derry

The odds are against it but possible. Fixed undercarriages and a high wing are a problem. We used to do dingy drills plus the slides detached and were to be used as well. However I had no illusions about getting 180 tons of an aircraft down on the Atlantic at night let alone getting out and surviving. My pal who posts on here lost all four engines on a 747 over Indonesia in 1982, they got them going again and levelled about 17000ft. Now that was close. Dined out on it ever since.

You really have made a fool of yourself.

Yes, for 37 years. From C150 to B767.

I think that is the one, the pilot was Dave Regi.

Not really, it was made by Grumman but the name was changed to Gulfstream I believe, but we always called it a Grumman Cougar.

It was leased by the then Southampton school of flying at Eastleigh and rented out to twin rated pilots at an hourly rate after a check out. It was a long time ago but I think she was in the back because I think he had a child in the front. She was the only one left in the a/c when it sank.

Yes, a nice little aeroplane, a bit underpowered but at least two engines. The guy who ditched it obviously hadn't done much low flying. The weather was low cloud, Jersey had refused him entry but he took the aircraft anyway for a jolly around the island. The fishbowl effect with no horizon over the sea is disorientating. The safety drill is a tiny bit of backward trim so that if you take your eye off the instruments, visual clues, the aircraft will slowly climb.

In a word yes, nowhere to land firstly, secondly mostly fixed undercarriage, thirdly piston engine, if it fails as they sometimes do you've got to be very lucky. Failure drills are second nature but in the middle of the channel there is only one place to ditch and pray a ship is close by and sees you ditch. doing it right and getting out is another matter. Never at night.

I often flew single engine aircraft over the channel in my early days but never felt comfortable. The a/c was a Piper PA46 Malibu single engine turbo prop which are usually more reliable than piston engines. Getting the aircraft down on water is doable but horrendous at night. A pilot I worked with, an airline captain, ditched a C172 high wing single engine Cessna off Alderney at night and was never seen again. Another pilot hired my pal's Grumman Cougar and low flying off Sandown hit the sea and ditched just off the beach. He got out unhurt, his wife didn't and although a search was made the aircraft was never found. Even if they got down, it's odds on they may have gone straight down. Getting into a dingy at night is almost impossible even if it was inflated. I pray that they survived against all odds.

Thank goodness anybody that isn't giving 100% every second he is on the pitch isn't even going to make the bench. Occasional brilliance in midfield, beating three players and losing the ball isn't going to cut it with forward players making runs for an early pass.

He had several problems in the past. Almost as if he was using Steven Davis as his example. Firstly he almost always played immediately sideways or backwards and sometimes to poorly placed players. He has become much more dynamic and ran with the ball yesterday including making forward runs without the ball, something he almost never did. He marked from too far away and almost always rushed in and missed his usually weak tackle. Yesterday he was much more determined and competed aggressively. He has a great engine and sitting in midfield was wasting it. Most importantly he didn't try to bend his foot around the ball for his shot, he put his foot through it. Consequently he got power and a little bend with a well directed shot. He almost tries to bend the ball too much with his dead ball delivery. Sometimes he needs to try for less bend.

So would I. Won everything in the air. Far better in the air and more determined than 6' 6" Vestergaard. Best centre back display for me since the Fonte, Van Dijk era.

Has to be El Hadj Diouf for Stoke, did the old catch the toe on the heel of the other foot and go flying. Caught out in slow motion but in real time looked like he'd been tripped.

When discussion was that we hadn't played them, I thought I'd been to at least one game at the Dell. 1959 and 60, The 60 team were great to watch. Always plenty of goals.

I've bought my seat but I probably wont go. The number of kids moving around and occasionals due to the cheapies are a distraction I don't need.

Armstrong was a good footballer with Celtic and he is the type of positive nippy midfielder that we have been crying out for. When we eventually finalise this season's team after the window I suspect he will be a key part.

We were pretty decent first half. Long won the penalty by going for it. Romeu was outstanding, Bednarek's goal clearance was vital but I gave MOM to Shane Long because he won the penalty and scored the second goal after we went down to ten men and gave us that vital cushion. He worked his socks off. It was a great backs to the wall defence for the last half hour. The whole team deserves massive praise for their character. Brilliant managing. For once we had a fair referee. Mike Oliver did a good job today.

So would I. Has to be fit, then match fit, but he gives us something different.

Cut the man some slack. His performances were dire before he was dropped. Supporters were in despair. McCarthy coming in saved our bacon but he hasn't over impressed lately. Personally I'd have to see it to believe it but if Ralph selects him he should be ok. I'd still take Gunn as the best on what I've seen of him.

Manchester City v Saints Maine Road 1960 1-5 Reeves 4 O'Brien Special train in those days. George O'Brien stuck his head out of the door on stopping at the Central Station and shouted "Where's the brass band" We were promoted to the second division that season, I think beat Liverpool 4-0 in the first home game after being promoted. those were the years of a hundred plus goals scored a season.

Shame in a way we gave up the two goal lead but we were caught out, slow at centre back and light in front of them when Derby opened us up. Personally I wanted a draw to get Hojbjerg back for Everton. It'll also give Ralph another game to get the team playing his way.

Probably top of hitting the first defender statistics.

We made the mistake historically of not making pace and acceleration a criteria for any signing to go ahead. It's the same with signings for the academy. Players without pace could probably be incorporated in isolation but not nine out of ten. The standout with the top teams is skilful players with pace all over without that we cannot compete.

I remember it well, one of the first suppliers of continental boots. Old Mr Toomer sold me a pair of the Hungarian boots, little more than slippers. A little later he sold me a pair of Czech boots. He told me "There are only two pairs in the country, these and Derek Reeves is using the other pair" They never caught on as Adidas brought in their boot in large quantities. Derek scored his record 45 goals with those boots. I remember Arthur who was probably in his twenties. RIP.

I listened to both Ralph's interviews and several things came over loud and clear. Hojbjerg is his captain. Romeu is another that he feels provides backbone. They will play. Kayne Ramsey to start? Ralph - why not? Reverted to early season habits not his way. Cedric, missed games injured now on the outside will have to wait. Obviously doesn't rate vertically challenged players. McCarthy badly positioned not near enough to his near post. Could be on borrowed time. Gunn has been impressive in his few appearances. Obefimi is obviously a big player for him, he says we are missing his pace. Our plan is to win the ball and get it up to runners quickly. Yoshida dithering and Lamina running in circles destroyed our game plan. Run at opponents should be in the final third but not in our half. Dispite Lamina's ball skills he is a liability. Flatters to deceive and fades in and out. He is a cosmetic player, lacks discipline, and is not prepared to do the hard yards without the ball. Targett despite his footballing ability is too slow. Valery looked like it was a game too many. Throw ins. There has to be a default tactic, yet we see precious little movement or support and back to the thrower is our only move often losing the ball. Throw the bloody ball down the line and support the throw with the aim of forcing defenders to knock it out. Get down into the last third and anything can happen. This is one we can't expect anything from so lets make it hard for them and give it a go.