knowhatimean

I cannot see how Creative Midfielder (particularly with a name like that) can possibly agree that Holt''s performances in the Premiership have been acceptable.  Yes, he has the odd good moment and you cannot fault his workrate and commitment but his creativity?  I do not think he has any. How often have youseen him win the ball only to give it back by his lack of vision.  I believe that our midfield has been the major problem with our performances so far this year, causing heavy burdens on both defence and attack and until Worthy realises this, we will continue to struggle. OTBC for ever

Yes, I agree with most of the points raised on this post - I, unfortunately, have had to say it all before (see Coaching in the Premiership 26/10/04) and only just wish Worthy would take some notice of what is often very good sense from some of us wannaby managers!  I know we are not privy to all the things that go on in the football club,and nor we should be but I have attended many training sessions at Colney and while the atmosphere is good and everybody seems to be having a good time, I wonder if this is the right course of action in getting your team up to Premiership standards.  From the evidence on the pitch sometimes, perhaps it is not.  I feel that when I was involved with coaching youngsters, we gave them a much harder time and they enjoyed it by getting good results! (remember Ron Saunders??) Perhaps the current players are treated a bit too soft and with their grossly inflated pay packets and egos, some of them need to guided back to reality - That, I would say is the job of Worthy and his coaching staff!  Get tough and mean it! OTBC for ever

Lets be honest - the reality is that a/some of our players are simply not good enough                                                 b/ Our coaching techniques are not good enough and                                                 c/ Our Manager is not good enough (certainly not with his                  substitutions) He most certainly cost us the game today with his inept and unbelievable substitutions and must be held responsible. I know we are all very disappointed at not winning yet again and I know we have much to thank Worthy for but something has to give before it is too late and the buck has to stop at the man in charge. We cannot even contemplate relegation so we must make sure it does not happen even if it results in a change of regime. OTBC for ever. 

Glad to see there are posters now seeing the real problems with our team.  Agree completely with  S hardy, Zipper, Keelan and only wish that Worthy would visit our message board and take note.  Although it was a big point to get, I felt with proper team selection we could easily have taken all three against a very poor Man C team. OTBC

I was not particularly having a pop at Worthy who I greatly admire for his achievements since he became Manager.  I do feel that, watching other teams performing at FCR or on Sky, we do seem devoid of ideas sometimes and wonder at the standard of coaching being given.  I often go to Colney to see the training sessions which are usually very enthusiastic, energetic and competitive - not disimilar to the training we used to offer our junior teams!  This is why I would have expected a Premier League side to have a bit more of a sophisticated approach its coaching methods. I know how performances are often dictated by how well the opposition are playing but wonder why:       1.  We always seem to offer the opposition far more space than we get, allowing them to pass the ball more easily and effectively.  2. When attacking, very rarely do we see balls cut back from the by-line or passed low and fast in front of the keeper, 3. When we have corners, why do we never seem to have players waiting for the ball on the 18 yard line or thereabouts when it is inevitably headed out. 4. We hardly ever seem to take advantage by quick throw-ins. 5. Why are so many goals we concede are though defenders not marking their man. 6. Why do 2 or 3 players often get drawn to 1 opposition player with the ball (I noticed there were 4 within a couple of yards of Ferguson last Sat. when he scored) and finally why do we always defend so deep? (You often see opposing Managers yelling at their defenders to get out!) I know I shall probably take some stick over these issues but nevertheless think they do raise important questions and will be interested to read any comments. Having said all that, I still feel that our players with their sheer determination are good enough to see us through to a safe position in the Prem.  otbc  

Well said Zipper - Have a look at my coaching post - Worthy needs to be Mr Motivator - the players will be ok then OTBC

