football and good results. We played Brighton, who were struggling at the time, and if we won we would go top for the first time in our history. We lost 2-0 and barely had a shot - I couldn't believe we'd been so poor. 2nd Lawrie's last season in charge. An FA Cup 5th round game (possibly replay) at The Dell in mid-week v Barnsley of the 2nd division, the winner to play Liverpool the following week-end live on TV, still a relatively rare experience then. We lost (I think 2-1) and seemed to have no tactic in the entire game other than to make long throws to Ian Baird and (if he was playing) Joe Jordan, which their defence kept out with ease. A really horrible, sterile performance from a team that eventually qualified for the UEFA Cup and would have had a decent chance of getting to Wembley. 3rd Hearing the team announcement in the autumn of 2003 v Man City at home. Strachen once again picking a really negative team lacking in pace, including leaving out of the squad Leandre Griffit (after his goal-scoring debut as a sub the previous week) and picking Neil McCann. We lost 2-0 and barely had a shot. This was when I finally knew that Strachen had lost the plot.

He is 53 for God's sake!

His name is Stern John and for some reason he's only being used as a bit-part player.

I don't know why this seems to be a surprise to so many of you. It was apparent from his CV that he would be!

I know he's getting a lot of stick on here, but hasn't JP mainly been playing him wide in recent games, which is not his natural position? He started the season reasonably well I thought, particularly as he was having to play as a lone striker. In fact, JP seems to play more people out of position than Burley did, which I wouldn't have thought possible.

Think how bad it would have been without the revolutionary coaching structure!

The big difference is that Crouch would have kept Pearson on. He (Pearson) clearly had the backing of the vast majority (though I recognise not all) of the fan base. As I've said several times, it is footballing decisions that will relegate us, not finances, and the biggest mistake of all was appointing someone who, by age 53, had no experience in coaching at a high level or of the English game. This is not said with hindsight - look back at my posts over recent months if you like. As Alpine said, it gives me no pleasure to say I was right.

"It's a results business", as you said publicly to undermine (the relatively successful) Paul Sturrock 2 games before you sacked him. In the name of God, go now, before you do more damage, and take your puppets Wilde and JP with you.

You obviously weren't at the Bristol City or Sheff Utd games at the end of last season if you describe Pearson's football philosophy as 'route one'.

Agreed. Funniest thing I've seen in ages!

Lowe Wilde Poortvliet

Revolutionary coaching structure!

I agree. The chairman realised things were not working about 10 games into the season and changed manager.

True, but we also came from 2-0 down to draw at Barnsley.

He was our best player last season until his injury at the start of December. Look how results deteriorated thereafter.

Agree entirely. Just what I've been saying to people.

Presumably that figure includes quite a few season ticket holders who won't actually be there for one reason or another. Even with another 1,000 walk-ups, may struggle to have more than about 13,000 in the ground.

No, I don't realise that and don't believe it is true.

3-1 or 3-2 to Ipswich

I do recognise this issue, but the fact is it's a waste of time hitting balls into the box when there is no-one there!

Any idea how many are sold for Ipswich and Barnsley?

Very good. Funniest post in a while!

Consistently good, poor or average? I recognise I am in a minority on this issue and will be delighted to be proven wrong over the season.

Disagree. Exactly how many times has he found any of our players with a cross? Very few. He hits lots of balls to no-one. I wish him well in recovering from injury, but I really think he is over-rated.