derry

If we want to create positive momentum from Wembley, we have to break the Pardew tendency for safety first, give it a right positive go and then take that forward every match. We have to give it our best shot to win every match, not just long ball to scrabble a few wins and fail in the end wishing we had given it everything. We might fail but we needn't look back if we do. I happen to think that it is Pardew's negative approach with arguably the best squad in the division that is getting up Nicola Cortese's nose. It may well cost him his job if he doesn't go for it.

If a loan player was brought in to play in a Wembley final it could well cause massive dissension in the dressing room. I think the suggestion of Gillett is a decent fourth choice punt and quicker than the out of position pedestrian James. Less likely to cross from the halfway line. I think after two wins with Harding we will go that way unless Thomas is fit.

Barnard, Puncheon, Otsemobor, Seaborne.

I don't care about the result. We are on Sky and I want to see a team put out against Carlisle set up to attack, with the wide men on the touchlines, playing high tempo pass and move football from the back, trying to get to the byelines and tearing Carlisle apart. Keeping at least two attackers up defending corners and be totally positive.

I ordered 10 tickets including 2 concessions (seniors) and presumed that the 2 tickets with only one stub were the senior tickets, as all the tickets showed full price, that identified them as concessions. The Carlisle senior concession is over 65 but the Southampton concession is over 60, this is because the normal club concessions at each club apply.

He didn't take penalties or free kicks. John Page took the penalties. I think George O'Brien took them in later seasons. All his goals were from play.

I don't care, I want to see the team look like a proper football team not just hoofing the ball up front. I want us to use the good squad that we have, to play passing football at a high tempo from back to front. I want to see, with further strengthening, that we have the ability to play teams off the park and develop a style that will take us all the way.

Some players wear a second pair of white socks outside, covering some of the red hoops.

All I know is what my eyes are telling me. We have bought a very good squad but they are not being allowed to play to their collective abilities and are hamstrung by the the managers negative approach, packing the midfield and forcing the ball to be lumped up front. I don't buy into the Pardew philosophy, I'll go even further, I bloody well hate the way we play. This squad of players deserve better than the up the middle way of playing Pardew is adopting. I want to see us playing proper passing football and these players would be a much better team if they played that way. If Pardew can't supply a team which contains some of the best talent in the league, that plays like a proper football team, without relying on hoofball, I want him replaced with a manager who will.

In that case what's his excuse for not playing a passing game at St Mary's. We have played some dire hoofball there.

We have to play football and not just keep lumping it. It won't get us promotion.

If the club aren't absolutely certain that Pardew is the right manager for the whole of next season leading to automatic promotion he should be replaced. If there is any doubt, he should not be left to start next season, then have to make a change and catch up. I think it will be the former.

Route one, ball from our half, goalkeeper came and missed it, Lambert with nod on. What's that 1 in the last 527 lumps up field, I prefer proper football.

Two left footers on the right, a right footer on the left, nobody wide. Lallana missing our only two chances as usual. Lessons to be learned, but obviously not by this manager. Cortese still thinks we have a chance of the play offs, as soon as reality kicks in, I wouldn't give anything for his chances.

Lallana and Puncheon were at times on the touchline but the whole team had come across and were still causing a traffic jam on one side with nobody wide on the other. The wide midfielders were still tucked in. Swindon on the other hand spread out and moved the ball around as soon as they gained possession, with players wide both sides, plus runners in the channels.

Spot on. My information is that Coppell accepted the job and after all the negotiations were complete, was on his way down to sign the contract. He apparently then had second thoughts, decided he was going to go with his original plan and take a break, then contacted the club.

If Cortese doesn't feel that Pardew has moulded the team by the end of the season to be capable of winning the league then he should make the change then, not in mid season when things aren't working out. Conversely if he does think this team is the real deal and Pardew is the man to lead them, then no change.

Changing managers isn't in itself wrong, but keeping one that isn't the long term answer is. Norwich changed after one game and are going to win promotion. I submit that Cortese didn't have much time and went for Steve Coppell, as soon as Coppell decided not to come he needed to immediately get a replacement. He didn't have the option to take his time and had to take somebody using others opinions. Pardew was the result. It is very probable that now eight months on and a chance to talk to many more people and see who is around and what he wants for the club he is in a much better position to select a manager. I doubt that Pardew would be that manager if the selection was now. It has to be recognised that Gray, Wigley (twice), Sturrock weren't sensible selections for a Premier club whilst Hoddle was. Picking a manager that improves is sensible.

Swindon were neat and tidy and had a basic team pattern, passing the ball around playing pass and move working it through our back four. It was our tactic that caused us problems. Pardew, yet again tucked the wide midfielders alongside the central midfielders, denying them the option of spreading the play quickly and getting forward in support of the strikers. The compaction of our midfield led to a compaction of their defence/midfield which led to a traffic jam and nowhere for us to go when we got possession, except up front, give it back to Swindon and watch them pass it around. Swindon didn't double bank Puncheon and Lallana, they did it themselves by tucking in. If the manager wanted them out wide he would have got them out there but he didn't. He just doesn't get it, unless we spread the opposition out we can't pass the ball, consequently hoofing it. That together with Davis doing the same is tedious.

As it was the MD of Stellar, I've emailed Nicola Cortese regarding his remarks and would think he might be getting a call.:smt084 Maybe something about confidentiality clauses and integrity. I feel a touch of the Echo coming on.

I think you have pretty much summed up what is wrong with the team. Good players and a negative safety first approach.

It's that particular time frame we are trying to check for obvious reasons and it wasn't a taxi driver.

Any body that was there, that is.

Anybody know if Cortese was at the Tranmere game?

Firstly I've seen plenty of decent goalkeepers below the Premier. Secondly in my opinion to improve the team he should be replaced. Thirdly he didn't go to WHU because his family didn't want to move and I'm sure apart from the contract, sitting on the bench week after week didn't appeal to him when set against a decent contract insitu with regular football. As for loyalty, there is no such thing in football. If the player is good enough and he is happy he stays. If he is surplus to requirements or can get more money/better football regularly he will move no matter how long a contract is to run. If we are to fulfill the ambition of the Premier in another four seasons it is highly possible that none of the current side will still be first team regulars then. With that in mind I happen to think that all the present first team are expendable if we can improve their positions as we move forward.