derry

Could it be Trotman is being affected by Davis's lack of confidence plus James lack of pace.

Two big plusses today Bill, Murty at right back, needs to play. Lallana worked his socks off tracking the wide players in the first half and came off the wing at times scoring once. I think Pardew has laid the law down about tightening up wide. I didn't like the second half formation our 4-3-1-2 against their 4-1-2-1-2 it was a bit like trench warfare but they were a bit better at getting round the outside in the space we gave them. Trotman seems very hesitant and missed a lot of headers, Davis was a bit pinball today, James lack of pace, looks like running in treacle, is a problem, Hammond didn't seem to be on his game today, there were a lot of errors. Schneiderlin worked hard, Norwich were decent so it wasn't easy.

We played 4-4-2 in the first half. Lallana had a good game played wide and always picked up the wide runner, one great tackle early as last man but switched to the right for a minute and the right runner nearly undid us in injury time showing how important his contribution was. The lesson of last week looks like it may have been taken on board and it still allowed the freedom to get into the middle when we attack on the other side for a well taken goal. It's a shame we switched to 4-3-1-2 in the second half it gave Norwich a lot of room to attack us wide.

Well let's just see whether it's more of the same or lessons have been learn't. I'm not holding my breath.

No he did alright but he was double marked. Because we were narrow on the left we couldn't exploit that and stretch the defence out.

Davis, Murty, Jaidi, Trotman or Thomas (no standout), Harding. Antonio, Schneiderlin, Hammond, Lallana, Waigo. Lambert in a 4-5-1. As Connolly has a good left foot and is a good footballer he could be an alternative to either Waigo or Lallana. I expect James to continue trundling along at right back, Schneiderlin, Wotton and Hammond in midfield with Lallana and Waigo outside them. Probably Thomas at centreback with Murty on the bench.

Scneiderlin lost the ball wide right after winning a tackle with Brighton attacking down their left touchline, I didn't check Hammond and it's now deleted but the two centre backs were behind Lallana as the back four was in a line across the field about 15 yds goalside of the centre line. I personally have come to a conclusion how we should play. If we are going to play 4-4-2 we have to get in a natural left sided player as it is obvious now that Pardew doesn't rate Holmes. Shoehorning Lallana into a wide left position isn't the way to go. It doesn't work and makes us vulnerable to the counterattack down our left. Lallana by instinct is a central player so we should use him as either the head of a diamond (which I don't like - too narrow), a central attacking midfielder or a choice of second striker or in the hole 1/1 with Lambert but not as a wide player. It is not fair to play him in a position he doesn't fit. If he doesn't rate a start in a central position then I think he should be on the bench to replace a central player as appropriate. If Lallana is seen as a player that has to play no matter what, then 4-5-1 with him as a central attacking midfielder, but not wide.

If you lot want to argue the toss about what happened you could at least get it right. Because you were questioning what I thought happened I checked the video. Here is exactly what happened which is what I thought happened. Schneiderlin lost the ball in a tackle wide right on the halfway line, the Brighton player swept the ball square right across the field to the right midfielder who was wide, out on our left touchline. Lallana at this point was five yards goalside of the centre spot right in the middle of the field marking nobody. Harding was on the left of the line of the back four about 10 yds further back, Lallana then started to go left and Harding came out towards the ball. Before either got near the winger he played it inside to a midfielder coming up the centre of the pitch now on Lallana's right. The midfielder then played it first time inside and behind Lallana and Harding towards the corner. The winger in the meantime ran onto the ball and passed it first time into the middle where Murray got between Jaidi and Trotman to turn it past Davis. Lallana and Harding never got near to the ball or the winger. Their wide right player had taken up the sort of position that we need to get our wide players to adopt rather than continually being sucked in to the centre of the pitch. It was the superb positioning of their right winger plus our left sided midfielder being in the centre circle rather than goalside and left in front of Harding tracking the winger that allowed Brighton to open us up so easily. I don't criticise Lallana because I dislike him, I criticise him because he isn't doing the job of a left midfielder. As long as he plays like this we can't play 4-4-2 properly.

We have to play two banks of four if is 4-4-2. We don't do that, it is four at the back, two central midfielders and a right midfielder with a free player playing in support of the strikers and sometimes on the left. For me a disciplined 4-4-2. But as this is unlikely 4-5-1 warts and all. Wotton is a doubt, he has a knock.

Not with Lambert getting over the flu. He didn't play well as it was.

