shurlock

more likely we would have lost 2-0.

They put us under alot of pressure in the 2nd half. The whole tempo and balance of the half was against throwing an attacker on too early.

Coz we drew and he said it was a must win as you imply or coz we threw away a 1-0 lead at the death? I can't read your confused mind but if it was the first one- I would say yes he would have been very happy with a draw had it not come out of a last gasp equaliser; of couse he wont be happy with how we drew the game but that's a different point.

mate you havent got a clue. we played 4-4-2 - the formation of choice for alot here, several changes were enforced (Jaidi and we don't know what Connolly's status was, only that he was struggling) and the timing of subs seemed right - yes we could have been more adventurous but we were put under alot of pressure in the second half and probably would have come away with nothing had we done so. Don't know what you would suggest: people here have been saying that lloyd is better at RM - they got their way today; others have been saying that antonio struggles when he starts and is best used as a super-sub when the opposition is tiring- they got their way today (all credit to pards for playing antonio down the middle to this extent); others have wanted to Lallana to play in the "hole" or alongside lambert because he doesn't provide enough width - they got their way. the big surprise was starting Holmes but I think the gamble paid off as he had a very good game. we underperformed in midfield but you or nobody else here can suggest an alternative if we dont have the players.

nothing of sort -we were kept just outside the ground for 20-25 mins and then it was a slow walk up to the train station. a few of our fans -the usual suspects, the yoof and their paedo minders- kicked off with the OB and were cordoned off. But it was all out of sight of any Millwall fan.

Just back from the game - surprisingly not as downhearted as a last-gasp equaliser following a seeming smash-and-grab might suggest. Probably the acknowledgment that we didn't really deserve to win the game. Always going to be a hard game given we were bedding in three new defenders and we lost Hammond - as well as the New Den being a bit of a fortress. Thought Seabourne had a very poor game -maybe nerves but was beaten to ball too many times, nutmegged in our own area, misplaced headers and clearances. Fonte was a canny operator (though maybe the ref sussed him towards the end) and I thought Ostemobor had a decent game,though he didn't take full advantage of some of the space he was given down the right. In terms of the two fullbacks, most questions were asked of Harding. I thought Holmes had a very promising game, especially bearing in mind he hasn't played since Carlisle away (or something like that). Linked well with Lallana (who didn;t have his best game alongside Lambert) and looked comfortable with the ball at his feet under pressure. At least a player whose first instinct wasn't to hoof it. Certainly gives Pards more options in terms of Lallana's position. Ref had a shocker. Was far too lenient. Only booked one of their players when 5 or 6 should have gone into the book. Lambert was given no protection. Had the ref taken control, it would have been a different game. Millwall really exploited the ref's leniency. Don't know how serious Hammond's injury is but it did expose how thin we are in midfield - still unsure whether we need another combative midfield general or a more attacking AM- today suggested the former; though I would go with the latter. Hopefully next week will see an arrival or two there.

Read Pards latest comments - says we are scoring enough goals. make of it what you will...

Think Fonte could sweep for us - is certainly good enough on the ball.

James has been been better at RM than CM - at any rate he's a totally different kind of midfielder from Mellis - he's p*ss poor at breaking into the space or getting behind the defense- one reason why he's incapable of delivering the ball anywhere near the byline. anybody with brain wouldn't try and fit this square peg in this particular round hole.

I defer to Pards - a replacement for Mellis as he's publicly stated he wants. That gives me faith there's something in the Danns/Stock rumours.

Remember Murty was a Wotte pick (that doesn't mean I don't rate Murty I do). Mifsud was on everybody's HCDAJFU list in the summer - incredible how fickle moods are...

Remember the FA cup replay well, a couple of oakley scorchers - also had a memorable night at the New Den for the league cup. This is a six pointer of sorts - would be a shame if we didnt have the numbers to match the importance of the occasion.

