Wade Garrett

Great story about Ken in Mick Channon's autobiography. He beat Brian O'Neill in a drinking competition, and Terry Paine was laughing because Brian had seemingly p*ssed himself. He was less than happy when it was pointed out to him that Brian was wearing his trousers.

I worked on the same shift as Ken at the docks. All I'll say is he was a better footballer than a crane driver! Very sad news, he was a decent bloke.

Right up Posh's street. I hear they do a fantastic chicken in a basket.

They've probably got a YTS boy designing a new computer system for them. Apparently he did some work for NatWest Bank this year.

If I let you choose Matt there would be anarchy, who knows where it will end. For the good of mankind I'm going to have to say no. It's nothing personal.

Fact is we're harder to score against and harder to beat than we were earlier in the season. Better tactics and players picking up valuable experience. I'm not saying we're a great team though.

If we hit Lambert with high long balls we'll be playing right into their hands and will get murdered. We need to get it on the deck, get Gaston on the ball with Lambert, Puncheon and left midfielder (Reeves, Davis) making runs, creating space, and giving him options. Like we did against Newcastle really. Start moving the ball quickly on the deck, Stoke will find that a lot harder to deal with. A draw would be a decent result.

I agree, but yesterday suggests that the players are learning pretty quickly and are getting much more 'streetwise'.

I did say that before the game started. I'm amazed that Adkins started him on the left again.

I'm not sure he loves him. He might have a decent kick, but his handling is as bad as I've seen in the Premier League. I just don't think he will be good enough for us, and I thought the same about Bart.

Lambert played with Mayuka on Saturday, but instead of them playing as a pair,with Mayuka feeding off Lambert's knock downs, Lambert seemed to be playing in the deep position that Gaston plays in. Didn't make sense to me at the time and doesn't now. I agree with you about Jay and Rickie not playing together up front, but only because it will mean playing Gaston out of position. He has to play in his central role behind Lambert or Jay. Left midfield position should be taken by someone who can actually play left midfield. Options for me are Puncheon with Guly on the right, or Reeves. Personally, I would give the youngster a go.

Gazza isn't good enough. No better than Bart was.

Sadly not, he was an apprentice with us before signing pro forms.

Home grown from our Youth system, wasn't playing for anyone else when we signed him.

Can't allow Matt. This isn't greatest ever Saints player, but greatest signing. Home-grown players don't count.

Just on this thread!

He has 1 crap game (and he was playing out of position until Mayuka was subbed) and some are saying he should be sold! I'm sorry but I don't agree. Our squad isn't good enough to sell players as good as Lambert. That's not to say he should start every game. You play the man in form.

Exactly what I was thinking. Pilkington has done well for them, and Snodgrass is having a good season.

Decent player and can play on either flank. I hope we complete our business very early in the window.

Ramirez down the left didn't work yesterday. He didn't really work the line with Shaw, and is easier to deal with in a more constrained role than his normal one behind the centre-forward. I'm not sure though, that yesterday was just a poor performance. He plays on the left for Uruguay after all. But to me, he didn't look interested in playing wide, and did his best work in the middle. Hard to blame the manager for players poor performances yesterday. But to me, Lambert can't play the deep position that Ramirez did and Ramirez isn't suited, and doesn't want to, play wide. I was disappointed with our corners as well, the high floater to the back post that is easier to defend than a ball fired in with pace. We tried that one once yesterday and Fonte nearly scored. I reckon Strachan would have accused us of playing 'propoganda' football yesterday. Compare our passing game with that of Swansea, theirs is quicker and more penetrative than ours was yesterday. As Adkins said, it looked flat, to me it seemed a bit slow and laboured. We missed Lallana. The players let the manager down yesterday.

If we need someone on the left, what about Reeves. Wouldn't do any worse than a square peg we stick out there. Quite like the idea of Gaston playing just behind Rodriguez as well. Gaston with his clever little passes, and Rodriguez with his movement around the box.

Out of interest, who would you suggest we buy as a replacement?

Imo it was one of those games where we wouldn't have scored in a month of Sundays and too many of our forward thinking players were off their games.

So you're not allowed to say anyone had a crap game because it's moaning?

Mayuka was appallingly bad, we've done the hard work bedding Jay in, and just when he is starting to look good we drop him to the bench. Square pegs and round holes didn't work again today trying to cover Lallana's absence. Give Reeves a go. Too many players were off their games today.