trappatoni

I'd like Pompey to go up, Bolton not so much, there just seems an undertone around their club that they deserve it more than the other contenders. This may come from tne manager - one of those who in his own mind never deserves to lose a game and isn't shy in telling everyone.

I hope he proves himself because chances are he's here next season and he'll be on decent money. If we go up, no chickens being counted, if Warne sticks with a back 3 then Nelson, Cash, Nyambe, Bradley, Fozzy, Rooney would probably do for the championship - there's enough quality and cover there with a few capable of playing full back in a 4.

1Wildsmith. 7 35Nelson. 8 5Bradley 8.5. 6Cashin 8 2Wilson. 7 12Smith. 7.5 23Fornah 6 was too busy checking the Bolton score at this point 32Adams 8 10Waghorn 6 as fornah 17Sibley. 8 defensively sound, threat on goal and set up a few chances 32Thommo 7 4Hourihane. 6 9Collins. 7. 14Washington 6 Fluffed a couple of chances - that said he got on the end of them to miss 11Méndez-Laing. 7 7Barlhuizen. 6

I agree - but I did have a glance at their forum and most of their fans were of the opinion he's doing well for us because that's his level. I hope that's the general feeling around that club as it can't harm our chances of signing him. Think he only has a year left on his contract too so they'll have to decide whether to listen to offers, let his contract run down or extend based on what he's done at another club at a lower level.

Ok yeah sorry I did know that - I assumed you were hinting that there were some other rumoured reasons - my mistake.

I agree now isn't the time to discuss the future of the manager. Not for me anyway. If we go up I think you have to give him a go in the Championship and I'm sure we will- if we don't I think there's a debate to be had but I'd fully expect Clowes to keep him and I don't see him walking. Yes he's had some criticism but that's pretty much just modern football. He will know this is the biggest club he's getting to manage next season.

I'm not harping back to him - I'm responding to someone else that harped back to him to criticise him. Nor was I moaning about Warne - just correcting an attempt to rewrite history. No Didzy wasn't available after 2 games - he made a few cameos off the bench - when was he available to start ?* What were these reasons Clowes didn't keep Rosenior ? * I make it he started 2 league games for Rosenior - so not really enough time to be up to speed.

I don't think you can blame the pass. Yes there was an opportunity to pass it along the floor rather than take an extra touch but it was a harder pass to make and the keeper was less out of their goal and would have been able to cover some of it. It's not like he could have put CBT in exactly the same position but with the ball rolling nicely. The more I watch it the easier it looks to finish - just needs cushioning into the net I'd fancy myself to score it more often than not.

Had us 7th and had hardly had Didzy fit. Warne did have him fit and kept us in 7th. Won 7 drawn 2 lost 3 in all competitions.

Agree it was a bad idea but let's not forget the likely alternative was Sonny Bradley.

After such an injury? I mean I'm glad he's back but it's just a routine return from injury isnt it. He works hard and has a decent engine so I'd have expected him to give a good shift for 70 minutes.

I didn't think NML was too bad last night and 100% I wouldn't be resting him. That said he is more effective wide and for me if it was thought he wasn't doing it centrally he'd be in the team over CBT, Ward. Barkhuizen, Wilson or any of the other wide options. Yes that bunch have been good at times but NML has been better more consistently.

I don't think that follows - it just means we care a lot about going up and not much about winning the division. Re the tactics - I think they worked reasonably well but we'll never know how we'd have done had we adopted a more attacking strategy.

Watched on TV 1Wildsmith. 5. Thought their second was saveable 2Wilson. 6 Probably should have conceded a pen but otherwise ok 35Nelson. 6.5 Good but megged for their first 6Cashin. 7 17Sibley. 7. Shares some blame for first but up against their main threat 23Ward. 8. 16Thompson. 5.5 Got to be honest don't think he's bringing much other than energy 12Smith. 7 4Hourihane. 6 32Adams. 8 27Blackett-Taylor. 7. 14Washington. 5 11Méndez-Laing. 6.5 9Collins. 6 10Waghorn. 6

1Wildsmith. 7 2Wilson. 7.5 35Nelson 8 6Cashin 8 17Sibley 7 23Ward. 6 10Waghorn. 6 32Adams. 8 12Smith. 7 4Hourihane. 6 27Blackett-Taylor. 6 16Thompson. 6 11Méndez-Laing. 7 22Fornah. 6 14Washington. 5.5 9Collins. 7

It's 50:50 for me. I'm not confident we'll get more than 10 points from the last 6 but that may be enough. A win on Friday would certainly make things look better.

Chances are he's going to be here next season so we'll have to hope he comes good.

Not gonna comment on today's game, largely because I spent the afternoon on a long walk round Barton Under Needwood (did listen on Talksport2). However we know we are inconsistent so this wasn't totally unexpected and it doesn't mean we are going to be awful on Friday. We've lack fluidity all season but we are resilient at the back and can often nick a goal or two - it's just that when we don't there's no "well at least we played well" to fall back on. May as well stay behind them for now and have tke inquest at the end of the season.

They play a nice passing style? Free hit for them ? It all adds up to just the sort of team we do well against . Northampton 1 4 Derby Nelson header for the first

Fair comment though the formation doesn't have to be symmetrical. Sibley or Wilson as a wing back could come inside more leaving CBT wider. We've seen managers rip up the rule book - not that long ago inverted wingers were considered new, now we've had Wilder's overlapping CBs, Stones playing as a 10, Trent playing as a 6 etc. Warne and Barker might devise something to get CBT in his best position and keep his back 3/5 system. Edit - i dont mean CBT as a wing back - I mean he plays ahead of a wing back who moves inside more leaving the space wide for CBT. Sibs and Wilson both have that ability to pass and move and keep possession to do that.

Sorry no idea how to clear that. Re using data it'll be universal now amongst clubs our size at least as much as looking for players with certain characteristics . We really need to find our own angle where we can be ahead of most of the competition. Brentford did it by scrapping the academy and using the money to invest in potential for their B team. I'd say we might want to look at a longer term route with the academy which then begs the question how do we make our academy more productive than most others. If we want to recruit and retain the best young players we need to sell them a reason to choose us over higher profile clubs. The most obvious one is to point to a load of successful academy graduates which is why it's essential we continue to bring players through - the manager has to buy into that even if at times an older experienced player would be safer in the here and now. After that stuff like making sure we offer better outcomes for those that don't make it to reassure parents, that the academy players love being here so want to stay etc is vital.

Not convinced the supposed "psychological advantage" of being 7 points ahead would be real - our rivals are going to go into their games looking to win irrespective. If anything it might lead to us taking our foot off the gas thinking it's job done - teams with huge leads usually come back to the pack a bit.

Im going to be different with a back 4 Smith at RB and Fozzy LB. Adams Hourihane central with Sibley. NML and Wilson wide but CBT to come on at some point and Washington up front if he's fit. Sibs and one of Adams/Hourihane have freedom to break forward. To be honest we've played so many different line ups this season and they've all looked good at times poor at others I'm not strongly wedded to any.

Gayle didn't come in the window though - anyone moaning that we needed a striker was proved right.