Much has been said on the message boards about certain players having the ability to be able to perform in the Premiership. I wonder if we should also question whether our coaching staff have the ability to coach to the required standards. I was a bit alarmed when I read that Worthy had said he was not concerned with the performance of our Reserve team last Wednesday.  I thought that the idea of having players in the reserves was to groom them for entry into the first team when needed and that performances were important.  The game against Palace showed that we would be struggling to find adequate replacements which we are likely to have to call upon before the season is over.  There was certainly no individual who stood out in our performance! I was also surprised at Worthy''s remarks after the Everton game.  When asked about his half time team talk, he said he hadn''t said much and gave credit to the players for performing so well in the second half saying that ''they had done it themselves''.  Again, I would have thought that the team, not having a particularly good first half, (though not as bad as has been said) the players would have needed some motivating from the coaching staff.  I can''t imagine many other Managers in the Premiership not having much to say when their team is 2-0 down at home half time! All credit to the players though for showing great bouncebackability (for a while anyway!) OTBC

Hey Essex Boy - didn''t we talk about this on Sat on Row S?  You said Mullers had told you he had been fit for the last four matches and I told you about his performance in the Reserves against Palace.  He certainly didn''t seem fit then!!  I agree that he should be given a chance though, but then, shouldn''t Safri?  Of course not while Holt still has two legs and three lungs though. OTBC

Don''t think Mega was ever a winger, Hucks - defensive to a fault but nevertheless a genuine bloke and I am sorry to see him yet another victim of Chairman power. Best of luck to him for the future.

Once again City have suffered because of a poor refereeing decision. highlighted by Chris Kumara on Sky Sunday morning.  He referred to Pompey''s first ''goal'' allowed when Camara was clearly in an offside position which was deemed by the Ref. not to be interfering with play, in spite of him being about a metre in front of Green. Kumara was adamant that the ''goal'' should have been disallowed and that the rule should be amended. Every week we see rueful Managers on TV complaining about refereeing decisions and I would like to know why somebody or an Association of Managers do not get together and lobby the FA to get these stupid rules corrected. We have all heard of the old adage that such decisions even themselves out over the course of a season but that is utter rubbish. Why can''t the FA get into the 21st century and introduce technology into the game, as with many other sports?  I know that this has been raised many many times before but how can we get this sorted out?  The referees need help and without it you will never get consistency in decision making. Tonight''s game for example, Pearce''s professional foul was correctly punished, unlike the foul against Hucks in the Arsenal game. Sorry to be a bit Meldrewish about this but it is so frustrating that these incidents are happening with monotonous regularity. Apart from the above - what a terrific game - even motormouth Marsh was drooling over it on Sky!! Hope Worthy was watching tonight''s game which showed how positive attacking and an active midfield created so many chances. OTBC

He Scored Against says it all but I would have to disagree with the comment that Hucks is a lazy b....  Yes, we all know that he is not the best tackler or header of the ball in the team but we do have to play to his strengths, which are quite well appreciated.  Without his flair we have had little to offer up front so far this season and time and time again he has got into the opposition''s box and had no support at all.  Likewise with Doc - we can see he is not a natural striker but to be fair, the games I have seen him play he has won more balls in the air than not but the problem again is that there is nobody within yards to feed off him and unless we develop a more positive attacking policy, I just can''t see where the goals are coming from.  Much has been said about Holt''s performances and I agree that it is time he was rested.  We cannot fault his work rate but in this league teams must have more creativity and Holt is certainly not the player to provide it.  Overall, I think we must be honest and admit that for the most part, many of our players lack premiership quality and to obtain the results they have so far is wholly commendable. Wouldn''t it be lovely, however for the team to do well and make those so-called experts like motormouth Marsh and his heavily biased co-presenters eat their very words! OTBC

Just heard from my son at Anfield - Liverpool are awesome.  Doc has not had a kick and when he does win something in the air there is nobody to pick up.  Hucks has had one or two runs but again with no help.  Holt & Safri are doing ok but defensively it is hard to cope with the onslaught. Worthy must change it soon or there will be a real drubbing.   OTBC

The tw*t in the sunday express said that ''the only time the Canaries looked a little chirpy was when Bentley had the ball and the fact that he is on loan from Arsenal says it all''  There you are, we all know now!! OTBC

Sorry to admit taking the sunday express but did anybody read the City report by some ill informed idiot - '' Norwich City became the first football club in the country to receive an honorary degree from their local university..  Whatever they did to deserve their civil law degree for services to the community was not transferred onto the playing field.  That, to be brutal, had more dunces on it than scholars of the beautiful game'' . What a load of journalistic twaddle! There seems to be an abundance of dunces in Fleet Street writing football match reports!  Why do they bother?   Needless to say, I shall not continue with that particular rag!

