S-Clarke

If we get relegated, he'll be gone. That will be one almighty failure by any stretch of the imagination. If we go down to L2 with this sqaud, something is seriously wrong - so for that reason, i wouldn't want to keep him. I know what people are saying, we've chopped and changed alot etc and it hasn't helped - but keeping someone in the job, who clearly isn't doing a good job, for the sake of continuity is wrong IMO. at the moment though, it's still too early to make that decision.

It will get better IMO - keep the faith, i know it's tough but i saw the passion out there tonight - those players want it as much as us. Rovers were good though, they're weren't **** at all.

We won most home games with Osman there, and we got into the top 6 in the championship. When he was brought back for the Sheff U game 2 years ago, we won it and the atmosphere was buzzing at K/O. I think he did make a difference.

Ask the stoke fans what they thought of Pullis a few seasons ago.... they hated him - they were chanting him out etc, but the board were strong and it worked out int he end. They're in the premiership...pushing to become an established mid-table team now. Crazy. Thats what i hope we have now - a strong board. don't get me wrong...I don't want us to stick with a guy if it's clearly not working, but i hope we've seen an end to these knee-jerked quick fixes and changes. 10 games is not enough time in a 5 year plan to make such a huge decision.

Was it Stuart Dennis, or Justin who made that comment? Didn't see much of an issue with it at the time...but... I think we could do with Osman back, if im honest. I know alot of people don't agree, but he really did get the place going before KO - and it was certainly alot more interesting than what Stuart Dennis offers. It's not really a priority...but as the board are looking at all areas of the club, i'd hope this is another area they'd address.

If we're 15 points adrift in December, and still not picking up the results then i'd say the board could well be looking at solutions. As i've said, Nicola isn't an idiot and he'll be looking at the bigger picture rather than knee-jerking at the moment. If we're more adrift by xmas though - then there's obviously a problem.

Cannot agree with the people who are saying we lacked effort/motivation. Seriously - how could you not see our passion in the 2nd half? We wanted it, and we wanted it bad. We harried their players more than i've seen a saints team for a long time, maybe too much at once - because we couldn't sustain it. I agree re: left wing though, that was our weak area, Harding had a shocker but alot of that was down to him being exposed by Mellis - who was awful.

I'd take their wide players right now, and also Dickson who was excellent i thought.

+1, adam and morgan were the key players when we were dominant, rovers couldn't handle them at times. the only thing that worry's me about morgan in particular, is he has a tendency to go missing for bits of the game - and during those periods rovers came back at us.

still currently 10 points off, but Brighton have a game in hand.

We were as motivated as we have been for years tonight, seriously - you cannot question the commit and the attitude, the players were well up for this one. Personally at the moment i couldn't give a **** if we won 1-0 in the 90th min against gillingham.

bizarre summery. Wagio was ok - morgan was the best player on the pitch, and rovers were excellent. wrong game maybe?

The game changed when we started playing Narrow again. We game out in the 2nd half like a team possessed, getting wide and just harrying every single rovers player. The moment we stopped doing that and went long through the middle, i worried - it's bizarre, i don't know what happened, it's like someone flicked a switch and we stopped doing all the good things. Weird. - but if we play like we did in the first 15mins of the 2nd half, we'll beat 90% in this league. Rovers couldn't handle it. The question mark is to why we couldn't sustain it.

Cortese is a clever guy - he will not knee-jerk. If it's still like this in December, then yes - i think he'd be looking at the situation...but not now, he's switched on enough to see the big picture.

Rovers aren't crap, and they weren't crap tonight. If they play like that all season they'll go up automatically IMO. They had better players than us in the wide areas for a start. I'm ****ed off - but i think a little respect for the oppo is due, they made it an excellent game of football.

