derry

The tipping point was the failure to hold the lead in injury time against Millwall. I was told that Cortese had gone ballistic over the fact we had brought in defenders to stop this happening, then Brentford and Exeter conceding from corners. I along with Duncan and Weston had been aware of the pressure mounting from Cortese. I think the performances are seen as not acceptable despite picking up points with the help of free kicks/corners/penalties. We have had recently some really awful displays, I just couldn't see how Markus Leibherr and Cortese were enjoying the performances. Obviously they weren't, as Pardew quoted yesterday admitted as much but stated he would continue to play pragmatically. I suspect that Cortese's public statement is a riposte to this. If Pardew doesn't produce a team that can perform and is obviously going to be the best team in the division by the end of this season, including having a blitz at the playoffs he will be history. It has long been my view that fielding negative teams and scraping wins against mid and lower placed sides from deadball situations whilst leaving talent out wasn't going for it. We really have to also be realistic about our worth as we haven't beaten 9 out of the top ten teams yet. I am pleased that Cortese has grasped this particular nettle.

A realistic assessment of where we are.

The good ones are easier to remember than the bad ones, the good players rather than the nondescripts. Ian White persuaded me into coaching after I broke a leg badly. I hate poor football even if it's internationals. The trouble I have is as soon as I hear the team I can say it is or it isn't going to work. Our team selection is almost always a that isn't going to work and it doesn't. I just wish I could say I like that but it isn't happening. I went to Springhill School opposite the Dell and have supported Saints since 1947 although I didn't go to matches until 1954. I would like Pardew to succeed but at the moment it is a that isn't going to work opinion from me.

Football is a simple game, I go to matches expecting to see the team play football but apart from a spell of about six matches after the BR defeat the football has been dire. I don't rate hoof it up to Lambert as progress, I've got nothing against Pardew but the evidence at the moment is he isn't getting us playing. If we continue to play like this he will lose his job and as far as I'm concerned unless there is a change in tactics I won't miss him. Cortese hasn't got any time for failing and I'm pretty sure will be ruthless if we fall short of his goals. If he sorts this out and the team start to play watchable football then I will support him.

It wasn't so much the changes of Managers, we had some decent ones that performed reasonably or well, Jones, Hoddle, Strachan, however it was the fill ins that caused the problem together with a chairman with wierd ideas culminating in SCW and HR, who should have known he couldn't work with Mr Micro Manager. If it isn't working, it is worse to stay with the problem than change. If we haven't produced a side that is the equal of the top two, irrespective of the finishing position, that with the addition of a strengthened midfield, is going to be the best team in the division next year, Pardew will have failed. We won't have time to build next year after the season starts. Cortese could well feel that before pre season would be the time to change.

I'll put you down for a 'don't know' then.

I didn't say that at all. We aren't performing, we are using a mix of players in two systems, only the MK Dons first leg was a decent performance as opposed to acceptable results in the last two months. The question is, why aren't we playing football as opposed to hit it up to Lambert? I have a view, I have had loads of disagreement, but nobody has put an alternative tactical point other than criticise individual players. It's got nothing to do with putting the clock back it is about our lack of a balanced team. The manager doesn't know the answer as we keep doing more of the same. For me the equation is simple. If players are available wide, immediately a central midfielder receives the ball it can be passed out wide then passed with support from the ajacent full back/midfielder/strikers and time used allows the midfielder/s to break forward. If there is nobody wide the ball has to go back or be hoofed forward. That is the problem and an answer. Furthermore because of the players wide it pulls the defenders over, keeping a wide player on the blindside also stops the other full back tucking in, this creates bigger gaps in the stretched out back four, giving more room for the runners from midfield to get into and pass the ball. How do you think we should get to a passing game from our present situation?

Pretty much says it all.

It is my understanding that Steve Coppell was on his way down to sign up but had second thoughts and decided to stick with his plan to have 6 months off.

What football? We don't seem to be doing much of it at all. I will bow to your impeccable knowledge of modern football. And to think that my coaching qualifications count for nothing. It's sad to know I needn't have bothered when you have such expertise.

Much more interesting will be the reaction if we don't.

It's easier to make a measured response if emotions are not involved. This is interesting but not that important to me in the overall scheme of things.

It would be much better than calling names if posters just moved on to another. It spoils the threads and adds nothing.

Those players were playing in the third division. That's why we do get it.

My point exactly, and they wouldn't have been 20 yds inside the touchline either.

I know this thread is a reaction to yesterday, but it isn't only about yesterday which was just another poor display. I'm talking about how we are playing regularly not just about Exeter. Until we change we are going nowhere. It didn't seem to stop Exeter playing better than us by all accounts.

Quite right. To many people when they get to limits of their knowledge and run out of ideas, revert to abusive behaviour and childish name calling.

You were doing alright until you forgot your manners, this sort of comment is pathetic and does you no credit.

Puncheon left, Antonio right, Waigo with Lambert, yes.

In the Guardian article today Pardew is quoted. He admits he is under pressure and that the owner and chairman want to see better football but that he is not that sort of manager but more pragmatic and won't be changing. If that is the case unless the results are irresistable the owner will get his wish by changing the manager. Either Pardew provides what the owner wants or he will be replaced. It is this sort of information that has led to the doubts about Pardews continuing and now he has confirmed the pressure himself. I don't think that the owner/chairman are getting what they thought they were going to get.

Yesterday we only had two players on the pitch at the same time with pace. When we play with proper width and pace down the flanks with somebody like Waigo up the middle, we will play good football and the central midfield will find it a lot easier to get things going. The central midfield is woeful, James and Wotton aren't up to standard and Schneiderlin can't pass if there aren't players out wide, what we have at the moment is promoting a belt it up to Lambert style and it doesn't work. Yet again another goal from a set piece after two passes.

This is the way we play on good pitches as well, the result, crap against Ipswich, Stockport and a lot of other games. Your Exeter pitch argument doesn't hold water, years ago pitches were awful at this time of the year, far worse than anything you saw at Exeter, but it didn't stop teams playing decent football.

I'd stick with income tax, you obviously have little idea what makes a team work.

The really good thing is it seems both of them have expectations of us playing good football which is what I want. Pardew says he is going to continue with the pragmatism. I don't think that will be enough to either satisfy the owner or win the league scratching out draws and wins. Teams that play this way in the end get relegated PDQ from the Premier.

A realistic view.