Colchester 2-1 Saints. Post match chat.

[captainchris]

This is exactly what I was thinking, but waiting to hear back from someone at the game. I kept hearing Merrington saying the 3 man midfield was not up to it. If this was the case, Pardew has dropped another clanger. What we put out there had no attacking or defensive merit. Why not play what we know works, 451 and changing things if and when required. Soak up the pressure and throw on Waigo and Connolly when required against a tired side.

 

In the grand scheme of things this is not a coffin nail as we will be getting in some good players that will make a difference. Pardew has done a lot of good things, but he continues in placing his bollix on the anvil when the Smithy is in full bash. I really do not understand that line up today, never made sense beforehand or at any subsequent time. Especially when we had a proven set up in 451 for the players we have, that worked extremely well previously. It's as if those period of games never happened and that system would be too great a risk?

 

What I can't understand is the rush at every possible moment to get James into midfield as if he's another Lallana! He's plainly not in the league of our other midfielders - so why?

[Window Cleaner]

I am one of the 'people' that do understand it, although I didn't get into the math too much but if you re read my post you will see our opinions do not differ greatly

 

You're probably one of 3 then,along with myself and Arizona who do not believe that reaching the play-offs is a mere formality because we have Ricky Lambert who scores goals.Our bad start will cost us accession to the P-Os but nobody will believe it. We will put in a decent challenge but 4 points from 6 games will eventually sound the knoll for us.

[OldNick]

too many games played already to realistically mount a play off challenge. I had slight hopes of doing so but we cant expect players to win enough games unless we get. a stronger squad.

[Window Cleaner]

What I can't understand is the rush at every possible moment to get James into midfield as if he's another Lallana! He's plainly not in the league of our other midfielders - so why?

 

 

Because he's aggressive and puts himself about. He puts in a decent cross from time to time as well. James has his good points but he is also too slow and probably doesn't read the game all that well.Still he'll be here next month and others might not be so might as well have a bit of consistency.When you have Antonio wide right and Thomas at RB you have some liability issues, James as a natural right sided player was supposed to have compensated for them. Whether he did or not is to be seen. He did a decent job at RB on Saturday, why change that? I just don't understand.

[ALWAYS_SFC]

too many games played already to realistically mount a play off challenge. I had slight hopes of doing so but we cant expect players to win enough games unless we get. a stronger squad.

 

Why?

 

Is it impossible then?

 

Have teams not made playoffs before from being 10 points adrift

of them at the half way stage?

 

It is going to be difficult but still possible and ultimately may prove to be too hard a task but it is not a forgone conclusion either way.

[ALWAYS_SFC]

Because he's aggressive and puts himself about. He puts in a decent cross from time to time as well. James has his good points but he is also too slow and probably doesn't read the game all that well.Still he'll be here next month and others might not be so might as well have a bit of consistency.When you have Antonio wide right and Thomas at RB you have some liability issues, James as a natural right sided player was supposed to have compensated for them. Whether he did or not is to be seen. He did a decent job at RB on Saturday, why change that? I just don't understand.

 

I suggest thomas was put at right back to help with the suspected

long high balls.

[Window Cleaner]

I suggest thomas was put at right back to help with the suspected

long high balls.

 

A 5 man defence then, or 4 and a half, but Boothroyd got wind of our plans and switched strikers on us.Also with Ifill getting well forward all the time we had our hands full everywhere. AP said in his interview that he was really disappointed by the goals (which means he was really hacked off).

[forever a red and white]

disapointed but not supirsed. Would have taken a draw before KO.

 

Colchester have drastically improved under Boothroyd and recent form not results has suggested a result like this. They are good team and to expect us to win everything game is naieve. Players were probably tired amd things will be back on track shortly.

[ALWAYS_SFC]

A 5 man defence then, or 4 and a half, but Boothroyd got wind of our plans and switched strikers on us.Also with Ifill getting well forward all the time we had our hands full everywhere. AP said in his interview that he was really disappointed by the goals (which means he was really hacked off).