The home game, at the end Mills and Harding were back but the space was left, Their full back got to the byeline for the second goal and Mellis stepped out of the way. It's been a problem on the left no matter who has played there because nobody has played wide. We need a proper wide left midfielder.

I see Lallana being an unnecessary weakness in defence because of the way he plays. I recognise his talent and would be pleased if that was enough. The other players have weaknesses but are mostly doing their best I don't criticise them. however Lallana plays it off the cuff and isn't making the effort to track back wide. Obviously the manager sees this lack of control wide as a problem with his remark about our two wide players being 'loose'. I expect them to tighten up tomorrow.

Yes but be more disciplined. He can be both and if he moves or we sign more players he will have to. It is inevitable that he builds discipline into his play or he will spend most of his career outside of the starting team. For me he is just another expendable player that will move on when it suits. It is a two way street. There is no point in being attached to a particular player every player is replaceable. I just want to see a successful team and really don't care who makes up that team.

I don't like his lack of discipline. Defensively he is potentially a weakness. It was the space he leaves on our left side that was exploited. Teams have worked us out, watch for Norwich doing the same thing. We either close it off by occupying it or we will see the opposition looking to play through it on the break. Bristol Rovers also concentrated there and the MKD coach highlighted the weakness but didn't exploit it. Today Alan Pardew commented on our 'loose wide players'.

The cross was too good it caught both centre backs and Murray and Forster's movement all afternoon was good it only needed a touch. It was Harding caught between two players that opened us up. If we are going to play 4-4-2 the wide players have to be disciplined and track the runners on the counter.

'wide players were a bit loose'

Harding didn't make a hash of it because he was picked off by the two Brighton players wall passing him because he was left on his own. Trotman and Jaidi made a hash of the ball crossed in by letting Murray get between them especially when they were so close. If Lallana had been in front of Harding it might have been stopped. 4-4-2 can't be played with the wide left player roaming. If we are going to play 4-4-2 he has to predominately stay out wide.

I'm not pointing the finger at Davis he is the only option we have. He is as good a shot-stopper as anyone in the division but personally I would prefer an all round keeper. I think the Bristol keeper was a better keeper than Davis. When a goalkeeper is exposed as against Brighton I don't blame him for the goals he had little chance with. I just prefer goalkeepers who dominate the penalty area and pass the ball out quickly to get on the counter-attack.

Lallana was nowhere to be seen when two Brighton players picked off the isolated Harding for the first goal and Murray went in between Trotman and Jaidi to turn in the cross.

I agree Colin that a new goalkeeper isn't a high priority but I don't see Davis's shortcomings especially, crosses, distribution and communication being overlooked in the longer term. I think if a decent all round keeper becomes available who might sign for us we would be very tempted. Despite the aerial competence of the centre backs a goalkeeper dominating the penalty area is an added safety factor especially one who can quickly turn defence into immediate breakout.

You are just nit picking. Nobody in their right mind would want a keeper who couldn't stop shots. Davis just happens to be a shotstopper and pretty hopeless at all the other facits. The Bristol goalkeeper made at least two blinding saves from Lallana/Schneiderlin. I actually said in my posts an all round goalkeeper who might not be as good as Davis at the only thing he does well. It may well be that he would be just as good but a lot better at the other things. Davis is all we have got at the moment but that doesn't mean we couldn't do with a better goalkeeper and for that matter any player that was an improvement.

How true is that.

I think I would prefer at least half of the opposing goalkeepers I've seen this season. The Bristol Rovers goalkeeper was particularly good. I don't like a keeper that can't dominate behind the defence or get a break out underway. Of course a goalkeeper has to be a competent shot stopper but that isn't the be all and end all as it is with Davis. At the moment we don't have an alternative pushing for a place just a reserve goalkeeper. We need a quality alternative to push Davis and if necessary replace him.

Certainly right back and centre halves, a proper left side midfielder, a strong holding midfielder, strikers and a goalkeeper. If none of the loan signings are kept I would expect even more. James, Trotman, Mellis,maybe Schneiderlin, Lallana, Antonio/Waigo, almost certainly Forecast, Bialkowski, Saganowski, Perry, Thomas plus a bunch of the younger element that aren't in the plans and are not seen as potential championship first teamers. I can see more Bosman player brought in to raise the quality of the squad plus some key quality signings to strengthen the team. I just see the present weaknesses addressed and if decent bids come in for Lallana and Schneiderlin I think they will go.I can see there being no sentiment because next year no excuses will be accepted by the owner and Pardew will know he has to get promoted.

I wouldn't be surprised if at least a third of the present first choice team are no longer first choice by the summer.