derry

At last, an unbiased unemotional opinion. Both goals were a nightmare for any goalkeeper a looping back header and a brilliant difficult to anticipate unorthodox deflection by Ba. As far as I am concerned Boruc is a cracking keeper despite the three recent soft goals against Stoke, Hull and Arsenal. However he is now injured and isn't going to be playing again any time soon. I know what Davis brings to the table, brilliant shotstopping, good long kicking but then poor with crosses, doesn't command his area, poor distribution, vulnerable at the near post and palms saves back out to incoming forwards. As for Gazzaniga, I thought he did OK and hope that he has a decent run of games and gives Pochettino a selection problem when Boruc is fit.

Osvaldo was disappointing running into blind alleys, taking lots of touches and making little attempt to try and put anyone else in on goal. He looks very much a Me Me Me every time type of player.

The two things that stand out for me is firstly in the match all three goals didn't come from Chelsea pulling us apart although they created a few in play chances which Boruc saved well. It was poor defending of dead ball situations. Twice Lovren lost his mark. Secondly for those that wouldn't know a goalkeeper from a bus conductor, Gazzaniga had no chance with either goal and did nothing wrong. I don't think any goalkeeper would have saved Terry's goal and Ba's goal was far too quick for him.

That angle disappeared rapidly but had either CB moved quickly goalwards it would have opened up again if only for a square pass goal side of Hooiveld. Neither moved until Giroud had won the ball by then it was far too late to do anything. I did say when he was closed down not before he was closed down. If he had passed to Hooiveld immediately the goal wouldn't have happened, however when he didn't and the CBs then failed to react making a new angle with Boruc himself failing to recognise he was in trouble the goal was pretty inevitable. Failing all that as soon as he was under pressure the ball should have gone out of play because he really had no other option..

Maybe it's another Yugoslavian (covers the area) CB we need. Any recommendations?

The trouble with some keepers is they think they can play out and have forgotten why they ended up in goal in the first place.

There is no doubt that Boruc was at fault for not putting the ball out when he was closed down. However He did look to pass but Hooiveld was spectating behind Giroud and made no attempt to give him an angle for a pass so he had to turn back, at which point he should have belted it out. Likewise Fonte was doing the same thing on the other side of Giroud. Neither centre back gave him a passing option, which then led to his Bambi on ice ball juggling.

Often Boruc passes out to Fonte in the RB position with plenty of time, he doesn't anticipate and already have a target, instead he receives the ball then starts to look, often changes his mind takes more touches then gets closed down and passes back to Boruc. It's Ok for possession but more often than not the ball is then played long by Boruc. I'd prefer Fonte if he starts to be closed down to hit Lambert if he isn't going to play to feet quickly. We are so good at winning the ball back that it's worth going for Lambert or Rodriguez. The centre is always going to be congested when the CBs have the ball.

That was going to happen sooner or later with Boruc. He needs to remember he's the goalkeeper and never ever try and take an outfield player on in our penalty area just put his foot through it in those circumstances. Fonte didn't need to grab Merteseker shirt he wasn't going to score from there. Jos had a decent game. Fonte passing back to Boruc on most occasions he has possession isn't helping us. The last three games, the wind assist, Fonte to Boruc to Wanyama, and now these two gifts smacks of casualness by Boruc. He is a really good keeper but he needs wringing out big time as this is unprofessional. I thought we did pretty well and Arsenal must feel mighty pleased at the gifts because they sure as hell didn't win the game by their play.

I'm buying my wife a new top of the range Driver, shame :lol:she doesn't play golf.

DeValera wanted a fall guy. That was why Collins was sent to London. In the end he got the best deal he could. The Dail voted for it and the people accepted it in a referendum. The IRA then took on the Irish Government in a civil war and lost. The strategic six counties weren't on the table but there was supposed to be a referendum of the Border Counties, Armagh, Fermanagh, Derry with large ethnic Irish population to allow them to join the Free State but the British government reneged on the promise.

It's time to let the past stay there. Trying to resurrect more victims on either side isn't going to further peace. The people of Northern Ireland whatever their persuasion want peace. Only new crimes committed in peacetime should be pursued. It's time for reconciliation not lawyers.

The Southampton team game requires high energy from everyone. Ramirez is a talent but our game isn't the way he plays. He has to adapt to our high energy team game that strangles the life out of the opposition or move on. Lallana in particular has retained the best of his game but is now working incredibly hard, Ramirez has to do the same. I love his skill but I get the feeling he isn't adapting. The manager isn't going to compromise and include a weak link. Unfortunately for Ramirez he has to do it our way, I'm not sure he can. (Duplicated post I thought the other one deleted)

I think the first thing any player, and that includes Ramirez, has to buy into is that the Southampton way is a high energy game to first win the ball and then keep possession. Our players mostly pass and move, Clyne, Shaw, Lovren, Schneiderlin (now and then), especially Lallana, and Rodriguez attack at pace carrying the ball but pass and move and work like crazy to close down the opposition. Ramirez unlike Lallana who is working his socks off doesn't play that way. He is a play making ball carrier that nearly always tries to run with the ball. He is a talent and could be great for us if he is able to adopt the high energy pressing game however I am not sure he can or is trying to. This leads me to think that the manager isn't going to compromise and unless Ramirez adapts he will move on.

