Whitey Grandad

What happened to Joe Royle?

Why would more support improve his first touch? If he can't control the ball then we will always lose posession.

No and yes in that order. But they are a much better team than we are...

Exactly! How many clubs have not appointed Hoddle and are now better than us???

His touch, speed of thought, desire, commitment were all awful. Putting somebody else alongside him would have changed none of these.

There was nothing for them to cheer.

That was absolutley the most disorganised, gutless, spiritless uninterested load of doggy-doos that it has been my misfortune to witness this season, and I've seen a lot already. McGormless was a liability, a complete waste of space, Holmes was nowhere near fit, puffing and panting after 30 minutes. The rest of them, with a couple of notable exceptions - Cork, Davis, Skacel - had no idea where they should be playing, there was no shape to the team, no power, no desire, Forest were winning all the tackles. We had no shots on target. This clown of a manager has to go now and he should take his chairman with him.

I think you'll find it was the other way round, today!

All these comparisons between Poortvliet and Pearson are academic. In my opinion keeping Pearson would have been a much better option but now that we are stuck with Poortvliet I don't see the point of changing him at this stage. It's difficult to find a suitable manager that's available and cheap at the moment, but as they say 'it doesn't matter who you are, a few defeats on the spin and you're looking over your shoulder'

I agree, the quality is poor but most of them seem to be scoring more goals than we are.

Can we please have a constructive discussion without using terms like these? We all have different views, that's why it's called a forum...

That has a pleasing ring to it.

That depends on how many millions were spent in order to get those millions...

I think they can be CCC standard, but they are a bit short of it at the moment. They need experience and guidance from more established players, but as soon as they are good enough they will be sold on to another club, so what's the point of it all?

Could it be that they don't want to pay the £5 and so can't vote?

What price can you get on both clubs being relegated this season?

For the first time this season I was really impressed by him! At least his mistake didn't cost us any points and I don't think he'll do it again, but he's not the only one who's letting the ball bounce, Pearce also tends to do it, so perhaps our coaching is just as bad as Reading's.

James is a very good prospect, but he's a long way from being a full-back. It looks to me like he's never played there before, and it shows.

Of course, but they weren't playing very well before, were they? There have been countless other examples in all divisions. My point is that these basic mistakes and positional errors should have been coached out of them years ago. Most of them have been taught by professionals since schoolboy days.

I have always understood that 'Arry did it to prove a point to Lowe. (did you mean Mansfield?). I agree that you should only introduce inexperienced players into a settled, established team. It used to be done in the end-of-season games, when we were safe (oh, happy days!)

One game would be enough to get the basics right. Look at what Rednapp achieved at Tottenham.

These are all basic errors that should have been coached out of them before letting them play. I don't see players from other teams making them. And another thing... why is it that our players keep slipping over at St. Mary's? It happens once or twice every home game and could have cost us a goal against Sheff Weds. It's rare for an opposition player to do it.

This exhibition football is the fundamental problem. The build-up is ponderously slow and there's nobody to support the lone striker. Incidentally, we're not the only ones playing 'tippy-tappy' apparently... http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/arsenal/article5321718.ece

It is absolutely the coach's fault. It is fundamental that you don't let the ball bounce! If you can't remember that then you shouldn't be playing.