Legod Third Coming

If you cannot take a throw in, £10,000 fine. End of.

Connolly looks young for his age doesn't he?!

Great effort, and good passing football again. Keep it up lads!!!

That was better - good movement, quick and just a dodgy cross

Agreed but if we get it down and use it we have the quality to win this at a canter. BUT we must get it down and use it!!!

Not if you're watching it in colour...

We're not holding onto and using the ball well enough at the moment

He was oustanding at Charlton. Does that not count? I also thought he was pretty good in every game I've seen at right back.

I thought he was doing brilliantly and bloody unlucky to get injured and the find the man in possession also playing well. Thomas for me.

Reminds me of a gag John Francome told us at a lunch once. He said Miriam, his ex had a tattoo of a ballerina on a tightrope when she was young and taught. But now at her age it looks more like a tramp with a skipping rope!

Yes you can. 1 - 0

I applied for this option to 'trust in the manager' but apparently we should tell him how to do his job regardless of how well he's doing it... which frankly sounds like some people on this site might have been previous bosses of mine...

I liked that gag better when it was "Welcome to Jamaica and have a nice day..." Still 19, the old ones are the best eh?!

If I was going to be critical of Pardew (and I'm not while we are winning) one thing I have noticed is the number of times we punt it long. I can see why teams might call us long-ball because I have seen Kelvin roll the ball out less than three times all season. Personally, this does my head in as I am a percentage fan and I like to know that the ball I pass is more of less guaranteed to arrive at a colleague's feet. However, I have had to accept that this is the way we are going to play and while it works, I'm not complaining. We have scored this way against Southend and I am sure Lambert's ability causes problems for defenders with the ball dropping from height. Why we should play a more passing game with 4-4-2 though is beyond me? All logic says you are MORE likely to hit long balls with two strikers rather than one, since you have double the chance of a) hitting a front man and b) picking up a knock down. Maybe, therefore, there is more to the system than simply the formation?? Maybe system 1 is target man and system 2 is Arsenal, if you get my drift.

Fair enough. You would accept defeat with a system you prefer to victory and a stunning performance with one you dislike though? (again genuine question).

Agreed. When we have players still who were used to losing, it's vital that they win as many matches as possible so that it becomes the norm. That said, I wouldn't risk injured players in any game. We should have enough depth in our squad to be able not to take risks. So if he left out Hammond for Mellis on fitness grounds, fair enough.

This is what your manager has done. He said in an interview after the MK Dons game (although I seem to be the only one who heard this) that he has two systems. He only knows two systems and he will only ever play two systems. When pushed by Tony Husband about 4-5-1 or 4-4-2, he said the system is immaterial, it's about having players with a winning mentality and that's what he now has. He said against MK Dons that the players were confusing themselves with the first system and he had to change it because they weren't using it correctly (which rather pours cold-water on the suggestion that System A was ineffective if the manager asserts it wasn't being employed properly)... He also said that Southampton fans had got too hung up on systems and he understands why after last season, and that having players with the right mentality was key, not the system they use. And yet, you would prefer to see 4-4-2. Why? What is it about the 15 goals, 4 wins and a draw that causes you to believe a change is required? (Genuine question, I am baffled). Pardew might not even play 4-4-2. He might assert (and it's his right as he trains the team) the he plays 4-2-1-1. He might claim he plays a Diamond and a Christmas Tree, who knows! What bit of the winning and not losing has he not yet got right? And what would you say if he started 4-4-2 against Brighton and we lost? (Again, genuine question).

I have a better first touch than Beattie. You probably do too...

If we don't beat Brighton we should lynch the manager!!! Unless between now and then they appoint Mourinho and buy Kaka...

Who do you blame for the goals?? Both yesterday and previously? Against MK Dons it was undoubtedly Jaidi with the needless freekick because apart from that we really didn't look like conceding at all! I didn't see yesterday and the quality of the League programme is so poor you can't see what happens in the build-up!!

Agreed. Formation cause or player cause? Complacency?What? I would take a view from someone watching.

Really bizarre, he seemd to have much more time than he realised. Did Kelvin call I wonder?

This is hogwash. Any argument is valid. But this one seems pointless when the manager is succeeding. And there are nigh on zero threads praising our Manager. When there is such balance then you might be right, until then you're just arguing that this place is better when it is riddled with criticism than when it shows a balance of opinion. Surely when a team is winning, a forum should be biased in favour of positive reaction? Not be design but by default. This thread was started halfway through the second half yesterday as an oppotunity to suggest that Professor's proposition (we should start with 4-4-2) was valid because we were losing... That's his opinion and preference of formation, fair enough. We did not lose, so at what point does he change his view and acceed that 4-5-1 or 4-3-3, or 4-2-1-2-1 or whatever might be the correct formation? Or does he just want 4-4-2 regardless of results? That is a debate worth having.

It is the way of the world sadly. There are myriad United fans who criticise Fergie. Whereas, in my book, the guy is a managerial God. Probably the best manager in the history of football. In such cases (and I am not remotely saying that Pardew is yet close to such a status) managers are beyond criticism altogether. That's my view. Feguson has earned the right to do what the hell he likes and their fans should lump it. Or wise up. There is no doubt Ferguson would prefer to play Kaka than Nani, but United have no cash... Anyway, that's an aside... As regards Pardew and 4-4-2. The lobby for the latter seem to have no basis for an argument if whichever system the manager chooses is winning games. When his system is not winning games, then he needs to be called to account and I would be the first to question his tactics. But what is the point of this thread when you consider: 1. We have scored 15 goals in five games. 2. We have won four and drawn 1 of the last five. We have no problem scoring goals, we're conceding very few. I don't give a stuff what Pardew plays so long as we win. Surely that is all that matters?? The guy himself said (and I agree 100%) that our fans have been bamboozled by formations and think about such things far too much. Of more importance he said, is to have winning players with a winning mentality. We seem to be achieving this. As for the next level of winning the next six games, you're entitled to believe that changing a system/players that has earned 13 point in the last 18 (could easily be 16 in 18 after our next home game) is the way to go. I would disagree as I don't condone changing things that are working. But that's your view and you're welcome to share/air it, of course.

He's back in form at Stoke. When he's confident, he really is a superb player isn't he? Powerful, strong in the challenge and must be a bloody nightmare for defenders!