Colinjb

Well, it would certainly at the very least imply that he can play at left back and has experience in the position! Yes, players positions can evolve as they grow. But as for a snapshot, at one point in time, it's a nice reflection and useful tool for research.

Obviously the way the game operates is a model of reality and will not be 100% accurate. And yes, the stats ranging from 0-20 will be to a certain degree subjective and based on the scouting ability/perception of the researcher. But the nature of someone recording a player's position in a database. What is the issue there? If they have played at centre back/left back for the club they support and watch week in week out, then why have an issue with it? Or are you saying it's just as likely that the Molde researcher is an idiot and confuses goalkeepers with strikers? Or is Turkish feeling a little attention starved?

If a fan of a club who happens to be a FM researcher says a player is a left back, why wouldn't you believe him?

Simply a sign of how media distribution is changing. Our Price, Game, Zavvi.... HMV have done well to hang on for so long. Browsing for records and films in places like HMV used to a be a real joy, but has now been utterly surpassed by browsing Youtube and then buying on Amazon, Play.com or iTunes. No need to even go into town.

Be fair now Jill, you just hate it when people quote posts and go 'like' or equivalent, don't you.

To the tune of 'Celery...' Lottery, Lottery! Sod you all we've got a striker who has won the lottery.... Lottttterrryyyyy..............

So, as well as being barely literate he also has no sense of humour?

My Coventry supporting mate (who wanted to see us beat Villa.... he got his wish) was surprised that Boruc was our first choice and felt that he really wasn't anything special, despite it being one of the best goalkeeping performances I've seen for us this season. He immediately flagged up the name Keiren Westwood as a better 'keeper. Ex Coventry and being kept out of the Sunderland team by Mignolet. As far as i'm concerned it's still our weakest position but at least we have someone who, for me, is the best of the three we have starting to look the part.

Very much this. Players who are more familiar with each other will be more consistent.

It's a good question, but injuries to Lallana and the absence of Guly yesterday restricted us tactically. Bradford succeeded against Villa by using set pieces and good wing play, we didn't set up like that for some reason. (Although Shaw on the overlap, and Puncheon/Clyne down the right did look promising, the lack of men committing into the box for crosses was highly disappointing for me though. We seemed to stand off their defence in those situations not apply pressure to them.) Adkins is showing to be very flexible tactically, we do not set up with just one system. How we played against Stoke was very different to how we played against Arsenal for instance. It seems he is willing to trust his players in positions that are not necessarily their best.... and sometimes circumstance can force you to play your players out of position.

He was out of position yesterday, I actually think Guly would have been better in the wide left position and was surprised Adkins went for a 4-4-2 (Rickie deep laying centre forward.) Gaston is easily our most talented player, but like all players he needs to be played to his strengths. He is not a winger, he is a central play maker. He shouldn't be judged on yesterday alone, he still got involved and did ok but wasn't near his peak. Surround him with better players and I believe he would look even better still. I don't think it's an accident that he looks better when playing in the same side as Adam Lallana, one of the few players in the team to have similar ability with the ball at his feet.

The club truly is being taken to a level their fans couldn't ever have conceived. Peter Storrie was a true visionary.

Even when wearing the sash (a great kit) I missed our stripes by October. That all red thing is not a Saints' strip. I hope the stripes return as soon as possible.

Not where I was standing in the lower tier mate.

The Villa fans I chatted with on the way back were complimentary. I've never had that great an opinion of the Villa fans, but they were all really quite nice today, maybe a little humbled and chastened by recent experience. Enjoyed it from my seat in the bottom tier. My voice is raw from chanting 'yellows.....'

Surprised Lambert is getting so many MOTM votes, far from his best today. Jay Rodriguez' movement was first rate but he had no confidence when clear on the keeper, looked short on out and out pace too. Puncheon did alright, Cork and Morgan worked well as always but with only a two man central midfield we were left exposed at times. Gaston was wasted out on the flank, 4-4-2 with Rickie playing deep wasn't the right call for me today. Yet we didn't play to our best and prevailed. Artur Boruc has to be MOTM, cemented his place in the team today. My neutral friend was still far from impressed with him though, a sign of how ability starved we are in front of goal right now I feel.

It was more a penalty then Rodriguez' I'm not going to argue too much, just be grateful for the rub of the green for once.

Which is right, Punch was clattered.

[video=youtube;_VJubWG6-GA] Already posted in the 'back from the game' thread but here for those that may be interested. We were not good today.... yet prevailed. Hated the second half, my fingers crossed for Luke Shaw.

[video=youtube;_VJubWG6-GA] The Penalty, from where I was sitting if anyone wishes to relive it.

Yep, have taken it, enjoyed it. Useful in terms of ideas and best practice. The 'exam' side is a piece of proverbial... If you have actually given an kind of damn during the course, you will pass no sweat.

This is the only way it makes sense for me!

Great atmosphere, poor performance, nervous second half. I need beer!!!

I'm waiting for the replay on MOTD. Everyone around me at Villa Park today was mystified by the call for the penalty... yet delighted!

He deserves one. He has put in a great shift since he's come in for Lallana.