Following 1st Wizards cat amongst the pidgeons, I would like to offer this for discussion: I am sure Adam Drury will develop into a fine full back once he settles into life in the Prem. but I do not believe he is happy in his role of Captain. He does not come across as a dominent member of the team and I think he would be a better player if relieved of that responsibility. We need somebody with more personality, passion and organisational ability to inspire the team. I would have suggested Malky but it does not look if he will feature much now so I think I would opt for Charlton, who seems to have all the qualities needed. Anybody agree or have any other suggestions? OTBC

BBC Sport on Five Live says it closes at midnight tonight.

Refs do not cheat - they just don''t see everything!! OTBC

Sorry Peter - of course it should be Barclays who will regret his demise! Praps they will replace him with a lot of Worthys!! OTBC

Sorry to see the old boy go and so will Sky, I should think after spending a fortune on the ''Managers'' advert - wonder if they continue to show it? I can''t see him staying in football now, at least not in a Managerial capacity. What a great man though! All the best to him.

I was not aware of the buzzer contact existing between referees and linos. There normally seems little contact apart from arm waving etc. If it is possible to have such contact, would it not be more sensible for the referee to have it with the 4th assistant who is sitting in front of a monitor in the stands? This surely would help the ref. in what is becoming an increasingly more difficult job. Anybody agree? OTBC

No, Pompey - He needs a rest. A few weeks off and he will come back as strong as he ever was. It cannot not do his confidence any good to continue to play him when he is clearly out of touch and needs to re-discover his form. Surely this is why teams need strong squads to get through periods when players are injured or suffering loss of form. I think Safri should be given a chance, he fitted in very well yesterday and will be very useful when completely fit. OTBC

Mr Rosario - I normally watch the games thru clear specs, not green and yellow ones and since you seem to be one of the ''play Gary Holt at all costs'' brigade, you are never going to admit the truth about our midfield performances. Just read other posts on the subject - I am not alone in my opinion! OTBC

I am sorry but have to disagree. Yes, we all know about Gary Holt''s contribution to the Club in recent years and how much we appreciate him but, as with any player, there comes a time when you have to look at his performances. Our midfield, if we are honest, has not been functioning for many games, including last years wonderful promotion push - yes Francis is emerging as a very competent player but Gary Holt has certainly been struggling and needs a rest. I am sure that he would benefit from having a spell in the reserves and will come back even stronger. To continually play players who are clearly suffering from loss of form does their confidences no good at all. Henderson last year was a good example. No, this is why clubs need strong squads to supplement their first choice players and I would certainly not write off the Scandanavians until they are given time to settle in and adapt to the pace of our game. OTBC

I think Holty & Svennson should be rested. Surely this is why you need squad players to come in to relieve those who are struggling. We have the promise of a very good team and once the Scandanavians get used to the pace of our football, I am sure they will prove to be sound buys. To continue to play them when they are clearly not yet ready will do their confidence no good at all. Liked the look of Docherty and feel he too will be a most useful addition to the squad. A terrific performance but I felt we did give United a bit too much respect and space but having said that, wasn''t their passing and movement superb! OTBC

I can understand why Worthy is needing to bolster up our squad after seeing the reserves in action last night. Quite honestly, apart from the players with first team experience, I didn''t see any of the youngsters who looked anywhere capable of being introduced into the first team squad. Jason Shackell had a good game but I can''t think of anyone else worth a mention. West Ham played some superb football, particularly in the second half, when we hardly had a kick. We will certainly needsome more experienced players to have in reserve when injuries, suspensions etc kick in.