 

Were you there?

 

You seem very well informed...

[Window Cleaner]

Why?

 

Is it impossible then?

 

Have teams not made playoffs before from being 10 points adrift

of them at the half way stage?

 

It is going to be difficult but still possible and ultimately may prove to be too hard a task but it is not a forgone conclusion either way.

 

But we're only 10 points adrift because 2 or 3 teams have games in hand.

We might be as many as 13 behind (but Swindon probably won't beat Leeds).

Making up 13 points in 22 games over sides who are playing well and winning consistently is very very improbable. It mean we have to get over a point more than them every 2 games.Swindon have taken 4 points from 2 games over Christmas,including one away to Charlton.We've only taken 3 points from our last 3 games. We will probably match them point for point but making up the -10 took too long and we are out of it.

[Window Cleaner]

Were you there?

 

You seem very well informed...

 

No but I have had on hand information from someone who was. Plus Pardew spoke on Solent a few minutes after the game.

[John B]

To get into the playoffs with a ten point deduction the team would have to have performed as a top three team over the whole season something it has failed to do.

[OldNick]

Why?

 

Is it impossible then?

 

Have teams not made playoffs before from being 10 points adrift

of them at the half way stage?

 

It is going to be difficult but still possible and ultimately may prove to be too hard a task but it is not a forgone conclusion either way.

No it's not impossible but we have been fighting on too many fronts. We are only half way through the season and are still fighting in 3 competitions. Put that aginst the backdrop of not having enough players to fill gaps left by injuries nd suspentions. I do not hold that we have enough quality to play these many games and still win week in week out. The JPT is IMO our best chance of getting anything from the season.Of course if we strengthen well in the window things may change.

As for Morgan and AL, I dont think either can be seen as outstanding in this league.Both do well but neither grab a game by the collar and dominate.Even saturday against Exeter their midfield seemed more creative nad effective.

[RedWillie]

I had us down for a draw at best in this one. We lost - move on. Work in progress and I am still confident we will be there or thereabouts at the end of April.

Interesting to see the movers and shakers in January.

 

Happy New Year everyone - I think it will be interesting to say the least. !

[Clifford Nelson]

We've an unsettled defense which is a bit of a guarantee for shipping some goals. The RB position is critical and remains unsolved. LJ can sub for a game or two, but not for most of the season, and Thomas is not a long-term solution. The central pairing is still uncertain. If Trotman was the answer, which we thought he was, he would be back as a regular. Whoever is going to pair up with Jaidi must have AP's total confidence, and I don't think that person is at the club at the moment.

 

Lloyd James has convinced very few people that he deserves a regular starting birth in one position or another. One of the few convinced is unfortunately AP.

 

There is also a regular starting birth for a player who hasn't got a first touch, can't cross, can't see a player in position for a pass and hasn't got anywhere near as much pace as some people believe. Another one who scores and provides assists virtually every time he plays (another goal today if it wasn't for Lallana being o/s) spend most of his time on the bench. I desperately fear that the wrong one of the two will get a permanent contract, in fact it looks like a foregone conclusion. If the U's can run rings around him what is going to happen in the CCC?

 

It's early days but the Jan window will tell us in what direction we're travelling. Why am I not as confident as I have been?

[Andy_Porter]

Just back in Essex after the game.

 

Antonio was shocking I've not seen such a poor individual performance for a long time. He's got potential but we really should be starting Waigo who looked like his goal should have counted.

 

Lallana didn't look properly fit to me, other than a bit of passing and a fee nices touches he was quiet. Could do with getting a new left winger in who's better than Holmes and Mills to cover Lallana.

 

We are desperate for a right back with pace and a centre half who

can pass. After today's game I wouldn't bother getting Trottman permanently.

 

Connolly, James and Harding where our three best players today. The likes of Lallana, Schneiderlin and Lambert took a right kicking from a horrible little side, really hope they don't get promoted after today.

