eelpie

Calm down dears. We'll beat them on the rearranged date anyway

if our recently wobbly defenders can manacle Harley and Cureton we should win well. If not expect a draw or defeat. Exeter have achieved good results off us and play best against the top teams.

In the Cricketers off Bedford Place. Saw Terry Paine who was drinking with a friend and started chatting about the good old days as kids playing footie in Winchester. He had no idea who I was.

It can't be Portakabin. They've been snapped up by Skates (so I'm unreliably informed)

If our recently wobbly defenders can keep Harley and Cureton manacled we will win handsomely. If not, then we will lose or draw. Simple.

1. Adam has to be THE player of the year. No one else need to apply. That despite some stirling performances from just about everybody ( if not all at the same time). 2. So runner up for me has to be the WHOLE TEAM performing together as a unit. (Again not all the time, true, but getting better and better as we move up the table.) Adam meanwhile has rarely not been outstanding. (And best newcomer in the whole country? AOC of course)

Austin

You are right. Which is the tragedy of the situation. He is talented and when on form he sets the match alight, but this season he hasn't performed as well throughout matches as last. But too many of the team began the season lacking desire as well. Nicola's criticisms of Pards pre-season training seems spot on and may have cost us several good players including Puncheon.

Do you not see the ironic connection in your statement? He is yet another talent that we as a fan base do not have the patience nor foresight to want to develop. For me, he is the missing impact player - that we have so desperately needed recently - to come on from the bench in recent matches. We need him back if we don't get better in January.

On a grammatical error point........

Exactly. I wasn't criticising the midfielders and Adam (yes, apols meant Adam not Alan) and Oxo are performing well, and contributing goals, as the midfield should. Because the strikers are not doing their job the opposition are able to play forward and harry our midfield. Lambert should be further forward and bothering defences and be in position to receive crosses from midfield and wings. Defensively despite the odd soft goal we are doing quite well, and the midfield are playing their part. But we should be terrifying their rearguard which we did last season. We are too feeble in front of their box and shooting is too obvious and erratic upfront. Not good.

We are where we are because as we well know we have a misfiring strike force (Alan and Oxo excepted). Had they been anywhere near as potent as they were last season we would be in the top two. I hope Nicola reaIises that the crocked three have to be replaced with a couple of potent, inform strikers, otherwise we can forget the five year plan.

Blind Pugh. Quite a treasure

Your quite right. A hammer and a driver upfront is what we need.

It went wrong before the match. They came on thinking they could stroll this match.

I always feel uneasy when I read a string of comments on the OS by players and present and past-managers of how well they are training and what a happy group of fellers they are. I think complacency. And surely enough they stroll on to the pitch and are overwhelmed by fired-up opposition. If they can play with determination against Brighton (this year) why can't they fight like that at other times? It's unprofessional and they should be docked wages when they don't put in the effort. I can stomach the odd players having an off day, but laziness, NO.

The stats don't support you. Time for Rickie to rebuild his career from the Reserves, not in the first team. His lethargy and lack of confidence is contagious. Both he (and the injured Barnard) are not going to be of use to us in this important part of the season. We now have three forwards including Connolly not fit for purpose. We cannot expect a 17 year old on his own beside an erratic Guly upfront to get us promotion Without replacements we are f***ed

Shame on you - if you are criticising the experts on here.

Hopefully

From Quatar?

I notice the Liebherr ladies attend every match, even cup matches. While they remain fans I am not worried.

It's the name. Not a good year for Ricky's

Never mind. We'll host the Rugby World Cup in SMS. Because nobody much watches top rugby down here.

You could understand Strachan?

Phil Boyer - now he is a forgotten legend!