derry

Stock is not cup tied.

Gillett.

Now that Schnedierlin is out for three matches either we will have to use him or buy somebody quickly.

Saganowski was on the bench at MK. Came out of nowhere.

Sol Campbell is sueing Portsmouth for bonuses and money owed. Announced on Sky news and confirmed by PFC.

He has just moved in to a new house at Bartley. He would like to join Saints at some point but he has a new contract at Reading which puts him way out of our wage structure. I know he was sounded out but we can't afford him at the moment.

He may or may not be, but the others aren't, worth a try, he's played nearly everywhere else except defence.

We are certainly not looking like a good footballing side never mind a dominant one at the moment.

It's the negativity that doesn't equate to a successful manager for me. He is probably a safe pair of hands but he doesn't inspire me with either his team selections or his tactics.

Hoolahan is a standout. I don't think Lallana is anywhere in the same class as Hoolahan when it comes to passing and laying on goals. I've seen plenty of players that I thought were all rounders but I never bothered to remember who they were.

Apart from Exeter we haven't done much lately and a good proportion either penalties or free kicks.

Purely a matter of opinion. But Pardew isn't going to pick an attacking team.

Leeds, Norwich, Huddersfield

The way I see it if we continue the way we are we are looking at next season so lightweight or not give it a go. One other thing if you have a midfield and strikers with no pace it allows the opponents to attack without being caught out. If that six played the opponents would be bloody uncomfortable with the pace and movement and a lot less likely to feel comfortable especially if Antonio replaced Connolly up front late on.

This is what I would like to see pending more signings.

Correct and now is the time to put that right. (Wotton, Schneiderlin, Hammond, Gillett are all one trick ponies)

I've seen plenty of players that I think are better than we've got in all positions but not playing in the same team. As for playing in this division, playing in a winning team for more money in front of big crowds works wonders.

Your first paragraph is how I would like to see it set up. Lambert Connolly (or Antonio) Holmes Lallana Schneiderlin Waigo

What we have are bit part midfielders that can only do part of the job. What we need is two driving, footballing, hard tackling, goal scoring midfielders. What we don't need are players that can only do one thing, either sitting, tackling or passing and no attacking threat.

After Lallana's good spell he suddenly reverted to narrow and inneffective. I slated him for it because it coincided with the start of our hoofball then I found out that was the way he was supposed to play. That was the point in time I started to doubt Pardew because of his negativity. I think Holmes needs to be given a bit of a chance, he was good last season.

If Lallana played wide like he did for five games and scoring, yes. If he as he has been playing narrow, No. I do understand however that is how Pardew is telling him to play, which is wasting his talent. If that is the case until we sign a quick natural left midfielder Holmes should play. James for me is a lucky reserve standard player that the manager seems to like that brings nothing to the table. We need to set our sights higher than bit part players like James, he is not the future.

No, we need to set our sights higher. We need proper footballers that tackle, pass and attack not bit players that can only sit or pass or tackle.

Holmes is the only natural wide left midfielder we have. Until we get someone better we should play him for the balance. I personally don't rate James except to fill in because primarily he is so slow.

Then we need somebody else to get forward. Ideally we need two midfielders that do the whole job not just half of it.

No we are certainly not out of it but what concerns me with the present squad is the team selection. Pace is essential, we don't have it even worse we play the slowest player on the pitch wide right. I have been told some of the players themselves have questioned Hammonds atributes, yes he wins the ball but he is a poor passer. Schneiderlin is a good passer but we need two players in the middle that can pass, tackle and have the pace to get beyond the strikers. Over the years including the academy we have signed hardly anybody with pace we are now paying the price. If Stock or anybody else isn't quick we shouldn't sign them. I'm happy to give the three new guys time and think they may be the bedrock to build on. We now have a four year plan to get to the Premier, slow players won't get us there and more importantly keep us there. It doesn't seem to me that pace is a priority for Pardew. It is for Wenger, Ferguson etc. I'm not talking Waigo/Walcott pace but quick not slow comfort zone players. We have so many players that are relatively pedestrian that operate in their comfort zones we have to sign more pacy players. Don't get me wrong Bill, we will win more than we will lose but we won't sweep all before us and if we want to be in the Premier for the 2015 season we have to start right now.