derry

The chances we created were snatched at except for Wanyama leaning back and side footing over the top. JWP pass to Guzan, Pelle diving header, sort of, were poor efforts otherwise we were always a bit late. The midfield is hopeless, if in the longer term we want to get better we have to get a couple of quick midfielders that can drive forward and support Pelle plus score a few goals. As long as they are here we can't afford Davis and JWP together in midfield, we are far too slow. Romeu looked the part but seems more comfortable as a single holding player than in a pair. Juanmi was an improvement and looks a good footballer trying to fit in, nice to see him put his foot through the ball. Whatever we play, Mane needs to play up front closer to Pelle or Long. Maybe time for Juanmi to get more time. We were hardly threatened today by a really poor side. I hope Koeman gets it worked out before Palace and Spurs. More of the same won't work.

Precisely. As for Davis he nearly closes down, nearly tackles but mostly doesn't, mostly just unloads the ball even if colleague is already marked, rarely scores and just doesn't do it for me. JWP is even worse. As for Koeman picking them, he also picked the three at the back on Wednesday, how did that go? and some bizarre failed team selections early in the season. On Wednesday Davis and JWP in midfield were non existent.

Stekelenberg, Soares, Fonte, VVD, Bertrand, Clasie, Wanyama, Mane, Ramirez, Tadic, Pelle or Long for me. I've just had it with the JWP and Davis school of settling for unambitious football.

You mean the nearly man. Nearly pressed, nearly tackled, jogged around looking popular, few goals and not a lot else.

I'm surprised you think the midfield is that good. I can think of a couple I'd like to see out of here.

I personally think he should be given game time, rather than playing England's next back passer.

Fonte out OS.

I was told that around the time Lallana etc were going, his agent had a meeting with Man City when they were trying to increase their home grown quota. The offer apparently was very good but he wasn't going to play much if at all so JWP refused it.

Our full back cover is poor, a tyro, inexperienced possible one for the future on the left and a cheap Dutch league player that probably won't get a game unless we draw a non league team in the cup. Targett was a weakness until Bertrand returned and Yoshida is not a competent full back. If Soares can't play nearly every game then a competent full back should be brought in. As a matter of interest how is Stephen's loan, decorating Middlesborough's bench going?

Well that worked didn't it? What a negative line up. Only two forwards. How many chances does JWP need to show his inability to defend, tackle, run with the ball and play penetrating passes. I thought there was more to being a Premier midfielder than passing meaninglessly sideways and backwards. Mane and Long, great cameo for the goal. Now we get to the real issue. Yoshida is not a full back. Brought in for his alleged defensive strength he again made a Horlicks of possession, beaten in the tackle by Sterling for God's sake, goal no 1. At fault for goal no 3 because he forgot he was right back reverted to centre back mode and failed to even look behind him as Kolarov ran thirty yards to receive the ball and unmarked lined up a shot into the far corner that virtually killed the game. To cap it all he under hit a back pass to Stekelenberg similar to the Man Utd cock up and was bailed out by Stekelenberg coming well out of the area to clear. Koeman has this chicken**** team selection problem which has cost us dearly at times this season. Our best team is obvious and it doesn't include Yoshida, JWP or Romeu. As an aside Caulker filled in well.

Bates, McMenemy, Adkins, Strachan, Nicholl, Ball, Koeman.

As the foul happened, I was watching Mason, he put his whistle to his mouth then took it away. That said it all for me.

Firstly I queued outside the Itchen, there were two queues about fifty yards long. I worked my way towards the front watching stewards scanning at the front and others moving down the queue checking visible bags, so far so good. Then I got about ten people from the front, suddenly the scanners stopped and walked past the queue and everybody went in unscanned, so much for scanning. Another observation, the club provided the perfect opportunity for a bomb outside the stadium to kill a lot of people as they queued. Normally at 2.15 the numbers are light but with the queuing there was congestion.

