derry

For a start he was 21 0n 29th Nov. Secondly KD was awful, his shot stopping was his only plus. It seems Webster going has turned him into a half decent goalkeeper, coming and catching or punching crosses, distributing well and aiming his long ball wide, instead of at the central defenders. I would now be sorry to see him go. McGoldrick has had a few decent high energy games but sad to say there have been too many, like last night. Low energy, following the ball, poor positional play, running up blind alleys, ably assisted by Lallana. Both of them played like schoolboys, just wanting to run round in circles with the ball going nowhere, whilst neglecting the positional role they were given. Our right side attacking is absolutely rediculous relying on a full back to eventually fill the empty space.

This is exactly what I'm talking about, as well as James played, going forward into a totally empty right side, with Lallana then McGoldrick or Robertson never moving over and providing width. By the time James got forward the whole of the opponents team was goalside. I am beginning to think the coaches know damn all and are allowing Lallana and McGoldrick to do what they like. Well, I for one am getting fed up week in week out with bloody great empty spaces on the right hand side, whilst the player supposed to be providing width is running in ever decreasing circles somewhere else. It hasn't even dawned on the prats that the reason they haven't got someone wide to pass to, is because one of them is supposed to be wide for the early ball.

Lallana, McGoldrick and Robertson were like headless chickens. We had no shape up front and the three were playing like kids following a ball. Lallana roams all over the place, looks pretty, dribbles in circles, can't shoot and doesn't threaten in the box. He is never in the vital areas when supposed to be playing wide, wide on the line, driving for the byeline, attacking the far post as the last man. McGoldrick never gambles, would rather spectate, rarely takes responsibility, only shows effort in posession of the ball. He never goes on decoy runs and is only interested in receiving the ball. He scuffs rather than shoots cleanly, never tries to lift the ball over the diving keeper when one on one, and when he does hit the ball it ends up halfway up the stand. Robertson couldn't trap a bag of cement, is not physical enough, lacks pace. Nobody is much good at heading, but as we never get to the byeline to hit in crosses it hardly matters. None of these players discipline themselves and are prepared to get into dangerous positions. They roam around all over the place, they are never in the dangerous position, to take a quick pass and drive forward at or outside the defence driving for the byeline. Their lack of discipline allows the opponents to mass their defence and block us off.

FFS. Its not about passing the bloody ball sideways and backwards, we should only do that if there is nothing on. As soon as we win the ball we should be driving forward, like Surman did for BWP's goal on Saturday. As Palace did last night. Lallana and McGoldrick don't do this and continue to roam, consequently nobody out wide to drive down the flank. By the time we've made the mandatory ten crossfield passes involving most of the team, our opponents have everybody goalside. It's not bloody rocket science FFS. If Jan sat in the stand he would see a lot more, and maybe do a lot more.

1) We are not getting to the byeline. We don't break quickly enough and drive for the byeline getting behind the defence and crossing back into the box. 2) None of the forwards not actually on the ball are making runs into the box on the offchance of a ball dropping, they are taking the easy option and waiting for a pass or a cross to them. Our players have to drive into the goal area on the chance of a breaking ball. 3)Adam Lallana is playing everywhere except where he has to play. Energetic, tries hard, skilful, but entirely wasted. He is selected as our important wide right player to give us width. He plays very narrow and hardly ever wide on the line, it is ruining our shape and allows the defence to mass in the centre and block us off. It means he will hardly ever be in a position to take on the wide defender and drive for the byeline. Our passing game is less effective and slows down as the full back, Lallana or another Saints player has to spend time moving wide, giving the opposition time to track back and get goalside in numbers. He allows himself to be sucked in and ends up when the play is down our left, more near post, than hanging back on the back right edge of the penalty area, which would allow him to attack the far post. We have nobody there and have seen a proportion of crosses from the left wasted. Lallana has to be more perceptive and discerning, he is wasting a lot of his energy and whilst he could be a very dangerous player, is playing in areas where he can be blocked by numbers and is not helping the teamplay.

