Wes Tender

Quite. We didn't play too badly and were unlucky really not to have got at least a point from the match. Odemwingie got away with a blatant handball which was missed by both the ref and the lino. Had that been given, then it is probable that their first goal might not have happened. It was obvious that the ref had viewed it at half time and realised that both officials had missed it. Even then, having missed that, the goal was a bit flukey, as a deflection that otherwise Gazzaniga would probably have saved. Nothing really that could have been done about their second goal, as Fox was clearly identified as being at fault, but what exactly can you do about improving Fox anyway? But Lallana should have been awarded what was a clear penalty, which I am confident would have been put away by Lambert. Half chances which on another day would have been put away by us, together with the bad luck that went against us that I mentioned above, mean that 1 point was deserved and three points wasn't beyond the realms of possibility.

Frankly, who cares what the skates are suggesting about us? There have been enough sensible suggestions on here to counter their allegations, even if there was any substance in them, which is unproven. It probably irks the hell out of them that we can comment on their situation with the benefit of historical evidence and hindsight, whereas all they have in response is conjecture based on rumour and innuendo.

The irony of your post must have gone right over your head. Not that such a response was totally unexpected from you. Can I just make one thing clear though? The milestone for any poster with any common sense, balance and judgement is not 10 matches or 20 or 30, but when we have played all other teams home and away. If you want to write off the season after it is a quarter of the way through, then more fool you. Altogether not in any way surprising given your past record, which is incidentally stuck, yet again.

Couldn't agree more. Yet another thread, tediously raking over the same old coals ad-nauseum, although the OP could easily have added his thoughts to one or other of the threads available. Are we to have additional threads for the 12th match, the 15th, 20th? The mods really ought to sort this out as I can't be the only one to grow tired of the boring repetition by the same old pessimists. Is there any point anyway in trying to debate things sensibly when all you get in return is petty insults and sarcasm more appropriate to a school playground?

If we were to close down the forum, it would seriously deprive two particular groups of their daily fix. Firstly there are those whose condition is best summed up by the phrase "they're not happy unless they're unhappy." When they predict a dire outcome for the season before more than a quarter of it is past, it is the internet equivalent of premature ejaculation. The second group comprises those who start up threads on internet forums covering subjects already being discussed on existing threads, in order to draw attention to themselves. If the forum was to cease to exist, these two groups would probably need counselling, as they would be deprived of their therapy.

Absolutely ridiculous to have yet another thread, but this time even before we have played our match. Quite why this original post couldn't be added to an existing thread just highlights the desperate urge of the poster to be another attention seeker. As it is, the title itself is laughable. We are not stranded this early in the season at all. We have had a difficult run of fixtures against the top teams in the division with two of our more influential players, Cork and Ramirez, out injured. With both of them back and a run of less daunting fixtures ahead, we will begin to turn things around.

Do the principles of attack, midfield play or defence change from division to division? No. Certainly the skill levels of the players improves immeasurably the higher up the leagues you go, but the principles remain the same regarding positioning, closing down, discipline, teamwork, etc. Just because a coach only had playing experience as a defender in the lower divisions doesn't preclude him from becoming a great coach at the top levels, any more than a player with a career in the lower divisions would be incapable of achieving great things as a manager of a top team. However, although Crosby is Adkins' man, I just get the feeling that the defensive weaknesses and lapses might be partly down to him, so a sensible alternative to replacing a good manager, might be to replace the defensive coach instead.

I disagree. The phrase is just a cliche which only has some validity on paper before a match has been played, as precedent proves that any team can beat any other team on the day. Once the match has been played and one team has lost by a heavy margun, that then becomes designated as an easy game for the winning team. Once a hierarchy has been established in the division, then as a generality the teams near the relegation zone will be deemed to be easier games by those near the top, compared with them playing rival teams also at the top of the division.

Lee Dixon? An integral part of the best defence at Arsenal during their "1-0 to the Arsenal" years. Could he be pursuaded to leave or supplement his punditry income as a consultant here? Steve Bould also appeals, but he has his feet under the table at Arsenal as assistant manager.

Unfortunately the smileys don't include one for sarcasm, so it is difficult to assess when somebody is joking or not. As you say, we are stuck with the players we have until the January transfer window and our defence definitely has shortcomings although the individual players show some potential to improve. I think that there is a lot to be said for the opinion of some that instead of sacking the manager, we ought to appoint a good defence coach.

Thanks for your response, Professor Victor. Redcrapp hardly gave Bale much of an outing as LB and he only stumbled across Bale being a world class player when he began playing him left midfield. But I'm not convinced that even saggy chops could transform Fox into a silk purse. From what I've seen, there are very few names that are put forward as potential replacements for Adkins apart from Redcrapp and Hoddle and there are so many reasons why either could be a disaster. One would have thought that with all of these posters switching to the Adkins out camp recently, there would be a plethora of alternative candidates that they would want in. Seemingly not.

