derry

Pompey's biggest problem is the amount of football related debt which has to be repaid in full, even if they go into administration. The licence won't be issued if that debt remains unpaid.

I really felt for him. he didn't give Beckford a kick and he had no chance with the own goal, but he looked very composed and confident. Grimsby wanted to keep him and looking at their site the fans rate him.

I saw Lancashire play for Grimsby against Leeds, Beckford and all, he had an impressive game marking Beckford despite a deflected own goal whilst blocking a cross shot from Gradel. He was calm with good control and won everything he went for in the air, I was really impressed with his covering and reading of the situations. Most young centre backs need time to mature, I think the club should give him that time through loans to develop then benefit.

Pardew said today that we will field our strongest side, Trotman is not available and there are doubts about Jaidi and Connolly which is why Lancashire has been recalled.

Jaidi has a knock and at the moment Trotman isn't available leaving just Thomas and Perry.

Bank didn't process disc properly. I've heard it all now. So withdraw the cash and pay out everybody from the payroll details. Oh I see, there is no money in the account.

Luton beat S****horpe in the JPT final last May and looked a pretty good side, I think also that they are full time professionals.

Full list of organisers on www.saints-aid.co.uk

I believe the donations went to SFC Ltd which legally was still trading and not in administration. The Administrators whilst controlling the holding company would have no call on the donations including those from Leon Crouch to pay the salaries.

I was impressed with him against Leeds for Grimsby, he was really unlucky with a deflected own goal trying to block a shot from Gradel. Apart from that he looked a class act against Beckford etc, good control, won a lot in the air and really composed on the ground. I think as he is a centre back he needs time, we should let him develop and only loan him out.

There are two issues here, one was the money donated to keep the club going which went direct to the club to cover ongoing costs. The other was the Saints Aid which incurred considerable costs to stage. As they had run out of money I was asked if I would order and pay for the equipment to manufacture the CDs that were sold and be reimbursed after the event. I did this on that understanding as I had already donated to the club. I supplied the suppliers invoice and was eventually reimbursed. At that time there were still I believe others awaiting payment, From what I was told I would be surprised if the event did any more than break even at best as it didn't attract the response that was expected.

This multi ball system could be good if the ballboys were left to do the same for both teams or neutral. If that is not happening the referee/linesmen should intervene and revert to one ball. The next time we play a team that abuses the multiball we should refuse to use it and insist on one ball. In my view, one ball only is the fairest way.

Spot on.

Last time he was at SMS with Watford their two long throw specialists were the only people wearing gloves because it was very mild. He doesn't miss a trick.

I just don't rate him, he isn't bad but he is painfully slow and we need to have better players than him if we are going to go for the Championship/Premier. I'm not sure that any of this side will ever play in the Premier with us, or indeed are even capable of getting us there.

He is too slow.

I'm not obsessed with width, I hate watching narrow teams playing hoofball and being picked apart by teams playing out to the touchlines. Before this team can move on it has to sort out its left and right midfield never mind the centre of midfield and defence and right back positions. Lallana was making a decent job of it for a few games on the left both attacking, defending and scoring a fair few goals but Pardew tucking him in close to the centre has made him inneffective again. If Pardew would just give Waigo a regular right midfield start and either play Holmes wide left and Lallana in the centre with Hammond or Lallana as a proper left midfield it would make us a better side and be easier to pass and move, keeping posession without the congestion. That in itself would make us harder to break down.

He takes possibly 10 corners every game, say 5 free kicks and 10 crosses all reasonable assumptions. Bearing in mind his assists have been mainly set pieces it's a pretty poor return and reflects our right sided narrowness. I don't think James rates a place except as a stand in and a dead ball specialist he isn't.

Agreed there have been some decent crosses especially Waigo and Lambert, but as we are predominately right sided, when Waigo isn't wide right, it is James mostly knocking the ball in from deep. It is very difficult to get on the end of those crosses unless coming in off the left side attacking the cross, and as we are central the crosses are coming from behind and across.

You've made a lot of good points about the players, set up etc and I agree with all your reasoning.

To put it further into perspective those 7 assists came in about 28 matches and between 500 and 600 attempts at free kicks, corners and crosses, and were in the main either corners or free kicks.

I've seen every home game and there has hardly been a decent cross.

Sums it up.

Apart from Lambert's shots from close in free kicks, James takes all the corners and free kicks in addition to lofting in his crosses from 30+ yards out. Considering that 7 assists is a poor return.

Jesus H Christ Nick have you never heard of hopeful crosses described as lofting the ball in. In any event despite your defence he hits in erratic, innaccurate, hopeful balls directly at the defenders and nearly always easily dealt with.