 

Need to go through January unbeaten to keep up playoff hopes alive. Milwall and Huddersfield will be the big tests.

[OldNick]

Just back in Essex after the game.

 

Antonio was shocking I've not seen such a poor individual performance for a long time. He's got potential but we really should be starting Waigo who looked like his goal should have counted.

 

Lallana didn't look properly fit to me, other than a bit of passing and a fee nices touches he was quiet. Could do with getting a new left winger in who's better than Holmes and Mills to cover Lallana.

 

We are desperate for a right back with pace and a centre half who

can pass. After today's game I wouldn't bother getting Trottman permanently.

 

Connolly, James and Harding where our three best players today. The likes of Lallana, Schneiderlin and Lambert took a right kicking from a horrible little side, really hope they don't get promoted after today.

 

Need to go through January unbeaten to keep up playoff hopes alive. Milwall and Huddersfield will be the big tests.

I was told that trottman was unlikely to be kept on a couple of weeks back.

How did Bart do?

[John B]

Just back in Essex after the game.

 

Antonio was shocking I've not seen such a poor individual performance for a long time. He's got potential but we really should be starting Waigo who looked like his goal should have counted.

 

Lallana didn't look properly fit to me, other than a bit of passing and a fee nices touches he was quiet. Could do with getting a new left winger in who's better than Holmes and Mills to cover Lallana.

 

We are desperate for a right back with pace and a centre half who

can pass. After today's game I wouldn't bother getting Trottman permanently.

 

Connolly, James and Harding where our three best players today. The likes of Lallana, Schneiderlin and Lambert took a right kicking from a horrible little side, really hope they don't get promoted after today.

 

Need to go through January unbeaten to keep up playoff hopes alive. Milwall and Huddersfield will be the big tests.

 

Not forgetting Swindon

[lofty]

Hope you guys don't mind a Colchester perspective here.

 

You have a good side who can make up the gap and fight for the lower end of the play-off places. Leeds have the title and the U's, Charlton and Norwich are scrapping for second (sadly I think Norwich might nick it). That still leaves two places up for grabs and it could easily be you and Huddersfield.

 

Today, whether by luck or judgement, Boothroyd put one over on Pardew by playing Gillespie and Lisbie up front when Pardew was probably expecting us to play the big man and pump the ball up. Add in the fact that playing Lambert up front by himself against two very capable centre halves meant that for the first half he hardly had a kick. Once Connolly came on you were much more threatening.

 

We both had a goal ruled out and in both cases the flag was up long before the ball hit the net.

 

Your number 37 (Antonio?) was pants!

 

Anyway, good luck for the rest of the season. In truth I hope you don't make the play-offs because you're just going to get better the longer the season goes on, particularly if Pardew can do some dealing in January, and we could do without that sort of threat come the end of the season.

[Window Cleaner]

No it's not impossible but we have been fighting on too many fronts. We are only half way through the season and are still fighting in 3 competitions. Put that aginst the backdrop of not having enough players to fill gaps left by injuries nd suspentions. I do not hold that we have enough quality to play these many games and still win week in week out. The JPT is IMO our best chance of getting anything from the season.Of course if we strengthen well in the window things may change.

As for Morgan and AL, I dont think either can be seen as outstanding in this league.Both do well but neither grab a game by the collar and dominate.Even saturday against Exeter their midfield seemed more creative nad effective.

 

Whether a player can grab a game by the collar and dominate depends very much on the other 10 players on his team.He can win balls, slip though passes,make great runs but if he's farting in the wind with someone who has no control or vision to get where he should be to profit then all will fall flat on his face.We have players in our side who are counter productive.They negate much of the efforts of the players with more talent.I suspect AL and MS will both put in transfer requests this window,simply because they'll go either now or in June and as we're going nowhere it might as well be sooner than later.I might be wrong but I wouldn't doubt it happening.We found no usage for Mellis either so Chelsea took him back.He's a decent player by all accounts but we had no use of him,preferring Antonio for some reason or other.Perhaps it's not the same requirement.

