VectisSaint

Relegation is certain with the current set up and circumstances. Continued belief that JP will deliver us is completely misplaced. Of course you are right, relegation can be avoided. But that means replacing JP and admitting that the mad experiment does not work, and stopping this belief that nothing can change because we are skint. An experienced manager would get better results from the current raw materials (unless their name was Burley), and would have better ideas about getting cheap experienced players in to assist the youngsters, many of whom can make it with the right experience alongside them.

Tisdale might be a better prospect than Nick. Has proved his ability now in league Two (excpet for embarrassing FA Cup exit at the weekend). Nick would I'm sure admit himself that he would not like the stress of managing Saints. Mark Hughes should be available soon, as he has just got the vote of confidence at Man City Personally I will stick with Cotterillas my realistic choice who I thought should have been appointed when Clueless George went north (no offence to NP who I would gladly have back, but that would never happen). Would not be upset with Dowie or Adams, but suspect both are unlikely for various reasons.

Think it would probably be best to shut the Chapel and Kingsland and reopen the Itchen/Northam and Kingsland/Northam corners so that when Sky are present the ground at least looks full. It would also save more money than the present arrangement. Even better might be to shut the part of the Itchen where Lowe sits and make him sit in the Northam instead

Most of the old players would walk into the current team. They might struggle getting into the team with the old coaching methods, old-style footballs and so on, but they would have embraced/been embraced by the modern methods and the cream would still have risen to the top. Can't believe you don't think Sydenham was a decent crosser (and yes I am old enough to remember him very well). Of course the opposite would be true, there is absolutely no-one in the current squad who would even have been considered for the first team in Ted's or Lawrie's days. At the time they would all have been kicked once and that would have been that.

Definitely Hockaday, not Wotte. I still wonder what Wotte brings to the set up. He is often touted as part of the Golden Duo, but seems to act primarily as reserve team coach.

But most enlightened bosses at least allow input from their employees, especially those they so called entrust as experts in their areas, such as football coaches for instance. Not everyone acts like a sheep when they are at work.

He didn't have to start with Gobern and Thomson, he chose to. He could have had Gobern on the bench again, with Euell starting, which is what any sane coach would have done. Were Perry and Spiderman injured? We cannot make excuses for Nice but Dim Jan, he is out of his depth, thats what happens when you pluck a coach from the 4th tier of Dutch football.

And the numbers will continue to dwindle while we continue to play "not a clue" football at home. Away wins do little to increase home crowds, losing time and again with no apparent clue what to do to buck the trend means more and more people stay away. It is no good hoping the stay away fans will come back "for the good of the club" - they are customers, as Mr Lowe likes to remind us, and customers have a right to reject the product being offered. Poor product, high price, no customers. I suspect today's crowd was also of course impacted by the presence of Sky, sadly I suspect the fee from Sky is less than we make from the missing supporters. Perhaps Lowe should actually tell Sky to go forth and multiply.

Well the first thing to do is stop playingone up front, thats simple. That gives the 2 strikers (assuming we play 4-4-2) someone to play off, and gives defenders more than one person to mark out of the game. There is no need to always go over the top of 4-5-1, though it can be used as a tactic occassionally (i.e. mix it up). It is still possible to play through 4-5-1 with good passing and off the ball running, but our passing today was woeful at times, and we do not have naturally athletic players so we cant' outrun opposition. We also need to 2 decent wide midfielders/overlapping full backs to outflank the midfield. This is all pretty basic stuff, but sadly "Nice but Dim" Jan is not up to coaching basic stuff. He does know how to play away games when opposition give us more space. To be fair to Jan, Burley had no idea either, and he is now national coach

Usual garbage at home from the coach that is completely bereft of ideas how to play home games and attack the opposition. Clueless in front of goal, and luck that we were still in it with City playing like a bunch of pussies in front of goal. Good stop by Davis from the pen, Lancashire was lucky not to give another one away. Nothing in front of goal, out muscled in midfield by some very ordinary opposition. 1 home win in the League is nailed on relegation form, but hey ho Wolves and Reading next. Probably be 6 points. At least the Sky curse did not strike, only the home curse and the curse of the clueless coach.