The club have got it right. SMS half closed, the rest not even half full in the previous round, SOL one third full. The supporters patently don't rate it especially as it is a reserve team competition. It really doesn't rate a Europa place which is a sop to the sponsors. The Europa place should go to the next highest EPL teams along with the FA Cup Europa place currently used by Championship mid table Wigan.

This cup was useful in that it gave match time to players not in the first team. Match fitness in the absence of a proper reserve league is necessary. It picked out four types of players. Not good enough even to be reserves = Davis and Fox, youngsters on the fringe - Chambers and Reed, reserves - Yoshida, Hooiveld, Cork, Lee, and first teamers - Rodriguez, Davis and Ramirez. Gallagher looked useful and a first team would have deprived three useful youngsters of the experience at a higher level. Some will say Ramirez is a waste of space but he needs to play matches to get him up to match fitness. He has ability and we may well need him and the others if we get injuries. I think the club has got it right.

I bet it will have triple glazing and lots of insulation:lol:.

Gaston is a talent, no doubt about that. There is however a few things he has to take on board so that he can successfully play in our system. Firstly his natural instinct is to run with ball irrespective of where he is whilst the team ethos when not retaining possession is to move it quickly, so unless he is in the final third running and losing possession is counter productive and exposes us to quick counter attacks. Secondly his pressing is casual and whilst he is able to be physical he isn't as sharp in getting tight. He has to sort the way he plays much as Lallana has done so that he fits the team tactics. If he does he will be a big asset and give us more unpredictability and edge. If he doesn't he won't play a lot and will probably move on. Like Yoshida, missing virtually most of the pre season preparation he is playing catch up, especially as he just isn't getting the game time to fit in.

Next time Mike, set it up. Arrange a regular contact at the Job Centre who is responsible for the applicants and will take your call by arrangement and is already aware of the reason for the call. As soon as the non-applicant makes the statement, ask them to wait, ring the number, tell the contact "Mr So in So says he doesn't want the job" then hand him/her the phone.

Nitrogen is used because in overheating/fire situations, caused by, for example a max weight aborted take off at high speed, especially in aircraft 200/300 tons at 200 mph, bursting tyres would flood the fire with oxygen but nitrogen is inert so doesn't. There was talk of fitting aircraft with nitrogen supplies to fill the voids in fuel tanks after fuel is used or the tank empty, (as per the TWA B747 that blew up after takeoff due empty centre tank cooking off) so that combustion wouldn't occur. Bit like cabin sprinkler systems. Weight considerations and cost put that to bed. Airlines always say "Safety is paramount", what they mean is, as long as it doesn't cost money.

For anyone who can read them there are animated timeframe charts on netweather.com. From midday they have shown a forecast of heavy rain for a period which with the low pressure front is pretty standard however the wind charts show the worst winds in mid channel off east sussex and east of Dover. The winds are shown peaking about midnight dropping off rapidly to about 0300. The strongest winds, mid forties in this area are shown south of the IOW slowing northwards and dropping into the 20/30 band just north of the mainland coast.

Some years back I played golf with one of the 1976 Cup Winning team the day after his vasectomy. He walked like a jockey, I know he was in pain but the banter was unbelievable and we were rolling around all through the round. Fair play to him he was a great sport.

The players/management/spectators know what they get with Fox, he has never been a good defender. Swansea know what he is like, so put the nippy Dyer out wide supported by runners from inside and behind. Consequently he was exposed and torn apart. Lovren did his best to support him but unlike Hooiveld quite rightly wouldn't leave the middle open. Fox needed support and cover from in front and inside, presumably Davis was supposed to cover in front but never picked up tight, choosing to stand off allowing Dyer to cut into the space. It wasn't until JWP was sent on and closed down quickly that we at least helped him out. Fox doesn't read the defensive game, he defends like a winger, either too far up with space behind or backs off towards the corner of the penalty area. Even if he isn't that quick he could have got tight on Dyer and tried to bully him leaving the others to cover the space behind him.

I was talking to Dennis Pring at the golf club this morning. Ian White was there but not in photo. Said it was a good do.

Interestingly in complete contrast to those stewards behaviour, at the West Ham game at half time a fan was drinking beer, obviously from the bar, chatting at the top of the steps. The steward just approached him and told him drinking not allowed there please take it back down to the concourse which he did.