Cabrone

Although we still have a slim chance I'm resigning myself to no play offs this year. Our results against the top teams indicates to me that we're not quite good enough to catch them up. Maybe we're not as good as we thought we were. Very disappointing esp. as we have had more money spent on us than anyone else but that's life as a fan of this club I guess. For me mid table at the end of season was always par for the course, play offs would have been a nice bonus. Next season though - play offs at least.

Being as the TV cameras spot things like this within seconds why can't there be a 2nd ref in the stands that has instant access to the TV pics? They could have overruled this 'goal' within seconds and the game then recommenced. I think that they should also have cameras in the goalposts to check for the 'on the line' goal decisions. I don't think that you need these precautions for all games BUT being as this was a very big match with very big consequences why didn't the authorities authorise the use of technology? Maybe use it for proper (not friendly) internationals only? That said, all this hullabaloo over Henry is because Ireland lost. Would there have been such a big reaction if Keane had handballed before scoring? It's all a bit hypocritical really.

Whilst I'm still not convinced about AP (too timid in the games I've seen IMO) the original post is way OTT. Every team will have a dodgy game here and there and hopefully this was it. We've had something like 8 unbeaten before yesterday so I think its only fair to lay off the guy. However if we lose the next couple of games - one against Norwich - we'll slip back in the relegation zone and the pressure will ratchet up so fingers crossed this was just a blip and a valuable lesson learned.

There is a bar in Val Claret that I've been to a few times that shows most sports events. Might be stretching it for this one though!

The difference between Brighton and Saints today? Heart. Frustrating that we've now had 2 opportunities to get out of the bottom 3 and we've blown both. However a win against Norwich would go a long way to erasing todays disappointment.

Don't think we're the best as there's not much to choose between us, Leeds, Norwich, Charlton and Millwall. Whether we are the best or not, no-one will look forward to playing us this season.

Moran - on the verge of England with us, never did much after leaving. Dennis - was destined never to reach the same level of performance as he did at Saints. Bale - skulking around in Spurs reserves. Williams - didn't realise how good it was here. Channon - played at Pompey, WTF!! ....not a player but Hoddle - was on to a good thing here then blew it at Spurs.

I was there and we were miles better as a 4-4-2, 4-5-1 just neuters our forwards. It was good to get back to 2-2 but yet again AP dropped 2 points due to his negative tactics. If Connolly is fit then he's got to start - he looks bloody good. To have Wotton on the pitch instead of him is nuts IMO. Ricky comes alive when he partners him. Just as at Charlton I got the impression that AP was more interested in not losing than than winning!

Lambert for me closely followed by Hammond.

Can't see AP leaving for Boro. We are on the up and they are drifting. AP has been given the chance to resurrect a big club back to where it belongs - the premiership. He's working under a cash rich guy who seems to have his head screwed on the right way and seems to have all faith in AP. He'd be mad to switch to Boro.

I don't have any sympathy for Saga, he's had his chances but hasn't taken them. When he first joined he was excellent and if he had managed to maintain anywhere near that form then he'd be in our first 11 now. The guy has a questionable attitude IMO.

As Claridge said on the BBC - if he can stay fit then he's going to be a handfull. As for the super sub option - if he (with Lambert) is our best striker then I'd play him from the off. Got to pick the strongest 11 for every league game.

He's definately our worst ever chairman. As far as I know relegating SFC down 2 divisions is a record that no other chairman has accomplished. However he'd still have a way to go to match up with these meddling chairmen: Flavio Briatore who often picked QPR teams and once ordered a substitution from Malaysia. Vladimir Romanov who sacked George Burley after an 8 match winning run because he refused to obey Romanov's team selections faxed over every week from the Baltics. Dmitry Pietrman (Racing Santander) who when told he would need to complete a six-year coaching course in order to manage the Spanish team he had just bought appointed old friend Chuchi Cos as manager and named himself as official club photographer. Donning a snapper's bib, he would then sit on a chair adjacent to the Racing bench, take a few pictures and regularly shout orders to players. When asked about this unusual state of affairs Pieterman referred to George W Bush saying: "There's a dork out there running the most powerful country in the world without a qualification to his name. And you want me to have a diploma to run a football team?" You couldn't make it up.