Doesn't leave a lot of scope for clapping at home these days

Message for Jim. "Have a word in Tod Leiweke's shell-like and ask him to put in a word for us with Mr Allen". Jimmy Gabriel, ah great reminder of my lost youth.

Can't actually see anything about a takeover, but the rumour about Gerrard is quite interesting, not Stephen of course, but cousin Anthony. Looks quite a useful prospect at CB. More likely than the Johnson transfer rumour in my view.

It's not the players, necessarily, but the coach. Jan is a nice guy but bereft of ideas, tactical knowledge and experience in the English game. Get a proper coach in and let them work out whether some of the kids are good enough or not, some of them clearly are, others clearly will be in time. And stop playing pathetic tactics at home.

The main problem is that our head Coach ha snot yet found a way or understood how to play against teams at SMS. Teams come to SMS for league games with a different game plan, i.e. crowd the midfield and hit us on the break, just like we do when we go away. Our home tactics are bereft of ideas, and we play the same way, to a greater extent, as how we play away. This makes it much easier for away teams to outscore us. However much we wish for more supporters to come and support the lads at home it won't happen until we start winning consistently at home, and that won't happen until we change our home game tactics.

I don't disagree with the view that the ball behaves differently this season, or since Delap was with Saints, but I don't think this is a factor with his throws, which are aimed straight as a die (sp?) into the 6 yard box. I see even the Beeb has picked up on this, and the tactical genius that is Lee Dixon explains how it is used and how to defend against it. Actually I do think he makes a good point, and one that we did not use - that is because you cannot be offside from a throw Stoke load the goal area for his throws. By the way for those who think this is Stoke's only tactic, dream on. If you watch their games they actually play some decent stuff these days, maybe not prettypretty like Arsenal, but then who won out of the two at the weekend? http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/7705772.stm

It's also supposed to be fun, so calling someone a sad idiot is not warranted. That is why I added a grumpy smiley. I can take the fact that I messed up with my attempt at a witty retort, but you could try remembering some manners

Wouldn't they just have to pay cost price, not megastore price? In which case about £5 should cover it.

The only thing that is utter piffle is your memory. Delap's throws now are completely different to when he played for us, except maybe for an odd occassion. It is faster, lower and more accurate (and more often from the left though I don't think that makes much difference). I also don't think the ball makes that much difference, unless it is grippier when in his hands.

Its Colombia :mad:

I think its you . Soccer has always been a perfectly acceptable shortening of Association Football. It is not an Americanism as some people seem to think, but was coined in England in the 19th century to distinguish from Rugger (Rugby Football). True it is used more in America and Australia these days, but thats understandable to distinguish it from American Football and Aussie Rules - we should be proud that they took an English phrase for the game we invented.

The real difference is the way the ball is delivered, the trajectory and the speed. When he played for us, he just lobbed the ball in, and by the time it got to anyone it had no power, therefore relying on the attacker putting force behind the header to get any power. I didn't see yesterday's game but have seen some other Stoke games, now Delap throws with a fierce, low trajectory at about head height, so now the players can attack the ball and it flies past the keeper with a great deal more force. Shouldn't forget also that Stoke have lots of big players capable of heading with force. The other thing I have noticed about Delap, which does not directly affect his throws I suppose, is that he tends now to play on the left, whereas I remember him usually playing right-sided for us. I suppose it could be that he throws better when his left arm is nearer goal, but I doubt it.

With a decent assistant manager (Snodin) to get him out of the ****. Assistant joins things look up, Assisitant leaves, Burley loses the plot.

Well done to the boys, makeshift team clearly were up for it today. Was out all afternoon so didn't listen, we usually do better when that happens. Its great to have a good result, and no-one should moan today, but things have to still improve at home. Good to see Pearce had a good game (and even a goal) I was quite pleased with his signing, even though others were moaning about an inexperienced kid again, actually he is more experienced than most in the team. Also like the sound of Gobern on his debut. Up the Saints!!

Sorry, I meant Smith. I preferred it when we had lost of foreigners, it was easier to remember their names