oh my ****ing god. that is sick - absolutely sick. I've had a bit of time to sit and think about it - and i still feel ****ing sick. Not sure if i can be arsed to sum up the game, but i'll try. first half was a bit huff and puff, we did try and get the ball down - we didn't hoof it as much has we have done, but Rovers were a constant threat down the flanks and through the middle with their attacking pace and it was worrying us - esp harding who seriously struggled all game. Our goal was well worked though - nice little through ball by lambert and adam had held his position really well to keep onside - nice finish under the goalie - game on. ...then we let rovers have a feel of the ball again but they never really threatened us massively after we'd scored, but i hate to say it, it was a complete **** up by Kelvin - pretty much identical to the one he made against QPR a few seasons back, no idea wtf he was doing....and then it was 1-1. 2nd half.. I was blown away by how well we came out in the 2nd half, it was the perfect start with the goal. Cracking build up play, ball finds its self to Lloydy on the right, he whips a fantastic ball into the box....Lambo heads it, hits the bar, bounces on the line...but Papa anticipated it and got us back in front. After that, for the next 10mins it was complete 1 way, we just battered them, harried them, chased them - they didn't know what hit them. ....then we just stopped. Just like that, we stopped doing the chasing, we let them control the game and they felt their way back into it. Harding was completely done by their winger for the goal, their player played the ball across the box and there was only going to be one outcome from there. Rest of the game was pretty much played by rovers, we huffed and puffed a little bit, but rovers were using the width very very well and their pace was causing us all sorts of problems. Trotman and Jaidi were all over the place 2nd half. Their winner was a ****ing joke though, ok it was a stunning 30 yarder into the top corner...but the guy was allowed to win the ball in space, play it...and then the other guy was just allowed to shoot, no one near him...95th min, seriously? what's that about? where's the closing down...? Unbelievable game of football though - swung from side to side all game, a draw would have probably been fair - neither team did enough to win it outright IMO, but this is what happens when you loose control of the game. Alot of lessons learned tonight..but by watching rovers more than us. Their wide play was brilliant and it's a lesson to how we need to play. The pressure is on for Saturday now, make no doubt about it. If we fail to win that one, there could be trouble. Ratings... Kelvin 5 - Muck up for the goal, shouldn't have come out like that. Was a bit edgy for a bit too. Harding 5 - Was done all game IMO - couldn't handle their winger. Worst game i've seen him play. Jaidi - 6 - okish first half, but completely off the pace in the 2nd. Won the ball well in the air, but just couldn't handle their tricky pacy front men. Trottman 6 - again - same as Jaidi pretty much, struggled with the game 2nd half and were just pulled about at times by rovers. James - 7 played ok i felt. Got wide well and his crosses into the box were excellent, esp for the 2nd goal. Mellis - 5 - not good for me. has the pace, did chase the ball down well but didn't offer an inch of support to Harding - he was so exposed, one of the reasons Harding struggled IMO. Hammond 7 - gave his all, 110% - was key in our dominant period and kept us playing. Morgan 9 - Best game he's had for us - unbelievably good. Ran the show when we were in charge, running with the ball, passing, could have scored...he was brilliant. But i must say, he lost his way a little on about 70ish mins. Papa 7 - did well, decent anticipation for the goal - but needs to watch his runs! caught offside too often. Lallana - 7 - did ok - good goal, chased and harried well and picked up pockets of space in and around Lambert which made us dangerous. Lambert 7 - could have cored, unlucky not to IMO - but his hold up play was quality and his passing is very good. We should get it on the deck and play it to him like that - he's v good on the floor IMO. ....i'll go and lay down now i think.

It's only for a week though, should be ok...

I'm really looking forward to this game, evening KO, good side, good crowd (sounds like it will be) - will make for a good atmosphere. Heard on solent and others have said the same, Thomas is back in training and could be available for selection tomorrow which is great news IMO - we missed his physical dominance on Saturday. Lambo will want to get one over on his old team, it always happens...ex players always score against their former clubs, i just hope we don't offer an exception to the rule, as we do to so many other rules! Two decent teams at this level though, you have to say. It'll be our toughest home game since Millwall IMO - and i think we've come on great strides since then. We're more than a match for them.

Isn't he more of a CM though? i saw him playing against Leeds and he was in midfield i think? although i may be thinking of another player...!

I have a feeling that Pard's is trying to build a team around Lallana. Or he's told him as much, in an effort to convince him to stay. ''You can be our main man here...and win a league title'' i think that's the wrong thing to do at this time...we need to build a winning team first, then ease him back into it. He's talented, i think everyone can see that...but at the moment, i fear AP's judgment in our situation is a bit misguided.

I read that earlier, brilliant. Sol's gone up in my estimations now

That's true - Watford are good example, but that only came about because they brought in Boothroyd, rather than sticking with the same structure. I'm behind pards, the players and the backroom staff 110% but i just cannot see how just staying up this year can be seen as progress/preparation for promotion next year.

That comment is a good comment... I don't agree with the view ''scraping relegation'' will be a good achievement, that would equal a ****ing **** poor season and not the preparation we need to go into next year. Think of it this way - if these players struggle all year, and just achieve safety in the last couple of games, would you be confident that the structure/team would then go and storm the league the following year? (Because that is what we HAVE to do....we HAVE to storm it next year, we will not have an excuse - and by storming i mean constant involvement in the auto promotion fight) I know i wouldn't, and I'd have to ask a few questions.

Agree 100% apls. Good post.

6 games.