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Last month I visited Plainmoor for the first time this season seeing the narrow win 1-0 over Burton and the 1-1 draw with Southend.

I was very impressed with Craig Stanley and I think he is a `must sign` for PB. To those critics of the team I would remind them that we have 3 twenty year olds (Kee, O`Kane and Oastler) and Ellis who is only 22. With 4 other players aged 24 this is a young team with only 3 players 30 and over (Potter 32, Branston 32 and Nico 30).

In 32 league games we have only lost 9 which means we have avoided defeat 72% of the time. But for the very unfortunate end at Morecambe and Cheltenham we would be 5 points better off and in 7th place. There is much to play for.

Attendances are a real worry but sad to say TELEVISION is killing football. Just look at average attendances today compared to 10 years ago. Here in Portugal only 5 teams in the top division average over 10,000. My local team SC Olhanense averages 3,816 despite only losing one match at home all season and that to FC Porto who are the runaway leaders and will almost certainly be the champions of Portugal.

From the 2 games I saw I think the two main problems are firstly the lack of an out and out goal scorer, in other words a Matt Tubbs, a Stuart Fleetwood, an Alan Connell or an Andy Mangan. I remember Swindon picked up Charlie Austin from Poole Town who was a prolific scorer and I wonder why PB does not consider, given our financial restraints, going for prolific scorers in the lower leagues.

The second problem is a failure in the team to retain possession. PB should make the team watch Arsenal for one hour every day and see how they retain possession. The other team cannot play if we have the ball! Aimless clearances by the keeper and some of our defenders do not make sense. It only clears the lines briefly. Giving the ball away should be the last thing we do.

Finally I think PB in his first management position is doing a great job with very limited funds at a time when professional football is in serious financial trouble. Everyone who loves the club should get behind him and the team and remember that critisim does not benefit anyone.

portugull wrote:PB should make the team watch Arsenal for one hour every day and see how they retain possession.

Finally I think PB in his first management position is doing a great job with very limited funds at a time when professional football is in serious financial trouble. Everyone who loves the club should get behind him and the team and remember that critisim does not benefit anyone.

And in the game against Barcelona, they can see how Messi and co did it against Arsenal =D

I do agree that Bucks is doing a good job, especially with the resources the club has. However, constructive criticism can be a good thing, it's singling out a player for abuse or shouting to get the manager out that I find unhelpful. By all means debate it reasonably(ish) on a forum, but during a match a team needs support.

But Arsenal won!!

I was pleased, I always want the English teams to progress. But in terms of possession and passing Barca were much better. I didn't think Arsenal played all that well on the day, but they got the win. Lets hope they up their game for the return leg.

HRG my son in law will be at the Bernabeu for the second leg of the tie. I know I will get a good match report. Barcelona have won 23 out of 26 league games this season so Arsenal will have to be exceptional to get a result!

If he goes to the Bernabeu he'll miss the game. Barcelona play at the Nou Camp

Some fair points portugull but to talk about Paul Buckle in the same sentence as Barcelona is surely an oxymoron.

We are talking about a man who values industry over creativity. I fear that his style has a contributory effect on the low crowds at Plainmoor.

Thank you Southampton. Senior moment! I had just read about Real Madrids 7-0 win over Malaga.He is definitely going to the Arsenal game!!

Yellow, I never mentioned Barcelona in my original post it was HRG who made reference to Barcelona in his reply. What I said was that PB should make the team watch Arsenal for one hour every day to see how they retain possession. I do not see why league two players cannot learn from premiership players. It is just the same as amateur golfers improving their handicap by studying professional golfers techniques.

portugull wrote:Yellow, I never mentioned Barcelona in my original post it was HRG who made reference to Barcelona in his reply. What I said was that PB should make the team watch Arsenal for one hour every day to see how they retain possession. I do not see why league two players cannot learn from premiership players. It is just the same as amateur golfers improving their handicap by studying professional golfers techniques.

Guilty. :Oops:
It was a little jest. I hang my head in shame.
Oh and just to confirm that I am in fact a lady.

Do you drive an orange Focus? =D

Far too much of a lady to drive SG.
Husband, however, drives a green Renault. The colour goes well with my hair

HRG wrote:Far too much of a lady to drive SG.
Husband, however, drives a green Renault. The colour goes well with my hair

we are learning so much about you HRG - car and colour and of course the fact that you are "easily pleased"..... =D

Super, you have taken that totally out of context!
:slap:

HRG wrote:Super, you have taken that totally out of context!
:slap:

of course I have!