Clifford Nelson

I don't think there were any surprises amongst the released players, many of which never stood a chance to advance into the first team squad, but at the same time I'm please to see that a couple of the 'maybes' have gone, like James and Thomas. We know what they can do, but with our sights set high they were never going to match those aspirations. Those were the brave decisions which shows intent. This gives us the opportunity of building both a team and a squad which will be competitive also in the CCC without major surgery. I'm looking forward to the summer signings which now looks possibly more exciting than I had hoped. Together with the stated ambition of creating a "Southampton style" we might have something to talk about and speculate on.

I am not surprised that he hasn't mentioned a wish to stay, if that is the case, since he clearly isn't fancied by AP. At his age he needs to play every game and be shiowed some trust and appreciation. He could turn into a superstar somewhere. Whilst we have an option to buy, I'd be very surprised if we exercise it.

And just who is it who is to decide what is misuse and what is not, and how to punish those who have strayed from the "truth"? I thought it was one of those things we had agreed on that in a democracy we can't always approve of what is being said, but that we are prepared to stand up for that it can be said.

On NC's announcement today it rather seems that he hasn't any need for a DoF, since he knows it all himself already.

The ones whose contracts are up, they can be let go. Those who somebody wants can be sold or given a free transfer. For those who are still on contract and who nobody wants there are only two choices: The can be kept here and be paid until the contract expires, or they can have their contracts paid off. Any other ideas are ill informed dreams.

It was a most peculiar statement, very revealing of the goings on in NC's soul. It surprised me greatly, and clearly came straight from NC's heart. There hadn't been a PR person involved. What also surprises me is the amount of supporters who so strongly would like to censor the local media. Bowing without question to anybody who thinks that he is beyond even questions from the media is disturbing. Isn't this a free country with a free press? I seem to think that a generation of british people fought for their lives to ensure it staid that way.

Since some needs to be told that their services are no longer required, and the odd one or two that a contract is being offered, it seems sensible to keep them all going for another week.

If Otsemobor is not a first choice he will start to mentally deteriorating again. We are better off finding a youngster somewhere who is excited about playing and with some potential. AP has already made it clear that Murty isn't going to figure in the future; Thomas never set the world alight here; and James....hmmm....sad to see a Saints product leave, but he'd have a better career elsewhere. We must build for the future and not sentimentally hold on to those we know.

We will move on only when it's settled. Echo only reported what was printed elsewhere and didn't pretend to have inside information, and the withdrawal of the programme could easily be the announcement of Calderon's arrival ahead of pen being put to paper and with him still being officially a Brighton player. Even though the source for the explanation to ML's absence, according to Radio Solent, was NC, I can't imagine a very successful european businessman being so childish so that he didn't turn up because he was disappointed. I can't imagine much business success from sulking every time you don't get what you wish for. It makes me worried when I see the rumours about Mark Hughes. If we are to change manager I would expect the replacement to be something different, and not just another pragmatic 4-4-2 manager with a chequered management background. At least Pardew is positive, communicative and personable. I don't think that NC would lack so in imagination.

I bet you haven't got a clue about Papa's goalscoring record here compared to number of games started! And you have forgotten the number of assists. He is an exceptionally talented player who has been wasted here. I can't see AP signing him, and to be honest I can't see him wanting to stay.

You're not wrong, but the only point we can do anything about is our poor record against the bottom teams. I wish I had the confidence to believe that AP know what to do about it.

I can't imagine that NC would say goodbye to AP without knowing exactly what he wanted in his place, and having secured it. And that wouldn't just be another punt at somebody else. It would be with a clear idea of the football this club would be playing. I think the signing of AP was a good move at the time it was made. There was no time to think things through too thoroughly, and he has done well. Whether it is the long term future is another matter.

So if we haven't got a viable game plan if Rickie doesn't play should we just panic and change all plans when he doesn't, or change the whole of our game plan to find a viable one whether he plays or not? I have become resigned to the fact that our game is 4-4-2 with Lambert as target man, but I can't say that I'm enthusiastic about it.

And you can use that knowledge to realise what an edge it would be to our game if we can crack it, or you can be satisfied that others are just as poor.

