egg

Unfair criticism. Pat knows the place of old and Glenn is very savvy. They've been undone by the economic climate, rising beer prices and bands promising to bring the world and bringing no one. It's a cracking venue run by two lovely blokes. Do as Turkish says and support it before it's too late.

What silly questions. You don't have to see a player actually play to realise he's brilliant. Hype is where it's at.

Agreed. Playing gaston as a 10 would mean playing him behind 1 up top which forces us into a midfield 4 of some description, or a 10 behind 2 up top. The former leaves us light in the middle and the latter without width. NA has to grow a pair and pick the best team for the job.

We need to play a 3 man CM with proper CM's in there. 3 of Cork, Schneiderlen, Davis or JWP. One to sit a little deeper and hold. The others to play slightly wider and offer cover to the full backs. We need to play 3 ahead of them to offer width and support the attack when possible. Quite what the best 3 is I'm unsure but I don't like the idea of squeezing the surplus man into one of the 3 CM roles just to accomodate him. If there ain't room for one or more of AL, RL, JR or GR then so be it.

Er, so you're saying one of our CB's and GR and AL can do for us what Makelel, Essien and Lampard did for Chelsea? Ffs.

This. 3 proper CM's needed with one of them holding and collectively covering the back 4.

Spot on. J Rod is a very decent player. Much more complete than Austin and given time in his favoured role, and some decent service, he'll be fine.

Agree with the above. Cracking performance from Forster and Celtic.

He has looked poor at RB for us and will be worse at CB. I know we're struggling but square pegs in round holes won't solve that.

If we were to play 3 CB 's then he's an option, but not good enough in a 4. I wouldn't have him at RB either, just not good enough. He's a CM who should play there with 2 others and tighten us up in the middle.

Great system if you're given the right mix of players. Not so good when you're given loads of attackers and no no natural wide players or a lack of defenders! Either way, the point is that the expectation to play the players that the manager has been given could be construed as interference in team selection. I just wander whether that is what the likes of Turkish are suggesting, or whether it's being suggested that the big boss is really saying to NA that he wants a particular team or player on the pitch.

Never experienced it, I've played it! It can work with disciplined midfielders but won't work with attack minded players. As for 4123 or 505 they're one and the same when you're playing 5 defenders and five attackers. Ridiculous team selection whatever you call it.

That he likes Guly and likes to give youth a chance, probably.

I don't think he picks the team but it wouldn't surprise me if NA is under an expectation to select the players given to him.

With respect, managing at a semi pro level doesn't give you the ability/right to shout down others. I've played at that level and understand the game but welcome the views of others. I suspect that many people who have never kicked a ball understand the game better than you and I. As for your 505 formation, I think it's bonkers. Our weak midfield and lack of proper cover for the full backs, is the root of our problems. Sticking a CB in an unfamiliar role in front of the CB 's and expecting him to float and cover is a recipe for disaster. It leaves a player scampering crab like across the pitch for 90 mins with attackers filling in the midfield positions. Nuts.

We weren't completely exposed by the left back. Our left back was/is exposed by our system and the left midfielder. Fox ain't the best left back but the best would have a torrid time in this team.

Personally I couldn't give a monkeys about the past. This is a results business andn we ain't getting them. Makes me laugh when people say they'd rather go down than han HR back but would pick Hoddle up from the airport.

Don't disagree. I've said he'll benefit us short term. I'm struggling to think of a better option although my hunch is GS will come in.

Continuing the development of the academy, the links to the first team via the u21 team, the sports science etc. Harry laughed off all if that last time around. We need to improve now and look to the future. You'll see from above that I believe HR would improve us now on the pitch. The simple point i made is that i don't believe HR to be progressive.

Redknapp is not progressive. He won't help our club move forward as a whole. That's different to him helping performances in the short term, which I think he would.

I hate that old chestnut. Would you really want to go down rather than us changing things and maybe stay up?

Fair point. He's not what you would call progressive though

I'm pretty sure he's on his way, and could see Strachan coming in. Blackpool would be a good move for NA. The timing of Scotland sacking is interesting. I reckon the sweaties want Strachan and are aware that others want him too.

Shocking. I can't take any positives from that, not one. The full backs were exposed by the wide players. The cm's were powderpuff and wasteful. The cf's had little service. The cb's were left to hang out to dry. Basically it was a 424. Zonal marking. Weak midfield. Wide players who neither stayed wide or tracked the opposing fb or covered their own. Horribly, horribly naive formation and tactics.

He doesn't.