Arizona

How strange. Aside from the fact that Skacel is injured and BWP and Euell are crap, you seem to be under the impression that JP wants to play them but they are refusing to do so. I am pretty sure this isn't the case and a certain Mr Lowe has told Poortvliet he can't play them because we are trying to sell them.

Killer today was found wanting, both in the air and in pace. Whilst Thomas is no quicker, I feel he would be stronger in the air and in the tackle, allowing Perry to clean up the scraps. Cork would be my first choice, although I admit I haven't seen him play. However I think RB is perhaps the most pressing issue and I'd have him there ahead of James.

#1: Rachel Stevens #2: Keeley Hazell #3: Lucy Pinder

Wright ... I don't know. On the one hand I think he is a poor midfielder who is only getting fatter and slower. On a good day Gillett, Lallana and and Spiderman would have run rings around him. On the other, he would probably have scored. I guess Blackpool didn't play him as he doesn't really fit the physical approach they took to they game, assuming he wasn't injured. I haven't had any correspondance from alpine all evening. I'm not taking sides in this pointless debate. If you think alpine's oppinion is invalid because he wasn't there then fine, keep it to yourself and ignore his posts. I am sure everyone else is intelligent enough to figure this out for themself if they find issue with it. It's not rocket salad. We don't need be told about it on an endless loop. Can all of you please STFU on this issue. Next person to refer to alpine, or vice versa will be infracted.

I disagree. We had this problem many times last season with Safri in the team. Don't forget he was ever present when we lost 4-1, 5-1, 5-0 and 5-0 to Palace, PNE, Wednesday and Hull respectively. The older wiser midfielder we are missing hasn't been here since Marsden or, dare I say it, McQ left IMO.

I wonder how today's team would have fared against the team that just beat Everton 3-0 at Goodison. A bullet narrowly dodged there I think.

I don't think you can criticise JP for his starting line up. It was the same team that beat Derby and all 11 of them earned their place. There was also no need to change the system, so it seemed like a solid plan to start with. The problem arose, as many have already pointed out, with Plan B, or the lack thereof. The flexibility needed for proper 'total football' was quite evidently missing and we looked short of ideas in the second half.

Guys, It doesn't matter if alpine is Hitler (although he does hang out in rural Austria :-k ) Half the *****ing that goes on from both sides would happen if you just respected his oppinion and didn't try and provoke reactions, no matter how much you disagree. FFS, how hard is it to just talk about the football.

I thought DMG did well today and he has been scoring pretty regularly of late, hence I'd keep him in the side. John is a good player, but there just isn't a suitable partner for him. With BWP there is just no work rate and we concede goals through not pressurising the opposing defence. I am pretty sure the John - DMG partnership has yet to yield a goal in a dosen or so attempts. My personal choice would be DMG with Skacel playing just off him. I know many on here do not like the latter, but in his last 2 appearances in midfield he was by far and away the best player on the pitch. He was deadly in the supporting role at Hearts and whatever your oppinion of him, he can't be worse than White today. That's not a dig at White, but the guy just isn't ready yet.

derry, alpine, give it a rest.

Based on today's viewing, what would you change about the side. For me James and White just aren't ready yet. I'd also be tempted to play Thomas ahead of Killer as he looked off the ball a bit today, against an admittedly physical Burgess. Schneiderlin and Gillett weren't at the races either, but on previous reports, I'd give them the benefit of the doubt. Also we lacked bite up front so I've gone for someone different behind DMG, who I'm sure you'll all laugh at. I'd go with something like: - - - - - - - Davis - - - - - - - Cork - Thomas - Perry - Surman - - - Scheiderlin - Gillett - - - - - Lallana - - Skacel - - Holmes - - - - - - - McGoldrick - - - - - -

I think you may have misunderstood the point of this thread. I am not saying we are doomed because we lost today. I was simply pointing out that it is too early in the season to be making rash conclusions, such as relegation being an impossibility. Like it or not, a fight against relegation was always on the cards this season and to say we were too good for that, after beating two crap teams and Brum in the cup, was a little hasty. I repeat, a fight against relegation still looks likely, anything up to a run for the playoffs is possible. Sorry, but I think strength in depth is the one thing we haven't got. Assuming todays starting line up was our first choice, what would our second choice be? Bart Hatch Cork Thomas Mills Wotton Pulis? Dyer Wright Phillips Skacel John Sorry, but that team isn't very good. There are a few good player in there and a couple that I'd have in the first team, but I wouldn't call that a strong side.

Don't think it was a lack of effort today. I think he looked like BWP on a good day. Plenty of running at defenders and energetic build up play, but sometimes his runs went down blind alleys and his general passing and movement off the ball lacked intelligence.

I'm still waiting for an orchestra to come in...

Yep. At 22 his career is practically over.