Probably the best right back was Alf Ramsey, an England international at Saints, then a Spurs regular. Bill Ellerington was an England Right back at the same time for Saints. This allowed Ramsey to be sold to Spurs. Probably in the poll as the above won't be remembered, the classiest was Mick Mills, closely followed by Ivan Golac, Jason Dodd was fair by comparison. Stuart Williams was a classy veteran by the time he came to us. The worst probably Mark Wright v Watford at the Dell in the League Cup home leg.

Dave Watson was a big ball winning, fairly mobile, centre half, who went for most of the aerial challenges. Claus was mobile and more of a secondary sweeping centre half, I think they would complement each other. Dave Watson whilst stll an international, probably had his best years before joining Saints.

If they don't want him, we could save them money and take him back, provided they paid three quarters of his salary.:smt117;-)

There isn't going to be much of a sale, fee wise as Skacel, John, Euell, Raziak, Saganowski and Davis maybe Thomas are out of contract at the end of the season. We could save a lot on wages though.

Southampton is the biggest hub that Flybe have, with about 20% of it's fleet based here, flying to about 30 destinations. Flybe made about £20m last year having taken over BA Express/Regional and look as though they might be taking over BMI Baby/Regional. They are carrying out due diligence at present. It is no surprise, as they obviously feel over the years that football gives good exposure and results, having sponsored Birmingham, Norwich and Saints and not surprisingly Exeter. They are owned by the Walker trust plus 10-15% by BA. The Walker trust owns Blackburn Rovers, a legacy from Jack Walker.

I think you'll find there are so many people want tickets, that unless a member has a Notts Forest linked ticket, they won't get one. There won't be a members sale and certainly no general sale. I've had requests from at least a dozen occasional Saints fans. I might be able to get six tickets at the most.

However if the deal is already done I would be surprised if any player going is cup tied. I do know up to last week neither Lallana/Surman, their families or agents had been approached. That is provided they were not letting on.

So who was it in the last week said we were going to sell players in the transfer window? David Jones, Financial Director! I would have thought that it is probable the club have already carried out negotiations to try and a) sell their high earners and b) failing that any players that other clubs would buy. They would then be hardly likely play them in the cup.

Linking Lowe to Ted Bates is a bloody insult to the best manager we have ever had, with 60 years service.

Why the hell you should mention Ted Bates is ludicrous in the context of this thread. When Ted stood down to allow McMenemy to become manager we were about 4th in the first division. It was McMenemy that was responsible for relegation in 1974.

If all season ticket holders take their allocation that's say 19000 gone, add away supporters 4800 - 23800 gone, corporate, ataff etc say 1200 - 25000 gone, minimum 3000 that go to matches - 28000 gone, that leaves a maximum of 4200 tickets for members buying a Notts Forest ticket, for a start I have 2 in addition to 2 STs. It will be a sell out and will probably be filled up by members holding NF tickets. That could mean even being a member won't be enough.

Don't the Premier teams play mixed teams including young players in the early rounds? The best teams usually use all second stringers.

It is very possible that the management won't be allowed to pick any player that is likely to be sold. Being cup tied, may devalue, or make the player a poorer proposition. Especially as football is very much a short term, here and now game.

He ran bloody hard, away from the Boers.

I've had Setanta since it started up. It is now a super sports package. The reception is first class and the football is as good as any broadcaster. I've got two STs, so will be at the game. It's sure to be a sell out. I'm going to buy as many tickets as I can get, for friends who often go with me to SMS. I'm going to record on Sky+, so that I can watch it again if good or review any incidents.

Either result would be good. Think of the confidence and good feeling if we won.

ST holders either get their usual seat, but if in the designated away area a replacement seat.

If Lowe is going to sell players, he won't devalue them, by allowing them to play in the cup.

I think the split is 45%, 10%, 45%. In the state we are in financially, the club would be mad not to try and double their money. Of the 12500 regular supporters probably all will get tickets. It then means only those who are really going to see Man Utd will have to stump up extra. I like the idea of a package of league games including a Man Utd ticket.

Congratulations! There probably won't be enough to go on general sale. Only about 15000 in total, available for sale.