[derry]

I think the manager needs to get his head around just where we are, because I don't think he has.

 

We are in a half decent position performing a lot better than all but half a dozen teams and collecting plenty of points.

 

We have little possibility of getting caught up in a relegation battle as we have well and truly wiped out the 10 points deficit and are mid table.

 

That leaves a decision still to be made, do we go all out for the play offs or just tread water until next year.

 

I think the club have to go flat out for the rest of the season, cut out the safety first narrow crap despite the results to date, pick attacking sides and go for it.

 

Today Pardew, instead of going with his team, negatively turned it into a pace-less team, decent back four, slow defensive midfield, Lambert on his own with no service from wide as Antonio's poor control let him down.

 

We have been playing negatively for the last four/five games, it is time to ditch that philosophy, The window will be open before the next league game on 7th January. Maybe it is time to give Lallana his head in the centre of midfield as an out and out attacking option with Hammond and bring in a quick, clever wide left midfielder, then play Waigo wide right with Connolly and Lambert up front.

 

We need a good right back and a good quick left sided central defender to enable us to stop packing the team with one pacers.

 

We may not get promoted but we might and it will be a lot better to watch and with further strengthening could turn us into next years Leeds. We need to start going out and taking the game away from opponents and use the talent we have properly.

[Window Cleaner]

Hope you guys don't mind a Colchester perspective here.

 

You have a good side who can make up the gap and fight for the lower end of the play-off places. Leeds have the title and the U's, Charlton and Norwich are scrapping for second (sadly I think Norwich might nick it). That still leaves two places up for grabs and it could easily be you and Huddersfield.

 

Today, whether by luck or judgement, Boothroyd put one over on Pardew by playing Gillespie and Lisbie up front when Pardew was probably expecting us to play the big man and pump the ball up. Add in the fact that playing Lambert up front by himself against two very capable centre halves meant that for the first half he hardly had a kick. Once Connolly came on you were much more threatening.

 

We both had a goal ruled out and in both cases the flag was up long before the ball hit the net.

 

Your number 37 (Antonio?) was pants!

 

Anyway, good luck for the rest of the season. In truth I hope you don't make the play-offs because you're just going to get better the longer the season goes on, particularly if Pardew can do some dealing in January, and we could do without that sort of threat come the end of the season.

 

 

 

Thanks for your input.Don't think you're right about the play-offs though. Depends on whether we can find a consistent defence very soon.

Agreed Antonio had no place on the field today, not when we have better players at our disposition.He just undid whatever we created and left you with a defender spare cos he was so crap;

[Andy_Porter]

I was told that trottman was unlikely to be kept on a couple of weeks back.

How did Bart do?

 

Wasn't at fault for the first goal and didn't do too much wrong.

 

I couldn't see the second goal, the fog was too bad. The second goal was sickening we had a stonewall corner denied and they score from the attack.

[OldNick]

Wasn't at fault for the first goal and didn't do too much wrong.

 

I couldn't see the second goal, the fog was too bad. The second goal was sickening we had a stonewall corner denied and they score from the attack.

Thanks Andy

[Griffo]

We weren't very good today. Away end filled with families, and a crap atmosphere, in a crappy little industrial area. No one stood out as being very good today, not that I could see much in the second half with the fog anyway.

[Clifford Nelson]

Whether a player can grab a game by the collar and dominate depends very much on the other 10 players on his team.He can win balls, slip though passes,make great runs but if he's farting in the wind with someone who has no control or vision to get where he should be to profit then all will fall flat on his face.We have players in our side who are counter productive.They negate much of the efforts of the players with more talent.I suspect AL and MS will both put in transfer requests this window,simply because they'll go either now or in June and as we're going nowhere it might as well be sooner than later.I might be wrong but I wouldn't doubt it happening.We found no usage for Mellis either so Chelsea took him back.He's a decent player by all accounts but we had no use of him,preferring Antonio for some reason or other.Perhaps it's not the same requirement.

