derry

I have just watched the Swansea goals. We have a team of strollers. Nobody makes an effort to get tight. Everybody just passes the buck when marking. Nobody busts a gut to get in and provide cover. Everybody marks from 5yds away. Cover is either 10yds or not at all. Nobody makes the effort to get goalside. Nobody anticipates the ball coming back off the goalkeeper at either end. Nobody going on speculative runs. Nobody trying decoy runs. Where has the effort and the passing football of the first few matches gone. It seems JP's comfort zone has been sensed by the players and we are sloppy and without the necessary blood, sweat and tears.

What he meant- we didn't get in their faces and let them play. Nothing about our lack of effort.

McGoldrick has no self discipline. Again yesterday he let his assigned man go as per Coventry and was berated by Perry. He can't be bothered to do anything that needs effort. For example when was the last time he went on a run into the goal area just on the chance a ball may break or a rebound come out. He never ever goes on a run to try and take his marker out of the way to make space for someone else. When he has the ball passing is a last resort. He is not a team player prepared to put in the effort for his team. I personally feel that he should only be used as a substitute or not at all until he starts to put the effort in. His hands on hip pose isn't appropriate. We don't need lazy spectators on the pitch.

Despite saying he wants to stay, he has been told he can go if an offer comes in.

If offers/loans come in for any of the experienced high earners who are fit, Davis, Euell, Skacel et al will go.

It's not just Lowe's shares, the problem, it's all his supporters plus Wilde getting on for 50%. That means having to make the same offer to all shareholders. The best we can hope for in that direction is for Wilde to pull out and leave them exposed again.

I think you'll find he is 20. Dob 29/11/87 he's nearly 21

If he is going on loan it would get him games to rebuild his confidence.

Nick, nobody said that Lowe picked the team. What was said was that Lowe wanted McGoldrick to play and excluded Skacel from selection. Also that he issued the instruction for double training sessions. when one of our best young players said he was too knackered and excused, the response was SCW thought there was no problem training twice a day.

Whoever told you that should be sacked. I am in block 5 my row is pretty empty and the row in front has at least 6 seats together with no season tickets.

It is, only if they are dominant in the air and the goalkeeper is rooted to the line. Otherwise if the keeper can deal with some crosses it makes the defence so much more solid. In our case we aren't dealing with them, neither is Davis, but it seems the management have decided he has to take some responsibility and get what he can. The other defenders will be aware of this and would presumably cover behind him.

It would be interesting not that I expect it to happen, Surman, Mills wide and Skacel CLM that could work.

He is needed to do the same for Mills until we get Holmes back. If they do well then Holmes can play on the right that would give us a solid right with Cork at right back.

Nickh- We are leaking so many goals from corners/wide free kicks/long throws that KD has to abandon standing on the line. His defenders have to get out of his way and he has to make the effort to punch/catch the crosses coming in. If he can do this and the defenders can cover behind him if he messes up, then I think we can improve things.

I support bringing through as many young players as possible. Every team needs a backbone but we were quite fragile. If we could have sustained the start of season passing football for 90 mins it might have worked. As the weeks have passed the players have reverted to their original way of playing, that has not been good enough. I'm not sure about John or Euell, but Skacel is a good footballer and wherever he plays back or mid gives us solidity down the left. I can see Mills playing in front of him until Holmes gets fully fit. Knowing where the McGoldrick/Skacel/Lowe information came from makes me think either circumstances, or the rumoured meeting with the bank changed the emphasis.

That's where we are at.

I believe his sources are good.

The bank has to be supportive to sustain the deterioration in the finances, the only source of increased income is increased attendances until the transfer window. If the Directors/Shareholders don't contribute to reduce the overdraft then the bank may be looking for increased income to stop any further increase in the debt, then to sell as many players as possible to solve the problem. Paying up contracts may not be affordable to allow the release of the highly paid.

Quite!

Skacel proved at Hearts that he has the bottle to fight his corner in any dispute. I don't think this is anything but an attempt to stem the tide of poor results. Skacel will certainly go in due course. I am not certain but I think he signed a four year contract which has 20 months left on it. For him there is no need to take a financial hit.

This is one of variable conclusions, based on an increased overdraft, an unhappy bank, an inability to reduce it, poor gates that won't increase without improved results, expensive experienced players paid but not being picked, an inexperienced team incapable of winning either at home (twice) or when exposed on tv. A stated strategy of playing primarily the youngsters. Notwithstanding the information previously available from a number of sources there now appears to be a sudden change of strategy. The experienced players as fit and available are going to be used to beef up the team and halt the slide. Unless it is Lowe ditching the previous strategy voluntarily it could be external pressure to improve the immediate financial position.

I wouldn't break a confidence.

What surprises me about this forum, is the lack of reaction to Long Shot's comment about the overdraft increasing by £2m and the bank not happy. That is dangerous as far as I am concerned. I have been told that the bank wanted to know whether there would be any investment contribution to cover the increase, as not, how was the club going to cover the increase. It is easy to see where this is going next in the transfer window.

No it definitely isn't. It would surprise you, if you knew who it is.

I would be surprised if this isn't led by our deteriorating financial position, an unsustainable overdraft limit, a very inexperienced team producing poor results at home, reduced crowds and the bank questioning our lack of use of experienced and international players who are available, but being paid. Maybe the ego has to give in to the bank's common sense. If we are paying them, use them.