A lacklustre display, not the first time after the international break the team seems to forget how it plays. It looked like Van Dijk was caught out going forward, left a gap in the defence which Stoke overloaded from our right and scored. Clasie looked very good, IMO a poor decision to replace him. Pelle played far too statically and was easily marked. We were poor at winning the breaking ball and our passing was below standard. Tadic had a lot of the ball but wasted it. Both full backs struggled. Wanyama needs to decide what he is, for me he is a blocker in front of the back four, win it and give it to Clasie. His passing was woeful today. Long showed a lack of intelligence and his touch, positioning and movement was poor. He has to play up the middle or forget it. There was a slow tempo and general lack of movement from the team in general which really slowed down our attacking and Stoke were able to get back. Even when playing Mane, Pelle, Juanmi, Long, Tadic with Wanyama and JWP and three at the back were unbalanced. JWP keeps on about going to the Euros, he is absolutely deluded. Playing backwards and sideways, not a ball winner and can't head, score and lacks pace, just adds to the general slowness.

His business partner is doing some work for me. Jason is now on the mend and has just been taken off life support. The consensus surfacing is that the perpetrators because of age will probably only get a slap on the wrist with the GBH with intent charge reduced to GBH. Useless justice system, five years with hard labour would be more appropriate.

I'll pay my respects to the poor unfortunates that were killed on a night out.

I'm not sure Stoke are as good a team as people are making out. It seems to me Butland playing blinders has more to do with their success than anything else.

Cheap Echo journalism from Newsnow?

I'd still be worried. Several players, especially Delgado, in the past suffered because they played matches for unscrupulous countries with the help of injections and ended up with career ending injuries.

I don't know whether it's been posted here but SportsnationHD.tv has been resurrected for those that only want specified events. The Sportsmania.eu current subscription covers both until it expires then a choice has to be made. For me it's a no brainer I much prefer the multi choice and continuous channels on Sportsmania. Those with a lifetime subscription always get both.

Saints reception ask to be put through 0845 688 9448 otherwise try 02381 780780

He was walking home wearing a Saints shirt after the Liverpool match. It was mentioned in the article in the Echo. I Knew him well, a really nice person. He did a lot of window work locally. Anybody know how he is getting on. He was only 50/50 after the attack, fractured skull etc.

The Cougar belonged to a mate I flew it occasionally . It's now at the bottom of the channel. A PPL wanted to take it to Jersey on an IFR day and was refused entry permission so opted to fly around the Isle of Wight instead. Unfortunately he decided to fly at low level not far off the coast but the visibility was a goldfish bowl. He inadvertently descended and hit the sea and crashed. He got out ok but unfortunately the aircraft sank with his wife unable to get out. It was never found. If he had known about low flying he would have had a little nose up trim set so that the aircraft would climb rather than sink if his attention was outside. Another part time instructor was Tony Farrell who was also at Hamble and flew Mosquitoes during the war. There was also another part timer, I can't remember his surname, Christian name Eric, owned a Garage at Stockbridge and flew Mosquitoes. There was another ex Hamble part timer Jim Collyer who was in the RAF at the start of the war, tragically killed when the tail came off the B707 freighter he was flying for Dan Air on the approach at Lusaka in 1976.

I can't remember whether the 321 (stretched 320) had a buffer on the tail to absorb damage. I flew the B767-300 which had a hydraulic buffer. The B737-400 had a basic buffer. Although over holding off with power on could cause a tail strike I find it difficult envisaging how an aircraft could land on it's tail without the tail breaking off, ie. stalling in. Most tail strikes I have been aware of were over-rotating on take off. The aircraft was Irish registered and certainly flown by Tui/First Choice/Thomson possibly one of the original 321s of Air UK Leisure/Leisure International which went to Air 2000 then First Choice after the Unijet takeover.

Time for technology to confirm the few vital decisions as in Rugby, who cares if it adds another ten minutes if the decisions are right.