 

I don't think that Mellis and Antonio were the alternatives. Mellis was undone by firstly both Morgan and Hammond being better players and Connolly making us abandoning the five man midfield. Mellis was certainly not more than a 'decent' player, but in my estimation not a 'good' one and I'll be surprised if the future will show him to have had more potential than I could spot.

 

Antonio has kept Waigo out of the line-up, which drive me insane. Antonio can't do anything right and Waigo can't stop scoring or assisting given the chance to play. Antonio's shortcomings are just so glaringly obvious, so why is he preferred, and why does it look like we're going to sign him?

[lordswoodsaints]

Too much of a negative lineup first half IMO.

[OldNick]

I don't think that Mellis and Antonio were the alternatives. Mellis was undone by firstly both Morgan and Hammond being better players and Connolly making us abandoning the five man midfield. Mellis was certainly not more than a 'decent' player, but in my estimation not a 'good' one and I'll be surprised if the future will show him to have had more potential than I could spot.

 

Antonio has kept Waigo out of the line-up, which drive me insane. Antonio can't do anything right and Waigo can't stop scoring or assisting given the chance to play. Antonio's shortcomings are just so glaringly obvious, so why is he preferred, and why does it look like we're going to sign him?

I doubt that AP does not see Papa as a worse player.We are only talking a few games ago and Papa was being derided for being offside all the time. I personally see Papa as head and shoulders above Antonio, and will play more as the season goes on.

[Window Cleaner]

I doubt that AP does not see Papa as a worse player.We are only talking a few games ago and Papa was being derided for being offside all the time. I personally see Papa as head and shoulders above Antonio, and will play more as the season goes on.

 

But not to start him today in a 4-5-1 just didn't make any sense unless he

has some injury or other. When you go 1 up front he's exactly the sort of player you need, out wide,cutting in, putting the sh*ts up the defence.

Our midfield had no outlet to create because whatever we gave Antonio was either not controlled correctly or gifted to the opposition.Starting Antonio in front of Papa made no sense, unless we were trying to decide whether to sign him or not, but then that would be a high price to pay for something we could toss a coin for.Antonio just left Colchester with a spare defender to clamp down on whatever we tried. So we take of Morgan but still persist with the useless Antonio, makes no sense

Anyone who can solve this riddle answers on a postage stamp to -Dpt of Human Resources,Microsoft corporation,because they surely have the ability to get hired.

Edited 28 December, 2009 by Window Cleaner

[John B]

But not to start him today in a 4-5-1 just didn't make any sense unless he

has some injury or other. When you go 1 up front he's exactly the sort of player you need, out wide,cutting in, putting the sh*ts up the defence.

Our midfield had no outlet to create because whatever we gave Antonio was either not controlled correctly or gifted to the opposition.Starting Antonio in front of Papoa made no sense, unless we were trying to decide whether to sign him or not, but then that would be a high price to pay for something we could toss a coin for.

 

Which goes back to the discussions about 451 versus 442

 

I still think we should play 442

[derry]

I don't think that Mellis and Antonio were the alternatives. Mellis was undone by firstly both Morgan and Hammond being better players and Connolly making us abandoning the five man midfield. Mellis was certainly not more than a 'decent' player, but in my estimation not a 'good' one and I'll be surprised if the future will show him to have had more potential than I could spot.

 

Antonio has kept Waigo out of the line-up, which drive me insane. Antonio can't do anything right and Waigo can't stop scoring or assisting given the chance to play. Antonio's shortcomings are just so glaringly obvious, so why is he preferred, and why does it look like we're going to sign him?

 

Reading obviously don't want him and he is out of contract in July. I think at best he is substitute material.

 

Pardew is beginning to worry me as I had heard of his negative tactics before he came here. I think in this league with the players we have we don't need to be so negative.

