derry

That took a long time, we need to be able to hear what is being said. It's pretty poor at the moment.

He has been working as an analyser at league matches for Opta statistics.

I've had him down as a good candidate but Sgunthorpe treated him well after relegation last year.

Dave, have a look at my post on the director of football thread along the same lines. See what you think. I'm sure there are a few that cover that.

The good manager, apart from the fitness, respect and a modicum of fear from the players has to have a non technical side to his make up. For me the magic ingredient is the ability to put a team together. The really successful manager whatever the level can see the strong and weak points of his players. He then plays a system that complements the strengths of the team and covers any defects. A balanced team is all important and immensely efficient. The overall team ethic and putting only square pegs in square holes, something we have failed to do, is the key. It is to make the overall team better than the players in the team, such as Reading three years ago. If we can find a manager with this ability we will succeed. This is the same reason that technical coaches almost never succeed, they are too wrapped up in the technical aspects of the game and their clever system which they are unable to get the players to succeed in playing. They always try and shoehorn square pegs into round holes to protect their system. The clever manager would not do this. Of course the technical aspects, dead ball situations, individual coaching etc is important but as part of the overall scheme of things. A good example of allying the technical coach to the manager is Wenger but he is pretty unique, however he is manager first and coach second.

A couple of weeks ago while practicing golf Strachan was asked if he would manage Saints and his answer was ' no chance'. The change of circumstances could conceivably change his mind, although he has never struck me as somebody that does that too often. I can't see Cortese and Oldknow taking any chances on anybody without a pretty decent record of success. Tony Adams would be a gamble, If Markus Leibherr is showing off his new toy he sure as hell wouldn't be too impressed if the manager was repeating his previous mistakes. Tony Adams seemed to be pretty decent as a defensive coach at Portsmouth but his management record has been poor.

The people making the decisions are accountable at last. If Cortese and Oldknow make a mess of restructuring the club they will have to answer to the owner. I would hope that simple fact alone will concentrate their minds and ensure a dynamic approach. I think that it will cause them to go for a successful track record as an essential criteria. For that reason a lot of the obvious candidates could well fall by the wayside.

Strachan if appointed could well turn to Scotland for an influx of players. Unlike with Neil McCann, his left wing failure which wasted £1.5m, he now has four years experience watching Scottish football. Over the years we have picked up some good players in Scotland, all of them strong characters.

We need a couple of 32ish players one at the back one in the middle. They must have their advanced coaching qualifications and be ready to step into coaching/management. Preferably extensive international experience in the past with captaincy experience, with this being the last playing contract with coaching duties to give them hands on experience. One to be captain the other vice-captain. The manager has to be a strong character who will kick ass the losing mentality out of the club. We don't want any more mystified looks from the players towards the bench, players on the field that know what they are doing are essential.

Realistically he has a lot of work to do. His shooting is a weakness. He was told by a senior coach last season that he had to be a lot more selective in his positional play. The criticism was based on a lack of awareness whilst chasing around but not getting into areas that threatened. If he gets the help needed and more importantly is prepared to listen he could become a decent player.

Mark Wotte and his bloody narrow diamond midfield got us relegated. The players didn't understand it, didn't like it, wanted it changed and it got us relegated. His record as a manager was poor, nobody in their right mind would give him the responsibility of resurrecting the club. We have to quickly rebuild the side and if we are going to spend money he isn't the man to do it. The new owner is spot on. Get somebody in that can raise the adrenaline of the supporters, sort out the players and play the sort of football that the fans want to see. In any other circumstances or club he wouldn't have survived May. Hopefully we can now look forward to a proper manager who believes in 4-4-2.

The really important thing is that we can now generate substantial income that all goes to the club, rather than debt, mortgage, and interest payments and massively inflated wages. This new ownership is generating a confidence and pride that should lead to large crowds and increased season ticket sales. Success will breed success and at last we can compete.

Before Lallana becomes a quality player there are things he has to work on and there has been little sign of that. His shooting is weak and he does not strike the ball cleanly. He was told by a senior coach last year that his chasing around was counterproductive. He needed to be more intelligent and take up positions that threatened the opposition. He needs to be helped to do this. It could be that now there is a bright future for the club he may want to be part of that.

He needs to learn to shoot not scuff and stop running around like a headless chicken. He was told this at the beginning of last season. Intelligent positioning which hurt the opposition, was far more important than turning five times around in possession and chasing randomly about when not. According to Wotte he also said he didn't want to stay but join a Championship or Premier side. I wonder if the multi billionaire takeover is going to make him sit up and recognise there could be a terrific future right here.

Did he play proper 4-4-2 not diamond at Eastleigh and Totton?

Interesting, where he went wrong was not lowering the right wing into wind as he kicked off drift. If he had done that it would have been no big deal. It's a co-ordinated move done simultaneously and smoothly. It enables the aircraft to land on the into wind wheel with the nosewheel off the ground then lower the other wheel, when the two main wheels are on the ground then lower the nosewheel. By kicking off drift only, he was affected by two big problems, the first was the secondary effects of the rudder causing the right wing to rise and the left wing drop which was compounded by the aircraft drifting across because the wind was now pushing it left. In the end he was lucky and did well not to hit the wingtip and fly out of it.

The runway at Galway is very sporty. downhill, about two thirds of the length of Southampton and the only way to turn the aircraft was to pass the runway light with the wheel on the edge of the concrete and do a max rate 180 turn without running over the runway light on the other side. Usually not a lot of runway left, they don't go there any more.

It looked a lot worse than it was, a Pakistan AW 747 did that to me at Manchester on 06L when I was about 1 mile and cleared to land. The Q400 has plenty of power it was close but no big deal more of a nuisance. The 747 got a scare and a big bollocking from ATC.

Pretty routine procedure, I can't remember it specifically, I've flown that a/c often also the MLT. Go arounds happen for loads of reasons, I seem to remember something about an runway inspection needed because the aircraft in front hit some birds causing us to be instructed to go around. I've got the Topgun US Navy cap somewhere.

After I retired I flew part time for a couple of years for Flybe. Their operation and engineering side are good. The training is very professional and no corners are cut. One of the major problems was the introduction of the dash 8-Q400, which because of it's French influence in design and extensive use of computers was initially a nightmare. The computers often diagnosed faults that didn't exist due to tight actuators etc. There were procedures, by taking power off systems and restoring, cleared the faults but often the only way was to take all the power off the aircraft then turn it back on to reboot the computers. If that didn't work the engineers had to be called in and as this often happened away from base it took time. The pilots could operate the diagnostic system, but were not allowed to, so an engineer had to be sent to wherever the aircraft was, then take 10 mins to reset the system. As time went by these faults got better, but the damage to their reputation had been done. It was amazing that 90% of the flights went on time or early. I used to do 6 flights a day and usually finished early.

No, because if he did reappear he would have to outbid serious investors. I wouldn't go again if he did come back. He needs to stay away which I think he will.

Wordwide financial services company advised by Keith Harris of Seymour Pierce. It appears that they are the current bidders, the Swiss need third party agreements (which could be the league but I think it's their end) and have gone back, leaving it in the hands of lawyers and advisors. It appears that they can't complete until early next week.

No, I understand you didn't see the paper. Your view looks pretty good at the moment.

I'd be surprised if the big push isn't on, they won't be waiting for the Swiss to complete early next week.

If he is he can have it. I won't be there along with a whole lot of others.