derry

We didn't play 4-4-2 against Brighton. We played 4 at the back, three in the middle - 2 centre midfielders and a wide right, two up front and Lallana all over the place. We were narrow had no real shape, no threat from the left, allowed the defence to compact and double bank Antonio, it also left Harding exposed as our only left sided player whist Lallana showboated wherever he felt like. James lack of pace and an overworked left back, caused our centre backs to have too much to do against two quick strikers. Until Lallana or somebody else plays like a proper left midfielder in front of Harding it doesn't matter a damn what formation the other players play. We need to play a proper formation whatever it is without a single player doing their own thing. Brighton and Bristol Rovers exploited it and won't be the last.

He did top the Sky fans poll for the managers job. I wonder how that happened:rolleyes::smt074

The 4-4-2 certainly didn't force Lallana to stay wide left, he was hardly ever wide left and played all over the place. Mellis for Connolly you have got to be joking. Leaving Connolly out I can understand for 4-5-1 but Mellis is an unproductive tyro lightweight.

I think it's a case of the manager not rating him. He's playing tonight for the reserves.

Exactly where I'm coming from Bill. I watched the game live then came home and watched a recording from the opposite side. Knowing what I was looking for and being able to stop the game and look at multiple replays and stills really just reinforced that view.

I think we have a problem with Lallana, we want to play him but have to fit him in warts and all hoping that the positives outweigh the negatives. Mills doesn't have the touch to play wide midfield his belted crosses are too difficult to get on the end of. There is no doubt he will track back but two full backs down the left isn't the answer either. The only place left to try Lallana is alongside Hammond in centre midfield he has tried everywhere else. If I was the opposition I would be delighted to exploit the hole down our left.

Harding was trying to mark two players as there was nobody in front of him tracking back. James is so slow he can't keep up with attackers and just allows them to run by him as per the third goal yesterday. When the winger checked back he lost him for pace and the ball was squared for Croft to belt it in. The centre backs were having too much to do because James is poor defensively and Harding was marking two. That allowed the nippy strikers to get between and behind them for the first two goals. We badly need to sort out our wide areas, a proper right back and somebody in front of Harding, either Lallana or a proper left midfielder.

George Kirby wasn't at Saints very long at all that's why I wouldn't count players like that. He didn't do a lot when he was here. George O'Brien was as close as you would get to a legend for me 180 goals, 2 every 3 games and one of my favourite players. Ron Davies at the time he played for us in the first division, was arguably one of the best strikers in the world at the time, he could have gone anywhere but didn't, that's what makes him stand out. Derek Reeves was a very hit and miss player, scored 45 in one season but Sydenham, Paine, O'Brien and Mulgrew/Clifton were a pretty lethal combination. He missed a hundred more. Good club man but no legend.

I realise that, they only had three the previous week. If clubs who can afford the players are allowed 7 they will have 7 on the bench or even 11 if allowed. Reducing the number and having a competitive standard regional reserve league made up of primarily senior players not in the first team would I'm sure be of more benefit than the present situation. If they got rid of loans it would be the only way to get games.

You are absolutely right in all respects. The transfer windows are a ludicrous joke, as are loans. What is needed is a proper reserve team structure with all but the selected first team playing on a Saturday together with a reduction of the first team substitute requirement from 7.

Charlie Wayman wasn't at Saints very long so I wouldn't class him as a legend, his best years were elsewhere. Which Kirby?

That might be but I've seen them all since 1954 and include Shilton, Keegan, Armstrong, Benali, etc.etc but would still only class those 5 as legends. Apart from being outstanding international class players, they were intensely loyal to Saints and apart from a winding down of careers played mainly for Saints in their prime.

Irvine was also on Sky and said much the same thing. Trotman seemed to be a key player up until then. All of a sudden he is left out for the Charlton game and substituted yesterday. It may well be that we wanted him to stay but he has decided to go back and that has damaged the relationship.

Legends, for me Terry Paine, Ron Davies, Mick Channon and Matt LeTissier all the other names were great servants. Ted Bates is in a class all of his own, player, coach and arguably the best manager of all time bearing in mind the supporters gave him £1000 to buy his first player and where he took us.

The fact that Lallana doesn't fill the left midfield position and roams all over the place IS the problem. The first goal was because Harding was on his own, Brighton bypassed him and the cross was turned in. It also allowed Brighton to get two players double banking Antonio. If Lallana played left midfield it would stop teams from compacting our right side and stretch them out. Given a choice of Lallana using his abilities and filling the left side or carrying on the way he is, or replacing him with a proper left midfielder I would take the first option then the third.