 

Surely playing Mills instead of Holmes and Antonio instead of Waigo is illogical. James is very limited but starts every game and Pardew cites him as one of his main providers which clearly he isn't. He provides a lot of speculative crosses hit in the general direction of the penalty area, Wes Hoolahan he isn't.

[OldNick]

But not to start him today in a 4-5-1 just didn't make any sense unless he

has some injury or other. When you go 1 up front he's exactly the sort of player you need, out wide,cutting in, putting the sh*ts up the defence.

Our midfield had no outlet to create because whatever we gave Antonio was either not controlled correctly or gifted to the opposition.Starting Antonio in front of Papoa made no sense, unless we were trying to decide whether to sign him or not, but then that would be a high price to pay for something we could toss a coin for.

I am not in disagreement, but many of the fans were saying that papa was rubbish and we must sign antonio at all costs.I would play Papa but I suggest thye are working on his running off the last man.

[Clifford Nelson]

I doubt that AP does not see Papa as a worse player.We are only talking a few games ago and Papa was being derided for being offside all the time. I personally see Papa as head and shoulders above Antonio, and will play more as the season goes on.

 

The offside argument I think was always dodgy. Waigo got himself a reputation on o/s and many are the times I have seen the linesman flag long after the ball was kicked. I hope you are right on your prediction because I hate to see such talent sit on the bench.

[Professor]

Pardew has built one of the best squads in Div 1, and did it in an incredibly short time. All credit to him for that, but his selection policy and tactics suggest why he has often ended up being sacked from previous jobs. Inconsistency, uncertainty, nervously defensive at times and tends to leave his best player - Connolly - on the bench too often.

[OldNick]

Reading obviously don't want him and he is out of contract in July. I think at best he is substitute material.

 

Pardew is beginning to worry me as I had heard of his negative tactics before he came here. I think in this league with the players we have we don't need to be so negative.

 

Surely playing Mills instead of Holmes and Antonio instead of Waigo is illogical. James is very limited but starts every game and Pardew cites him as one of his main providers which clearly he isn't. He provides a lot of speculative crosses hit in the general direction of the penalty area, Wes Hoolahan he isn't.

Derry Im really surprised at your impatience and sudden doubting of the manager. Surely you would like a lot of us, leart from turning against the manager. There has never been a manager who has played the team I wanted week in week out. I myself would like to have seen more of Holmes but thats football.

As for James i see weaknesses but he is a fantastic crosser of the ball and puts it in the right area.

[hackedoff]

You're probably one of 3 then,along with myself and Arizona who do not believe that reaching the play-offs is a mere formality because we have Ricky Lambert who scores goals.Our bad start will cost us accession to the P-Os but nobody will believe it. We will put in a decent challenge but 4 points from 6 games will eventually sound the knoll for us.

 

And if we do reach the play-offs,we will be up against the likes of Colchester,the type of side we do not seem to know how to beat.

[OldNick]

Pardew has built one of the best squads in Div 1, and did it in an incredibly short time. All credit to him for that, but his selection policy and tactics suggest why he has often ended up being sacked from previous jobs. Inconsistency, uncertainty, nervously defensive at times and tends to leave his best player - Connolly - on the bench too often.

Professor, why is this sudden turning on the manager from normal right minded fans?????? AP has turned a team of losers and bottlers into a team that is difficult to beat. I dont go along with all he does but I have learnt that forever turning on the manger has NEVER helped us and a part of the reason we are where we are now.

[St Marco]

On the way back.

First half we were gash. Played too negative and created nothing. We were lucky to go in 1-0. Formation was wrong.

Second half we changed it about and went with 2 up front and were miles better. We should of scored 2 or 3 and had a goal dissalowed which looked ok to me.

 

All in all should of been a draw. They played great in 1st half and we played great in second. They got lucky and had some decisions go their way. In terms of creating chances we were the better team.