Can't say we've really spent that much though the caution is understandable. Our biggest outlay was Lambo -and you can't achieve anything without a quality striker. As the season as gone on and we've shipped goals, a CB has become a priority - hence fonte. Other than that we've spent 200/300K on Hammond and got a ton of frees (Murty, Harding, Connolly, Jaidi notwithstanding their wages) - indeed, only a little while ago DD was moaning about the number of loanees. Its blindingly obvious that we need a CM/AM - so yes we may invest a few bob there. But we're only seeking to plug key gaps (I would be surprised if we signed both Danns and Stock rather than one or the other) which is normal given AP is rebuilding from scratch and the summers firesale. As time goes on and the team settles, I expect activity to slow down. Similarly, I'd rather spend a few bob now on quality which can take us all the way up the footbally hierarchy than go cheap and have to keep replacing players once we get promoted. Its only when we start ******ing money on squad players (Robhino a la Man City) or players who are only marginally better than what we have that I may worry. Otherwise im enjoying the ride.

Guess Barnes is also a victim of circumstance, esp the massive churn of managers at Derby. Has always struck me as a bit of hit-and-miss showboater rather than a 100 percenter but Billy Davies seemed to tolerate him because they had f**k all craft or quality. When Davies left, Jewell loaded the team with new signings in an attempt to stamp his mark on the place. That failed and left Derby with one of the biggest, most bloated squads in the CCC. No doubt, Barnes has been part of the inevitable cull and Clough as a raw, younger manager eager to prove himself has been ruthless with that cull; finally, there's not much tolerance for a lame or injured showboaters in this country - indeed there's not much tolerance for fit showboaters. This is especially if pace was seen as part of the repertoire.

Agree. On top of that, hard to deliver a ball with pace and power from 40 yards out. similarly if you attack the byline and the box, you're more likely to suck opponents in, dragging them out of position. and finally, getting to the byline -rather than crossing deep and necessarily early- gives more time for runners from midfield to flood the box.

Boll*cks that you have to be ruthless to run a company or organisation or can't be nice. Actually, its the best way to run it into the ground and sap any sense of collective responsibility - can't think of many successful footballer managers who ruled principally through fear. Important thing is to be consistent -do what you say- principled -rules apply to everyone- and mindful that people need a chance to prove themeslves and show they can learn and that not every problem has some readily identifiable bast*rd to blame - sh*t does happen but failing that to be prepared to come down hard. Its not necessarily about showing who's the big man but a sense of fairness and respect to co-employees who are doing to their bit but seeing others sponge off their efforts. Also important to remember that there maybe a logic to why certain practises and institutions, however bizarre exist and that logic should be interogated preferably with the help of insiders -say DoFs etc- before being thrown out because they don't conform with some tosh you learnt on a MBA. Having the ghosts and greats of yesteryear around SMS drinking you dry, say, might appear like a waste but it might serve some other function important to the business - continuity with the past to which football fans are more slaves than most etc. Not always -plenty of cases where people just have their snouts in the trough- but sometimes. Practises wouldn't survive for long otherwise.

South London rag (probably not updated) still says we're interested in Neil Danns, also Palace - anybody rate him?

If we get Fonte, my bet is that its a M/AM.

A cultured CB is just what we need - if he can handle the CCC, he'll have no probs in L1.

Tudgay's a v. good player. What are your reasons for them, based on the OP?

yeh been an eternity since we've got excited about anything - being rescued from the clutches of extinction by a billionaire just a few months ago wasn't much of a the buzz...christ.

Barazite (Derby), Simpson (QPR), Lansbury (Watford), Emmanuel-Thomas (Blackpool) -all currently on loan from Arsenal to CCC sides- who else?

Somebody he got to know through his brother? Ex-arsenal in the CCC?

Ex-Palace or got to be a london-based CCC side - small world and all that. That leavs somebody at QPR or Watford - can't think of anybody at QPR who would leave -after all, they're still seen as a team coming somewhere though the likes of Buszacky are currently available - and he's "big". A better hunch is that its somebody at Watford given they're in the s**t. Alternatively there might be a Portugese link - Ronaldo at Man U. Somebody at Man U on loan to a CCC side? A youth player? Only gary glitter is friends with kids. Paolo Sousa? He was manager of QPR which takes us back to somebody there. :rolleyes:

Spot on - dodgy at first but looked really good - could have had a hatful of goals from his breaking runs. Gave us the kind of movement in the middle that neither Schneiderlin or Hammond have provided. His international callup in which he showed he could finish combined with our run of form and Connolly's introduction meant that his subsequent appearances were stop-start. A shame. Think he'll go on to bigger things.