Ayrton Twigge

I''m with Gorleston Jim - my normal level of optimism is evaporating fast. It is vital on Saturday that the team give everything plus - should we display anything less and go a goal down, I suspect the Worthy out brigade will be rolling. But returning to this whole unsatisfactory mess, because that''s what it is, the level of inconsistencies in decision/team policy leaves me baffled. Some of the team are out on their ear as soon as they put a foot wrong - ie Helveg, whereas others eg Jonson/Holt/Drury(of late) are given the benefit of the doubt week in week out. Others have come in, taken their chances well and yet have been immediately dropped - Shackell, Brennan. Where''s the consistency in that. Worthy''s often stated policy is - playing well, you''ll keep your place, play badkly and others will get an opportunity.

No We all have rough patches in our working roles from time to time. He''s going through one right now. But not a reason to sack him. Two weeks ago, Charlton fans were calling for Curbishley''s head. But for some hard luck, we''d have 4 or 5 more points on the board and all would be well. But should be reviewed after January.

Oh great. A lightening quick striker who can play in central defence. Haven''t we already spent good money on one of those.

4-5-1 is a good formation if you have the right players. Have to say that Everton are really using it well. Worse, Bent up front is doing a good job supported by an ideally balanced midfield who can defend, graft and break quickly in support of an attack. How about us? Personally, I am a great McKenzie fan and I see no reason why he couldn''t do just as good a job as Bent. Its the midfield/wing-back area we struggle. Francis is ideally placed with his game to be very effective. How to properly accommodate Hux? But what about Eddy and Drury?? Where/how do you play Bentley? Players that could do well in there are Brennan on the left for sure, potentially Helveg on the right, Saffri central alongside Francis with Hux freer. But .... just a dream. Same 11 on Saturday, just wait and see.

Seems to be a foregone conclusion that he''s playing Saturday. Doubt it myself - bench at best.

rather than suggest a line up, lets consider who should be in and who could be in. Certs are:- Green Francis Edworthy Fleming Charlton Mckenzie Svenssen Huckerby Thats 8 out of 11 starting line up. Likelies are:- Drury - but is he fully recovered? Holt - biggest issue with fans regarding his distribution/positioning Jonsson - hmmm, is he really cutting it yet, has had a long run Maybe''s:- Shackell - move over Charlton and introduce some pace and height at the back Saffri - replacement for Holt?? Mullers - has had reserve run-outs - need to see if he''s got it. Bentley - has been left out and had public reprimand - could do him good Mcveigh - on his day ....... Personally, I think we''ve reason to be optimistic - lots of good options to choose from. But think we''ll see last weeks 11!!

Dissappointed by the diamond fiormation, Worthy''s latest tactics are proving difficult to apply.

I''ve been optimistic with a capital O all season. Now its optimistic with a small o. I think its perm 3 from 5 to go down - the 5 are us, WBA, Palace, Saints, Blackburn. On what I saw on Saturday, Blackburn were c**p. (But then, so were we 2nd half). WBA - one trick pony. Whack it upfield and hope Earnshaw taps it in. Can''t see Robson making much difference. Saints - played well against Arsenal, awful last night, otherwise at our level - tightish defence but poor attack. Will Beattie and Phillips solve that? Palace - all heart - breakaway opportunities for Johnson, but believe they''ve just had a purple patch - but ultimately will crumble and die. So my view - Down for certain - Palace and Blackburn. Other candidate -  anyone of the remaining three so consistency is going to count. Saints probably have the edge. But we CAN make it. Beating the Saints will be a great start.

Drury, witnessing the fall out between Fleming and Charlton, decides to take cover.  

Confirms my feelings that Arsene has been extremely canny here. Back at Highbury last Summer. Hmmmm, Bentley, a problem child, forever banging on my door demanding attention. Handbags and tantrums. And Dad on the phone too. Thinks Where can I send him to to rid myself of this hassle. Eureka One of those promoted teams may just swallow the bait. What''s the phone number for Carrow Road, Pat. Monsier Worthington. I have a bon deal for you - but be queek before Meester Megson gets to hear.......

Whether teams perceive we are desperate to sell or not, a market is made when there is supply and demand. I would expect there to be greater demand over the summer break as teams gear up for the following season rather than this January. Greater demand will drive up the price. Much depends too on how Greeno shapes up over a complete season. In effect, my idea is to take out a mortgage on the new players with Greeno as the collateral.