So who is this experienced Premiership manager that you'll be content with? Somebody already in the Premiership currently, or somebody that used to be a Premiership manager? You see, if anybody reckons that somebody else would do a better job than Adkins, other posters are surely entitled to ask this question and then they can comment on whether they agree or not. Do you not see how weak it sounds to suggest that you wouldn't shed a tear if Adkins were replaced and then not have the conviction to suggest who you would have in mind?

Yes

Bloody Sky! I hate the interfering bastards with a vengeance.

Mooted by whom? Yes, he has a high profile as an ex-player of some merit and as a media pundit, but what is his management record in British football? Zero experience, but sure to walk into the role because of his high profile, eh? Does the person who mooted this have a high profile with insider information at the club, or was it the journo's mate's opinion down at the pub that Shearer was a suitable candidate?

Credit for coming up with a name and I'm sure that Dalek would be wholeheartedly behind you there! Fulfills most of the criteria set, but arguably the proven record in the Premiership might be questioned as it has been 6 years since he has been involved in English football. Also, the same thing applies to Hoddle as to Redknapp; would the fans want him? Maybe the wounds inflicted by Redknapp are still more raw than those from our association with Hoddle last time around and at least he didn't get us relegated and perhaps whether the fans wanted him isn't in any event such a consideration for Cortese, who would place more importance on whether he could turn things around. Whether he could do a better job than Adkins is debateable.

I'm not making the suggestion that we replace Adkins, so it's not really necessary for me to nominate prospective replacements. But your questions highlight exactly the problems which will relate to any managers who would be nominated by others and are probably the reasons why posters who want Adkins gone are so reticent to give names. Take an example. Pepi Guardiola, mentioned by Dubai Phil, very tongue in cheek, I'm sure. Available? Yes. Affordable? Would probably cost an arm and a leg. Do we have the money to afford him? As you say, who knows? But I doubt it. Proven record? As Phil says, not in the Premiership, which seems to be a dominant criteria for some, but undoubtedly plenty good enough. Would he want to come here? Again, I very much doubt it, as he could take his pick of virtually any Club team in the World and National teams too. So to those wishing us to replace Nigel Adkins, let's have some nominations and then we can apply these criteria to them and see whether they are realistic suggestions or just fantasies.

Having read all of the posts so far, the ones that talk the most sense are those from ChiSaint, Adrian & Bearsy's short but accurate post. Yes, it was a great disappointment that many of those reserve players didn't grasp the opportunity to fight for a place in the first team and I'm sure that as a result they have done their chances some harm because of their lack of effort. But surely on paper that didn't look too bad a team to put out. For all of those who have been tipped into the Adkins out camp, let's have some suggestions as to who they want to see replace him. Otherwise it is going to make you all look a bit lame saying that you want him gone, but that you don't have a clue who would do a better job. Just one proviso to that; the managerial choice has to be available, with a proven record at this level, affordable and wanting to come here.

If you think that asking somebody to substantiate their opinion is trolling, then fine. If you think that responding to a civilly stated question with foul-mouthed abuse is acceptable, then I'll bracket you with him.

Always entertaining at half-term. If you don't feel like justifying your opinions to me, then justify them to everyone else. Not a great deal of point, is there, coming onto a forum and when your opinions are challenged, just hurling abuse back. If you can't argue your corner, then what it shows is either that your opinions were groundless, or that you lack the mental capacity to defend them. Which is it?

Because you can't. You want Adkins gone, but can't even name somebody to take his place.

Disappointed. I much prefer him to Boruc.

You're making your judgement on an impression you've gained, not on any concrete evidence, which as far as I'm aware, none of us have on here. Tactics have been drawn up from intelligence gained about a rival side, or dictated by circumstances during a match. Team selections and substitutions likewise. Whether they were right or wrong is dependent on the result of a match, but even then is debateable. Take for example the Man City match when he left out Lambert and Davis from the starting line-up, but both scored when they came on. Tactical nous, or would they have also scored in the first half too? And you base your opinion that he has lost the dressing room on what precisely? And who would you bring in to replace him?

Davis would have beaten Defoe to it. The distance to it wasn't great and he would have been quick out of the blocks. Boruc nearly made it, but started out a bit late and then hesitated. There is no particular reason why Davis would therefore not have made it, imo. Besides, Defoe is only little and the sight of a big goallie charging towards him with intent would probably have unnerved him at least.

I think that Nigel should get the bullet and be replaced by WGS. His interviews were always entertaining. Definitely the best Saints manager I can remember in terms of post match interviews.