derry

The play was so predictable and boring I almost fell asleep in the second half.

They didn't help each other either as they were too far apart and the third striker went AWOL. A lack of width/pace/crosses from the byeline is the biggest negative factor for the strikers.

FFS keep protesting, two protest marches - two wins, no protest - no win. Stop lazing about and get protesting before it's too late.

Except when Thompson came on there was no width except for throwins. They need to work the throwins up the line and force the defenders to concede more throwins and go for the corner. We had loads of throwins today, took most of them short and inside and gave most of them away.

Euell was agressive but his touch was awful, that first chance, on a number of occasions he got behind the defence but took so long to control the ball that he was closed down. Saganowski and Euell didn't play as a pair there was a big gap between them, therefore they didn't support each other. As for the striker in the hole/head of the diamond. Apart from a few cameo runs/tackles/headers it was a strolling spectating performance. Ball in their box, two strikers battling, McGoldrick in the centre circle just watching, ball stays in there so he starts wander towards the box eventually he gets there as the ball is hoofed clear. He needs a kick up the backside, if he isn't prepared to make the effort leave him out. Lallana hasn't produced a thing since September, his shooting is a joke, back to school, and produce a goal a game in the reserves, or stay there. Surman god love him does try hard, his shooting is awful at the moment but I would forgive him as he gives his all, likewise Gillett. Thank goodness the back four worked their socks off and Davis covered well. BWP and Thompson livened things up in the last fifteen minutes. They should spend the whole week, working on shooting, free kicks and corners, we are awful at dead ball situations. I have never seen so many scuffed shots and sliced kicks in one match as we did today.

The law is being ignored by everybody who stands, therefore it's been filed by the club/police/council in the too difficult to tackle drawer. Despite the hot air on here, what is obviously needed is the law changed to allow construction of designated safe standing areas, rather than ignore standing in seated areas. That said, I think the law is an ass for allowing itself to be ignored with impunity.

So why did the police need to hold McGoldrick until 3am Fri morning before team traveled to Birmingham? I think the question needs to be asked as it looks like over reaction and misjudgement on somebody's part. Why couldn't he be questioned during office hours?

Prat!

Close the areas where there is standing. Eject any areas that stand during the match. The law says all seating, and all seated, the ground would be closed if it's safety certificate was withdrawn. If the Police/Council were doing the job they are paid to do that is precisely what they would do.

Agreed, but it was his worst performance for a long time, lots of misplaced passes. We gave the ball away a lot. Their goal was a direct result of us giving the ball away up front and a quick break. Bringing Wotton on and sticking him in front of the back four instead of Gillett allows the opponents to attack round the outside, he is nowhere near mobile enough to play there. It causes us to defend deep and that is why we concede late goals. Sticking Liptak alongside the centre backs to attack the ball makes more sense. Taking off Saganowski was just stupid even though he wasn't playing that well. Our crosses, free kicks etc were dire, the kids shooting at the mascot were getting the ball into the air, pity the players couldn't.

Probably just a choice of Schneiderlin or Lallana for right midfield, otherwise no change, I expect the same team that won at Ipswich.

I liked what we were doing at the start of the season, however the defence was weak. After Holmes was injured at QPR the football reverted to 'narrow' and was just young, inexperienced players playing British reserve team football against better opposition.

I didn't go to the match but listened to the commentary. It sounded like loads of crosses from deep into the goalkeeper or two big centre backs. We reall aren't very cute. Two ways of dealing with the big centre backs is to move the strikers out wide of the back post, the centre backs then have to follow them or let them go, either way, feed the midfielders, McGoldrick and Surman into the gap or hit the crosses deep and miss out the centre backs with the blind side loaded and the midfielders coming into the box for the crosses. Either way as soon as the crosses are going over the centrebacks they naturally attack the threat and leave the middle. We don't do this at at all.

I think the issue is not Euell or Raziak but whether Raziak or Saganowski play with Euell as the big robust forward. For me Saganowski is the best all round team player. Interestingly for me with Raziak and Euell up front, Saganowski could play at the head of the diamond midfield and probably give us more than McGoldrick.

It's probable that Lowe has been stopped from interfering in the football side. Hardly his success, more the success of those reining him in.

Ironic that Andrew Davies gifted Notts Forest their winner, he messed up a backpass instead of belting it clear.

If Chelsea released him and terminated his contract he would be free to sign.

The broken bone in his foot was pinned, he is getting discomfort from the pin, they are trying to sort it.

It doesn't necessarily mean that changing an attacking player for a more defensive player makes the defence more secure. What nearly always happens with the withdrawal of an attacking player, is it allows more freedom for the opponents to attack and put the defence under greater pressure, forcing them to defend more deeply with little outlet to relieve that pressure. Far better to continue to use the three attacking players to defend from the front and buy time for the rest of the team to get goalside. We are doing that really well now.

I don't waste time on the prat usually, but a bit of background for the Cardiff poster.

If you bothered to read the posts, the point was made by Macen that the locals couldn't be fans as they weren't at the game. Not necessarily true. It wouldn't make you look so stupid if you refrained from the use of WTF.

Coventry in the black, enough capital to operate without an overdraft.

A lot of 'Saints fans' are boycotting the games in protest. They quite rightly want Lowe out and are making this point.

Team spirit plus a decent bunch of players and a natural blend is the recipe for success, even if success this season is avoiding relegation. Next season, the obvious thought, No Davis, Euell, Saganowski?, maybe Skacel, if we go down Saeijs. That would need good experienced free transfers and loans to fill the gap. Or another go at total football. I'm not holding my breath.

Having seen the later quotes it sounds like he found the trouble he was looking for.