Bailey

And yet we have picked up 5 red cards this season! Weird really isn't it? I agree entirely with your post by the way, we really do need to start fighting our way to victories. Forget the 'total football', what we need is results. If we have to play ugly and kick lumps out of the oppo then so be it. If it means we maintain our Championship status then I'll take a win however it comes.

Lawrie McMenemy, Ted Bates and Gordon Strachan are the only 3 genuine candidates. A bit of a shame that there aren't more as it shows how minimal our success has been. Still, I'd be happy with whoever wins it out of those.

I too, feel resigned to relegation. The table makes for very unpleasant reading and I can't see where our next win is going to come from. I'd like to think I've come to terms with League 1 football next year, but no doubt it will hurt like hell the day it's confirmed.

That record has got to end eventually and there's no better time to turn it around than this Saturday. I'm going with a couple of mates, in hope rather than confidence. Maybe Saints will surprise us but we'll see!

Will have to give the lad a chance and see what he's about. I'm hoping he'll be a similar player to Saeijs but looking at his past record, it doesn't inspire you with confidence. Still, as I've said, I shall wait to see him play before I judge him.

Getting behind the players and giving them encouragement is the only way. With so many youngsters in the side, they will more than likely go into their shell so to speak with constant abuse. There is alot of pressure on their shoulders, some of them have been thrown in when they're not ready and it's not their fault. If we are to have ANY chance of surviving the drop, then we need to get right behind the boys during matches. As hard and frustrating as it can be, it's our only option. In fairness, I think that generally, we've done a pretty good job this season.

Ta for poll mods.

If you listen to Saeijs' interview after the Barnsley game, you get the impression that Wotte played a key role in bringing him here!

Oh the irony!

BBC and Sky are miles ahead of ITV in terms of the quality of their sports coverage. Big ****-up tonight from someone behind the scenes. I feel they may be looking for a new job in the morning!

As another thread has mentioned, season ticket renewal forms will soon be getting sent out, and it got me thinking . . . IF Lowe and Wilde are still here next season, whether we stay up or not, will current season ticket holders renew their season ticket? I'd be interested to see just how resounding the answer to this question is. Could we have a poll please mods with the following options . . . a) YES b) NO c) Only if prices are lowered considerably.

Will there be another one? When/if it does happen, I'll probably have renewed optimism that we can avoid the drop, start to feel really positive about our chances, only for us to get hammered in our next match and lose 3-0.

Look at it as him clearing his lines as opposed to holding onto the ball for too long and getting caught out. There were a couple of occasions last night where Saeijs did in fact look to create an opening by running forward with the ball, trying to pick a pass. Rio Ferdinand like it was! Seriously though, Saeijs just does the basics really well and whilst it isn't always pleasing on the eye to see someone smack the ball forward, I'd rather he did that than mess about with it at the back. An old-school, no-nonsense defender. Will prove to be an essential part of our team if we're to have any chance of avoiding the drop.

Yes Ponty, well done. I think my post title in response to the original post is just as innovative.

Agreed, especially considering how poor Alan Bennett was on his debut! In fairness to the lad, he did improve dramatically once he'd settled in.

The lad definitely has potential, but whether he's ready for the first-team just yet is another thing. I think Kayne is best suited to being used as a substitute for the time being. We could utilise his pace towards the end of games as opposing defenders begin to tire. Would make a good impact player IMO. One for the future.

I think we've been crying out for a defender like Saeijs for the last year or so. He's a no-nonsense defender who clears his lines and doesn't do anything fancy. He wins the majority of his headers and looks composed on the ball when he needs to be. To criticise the guy is very harsh IMO, and I'd even go as far as saying that he's been one of our best players in recent games.

I agree he hasn't been his usual self for the last couple of games, but I think he's been struggling with an injury lately. He was a doubt for the Norwich game, hence why both Bialkowski and Forecast travelled with the squad, and I don't think he's fully recovered just yet. Having said that, his body language isn't good at the minute and he looks quite dejected. Then again, I think I would be if I had arguably been playing the best football of my career, and yet ironically found myself at a team at the foot of the table.

I'm going with a couple of mates. Really need a win to give ourselves a fighting chance. The fans need a positive result too.

Having said that, he certainly isn't one to unite the fanbase!

I think I'd be tempted to say the latter. As much as I hate the bloke, he certainly does back his manager. He pumps alot more money into his club too!

Was saying this to a mate the other day. It was only back in 2003 where all the south-coast sides were flying high too.

. . . the Sheffield United highlights from last season being shown before kick off? Whilst watching it, I was looking at the players we had playing that day, saying to myself what a decent side we had. Stern John, Youssef Safri, Jhon Viafara and Richard Wright but to name a few. Then it hit home. That 'decent side' only survived on the final day! As I glanced at our current crop of 'talent', it seemed blindingly obvious that this side is considerably weaker than last season's squad. From tonight's starting XI, I think it's fair to say that Lloyd James, Kayne McLaggon, Simon Gillett and David McGoldrick would not be playing if we didn't 'have' to make such drastic financial cutbacks. So realistically, what did we expect from this season?

I take your point but you could argue that it's partly down to a lack of fitness or even concentration. We should be more professional when it comes to seeing a game out. We should work harder to deny these players the chance to have a pop at goal. It's quite rare for teams to be lucky or unlucky in football IMO. Don't get me wrong, it does happen occasionally, but I believe you make your own luck.

Yep. He arrived a few minutes into the match and stayed right to the end. Sat at the front in his usual seat.