1-1 (Lambert)

At the moment 6th place is taken by Norwich on 19 points after 12 games, that's a point scoring record of 1.583 per game. Assuming that this rate is maintained then their final total would be 73 points. To overcome that we would have to amass another 68 points from 34 games or exactly 2 points per game. In other words we'd have to do something along the lines of winning all our home games and drawing all our away games. Not impossible I suppose but looking at our form so far I personally think we've left it too late now to get into the playoffs. However if we were to put a very strong run together - maybe 6-8 wins on the trot - then it may start to look possible. My money is on mid table which TBH I'd consider an adequate conclusion to this season.

Brilliant. Was getting concerned about our lack of wins but the last few games have really taken the pressure off. The team have to now take the confidence that is building and run with it.

That team might just avoid relegation but it would have to score quite a lot as the defence and midfield look fairly porous. I'd also get BT up front and put Jones just behind the front two.

Couldn't agree more. Pardew has thrown away points through his needless negativity so far this season. AP - stop fretting about losing and start thinking about winning! We have the strikers to do the damage - play them!

Great win and a huge relief. Great to see that the goals are now starting to go in too. Got to keep this going now as there's still a long way to go till safety.

Assessment So Far: Last year's safety mark was 50 points. Current form will produce 31-32 point at seasons end. Result? Relegation with 6-7 games to go. No more draws for the rest of the season? Would have to win 17 games out of 36 or 48%. 10 more draws throughout the season? We would have to win 14 out of the remaining 26 or 54%. Assuming our current draw rate is maintained? Would end up drawing 28 games. We've already lost 3. Would have to win 11 games out of the remaining 15 or 74%. Current win rate is 10%. Conclusion: SFC is underperforming. Currently on a relegation trajectory. AP must improve win rates and pronto else survival target will accelerate away from us. To use the analogy of a game of 1 day cricket...... We are the chasing team needing 50 runs and the run rate is getting steeper all the time. We need a decent partnership to blast out some quick runs else things will spiral out of control quite quickly.

Cortese will act if AP doesn't produce the goods - there's no way he will tolerate us in lge 2. Let's just take a look at the numbers: Last year's safety mark was 50 points. On current form we are headed for a final points total of 31-32. That would relegate us with 6-7 games to go. To reach the safety mark from our current position: Assuming no more draws for the rest of the season: We must win 17 games out of 36. That's a 47-48% win rate. Assuming say 10 more draws throughout the season: We would have to win 14 out of the 26 remaining games. That's a 53-54% win rate. Assuming our current draw rate is maintained: We'd end up drawing 28 games. We have already lost 3. We would then have to win 11 games out of 15. That's a 73-74% win rate. Our current win rate is 10%. AP had better start getting wins or he'll be out.

Whilst I sympathise with the continuity view Pardew has to be judged on results and 1 win in 10 is simply unacceptable. If this continues we are looking at around 4-5 wins across the whole season. That is relegation form even without the 10 point deduction. Relegation would be a total disaster considering the money spent. I think he'll be given till Xmas and if form hasn't picked up he'll be offloaded. I also think that he's been round the block enough times to know and understand this.

No one wants to see the back of Pardew and our managerial merry go round under Lowe was terrible for the club but at some point he has to be held to task for our terrible form. If we continue like this till Xmas we'll have 2-3 wins which will IMO be unnaceptable given the superior resources we have been given relative to our rivals. We will also be in big danger of a 2nd successive relegation. Personally I think he is going into games looking to not lose rather than win. I think 6 points could have been taken at Charlton and Carlisle if he had grown a pair and put 2 up front. It certainly would have taken the pressure off him now. He knows that he can't expect to manage a team with this form and be our manager beyond Xmas. The clock is ticking.

I was up for AP to be given the whole season but if the results stay like this then I think by Xmas he will be on his way. 1 win out of 10 really is poor poor form - especially when good money has been spent on playing staff. Weren't KK\Shearer interested in running the show?

Difficult game and less confident of 3 points than I was for Carlisle. Rather than falling apart Rovers seem to have become tighter since losing Lambert. 2-2.