derry

The strikers would love him with the quality of his delivery. A right sided Hoolahan.

Probably only the Mirror won't headline it unless it is to try and spin it like Mandelson making a fool of himself. When your in a hole stop digging.

What a bunch of twits. Just adding fuel to the fire. It doesn't matter what is done or said now because the damage is there. All it did was expose to the public what has been said about him, and showed the shallow character of the prospectve leader of the next government.

After 13 years of unmitigated failure, except for the bought and paid for voters, it is hard to see why anybody would want to vote for a party led by that hypocrite.

I think the really interesting bit is just about to kick off. The people at the bottom, NATS/CAA are going to be fingered as the enquiry bandwagon gains momentum and in turn the leaks about which government minister got involved will come out.

It seems to me that the reason the UK is now open is that Willie Walsh called the regulators/politicians bluff and launched 26 longhaul flights to the UK on Tuesday. Faced with turning back these flights or opening the politicians reasoned that the Wednesday morning row would be a vote loser. I have flown for years in close proximity to erupting volcanoes in the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Mexico and Asia and the only criteria was stay out of the ash plume. I found it bizarre that the whole airspace plus 23 other regions was closed on the simulations from the Met Office computer. Up to now areas affected by erupting volcanoes were marked by a symbol on the sig weather charts and it was up to pilots to stay clear of the plume. It appears to me this whole episode was a gross overreaction by the regulators/government departments. The airlines proved at the weekend there was no problems but nobody in authority would listen, but when the engine manufacturers stated that the current levels of contamination outside of the plume was 1% of the acceptable contamination it finished the ban. It is my opinion that in clear air and outside of the ash plume that there was no problem. A much more sensible approach would be to map the plume and create a 30 mile buffer. Virtually all aircraft are GPS/INS/IRS equipped and even if not still under direct radar control so avoiding the plume was not a problem.

Oldham came to SMS with the fourth best away goals against in the division. It means that it was totally predictable that they would defend rather than attack. So what do we do, play a one paced totally defensive minded, non passer, as one of two central midfielders and as expected he contributed little or nothing. At half time we replaced him with Lloyd James, whose lack of pace gave us practically no improvement and as a result was replaced after 25 minutes. The midfield selection was the real cause of our problems as it effectively wasted 70 minutes of the game with an inneffective team. It wasn't until the last twenty minutes that we played penetrative football, albeit unsuccessfully, against a last ditch massed defence. Puncheon had plenty of possession, but in the main was pretty poor, however once he moved into centre midfield with Waigo and Lallana on the flanks, we looked quite good. With the fact that Oldham were known to be defensive, the last thing we needed was a defensive midfielder and Puncheon should have been paired with Hammond. This was a pragmatic safety first team selection, when what was needed was a positive attacking team. This is one of those occasions that cause some people to question Alan Pardew's ability as a manager. After giving it a go at Yeovil and succeeding despite 10 men, I had hoped he would ditch his pragmatism against the negative Oldham, but he unnecessarily reverted to type and sadly we failed to win because of it.

I think it's the opposite. WIDE not NARROW.

'Coffin dodgers'

The 'three scottish miners' were priceless.

We haven't an axe to grind but we generally agree on what we like. However one or two are close to the club so at times we hear things. You are quite right, I am not a pro football coach but that doesn't disqualify my preferences any more than yours or anyone elses. I have no problem discussing opposing views but can't be bothered with rudeness. The same people that go overboard on occasions also are amongst the same ones who can turn on a manager in fairly short order. I'm not doing that but I am not convinced.

There are managers whose teams play the sort of football I like to see. Disregarding top managers who are out of reach. I rate Paul Lambert, Lee Clark, Danny Wilson, Sean O'Driscoll and Eddie Howe also. Next season will probably be a better time to see what Pardew is producing. Having seen all the home games this season, quite a few have been poor.

Why be rude, why not just agree to disagree? In the great scheme of things football really isn't that important.

Maybe so, but demonstrates a lifelong commitment. It was a direct reply to a comment by OSM and wouldn't have been used otherwise.

I went to Springhill School opposite the Dell in 1947, supported Saints as a kid, sold penny on the ball tickets for the club at matches, had trials at the Dell, but wasn't signed, was coached by Jimmy Gallagher and George Horsefall, had a bad injury, Ian White persuaded me to take FA coaching courses. I have supported the Saints all my life. I don't need to join the self indulgent, often ignorant mannered, sometimes over the top euphoric ebb and flow on here to be a Saints supporter. I recognise a good decision when I see it, however I stlll have reservations that Pardew may not be the manager able to build the sort of team and more importantly play the sort of football that will establish us well up the Premier. At third level we have a talented squad, however to attain the same status in the Championship will be the first real measure of Pardew's ability and from that we will see whether he can step up to a further level. I think that he has done well enough enough this season to be given the chance to continue. It would be unfair and unrealistic to change manager. It may be that this year he has been careful and pragmatic building a foundation to strengthen and be more expansive next year, only time will tell. Like everybody else on here I am entitled to my opinions even though they go against popular opinion. What isn't needed is the stupidity of some, quoting derogatory, ignorant, ageist comments, copied from a discredited and sacked Scots Labour party candidate.

I take my hat off to Pardew today. Three defenders, Fonte, Seaborne, Harding, Waigo at right back with Lallana, Puncheon, Connolly, Barnard and Lambert he deserved to win for going for it. I hope on Tuesday he resists the temptation to go with Wotton and plays Puncheon with Hammond, Lallana and Antonio or Waigo in midfield and Barnard and Lambert up front and goes for it again.

He has had some really good games and a few poor ones, however even in the poor games such as Orient there has been end product, a crossfield pass for Lallana to cut in and score, a cross to Lambert to head back across for Lallana to finish. He is one of the most naturally two footed players around and can get to the byeline on either side, plus the ability to cut in and shoot with the other foot. At this level he does have a tendency to try to beat too many whilst missing the chance to pass and get a return. I like him.

I think his companies are in diesel engine system technology. He sold out of the family crane company some years ago. I believe one of his homes is Dubai.

Well done, much appreciated.

Alan Knill at Bury, Steve Davis asst man at Bolton.

Played neat passing football, used the whole pitch and kept the ball for long periods. I like the way they played. They deserve to be where they are. I hope they win automatic promotion.

I think you are absolutely spot on.

Just another cyber warrior that resorts to abuse. I'm not the first and won't be the last but I really can't be bothered with him. Everybody is entitled to their opinion whatever they think. These people can't explain their reasoning and can only restate popular opinions. They then resort to abuse if others are proposing alternative views, pretty juvenile behaviour.

I might be an idiot but you are ignorant to say so. Calling names because you don't agree with others opinions, is resorting to bullying. Just as my opinion doesn't appeal to you, your behaviour doesn't appeal to me. I have no intention in the future in making any comment on your remarks, I suggest you do the same regarding mine.

I can't speak for anyone else but my view of Pardew is because of the approximately 30 matches I've seen this season.