S-Clarke

Yeah, been confirmed by himself that he's not involved tonight. He hasn't played since early December, so no surprise.

This was said before he'd managed us. That spell of 4 games is just a non-event, you can't really anaylse that at all. Wilkins is a good couch, those 4 games do nothing to change my opinion on that.

We don't play next w/e, FA Cup weekend.

Please put this guy to rest. They jump to him every time for some sort of ''fans representation'', when he's always so far from the general feeling. Please stop broadcasting him.

You're correct, he did. When Pardew was sacked, NC made a comment in the statement regarding Wilkins and how he'd now be the caretaker. Wilkins then actually came out in an interview to say that NC had given him a job for life, as he appreciated the job he'd done. But I don't believe Wilkins was sacked, I think he left out of decency due to how Adkins was treated. I don't think he felt he could stay on, which you can understand. He will be an enormous miss, that's for sure. He's had a huge influence in the up-turn of this club and I'll be forever grateful to that.

He was a player and a half a few years ago, but fell away massively. Not sure how good he is now...

In my line of work I am around high flying director/executive types all day. They're all the same. They don't care two hoots about you, they are only driven to securing the results they want. If that means pushing people out of the way to do it, then they do it. That's why they're successful and that's why they're very, very rich. None of these high-flying types are likeable people really, and I wouldn't' want to have a pint with them as I think they're all morons - but they do get results, so for that you have to say they know what they're doing. So far, NC has got results, although the result of his biggest gamble yet remains to be seen.

A lot of assumptions are made about Les Reed, and a fair few are a load of rubbish. People keep bringing up the fact that he was the worst PL manager in history etc, ok was he? Stats? And what's that got to do with the role he's conducting now? People are quick to criticize him on pie in the sky assumptions, but slow to praise the influence he has had on securing our academy status and growing the development side of the club - which I feel, given time, will prove to be the relentless conveyor belt that Cortese is after.

Coleman will be at RB I believe. Very talented attacking full back, but I'm not sure Guly is the type of player to cause him enough problems at the back. He's still young and can be naive at defending, and this is where I think we need a little bit extra on the flanks....I hope we sort that before January is out.

That's a real come down for Wesley. I'm sure he's better than that league......

Credit to you for coming back and posting that. It's easy to let your emotions jump above your head, sometimes it's a bit more sensible to resist posting until a bit after the event. It's the same after a defeat, emotions are so more extreme in the minutes after as opposed to what they'll be 24 hours later. Rational minds go out of the question at the heat of the moment. I think we're all in the same boat really. We were pretty embarrassed by the events on Friday and how the dismissal came about, but we all want the best for our club at the end of the day. The talks of protests/boycotts etc are just that, talk. We know that we need to get behind the team now and I don't think tomorrow will be as hostile as some are anticipating. NC is fortunate we didn't have a game on Saturday, as I'm sure he'd have felt the full force of our irrational minds then!

This will be one of our toughest home games of the season. Everton are a strong side physically, and in particular the combination of Baines and Pienear on their left will cause us all sorts of problems. We need Clyne to have a good game, and also whoever plays in front of him (probably puncheon) needs to help cover at every opportunity. Defensively they are very, very strong and mobile - so we'll need to ensure we are imaginative in our attacks, as they don't give many cheap goals away. Progressive play from the flanks, and through the middle is the way to go, If we get Gaston in between the lines I think we can cause them problems. Personally, I wouldn't bring in Forren from the start, simply because he hasn't played a competitive match since the start of December. I'd personally make 1 change - Ramirez for Davis and possibly at a push... Lambert for Rodriguez. The only reason I'm undecided on Lambert is that I feel we'll need mobility and pace to get in and around their back 4, I think Lambert will be well marshaled by Distin and Jagielka - so having someone like Rodriguez to play on the shoulder and run the channels could be more rewarding from the start. I wouldn't muck around with Ramirez on the left, as it doesn't work. He's a number 10 and has to play in behind the front man, that's where he's influential and looks a real threat every time he plays there. Guly can play on the left and cut inside. I fear that fans will be demanding we win this because of the unnecessary change we made, and indeed it was unnecessary, but this would have been a tough game even with NA in charge. I'm trying not to let the sacking cloud my judgement, and even though I'm not happy in the slightest about it, I'm pretty sure that this was going to be a hard game no matter what. So don't hang Mauricio out to dry if we lose this. I'd take a draw, it would increase the gap and increase our unbeaten run. If we can somehow sneak a win though, it would be a huge bonus. We'd give ourselves a real chance then - 6 points clear + GD...and we then have breathing space going into 2 tough games against the Manchester Clubs. Still, a defeat or a win tomorrow doesn't define the season. Still a long way to go.

There's no smoke without fire. Pretty sure we've been trying to shift him on for a while. Not that I agree with it, it's just another mental decision in the long line of mental decisions.

Lambert, probably. Wouldn't call it insane to see him gone before January is out.

The weather won't continue like it is (not that the little flurry's we're having today are causing any issues anyway). It will be dull and overcast tomorrow, still very cold though Tuesday it becomes interesting though.

I'd love to **** them off and nick him from under their noses as well. I'm sure we just wait for them to pep up their interest before we make our move...

Of course he's going to support it, otherwise he's not going to be club president for much longer. Sad, but true. That's the dictating regime going on at St Mary's these days.

Nice one, that'll help things a great deal.

This signing has been overshadowed, to say the least. But on browsing a few Everton forums, It reminded me that they were also trying to sign him. So good write ups on there from Norwegian based toffee's

Seen it popping up on a few Italian twitter feeds throughout the day, although they could have just been rehashing the link from the mirror. I imagine we still hold an interest though.

That link is actually pepping up again.

Blimey, WBA have been utter dog **** tonight - Villa have been good, but they've still thrown it away.

That's made it a bit more interesting, looks like WBA have decided to appear in this half. 1-2.

West Brom look like a joke team.

Neither do we. Did you ignore Wednesday result?...... Don't let the entire managerial change cloud your view of our squad and the performances.