I admire Adam Lallana's ball skills, but our left side is an open door and wherever Lallana plays, here or somewhere else he isn't going to be able to do his own thing for much longer. Before we can move forward up the leagues the wide left and right back positions need sorting with or without Lallana.

Poyet did his homework and worked us out. Before the game he was quoted as telling his players that we were beatable because he had identified our weaknesses which they would concentrate on. That was a worry to me because we have three major flaws. I felt if they could exploit these and nullify the only pace in the side down our right we could be in for a difficult game. Firstly we don't play a proper 4-4-2, we play a wide right but Lallana plays where he likes sometimes on the left mostly narrow if he does, leaving Harding to fill the left side on his own.. Yesterday they read us like a book. Lallana leaving the space free in front of Harding led to him being picked off for the first goal. The second major problem is a lack of pace in firstly the centre of defence. Forster and Murray were nippy and cute and played the ball in behind them. Their lack of pace in itself isn't critical with the right players around them but one of our biggest problems the lack of a proper right back which led to the final two goals. For me James brings nothing to the team defensively and is painfully slow. When he is in possession instead of running at a defender he always looks to pass or hit a diagonal long cross in the general direction of the oppositions penalty area. The opposition have worked us out with Lallana narrow they can now afford to double bank our only real threat of pace down the right. Lallana has to curb his enthusiasm and use his undoubted ability for the team and fill that wide position both attacking and more importantly defensively, or we have to get a proper wide left midfielder as obviously Holmes isn't rated. Quite what Pardew sees in Mills in an attacking role as he is all puff and no touch is beyond me. We are going have to get used to seeing more teams playing like this against us as it is the smart way to play us. Irrespective of the talent of some players and how pleasing to the eye their cameos are, sometimes the needs of the team are more important and until we sort the two main weaknesses wide left and right back we are going nowhere. We might win matches but we will also lose a fair number. Interestingly we beat Charlton easily playing 4-4-2 with Lallana often wider against 4-5-1 and Brighton played a good 4-4-2 yesterday but we didn't. The double banking of our only pace allowed by our narrow left was the major cause of our defeat together with Brighton playing at a higher tempo and winning all the 50/50s. and second balls.

Pardew says that Connolly and Schneiderlin didn't train today but are fine for Sunday and will train before the game.

There were only 9 out of 43 boxes signposted, Flybe are the main sponsors, Cedar do the programmes, Sky speaks for itself, Draper Tools were a main sponsor, Paris Smith and Randall are the club's solicitors.that only leaves 4 independents. It may well be a ramping up of the commercial department to sell the corporate side.

Charlton played 4-5-1, were outnumbered all over the field by a side playing high tempo 4-4-2. We put them under pressure for most of the game, they by comparison were very intermittent and as we do a lot of the time when playing 4-5-1 just hoofed the ball up to the outnumbered striker. I personally don't like 4-5-1 because we don't play it anywhere as effectively as 4-4-2. We seem to score playing 4-4-2, don't concede and take the game to the opposition but with 4-5-1 we sit back and do concede goals whilst not taking the chances created. The extra striker makes all the difference. Connolly reminds me of George O'Brien the way he plays. I think we are now playing with good width and more pace at a higher tempo. We may possibly be looking forward to a very good season. Last night was really enjoyable.

The club's/league/PFA have a scheme where all league professionals are insured against injury terminating careers. Once taken if the player wants to play for a league team again the sum received has to be repaid before being allowed to play.

Lancashire was unlucky with the own goal, I didn't watch all the game but he looked competent, neat and tidy against one of the best attacks around. I think he needs to stay playing on loan for the rest of the season and build up his experience levels. Central defenders in the main mature later than other positions, he looks like a player who will be a late developer and probably suited to the second centre half roll with a dominant header/leader alongside him.

We probably won't have to pay much if anything for Antonio as he is out of contract at the end of the season. After Jan 1st he can sign a pre contract agreement with us. I suspect he will be loaned for the rest of the season and sign on a free at the end of the season.

He's probably signed a contract but hasn't been registered as a league player however can play in the reserves until Jan.

I'll check with his PA's parents on Wednesday if they are in her usual seats if you like. Otherwise try the two options given as they will be knocked out if incorrect.