VectisSaint

He was available at the start of the season, and then was not for a few weeks due to his illness. It was quite reasonable for Adkins to start with Fox at the beginning of the season, realised quite quickly that he is gash at defending and started looking for an alternative, just a shame it coincided with Shaw's illness. Shaw has shown already that he is a far better defender (Fox nearly cost us yesterday just after he came on) and that he is beginning to be a threat going forwards as well. One good thing is having a left sided defender in position when we have a corner on the right, letting Fox take those was just plain stupid, out of position and slow to get back. Shaw is lightning quick as he has demonstrated. Just need to get him fully fit so that we don't have to risk bringing Fox on for the last 10-15 minutes of games in future.

I wouldn't say a shambles, but he is not convincing, and we have been fortunate so far that no team has really tested him. I think he made 2 saves yesterday (the block and the tip round the corner, and many thought that was a spill). His kicking is very good and I would rather have him that KD I'm afraid, but he does not exude confidence. I know he is a knob but Birtles was having kittens during Sky First Match (or whatever its called, the full 90+ minutes, not MOTD highlights) whenever that ball went near Gazza. He should also have a word with his hairdresser, I would demand my money back after that shambolic head shave job he sported yesterday :-)

Accused? I think "guilty as charged" is more accurate.

Au contraire, he offers a great deal when out of possession. I'll grant he can be sloppy, certainly was against Swansea, but I think I can only recall one similar sloppy pass yesterday. It was a good sub, Ramirez was probably not fully fit after a midweek half game in Poland, and we needed to shore it up in the middle, would have been a very simple decision for NA to make as we were 2-1 up at the time. Gazza however is a disaster waiting to happen. We are very fortunate that our much maligned defence is actually protecting the lad superbly, and he has probably not had more than 5 saves to make in the last 3 games. I do hope Boruc is ready to take over, and for those who say he is fat, if you compare him to Cesar yesterday then he is anorexic. I think Julio has been scoffing the doggy food or something, a tub of lard in a goalkeepers kit (still shows why he was probably the best keeper in the world a few years ago though).

The Sturrock way revisited.

Please save me from having to listen to Gary Birtles again. What a complete knob that bloke is.

You are forgiven, about as close to a positive comment as we could expect. Hope the back is better soon.

Great result, well done to the lads. Seems we play better when I don't sit and listen to away games. Pity Reading won, but mid table beckons. Where is Alpine by the way? Conspicuous by his absence.

Did I mention finishing? I talked about his talent, all round that is. I think you have demonstrated that it is in fact you that is the illiterate numpty buffoon.

Do they? The Skates might think this, but otherwise I don't think any serious club thinks we are mental. Ramirez has the potential (at 21 it is still potential) to be the most talented player to pull on a Saints shirt (I know that will bring squeals of anger from the Le God lovers but this is genuine talent rather than hero worship). He will unfortunately not be a Saints player for many years, possibly only one if we get relegated, so make the most of what you are seeing this year. Injury apart, he will be playing and starring for a top European team in the next 3 or 4 years. He does however need to work on one part of his game, his passing. At the moment gives the ball away far too often and in very dangerous areas.

Fair comment. J-Rod was clearly not a replacement for Sharp, if he was why did we wait 2 months before we let Sharp go. Very different players anyway. Incidentally although irrelevant J-Rod scored more goals than Billy in 2011-12 season (21 to 19 in all competitions).

You have a very odd imagination. You seem to like to make up things that you wish people had said to reinforce. Like the rumours you make up. Troll.your agenda.

Strange, seems to have played the whole of the 2nd half after coming on as a sub at half-time. No hint of any injury as far as I can see, if he had been injured surely that would have subbed him in a friendly.

That would be the defence that conceded 7 against Arsenal reserves would it? "We will beat them because we have a better attack than them" would be a more valid argument. Reading have gone backwards since last year, unless it has escaped your notice they have not won a game yet this season, whereas we have whupped Aston Villa 4-1. They have however lost less than us, so if you were going for the draw as a prediction most people would not have too much of an argument with you, as they are becoming bore draw specialists.

Bit optimistic for you Alpine, 2 draws in next 5 games. Surely in your world we will lose both. I think if we can get a win against QPR which we should, because they are rubbish, we could get a win against the Barcodes as well. They are not as good as some think. However we will have to score at least twice because Mike Williamson will score against us. No reason to suppose we can't beat Norwich. A draw against Liverpool is a reasonable expectation and a win against Reading is surely a real possibility. Of course not all of that will happen, but I seriously believe all 5 games are winnable, but we will probably end up with 8 or 9 points from them in total which would be acceptable.

I was saying to a mate the other day that he has hardly made any saves that I can remember. He pushed one round the post against Swansea (one of KD's weak areas of course) but it is quite amazing how little he has had to do considering he is behind the worst defence in the history of the first 11 weeks of the PL. This is why for me the jury is still out on him, obviously he can only make saves if shots are on target (or close) but I would worry what might happen against more attacking teams. He looked nervous on Saturday, he made a dreadful error earlier on when he basically patted the ball up in the air, and one of our defenders (Fonte?) stood and looked at the ball on the ground for what seemed like an age before he eventually booted it away. I would have to say I have more faith in Boruc longer term.

This Apart from the bit about the gangway, Charlie has answered the question in the most enlightened way. I don't often agree with Charlie but on this occasion his answer is almost spot on. It is alarming that so many people here in the UK have such narrow minded views about how other nations (our allies and former enemies alike) view the conflicts that we choose to remember, it is refreshing when someone actually posts something that shows some of this understanding and seeks to redress the balance with the bigots. Well done Charlie.

http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/showthread.php?41129-Beattie-to-Accrington-(player-coach)

No idea why you picked Barnsley, its the same as dozens of other clubs, including some PL teams (mainly but not completely recently promoted ones). The only difference is really the colour scheme. You are right its ****, but **** happens.

I didn't notice Cork was knackered, but it was certainly his poor decision-making that lead to the goal. If that poor decision-making was caused by fatigue then it is understandable. But I'm certainly not going to blame Adkins for not substituting him. Sure Gazza ****ed up but he and Yoshi should never have been put into the position in the first place. Midfield defending has been poor on several occasions this season, unfortunately Cork who was probably man of the match apart from this did screw up in this regard. Harsh but true. Too many people see the end result and fail to look for the root cause.

Problem that seems to be coming up though is that we are gradually getting better in defence, rarely looked troubled in our last 2 games in terms of organisation or penetration from opposition, but silly mistakes creep in. BUT, we seem to have forgotten how to score now. Its weeks since Rickie last netted, none of our other forward players are hitting the net (OK, J-Rod scored 1), our goals are drying up and only our defensive midfielders and CBs seem to be able to score now.

Should never have been put under pressure by Cork messing around in midfield and eventually passing back when there was no need. When you defence is nervous don't put them under unnecessary pressure, otherwise they might cock it up. Yoshida did very little wrong, Gazza's pass was poor, but it should never have happened. Given that Yoshi also was instrumental in our goal and also saved us from defeat by a brilliantly timed tackle near the end shows that he is actually a very good player when he plays at CB (he is **** when he plays at RB or LB though).

The 2nd goal was initially credited to Seaborne, but I see on the Beeb that it was later changed to Morrison.

The irony of Mr T suggesting that something posted by another poster that contradicts his rumours and bull**** should not be believed.