derry

My thinking is he's a much improved player. He was involved in both Burnley goals on Saturday. He would give us options we don't have. Imagine signing a goalscoring winger who at the end of January gets injured for six weeks, Elyonoussie, Aribo, Walcott (if fit), Djenepo, A Armstrong. So much for cover. That in itself could relegate us.I'm wondering how many people are passing expert opinions without watching him play. Too many by the look of it. It is attractive to leave him at Burnley and see him rack up twenty goals-ish but not if we need him here.

Firstly, Are you currently watching him? I don't get your comment as you don't think he is good enough for the Premier why do you then think that Burnley would be keen to keep him if they swap leagues with us at the end of the season? He is playing the best I've ever seen him play and he's better than anybody we've got in the wide positions and certainly quicker than anyone. Aribo, Elyonoussie, A Armstrong aren't in the same class. Besides he isn't going to cost us anything. Maybe Burnley want to keep him and we're going to sell him on the cheap to raise a little bit of money to buy more slow lightweight crap.

Bring him back now and he may with a new striker give us the cutting edge to prevent that with 21 matches left.

I've watched quite a few because I wanted to see if he was improving. I've watched every minute of his last three games and he has improved, especially his awareness and positional play, both seeking space up front and closing down. He is a much more disciplined player now and has outstanding pace, his ball control has improved. He was battered by Swansea today but still caused the free kick for the first goal and set up the second. If he did nothing else he would give us a good option on either side. He also drifts into space on the blind side and middle and Burnley leave him up to exploit his pace. When defending he split the Swansea defence with a glorious through ball that wasn't exploited. Burnley give him the freedom to play as he sees it.

Reports of Akpom from Middlesborough, 12 goals as a striker including a hat trick probably for a lot of money. That's not much better than Tella's 8 goals plus assists and we only have to recall him. The Burnley commentator described him involved in everything. FFS I think Bednerak scored 5 goals last season. The only word I can use to describe our forwards is disgrace.

That was years ago. Armstrong is hiding and like a rabbit in the headlights and apart from being strong and a bustler Adams is no finisher and he never was clinical. Now allegedly we're looking at Moffi in a mediocre team amidst a load of mediocre teams. Monpellier and Anger were poor whilst Moffi was anonymous.

Having a decent game. Covering his full back well, pulled down on the edge of the penalty area on the break, Maatsen first goal from the free kick. Then played in Maatsen for the second. He is better than anyone we've got up front.

Starting for Burnley today.

He is still being paid good money by Lorient If that's what he's doing then he doesn't have the character we need. I don't want to see him going through the motions when we need him to bust a gut every game. He's nowhere near doing that, not even getting involved.

Watching Lorient this afternoon, beat Angers 2-1 away (Yan Valery at right back). Moffi only touched the ball a couple of times, never seemed to get into decent positions. Certainly on his last two games he doesn't look like he would be a lot of use unless he is spoon fed chances close in and that isn't going to happen. He looks athletic, mostly trots and we have too many of those, and its difficult to see if he has any pace because he made no sprints.

I've noticed with the Saints centrebacks, none of them are good in the air, so we rarely attack the one on one situations. Head the ball up in the air ok but don't dominate in the air. Lyanco is particularly poor, no idea at all. He lacks anticipation and gives too many fouls away. Adams needs to get some proper coaching because he has no idea how to take on a goalkeeper one on one. Tella on the other hand the other night showed the way and was under pressure from two defenders and the goalkeeper. His decision making was superb. How many times have we seen Adams one on one with the keeper coming in from the left in a straight line straight towards the advancing keeper and just hitting and no hoping. Tella on the other hand cut across the first defender and made for the penalty area D, that brought him closer to the other defender trying to get back and changed the whole angle for the keeper. The Goalkeeper coming out fast instead of shooting he took it closer to the keeper, feinted to shoot which squared up the keeper and while the keeper was off balance hit it into the corner. Tella by cutting in gave the goalkeeper a much more difficult option as he opened up the whole goal but Adams allows the goalkeeper to dictate by running straight. We were better yesterday without it being our best team. Bazunu had no chance with either goal and if the hopeless Lyanco hadn't been so stupid wouldn't have given away the penalty which he saved. For those talking about McCarthy, firstly I've never seen him save a penalty let alone go the right way, secondly he is abysmal on his near post. Not for me, I'm surprised he wasn't let go and Forster kept on a new contract.