 

They are a decent side and so are we. I don't feel bad about losing at all as i know we gave a good account of ourselves in the 2nd half and their keeper was probably man of the match, which say's a lot. Those feeling all angry and throwing their toy's out the pram need to get real. We were in admin 4 months ago on the verge of going under. Started the season with a **** team and no manager pretty much. In 4 months we got up the table from last to 12th. We are now 13th 10 points from the last playoff spot.

We are not out of it yet. 10 points is a huge gap but we still have to play majority of the teams again, all of the teams except Colchester again. Lot's of points to be won.

If we go back on the run that saw us win 13 of 16 games then we have a great chance. The next few league games will tell us where we are at. Lose to Millwall and Huddersfield and were out of it. But even if we are out of it we still would of been in the top 5 if we didn't have the minus 10.

 

I think we need another winger and possibly another striker. Lambert is the man and Connolly is good but when Lambert is in-effective we don't really have someone who could come on for him. Antonio will be a decent player but he makes a lot of mistakes when in good positions. At every chance today James,Thomas and Morgan tried to cross the ball. Majority of them are pretty good. But Antonio tries too hard to take the player on and then once he has done that doesn't produce the goods. I would start with Waigo out there now and bring Antonio on only if we need the outlet. Waigo has far better control and has the knack of getting in the right places.

 

And the last thing is i think it is time for Kelvin to come back in for Bart. The lad has done well and fair play to him but he can't seem to command the defence as well and doesn't seem to make good throwing/kicking decisions. He did a really poor kick and we were lucky not to go another goal down from it. Maybe it is just me but i get the impression he does not have the same confidence as Davis does.

 

So a loss to a good team, not the end of the world.

[OldNick]

And if we do reach the play-offs,we will be up against the likes of Colchester,the type of side we do not seem to know how to beat.

If we did get to the play offs I suggest there would be quite a few different faces than there is now, as the squad is still not equipped to get to the playoffs at present.

[Clifford Nelson]

Reading obviously don't want him and he is out of contract in July. I think at best he is substitute material.

 

Pardew is beginning to worry me as I had heard of his negative tactics before he came here. I think in this league with the players we have we don't need to be so negative.

 

Surely playing Mills instead of Holmes and Antonio instead of Waigo is illogical. James is very limited but starts every game and Pardew cites him as one of his main providers which clearly he isn't. He provides a lot of speculative crosses hit in the general direction of the penalty area, Wes Hoolahan he isn't.

 

I don't think Antonio is even substitute material where hopefully we are going. I'll be relieved when he's gone because I worry that we are about to make a terrible mistake and sign him.

 

Clearly AP doesn't fancy Holmes, and I haven't got a view about that, but Mills is not the future in LM. We need a proper leftsided midfielder if we are to move Lallana into the middle, which you suggest.

 

I also agree in the mains about James. He is not the answer as LB. We need a proper one, plus a CB to partner Jaidi, who AP has got confidence in for every game. A settled defense is the answer to leaking goals, which clearly we are.

[Ruffo]

trust Southampton to keep us real

[Window Cleaner]

Derry Im really surprised at your impatience and sudden doubting of the manager. Surely you would like a lot of us, leart from turning against the manager. There has never been a manager who has played the team I wanted week in week out. I myself would like to have seen more of Holmes but thats football.

As for James i see weaknesses but he is a fantastic crosser of the ball and puts it in the right area.

 

 

I'm not impatient, it's just that this obsession with Antonio baffles me.

Perhaps Papa is carrying an injury and nothing's being said about it. I do hope were not getting involved in silly games about money with Fiorentina

over him.So much a start,so much a game for instance,still can't see that really.

[Window Cleaner]

I don't think Antonio is even substitute material where hopefully we are going. I'll be relieved when he's gone because I worry that we are about to make a terrible mistake and sign him.

 

Clearly AP doesn't fancy Holmes, and I haven't got a view about that, but Mills is not the future in LM. We need a proper leftsided midfielder if we are to move Lallana into the middle, which you suggest.

