derry

I contributed to the online programme last year, downloaded it once and thought it was an unimaginative load of rubbish with a list of squad numbers and names that mean nothing at the back. There was a day when the programmes gave the teams, that was the real reason for a programme. Now it is meaningless. It is easy to get the squad numbers on the official sites and pretty much see what the opponents team will be. In any event now we are in the Premier because of TV exposure opponents are mostly recognisable. I think I've only bought one programme in the last six years and that was for somebody who had a kids birthday/photo in it. I don't see many people with programmes nowadays, do others see many?

Often clients want alterations/design changes after the commencement without understanding the cost implications. Often micro managers go to meetings and issue instructions, the architect issues variations/drawings and the work is carried out but there is never an price agreed before commencement. Consequently when the cost escalates the client has a problem because they thought they could just change things not realising the ramifications ending in a dispute.

Graham Hounsell and Paul Baxter

Peter Price got into golf and lost interest. Just closed it down, kept the cricket going for a while then closed it altogether, for sale until Saints bought it.

Put a bit of bite into midfield. I've always advocated round pegs in round holes. I'm happy with the goalkeeper. I've never taken much notice of Boruc but his 300 games for Celtic would probably include three quarters as a spectator due to the lack of real competition in Scotland. It is reported that he was good for Fiorentina and he would have had plenty to do there. If we drop Gazzaniga then Boruc has to be much better otherwise it is a wasted exercise and investing Premier experience in an already good young goalkeeper is IMO if he isn't, the better option. I think I prefer Fox, if fully fit in at left back with Fonte and Hooiveld at centreback. That gives us a settled back four. Yoshida was a midfielder at Grampus Nagoya and successfully converted to centreback. I would like to see him with Davis in CM with Lallana and Puncheon L/RM, Ramirez in front of the midfield and Lambert up front. Yoshida is strong and a good passer, he would give us the cover in front of the centrebacks and the full backs. I don't really care about systems or numbers as all they do if they don't suit the team is hamstring it. The way we played against Villa looked much more natural for the team, so I would like us to forget about trying to adapt the players to a numbers game and get them playing comfortably.

Can't be recalled until after the first month. If we had two injuries to CBs he would be needed no matter how good he is.

I think a mixture with the 2/3 best headers going for the ball and the other say 5/6 running interference and blocking the runs of the oppositions best headers rather than trying to mark them. That way the smaller players can block the taller players off. I also think that leaving 2/3 on the halfway line forces the opposition to keep 3/4 back reducing the chaos in the penalty area as usually it only leaves about 4/5 to pick up.

I think the 5-4 win at Norwich after being I think 1-3 was special but I only saw the highlights.

I get the feeling you've played the game. Good report, summed it up for me.

1960, FA Cup, 3rd div Saints beat 1st div Man City at Maine Rd 5-1. I think 1963, FA Cup second replay at White Hart Lane, 2nd div Saints v 1st div Notts Forest, If I remember correctly 5-0 to Saints.

SDR was a really effective outlet and every time he had the ball he went at the defence and pulled it across, only JR was making runs. Guly as the support striker didn't make a lot of effort to get into the box when SDR had the ball and Chaplow's job is to cover the back post and didn't ever get there. The midfield offered little in forward runs. Gazzaniga fumbled a couple, once Hooiveld went for the same ball, but he made important saves and caught one late on that KD may well have knocked back out to the incoming striker. The central defensive pairing for Saturday is going to be an interesting selection, I thought that Fonte and Yoshida looked a better pair than last night but Hooiveld is the best header and Fellaini is a threat in the air. With the three fit could Yoshida at left back with Clyne returning to the right be an option. I don't like zonal marking, I prefer a mixture, keep the 2/3 best headers of the ball free and the rest mark tight. he best headers then go for the ball. The players standing are at a disadvantage as the forwards can run in and get more height than the static markers.

I saw Don Roper hit a volley from just inside the centre circle that was so hard it went under the diving goalkeeper, hit the steel support and came back out underneath the still airborne goalkeeper. That was with the old coated leather ball.

I will say that with the club's emphasis on bringing through the youngsters, that dropping one that is playing well for a 30 year old on a short term contract, isn't sending the right message to the young players. As long as Gazzaniga plays well I'd hope that Adkins will keep picking him.

I wouldn't think for one minute that we promised him anything other than the opportunity to mount a challenge for the starting spot. The Davis/Gazzaniga position is obvious and Boruc will fancy his chances of breaking through in due course, although I like Gazzaniga and feel he may take a lot of shifting. I do expect Boruc to get the next chance if the standard isn't maintained.

Best wishes

Papers today saying Halsey being changed for tomorrow,

Gazzaniga was impressive in probably Nigel Adkins most important game for a long time. He didn't put a foot wrong, made one top class save and the centre backs were confident in front of him. Look at it this way if Boruc now replaced him and messed up in the next game he would be in a difficult position. Give Gazzaniga his chance, furthermore I suspect the signing of Boruc had more to do with Davis's dire displays and the problem if Gazzaniga was injured having only Davis as a goalkeeping option. It was a window of opportunity that wouldn't be available much longer, as we had a goalkeeping crisis, we grabbed him.

Stern John v Sheff Utd in the last game of the season we had to win to stay up.

Gazzaniga did four things yesterday that were standout. He calmed Fonte who was much more assured not having to worry about KD, He made a top class save at his near post one on one, with Bent clear through, He made a clearance when the last man outside the area, he was assured when he was given the ball and was being closed down and didn't rush his clearance. Furthermore he had no part in the goal we conceded as the players played pinball in front of him then the ball was deflected with Fox totally failing to react. Davis has been a good servant and well paid for it since he arrived, the problem now is that his deficiencies have been accentuated by the greater skill levels of the Premier League. He got by with superb shot stopping in the lower leagues but the better finishing in the Premier is depriving him of that, plus his vulnerability at the near post, which has been there for a long time, eg Peterborough (a) in Div 1.

I will say in the past I've seen goalkeepers playing for teams under pressure looking like good players and keeping them in the game or keeping thescore down. Davis has made very few saves in the four matches and let in 14 goals. Gazzaniga is the club's back up goalkeeper that we paid a lot of money for, the No1 is failing, give him a go.

If we were going to close mark Scholes then they were the only defenders available. It would have been an attacker that would have to be replaced as the marker wouldn't be playing anywhere but tight marking Scholes. The midfield and defence would still be intact. I don't think Utd would have been at all pleased as it might well have taken him out of the equation.

Eric has travelled the world and dined out on that ever since. Top bloke.SMS ST holder.

Over 18000 hours dear boy and never a problem. But you aren't wrong, there are a quite a few accidents out there waiting to happen. I lost some good friends in crashes, tail came off, aileron fell off, aircraft on fire crashed, hit a mountain in bad weather etc. One of the guys I sit with lost all four engines on a B747. If you knew what I know you just wouldn't be nervous, you wouldn't get on another aircraft. Then again you might consider yourself lucky. Quite what that had to do with a hypothetical discussion on formations. I will say one of the Cup winning team felt we should have close marked Scholes and said it was a no brainer, but then what did he know.

I have a contact who worked closely with him, was treated really well but gave up in the end. 'He was hard to work for'. As for the Bristol Rovers episode, I know what happened and NC had no choice. The same outcome in any company in the land. I think he doesn't take any prisoners.

Absolutely true and they are all on here now slating him. Goalkeeper as the weakest link is a nightmare. He isn't even shotstopping, now they are going in.