If he's in the Burnley squad tomorrow I fear it won't happen.

If Tella isn't recalled tomorrow we are going to be clutching at straws at the end of the window as usual. All signings should be made by the CP cup game because if they aren't we are just sitting on our hands. Trying to get bargain basement prices will end in no value.

Adams is a problem, every time he is one on one with the keeper he loses it and hits it straight at the keeper who knew what he would do. No feint to shoot, No move it sideways, no taking it closer then dinking it over nothing but hit it at the keeper. The worst thing for me he is no better now than the day he arrived. He should be doing all those things as appropriate but never does. So much for coaching. I get the feeling there are no proper basic coaches who coach technique to the first team.

I think what we're getting is a parade of the yes men plus the few automatic picks thrown together in a favourite formation. What happened to assess your players then come up with a shape that makes the best of the best available. Almost looks like a run out of ideas, last throw of the dice, don't pick anybody that doesn't appear compliant. If this works I take my hat off to him. If it doesn't it's time for damage limitation before it's too late. Lyanco, Elynousey, AMN and Aribo he's off his trolley. Backs to the wall I wouldn't take any of those four. I'm wondering if we'll make it to the end with a full team.

The bench looks better than that selection. It's either Genius, Learned nothing, or another clusterfuck coming up.

I'm not proposing that as a solution, what I am proposing is to try and combat Fulham's form advantage by making us, an out of form team more solid. Aribo and the other four won't do that. BK isn't in as a holding midfielder he's a defender defending just in front of the two centrbacks.What would help to make us better defensively is stop Perrault and KWP making Kamikaze runs and presenting two bloody great areas that every team in the land are exploiting and the midfield not covering. Maybe play a defensive back four and don't expose the centrebacks. KWP was to some degree at fault in all three Brighton goals. Playing a compact five in midfield might also do it.. Three centre backs doesn't work with the present players so I'm ignoring it.

In my view if any of Elyonoussie, Djenepo, Lyanco or A Armstrong play we have little chance especially if S Armstrong and Lavia don't play. My preferred team from those that appear to be in full training. Bazuna, KWP,Caleta Car, Salisu, Perrault; Bella-Kotcha; JWP, Lavia; S Armstrong, Edozie, Adams. It's not 3 at the back but a quick mobile defender in front of the centre backs. 4,1,2,3. If KWP and Perrault play like they usually do our danger area is behind them so BK and Lavia could cover that and JWP help the front three. Only a thought but puts our current available best players on the field at the same time but pie in the sky. It isn't going to happen. I'm expecting another Brighton clusterfuck selection.

There is a recall clause and Kompany says that the contract is final and Burnley will honour their agreement if Saints recall Tella. Only played just over twenty minutes with Burnley 1-0 up and playing keep ball so little chance to attack.

For anyone interested Burnley v Stoke is being streamed by the EFL. Kompany is rotating his squad and Tella is on the bench. Smallbone is playing for Stoke.

Tella is better than Elyonoussie, Djenepo, A Armstrong who are totally underperforming. None of them look like they will ever get enough goals let alone any. He has already played in the Premier League but was snatching at chances and not particularly positionally aware. Kompany looks like he has made him more aware of all aspects and they both are benefiting. The boy is ours, he is on top form and looks well coached, not something that we seem to benefit from here at first team level. He is very quick and isn't going to cost much more than his wages. We need goals, nobody in the squad is consistently scoring. Anybody we bring in doesn't come with any guarantee they will settle let alone score the goals we need.

Probably Ralph spending the pre season training for it but ended up a clusterfuck and was immediately ditched.

We need one now. Read "Inverting the Pyramid" by Jonathan Wilson. Explains the role. Read my previous comment about having a move on his mind or hopeless. On last nights performance he wouldn't help us improve on Boxing Day's debacle.

Especially Ings.