It's not the booing of the ref or Blackpool players that's the issue, but at full time there were a lot of boos. I can't imagine Blackpool were booing a 1-0 win away to one of their relegation rivals so I am guessing it must have been our fans.

I think we just need face face up to the reality that Killer is getting on a bit and, whilst he is still good, will never be the player he was in the Prem again. Still our best centre half IMO, but today he was found wanting in the air and in pace.

Seemed to be getting a bit of stick from the fans today, but from watching the close ups and replays on TV, I'd say he got most of the calls correct. With the possible exception of Killer, you cannot argue against any of the bookings. The other 3 were all rash, late challenges, as was the penalty. Bare in mind he disallowed a Blackpool goal for a bit of mountaineering on Kelvin Davis, plus 2 more for offside. I really don't think there can be any complaints about him today.

Where?

Can't fault him at all today. MOTM IMO. Some superb saves. Him and the lino kept the score in single figures. 1 goal 3 disallowed 4 fine saves (at least) A few 50-50 offsides. Could have been a lot worse.

I don't think we need threads FAO scooby or any other poster as they invariably end up in the same place with the same people. Scooby is perfectly capable of posting on the various other threads. If you want a personal conversation with him, please make use of the PM system.

I have to say I was disgusted at the stick they were getting from the crowd today. In the last 20 minutes I was hearing shouts of "FFS!" and groans, rather than "you can do this" and enthusiastic singing. DMG's crossbar effort at the end shows anything can happen at 1-0. I think some people need a bit more patience.

After the Brum game in the cup a few comments started cropping up suggesting this teams was well above relegation, anyone suggesting we'd finish below midtable was just a negative budgie etc. etc. After todays showing and 3 defeats in 4 league games, could it just be possible that we are in for a struggle after all. This is not a knee jerk reaction to todays match, although I think it should have brought a lot of people back down to Earth after beating Brum. My personal view hasn't changed since preseason. I think a struggle against the drop looks likely, with anything up to a dark horse run at the playoffs possible. Anyone changed their mind/agree/disagree after todays result?

Reaction, ratings and MOTM on here please. My thoughts: Today illustrated the problem with having so many young players. Having energy, enthusiasm and ability is all well and good, but when the going gets tought, you need some experience in the side to help guide the younger players. Also a few players losing composure today. White with the penalty and Gillett and James coming quite close to being sent off. Whilst there were some good attacking performances, I felt the final quality ball into the box was missing, like much off last season. Dare I say it, there is a man in the squad who didn't play today who might provide it. Overall very disappointing, but there are another 42 games and it's not the end of the world. Just goes to show that those who thought relegation was an impossibility, made up by negative stupid people, need to think again. My player ratings: Davis - 8 Some fantastic saves first half. Slightly worrying that this is the second time in our first 4 games he has been our star man. James - 5 Whilst some would argue many of the first 11 aren't ready yet, I think James definitely isn't. Struggled with Hammil all day and there were a couple of rash challenges. Never really got forward far enough to make a meaningful delivery. Svensson - 6 Everyone likes Killer, but he did struggle today with Burgess's presence. Also seems to lack pace. Interesting and perhaps predictable that it was the experienced players, Killer and John, who looked most likely to get us something in the last 5 minutes. Perry - 7 Did a pretty good job in the cleaning up role Claus used to do. One excellent tackle in the box second half. Give White a few lessons in the next 2 weeks please Chris. Also lacks pace. Surman - 6 Better than James, but I am not convinced he is suited suited to the full back role at all. I'd have Skacel as LB assuming we can't find anyone else by Monday or on loan. Holmes - 7 Looked very good first half. Some good deliveries and ran at defenders. Very quiet second half though. Lallana - 7 So unlucky not to score twice in a minute first half. Like Holmes faded after the break, but I think these two are our bightest prospects. Gillett - 6 Full of energy and looked great for the first half hour, but then started giving the ball away and making rash challenges. Like some ugly hybrid of Viafara and Safri. Schneiderlin - 5 Seemed pretty annonymous if I am honnest. The first time I've seen him and I was expecting a lot more. Think we went about half an hour without him touching the ball at one point. White - 3 Really did nothing offensively and gave away the penalty. Obviously has time on his side, but this is waaaay to early to be shoving him in the first team on this showing. McGoldrick - 7 Looked energetic and purposeful first half. So unlucky not to score on a couple of occasions. The effort against the bar at the end pretty much some bup our day. Close, but no Cuban fags. Subs: Dyer - 6 Added some much needed purpose down the right, but seems a bit well... stupid at times. Running into players and blind alleys. Strange to think he is still only what, 20? Needs to start repaying our faith in him with his court case, new contract and all. John - 6 Looked pretty good, but never really looked like scoring. Can't really play on his own and needed DMG much closer to him to make use of John's good touch and hold up play. Wotton - 5 Can't really say he sured up the midfield. No better than Schneiderlin today.