Saint Fan CaM

Unless Gazza is on his way out, I would say Robinson is a better bet at the moment.

Thanks - you've said almost exactly what I was going to say. Good post.

Simply don't agree. Kelvin may not be the best, but at the moment the best thing Adkins can do is keep the back 5 as consistent as he possibly can. They need match time together to forge an understanding in different scenarios. Changing things around in each of the thirds is not IMO the way to success.

Once again misquoted by a numpty who can't read. I wrote... 'not skillful enough with the ball at his feet on the run'. He is not a dribbler of the ball - it doesn't happen. Does that help?

Yoshi is getting better I would venture and certainly him and Fonte are the 1st choice CB's for the time being. Did a great job at right-back to be fair, evening getting forward on the overlap on a couple of occasions.

Can't believe the Butland story is still around. We must be planning to spend a sh1t-load in January if true.

Exactly this. And where was Lambert to score the goal? Lurking at the back post. A typical goal for him and well taken, however it doesn't remove the fact that he isn't mobile enough or skillful enough with the ball at his feet on the run to be ultimately the level of striker we will need to push on. For that reason alone, we will need to upgrade at some stage (not 'drop him' as suggested above).

Story has some legs then?

Really? I'd never have even guessed that - thanks.

Need to spend in January to raise the 1st teams competency by 20% or face going down. Simple as that really. Too early right now to predict who will go down, however we will almost certainly be in the mix, as will the likes of Newcastle. Hold on to your hats people, it's going to be a rough landing.

Given that I expected this to be a tonking, this is actually a really great point - however somehow it feels like we lost! Should NEVER give away a 3-1 lead to 10 men TBF and it just shows how fragile the squad can be. Our forward line let us down late in the game by not getting a foot on the ball and seeing out the game at 2-3 by keeping possession. Stoke are a hard team to deal with though to be fair. The sending off worked against us as they raised their game to their usual levels to chase the point and then the win. We looked drained after their 2nd went in on the other hand - not sure taking off Shaw was the right option as Fox's distribution is poor in comparison and the team seemed to see that as a signal to defend deep (per usual). PS: One thing I really don't like about Pulis and Stoke is that they've really turned into a bunch of cheating moaning minnies - every time the ball went into our box they tried calling for handball or being held etc etc. Pulis has taught them to do that because he thinks the 'big teams' do it too - prat.

To the OP - no, you're not alone. We need pace in attack.

I would sign a top striker as a Lambert replacement - would need to be strong, good with both feet, an aerial threat and above all else very mobile. Someone like Michu. If there's money to spare, then a CM in the mould of Yaya Toure would be superb.

Of course Adkins has got most things right. One thing he has little influence over right now is the standard of players at his disposal that have the ability to carry out the style and tactics he wants in the Prem.

Leave the defence inc. Davis alone - last thing we need is inconsistency there. Mid 3 should be Davis Cork and Morgan. Front three should be Jrod with Ramirez and Puncheon. Lambert on at 75m to retain draw/win or attempt to keep GD respectable. We'll almost certainly lose this - Stoke are the type of team that will not give us enough time on the ball and we're so pedestrian in buildup play I strongly believe we'll not score. Home win - 3:0.

Switching defence around against Stoke would be like an formal invite to muller us. Mind you, this is not a game we will win - a draw would be a great result.

Superb stuff.

Good point - a very lucky point, because we played poorly once again. The penalty award was extremely fortunate indeed. Lambert once again didn't look like scoring until he stepped up for the spot kick. As I have said previously SRL is now too immobile for the Prem and particularly for the style of football Adkins wants us to play. There's a very good reason SRL is our top scorer and his name is Lallana. Without him Lambert is looking isolated with few ideas on how to change things. He is increasingly finding himself out on the wing being playmaker so we then have to overplay the ball trying to get into a striking position and largely then end up losing it. Glad to see others are starting to realise that SRL is not working. Something has to change - I would like to see either Sharp back or the purchase of a skilled fast experienced striker. Ramirez must start central. Cork and Morgan need to be coached in forward passing. Puncheon needs to get his head up a bit more, but otherwise is OK for me. OK so we let in a goal - it'll happen in Prem - but we're looking better defensively. Still need a CB upgrade though.

That's a good point - I didn't know he could play both sides TBH, so yes I think he would be a good acquisition and probably in budget range. Would rather we had natural wide players to put out wide than play JRod and Guly out there.

A mobile, strong striker - in the mould of Michu - to replace Lambert. A fast, skilled left sided attacking midfielder to replace Lallana when injured. A tall strong experienced CB. That's it.

Good player, but do we need him? Not sure, unless we're looking for a replacement of some kind. Puncheon off?

Clearly because we were the better team on the day - and your point is?

My contention is that the situation is growing increasingly as the season has worn on - early doors Lambert got given much more freedom than his is being given now.

Well you pushed the stats at me - not the other way round! Can't argue with stats right?! As someone once said, the table doesn't lie.

Yes, I think there is possible connection, however I would actually put that down to (a) Shaw being excellent and (b) Fonte and Yoshi clicking in their partnership © Cork returning to partner Morgan - the defence looks much more balanced now (but perhaps not entirely perfect).