Badger

The back four certainly look there for the taking, and you'd imagine Lukaku and Pogba terrorising them frankly. McCarthy is a bit of an unknown quantity, just hope he has an inspired game to keep it the score down, sneak a 0-0.

So that's both Gabbiadini and Austin he seemingly doesn't rate,although they are the only ones likely to score. Despite this he still fails to consider whether playing an isolated striker might be the problem.

Lamina on the bench which seems a strange selection unless he's nursing an injury. And Bednarek on the bench.

It's obviously time for McCarthy to live up to the expectation of his early career then and prove you wrong. Especially as he's been under the expert coaching of Dave Watson for the last 18 months. That is assuming McCarthy has been selected. You never know it may be Taylor between the sticks.

1)Possibly as long ago as the 1960's. 2)Admire your optimism, but don't necessarily share your summary of the situation. No, they're not that good, although we have it in ourselves to make them look worldbeaters; unfortunately we can just be bad in key areas- defence, in goal especially, and in front of their goal (take a bow Shane Long & Redmond). Hoping for an upset, but not banking on it.

Don't bring me in to it. But when Pep signs him for £30m Les will yet again bask in glory... until then though...

Yes that's exactly what we could do with during a relegation struggle, a Pruttonesque 12 game ban (or whatever it was) for the a chunk of the season. Anyway rumours of him moving have been dismissed by the club president: http://www.espn.co.uk/football/soccer-transfers/story/3326596/mario-balotelli-leaving-nice-in-january-is-unimaginable-club-president

Can we negotiate for the Nice manager, Lucien Favre, whilst we're at it? Reading about the two from Nice reminded me that we were also linked with another of their players last season, Cyprien, until he sustained a major knee injury. All three are highly rated and I believe coached by Puel at one stage. Surprising then that their flair and skills weren't coached out of them as many believe this was his way.

Hopefully. I'd rather he spent a large proportion of the remaining season on their treatment table rather than ours. Press reports suggest Liverpool want to sell rather than loan though.

True, but my recollection is that the 10 in front of him froze and didn't seem to want to play, the defence especially.

I only remember one Eric Martin error, when he dropped a West Ham free kick over the line in the 3rd round of the FA Cup in 1975. Think that might have been his last game for us, certainly one of them, before Lawrie brought in firstly Steve Middleton then Ian Turner. Ian Andrews was pretty poor as I recall.

Not sure if this is a bit of a fop to the supporters, perhaps intended to give a friendly face in the coaching set up to try and deflect the fans anger, or a fop to the players if its true that MP has a strained relationship with the squad. Feel a bit sorry for Kelvin as this propels him into the front line and gives a bit of a thankless task. If he does well presumably MP soaks up the credit, if results continue as they are through no fault of Kelvin's, he might find himself out if a new man arrives and wants to bring his own team. He will certainly be a popular caretaker if called upon though. Might have expected him to be a specialist GK coach in time.

Who spoke to him at Heathrow then ? I read this as Leigh (whoever he is) met Viera at Heathrow.

We were linked with Pontus Janson at Leeds again last week.

Not sure WGS would be the 'impact manager' we might need for a short term fix to the end of the season. Long term he hasn't really shown a lot since leaving us either. Great whilst here but that was in excess of 10 years ago.

I remember a lot of similar glib articles in 2004/5 in which Claus Lundekvan for one would be wheeled out after an insipid performance and defeat telling the world "oh, the lads were really disappointed by that performance .. and will be giving it 110% on Saturday to make amends..."

Don't see that to be honest, they've got the player they wanted after some public humiliation in the summer perhaps and having paid more than they wanted. We're the ones who have 'caved in' selling him to them. Great shame we couldn't have extracted a better bid from City or Chelsea.

Joking aside, he was available a few weeks ago. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/celtic-talent-scout-john-park-9047544 Having brought in Wanyama & VD to Celtic he does have a decent track record and you would have thought that had Reed done his homework he'd have been all for signing him up. Given the nature of his role I don't suppose the bloke would even need to relocate.

£75m - fine. Liverpool - feels bitter selling to those c^nts at any price. Reassuring to see lizard Les has been negotiating with them after this summer's stance. Trouble is I expect any amount of ££ is irrelevant if Pellgrano is in charge. Yes that's our style, a gamble on another shortarse - Juanmi style - unproven striker.

Inclined to agree that if you review his time at the club he has earned the right to try sorting it but it isn't just the managerial decisions that underline the doubts over his position. In addition to this: - transfer windows, - the CB fiasco last January - failure to sign a striker when goals were obviously going to be scarce - the VD issue; staggering that with the back four already weakened by losing both FB's we elect to let VD sit it out. Not sure Reed sees this as a "career" at his age so much as a continuing salary until retirement. Never mind he's probably groomed Ross Wilson to take over the role.

Wonder if Reed can continue to overlook things when this is being trotted out in mainstream media ?

Perhaps having a manager who can motivate might have given us a happier outcome as well.

Isn't this the last two home games where someone has posted 'knowledge' of either 'raised voices behind closed doors' (Leicester), or "something big happening" (Huddersfield),but of course the outcome is ... nothing. Unless of course Les is ramping up the dithering once more.

As big a concern as to getting shot of MP or not, is just who is making the decisons and selections. The last two appointments have drained confidence in Les Reed. From the outside SFC does seem an empty vessel without leadership or direction.

Totton Boys would be "tough opposition" if our team are not set up properly, or baffled by his selection/tactics.