But there is another option. Don''t sell Greeno in January. As a proven goalie, he more or less guarantees us some valuable points in our quest to stay up. And we buy the striker/defenders we need  in January. Hey - we stay up - and we''ve still got control of our key asset who has a long term contract. And we look forward to Premier Year 2 - consolidation phase. S**t - we go down. Holding on to Greeno, I believe will be a positive financial investment, he will become more valuable. So we sell at the season end as we balance the books. Net position of this option :- increases possibility of staying up.adds striker/defenfder to squadreview Greeno position season endif we have to sell, will achieve greater sale price

Interesting to note that Blackburn bought a tiny number of supporters with them on Saturday - and the imminent Saints support will also be sparse. For our part we''ve confimed we''ll use all of our Chelsea away allocation, not everyone can do that - and have managed to take big quotas thus far to all of our away grounds. Anyone know where we stand in league table terms for away support?

I''m starting to have my doubts about Charlton as a centre half. Yesterday, as in other games, i''ve seen him committed - and then as a result  - out of position. Yes, he''s quick to recover; yes he''s brave; yes, he''s mobile. But commanding centre - no way. I''d prefer to see him contesting left back with Shackell in the middle.

Come on Yankee - where''s Part 2?

Come on Yankee - where''s Part 2?

McVeigh with Jarvis standing by. But hopefully Leon will make it.

Anyone recall a thread that ran just before the season kicked off when the point of discussion was - Had Nigel been cultivated by the PR gurus to improve his presentation skills ahead of the expected media exposure. At that stage, general sentiment was that he had brushed up his act over the summer. "Know what I mean" etc, had been binned. 3 months in - whatdya reckon? Is Nigel a smoothie? Is he presenting the club in a favourable light? Has he changed? Indeed, should he change?

Call up Jim Brennan

Wiz Now why did I expect you to say that. Of course it was you. And also for good measure, surely it was you alone who condemned the Binmen to eternal cashflow problems and the added agony of play-off failure. But I do recall various attempts to conjure up new players - where are they then??

Call me a sceptic but remind us if you will how many of your spells work. Football ones that is - not too bothered personally about frogs, toads, evil tyrants, dark lords, virgins etc PS Keep taking the tablets. 

This isn''t a job opportunity - its a curse. And on that basis, the candidates seeking this role will be the usual ragbag of has-beens and flops. Can''t see any of those currently said to be interested being formidable enough to make a huge difference. Houllier, Robson the elder, Robson the younger, Adams, Hoddle etc shouldn''t worry us. Wonder if Joe''ll go for it?? Is there a surprise package lurking somewhere? Can''t think of one. And as for Megson - where to next for him. Back to the old division of course where he can once again move with Messrs Pardew, Warnock, Royal, etc Ho,ho, ho.

Everyone''s entitled to their opinion but the fickle-fan-ometer is starting to swing about wildly. Poor old Helveg!! He comes on against West Brom as a sub last week and the response is - great, improved our position, used his experience ....etc etc. This week he''s as welcome as the black plague. Mackenzie, and especially Svennson, were taking their share of stick a month ago, now they''re marvellous. Even the bench are getting it now - for not being more demonstrative enough. A bit of a change there. And the board, of course, have slipped to become short-sighted, small minded and unrealistic. And us of course. Away (and home) support has been unstinting whatever the result or outcome, yet on this board the bitching is gathering momentum. Even old DD''s gone negative! Wonder what''ll happen if we beat Newcastle or Man City. Come on guys, get behind your team and especially your manager. There''s no doubt they''re doing their best and giving 100%. So should we.

Do the club actually want to stay up?? I don''t think there''s any doubt about that - the question is how. Wizard - bow out of this one now, its doing nothing for your credibility. £5m for one unproven Div 1 player is, simply, ridiculous. WBA have pushed the boat out financially - and are they any further forward than us - I don''t think so. Seems like they''ve still got to work out their strategy - its all kick and hope for them. And I doubt they''ll have money to spend in January. With shrewd purchasing - plus some loans  - a lot can still be had for £1.5 to 2m, which is about NW''s budget. Personally, central defence is looking decidedly shakey, and, dependent on how Shackell responds to the step up, we may need to spend some money there.  

Yes to Shackell. Yes too to Mullers. How about McVeigh up front. Plus Jim Brennan on the bench.