All the players who will never play for the first team should now leave. Paid off if their contracts aren't expiring, since I can't see a single reason for why they should be coming in for training. All the players in the squad should have the talent and character to compete for a place, and if they are very young certainly in a years or twos time. Beattie, Trotman, Chaplow are all examples of players who were here once. That doesn't give them any advantage to be signed. On the contrary. Chaplow wasn't great the first time and has failed again since. Trotman would only get a place on the bench at best. Beattie never fulfilled his potential since leaving. It's better to move on than to move back. We need a commanding RB and a CM who can compete for a starting berth. AP is already on the trail for Lambert's understudy, but this need to be somebody who can also play with Lambert, since he will hardly be matchfit to step up if he hasn't played competitively for many games. Not easy to find the right player with the system we are playing. Playing to targetmen together is not an attractive proposition.

It is impossible to disregard Lambert, which is unfortunate for Harding. Seldom has a free transfer been so welcome, in my opinion. As for talent Papa Waigo should have had a hatful of votes, sadly he isn't as appreciated as he should be, in spite of his scoring and assist record being second to none, and that includes Lambert.

You are sooo right! I have been hammering on about that the reason Man U won the title last season were not their successes against the top 7, but contrary to common belief, their amazing record against the botton 13: 22 won and no losses. This is where success is guaranteed. Any top side which win one out of 7 against the bottom seven seals it's own fate. We have had a lot of problems, but the -10 points and the poor start of the season we couldn't do much about. This consistent weakness we should have done something about, but I have the suspicion that AP doesn't quite know what to do, based on his post match interview where he simply indicated a wish to have better players.

AP, and you, are quite right that we haven't got anybody in place of Lambert. The problem is that a quality targetman who could do that job won't be happy to sit on the bench waiting for Lambert to be injured. And what else do you do with him since I can't recall anybody playing successfully with two targetmen. At Saints I can remember Dowie and Moody being played together, which was a bit of a nightmare. My personal solution to this and many other dilemmas is to play a more flexible system which allows us to do different things without a total re-think if Lambert's head is not available as a target. Unfortunately we have now got two other strikers in Connolly and Barnard who seems not to be able to play any other role than that of a foil to a target man. I go with all your intended releases plus another half a douzen who are littering the reserves training ground without a hope of ever getting a first team game.

If you are building a team/squad for the PL in two years time and what you've got has already proved itself to be good enough for promotion from L1 you're hardly going to be signing 36 year old midfielders, are you? In August last year it would have been at least a thought, because we were desperate. We even wanted Stern John to stay. We have moved on from that.

Man U's results against the top 6 were much less flattering. We have got good players, especially for this division, and when they can play then they usually do very well, and the fact that they have also beaten Exeter and Tranmere, etc is of limited interest. Of cours, we should more times than not. But you must surely try to explain why, apart from Swindon, all our lost points this year are against the bottom half of the table. Bad luck can be one explanation, but I think I am spotting a possible trend. Defending teams needs to be lured out on to the pitch, and not like yesterday pressed further and further back. In the end there wasn't a possibilities to get a shot on goal for all the legs that were in the way.

If you mention Fergie then it is also worth mentioning that Man U won 23 of the 26 games against the bottom 13 last year and lost none. That how the title was won. I don't think any luck came into it.

Who said that we'll never beat them? If instead of looking at wins looks at the draws and losses and you will find Oldham, Brighton, Tranmere, Wycombe, Exeter, Brentford since the new year. (You will also find Swindon, but they were a good side on the night, and I mind very much less to lose points at the top sides, it is one of those things which happens.) I think the calamities against the bottom half are far too many to be bad luck.

If bad luck very often strikes when you play teams in the bottom half of the table one could start suspecting that it isn't just bad luck, but something that maybe could be dealt with. These are all opposition teams (Brentford, Exeter etc.) likely to put ten men behind the ball and defend as resolutely as they can in the hope to get a 0-0 draw, or with plenty of luck get a win (Tranmere). We need to know how to deal with those teams as well as those who come to play.

I think that what has done for us is our inability to play teams who like to put 10 men behind the ball. Oldham came for a 0-0 draw, and they got one. If that is how you organise your team then you expect the opposition to hit you with everything they've got, and with a little bit of luck you will manage to keep them out. Our difficulty is that we can't play the poor teams, remember Brentford, Exeter, Tranmere, for instance. By now we should have figured out how to play them as well, but AP puts more and more attacking players on the pitch without seemingly thinking about a way of countering this defensive tactic. Considering the success the opposition has had I think we might have to prepare ourselves for lots of the same next season. If Man U can virtually guarantee to beat the poor teams in the PL, then we should be able to do the same in the L1.