sadoldgit

There are certain positions I would never change on the field unless forced to do so by the player either being injured or having a mare. I wouldn't change the defence/keeper and I would take off the main goal threat. I would play Lambert in every game as a starter come what may. He scares defences, keeps the back four occupied and his free kicks are a constant threat. When you don't play your main goal threat it gives teams a psychological lift.

Things have changed since the 60s and 70s when you had your starting 11, a sub, and that was it. Clubs have squads now and managers select teams to do a job on the day. Thers is also the issue of injuries and suspensions. Bobby Gould made the point the other days that football used to be a lot more physical but players seem to pick up more injuries nowdays. Anyway, this forum can't even decide on who our best keeper is let alone our best starting 11! I don't doubt that Pardew puts a team out each game to get a result. Whatever that team is there will always be dissention and debate, especially if we draw. I won't say lose because we don't lose many matches (which would seem to indicate that Pardew is getting things right more often than he is getting them wrong).

Because some people (and we all know who they are) love to find a cloud for every silver lining. Huge result yesterday and good to see the new players slotting in so well. I stil think we are unlikely to make the play offs this season but, with a couple of decent additions in the summer, we look set for a decent crack at the lague next season.

Apart from Beattie and Davies, those players were royally slagged off as being useless when they were with us!

What has Ron Davies got to do with it??? If you are talking about Lowe, he was geting ripped to shreds the day the moment he took over as, like Cortese, he wasn't a "football man".

It just seems odd to me that you could be in a cup winning team whilst having been knocked out of the competition earlier with another???

So we can't critically discuss ML and NC but it is quite okay to pull Lowe, Crouch, Wilde, Burley, Redknapp, Kelvin Davies, Rory Delap, Matty Oakley, Wigley, Gray, Wright etc etc etc apart??? Personally, apart from Cortese's childish behaviour with the Echo and foolish outburst about results (he should back his manager in public even if he gives him a hard time behind closed doors) I don't have an issue with the bloke. What I do find funny though is the fact that somehow he is fireproof??? Lowe had all kinds of abuse thrown at him for falling out with the Echo, pulling the plug on deals because he thought they were too expensive, not being a football man etc, but someone those things don't seem to matter any more? Hmmmm.....one rule for one......

I don't think it was a policy. Maybe he had to wait to get the guy he wanted. Just a shame we couldn't have got Andrew Davies in sooner.

Players come, players go. Hopefully he will stay but if he does move we will replace him just as we replaced Ron Davies, Mick Channon etc etc.

Wow, bit harsh!!! I can recall some outfielders mistakes that cost us the pay off final place.

If he had gone to West Ham, as many of us thought he would, he might not have played many games but he would have earned a lot more money. He showed great loyalty by staying and the manager seems to think that he is the 1st choice keeper so until that changes this really doesn't matter. As for yesterday, Porstmouth beat us because they took their chances and we didn't, not because we had Davis in goal.

We have lost one match this year, to a Premiership team. They might be poor by Premiership standards but they can afford to bring in quality players like O'Hara. Pardew has a tough job and very few managers turn teams round quickly. I'd be very surprsied if we weren't a better team this time next season.

It is not difficult, you should aim to get as high as you can every season. To reach the play offs now would mean teams above us dropping points which is unlikely. I doubt very much if they sit around thinking, hmmm, let's take our foot of the gas and finish just above the relegation zone. If you don't go into every match trying to get something from the game there really is no point in bothering is there? Every game is about getting a result and learning how to get results from the forthcoming games from the way you have been playing recently. This is true whether you are rooted to the bottom, flying high at the top or midtable. You do your best and you finish where you finish.

If you want to be picky every goal should be stopped at some point. Davis didn't have a chance with the first and was left badly exposed for the others. He has saved us on many occasions and is a decent keeper. Not his fault that he is not Peter Shilton. James stopped those because they were near to him. Had the efforts been wider or lower, as was Lambert's header, he would have conceded too. We lost yesterday because we lost our shape and disipline and were done on the counter. No doubt the legs went to after all that effort too. Very harsh to lay any blame at the keepers door IMHO.

So he bought a dummy when he was one on one. His fault or a quality finish from a Prem player?

Unfortunately it is the nature opposition that generated that atmosphere. It is hard to see people geting so worked up by a mid week, mid winter game against the likes of Tranmere.

Simples Alpine, the Mods have decided to give me infraction points even though you have been your usual abusive self, and you simply aren't worth getting into bother over. If you can't find anything to feel good about by supporting a football club that is your issue. I feel sorry for you.

So Mods, I get infraction points for a tame dig at our resident Emo but he calls me a "TIT" and that is okay is it? Perhaps I should just call him names rather than pick up on his inane negativity and that would be okay? To quote dear departed Um Pahars, you couldn't make it up.

You are quite right. He has a good footballing brain and reminds me of the way that he ghosts into great positions of Martin Peters, but his finishing is weak and he needs to get more on the ball when he makes contact.

Couldn't fault Davis for any of the goals yesterday as he was left exposed by the lack of defenders. Made a really good save from O'Hara and is still a decent enough keeper for our purposes.

Didn't take you long to start having a pop at our manager again did it? Change the record Alps for goodness sakes.

When you say "we" Alpine were you talking about England or Austria??? And to be fair, you get the p*ss taken out of you for most things you say.

Dear Alps, don't flatter yourself. Why would I run a search? Your unwelcome posts pop up like a turd in a swimming pool in most threads I read. As for going to a match....once again the words pot, kettle, black spring to mind. Unlike you Alps, I only comment on matches that I see. I note that you form your analysis on other people's opinions then rehash them, so your views don't even form in your own arse but from collective other arses spread around this forum. Managed to get even slightly excited about a Cup Final yet? Just think of all the fun ways you can pop the bubble if we actually win it...I bet you are dreaming up some dreary comment even now....

Easy to be critical from afar but he put it too close to James. In the corner and James has no chance.

Funny that, "powder puff" was exactly what was going through my head about all of his efforts today. Good footballing brain and gets into the right positions but then it usually goes pear shaped.