 

I also agree in the mains about James. He is not the answer as LB. We need a proper one, plus a CB to partner Jaidi, who AP has got confidence in for every game. A settled defense is the answer to leaking goals, which clearly we are.

 

There seem to be a lot of players AP doesn't fancy, Gillett for example.

Totally unexplained, I would have thought that for formations like today's he would have been handy,

[derry]

Derry Im really surprised at your impatience and sudden doubting of the manager. Surely you would like a lot of us, leart from turning against the manager. There has never been a manager who has played the team I wanted week in week out. I myself would like to have seen more of Holmes but thats football.

As for James i see weaknesses but he is a fantastic crosser of the ball and puts it in the right area.

 

I'm not impatient I don't rate or like the way we are playing now. James is not a fantastic crosser of the ball he just launches it mostly on the 45 and mostly to the goalkeeper or centrebacks, he doesn't pick out a target.

 

I just don't see Antonio who never gets his head up, James who is slow, Mills as a left midfielder, together with Trotman, Perry, Thomas, as part of even this seasons future. If they are at the end of January we are going to have to rebuild next summer for this league.

[OldNick]

There seem to be a lot of players AP doesn't fancy, Gillett for example.

Totally unexplained, I would have thought that for formations like today's he would have been handy,

We all rate different players WGS gave Kevin Davies away for nothing!! I felt Holmes would star this season...but

[Thedelldays]

pretty deflated after that..from what it sounded on the radio we only looked good when we had 2 strikers up front..which leads me to believe pardew got it wrong in the 1st half

 

we have to do better against the teams in the top 6...simple as that

[Clifford Nelson]

I'm not impatient, it's just that this obsession with Antonio baffles me.

Perhaps Papa is carrying an injury and nothing's being said about it. I do hope were not getting involved in silly games about money with Fiorentina

over him.So much a start,so much a game for instance,still can't see that really.

 

An odd situation for a loan player, but at least it is an explanation. Antonio's skills can't be an explanation, nor can avoiding Waigo to score for us. Like you the obsession with Antonio is what worries me more than anything else.

[OldNick]

I'm not impatient I don't rate or like the way we are playing now. James is not a fantastic crosser of the ball he just launches it mostly on the 45 and mostly to the goalkeeper or centrebacks, he doesn't pick out a target.

 

I just don't see Antonio who never gets his head up, James who is slow, Mills as a left midfielder, together with Trotman, Perry, Thomas, as part of even this seasons future. If they are at the end of January we are going to have to rebuild next summer for this league.

We had a lot of different views about another player in the past, so we obviously look at different facets. James curls the ball away from the keeper and towards the oncoming forward, to me he delivers the ball better than any other player in the team. His tackling etc..well thats a different thing

[Griffo]

I hope that a lot of the people at Colchester today don't turn up for away games in future.

[Fitzhugh Fella]

Hope you guys don't mind a Colchester perspective here.

 

You have a good side who can make up the gap and fight for the lower end of the play-off places. Leeds have the title and the U's, Charlton and Norwich are scrapping for second (sadly I think Norwich might nick it). That still leaves two places up for grabs and it could easily be you and Huddersfield.

 

Today, whether by luck or judgement, Boothroyd put one over on Pardew by playing Gillespie and Lisbie up front when Pardew was probably expecting us to play the big man and pump the ball up. Add in the fact that playing Lambert up front by himself against two very capable centre halves meant that for the first half he hardly had a kick. Once Connolly came on you were much more threatening.

 

We both had a goal ruled out and in both cases the flag was up long before the ball hit the net.

 

Your number 37 (Antonio?) was pants!

 

Anyway, good luck for the rest of the season. In truth I hope you don't make the play-offs because you're just going to get better the longer the season goes on, particularly if Pardew can do some dealing in January, and we could do without that sort of threat come the end of the season.

 

Interesting to hear the view of the opposition - thanks!