derry

Both Ipswich goals came after 30 yd passes to the opposition catching us going forward. John didn't fit in. McGoldrick wandered all over the place leaving the midfield no one to pass to wide right and James exposed. He needs the discipline to play the role the team requires. Dyer fails to use his pace by trying to keep the ball close, needs to knock it 10 yds and run the defence. He really is no quicker than opponents without the ball if he takes 5 touches in 10 yds. Weston was absolutely right about Davis in the last 10 minutes, he was rushing to get the ball upfield and it was coming straight back. He had loads of options to pass, to but was ignoring them. At that point in time we needed to keep possession and work the ball upfield, and not just give it back to Ipswich. We needed that point last night, we might have won it at the end, but also might have lost it. It has given us a break after a defeat.

On the 11th the OS said Monday but JP said he trained yesterday, was ok and his appointment is today. Either way he's had his check up.

You were spot on.

Svennson did train yesterday and looked ok. He went to Gothenburg for his check up today. JP/OS

Holmes, in a brace for 6 to 8 weeks, then a few weeks to get match fit.

Lee Hoos stated that we didn't want him to go at the time, but he insisted. How can you be sure he is fit? If he is fit and wants to play, then he has to be considered. I didn't say I didn't rate him, quite the opposite, however it appears his ambitions lie elsewhere. Hertha wanted to sign him but decided the package was too expensive. (source : British Embassy, Berlin)

What I am saying, and of course there are other ways of building a team, is that, this is what we have got, talking of alternatives, when clearly the management aren't going to apply an alternative, is for me impractical. Unless we swop or sell players we don't seem to be in any position to change direction, even if the management wanted to , which they clearly don't. It appears to me they are on a mission to prove the youth theory. For me it's doing the best with the existing staff.

We didn't want him to go to Hertha, but he insisted he wanted to go as he wanted to play in a top league, to help his international ambitions. As well as not playing at all, his international ambitions are stalled. He has been offered around but priced himself out of a move. He, I believe was poor in the half he played for the reserves before injury. Apart from training he has had two and one half games and missed preseason due to Europe which he didn't play in. What the hell has he done to warrant being brought in.

The second goal was fundamental. We had played our way back into the game, equalized and were playing well with 10 men. After the second goal with 30 mins left we had to chase the game leaving gaps against two fresh strikers. The linesman needs retraining and be made to watch the goal followed by his shaking his head live on tv and explain precisely what he saw.

5 years.

I enjoyed the games you mentioned plus the second half v Hull. I saw all the home games and a total over 30 most were absolute dross win, lose or draw. I can't see us bringing in anyone else unless we can unload Skacel or somebody else on high wages.

And didn't we just escape relegation last season thanks to Wright, Lucketti and Perry on loan, despite a load of experienced dross on the books. We can't blame that on the youth. Whatever happens the players we have are the ones that we have to go with, anything else is dreaming, or wishful thinking.

All very interesting, but how do the club improve the team performance using the players we have. Skacel if he gives 100%- yes, Euell-injured, Thomas-injured, Wooton, Perry, Svennson, John, Davis are in the frame, Dyer is close to starting, then there is BWP. There appears little room for manoeuvre.

The trouble is it's now we are talking about, your recollections are spot on but we have to do the best we can with the current players I think Lancashire could do a job for us alongside Perry.

But you plucked two names out of the hat that are not available, One suitable, one not. That's the problem, affordable and available. We don't have any money and are still paying high earners. Davis, BWP, Euell, Thomas, Skacel, and John.

Like I said, I haven't got a crystal ball, I haven't got any experience of assessing fatigue, and I'm not crossing bridges before we come to them. Cardiff, Birmingham and QPR were probably defeats whatever team we put out, whilst a defeat to Blackpool was a setback. 5 matches into the season is not the time to throw the baby out with the bathwater. In any event we have no means of changing things and will have to, as always, wait and see.

I think that "affordable" is the key to any player being brought in.

I suspect he was on high wages, I liked him but I think he is just not affordable.

I don't have a crystal ball, however I think this team as it is, will not be relegated. If we don't have the money and can't offload to generate any, we aren't going to be able to change much. Skacel could help but only if he wants to.

No problem with you Nick, or Kelvin Davis as his distribution has improved, shows he's trying, maybe he could be more positive in the box especially with catchable crosses. I always rated him as a good shotstopper, one of the best. I just felt that wasn't enough on it's own.

Trouble is we can't offload them or sell them. Of course I would welcome proper experienced footballers to strengthen the team. I don't know who they are, whether they are available and affordable, and I suggest neither does anyone else.

As I remember it we were trying to offload the high earners at the time. In any event Lucketti went early in the window and Bennett was just behind him. Bennett has little experience, except a few games with us and needs a strong player alongside. How could you possibly put him forward as the experienced old head to improve the team. He played his first league game v Crystal Palace, what a disaster that was. I think when push comes to shove what we have is a young team and no money to change it. I suggest people get used to the fact this season is going to be a roller coaster.

Lucketti was transferred in the summer, Bennet is on loan at Brentford until January. Next.

Just what I thought. Right!!!!!!!!!!!

Those banging on about experience are ignoring the fact, that most of the older players left on the books, were, except for John pretty ineffectve, or disinterested, or just hopeless. Now they are being put forward as the experience that can improve the team. There is no way these players with the exception of Svennson/Perry/Wooton/John would help and they are already in the squad. It would be better if those who are banging on about wise old heads, experienced players, actually named those available and affordable, who would enhance the team, supposing of course they know we have the money to bring them in.