[Slick_Footwork]

While I'd agree with Bomber that Lukaku and Odem were never really replaced (I didn't rate Long), which has caused us problems, that doesn't excuse Irvine's terrible selections with the players that we have always had and know about.

Since McAuley was put into the team by Roy Hodgson, we rarely ever looked like conceding off a set play. He's also pretty solid on the deck too. Him and Olsson were a very reasonable partnership (Let down by full backs) until Olsson's form tailed off. That's why I was chuffed when Lescott was in, for me him and McAuley would be a really solid partnership, as good as any outside of the top 6-8 teams. However for some reason Irvine favors Dawson. While I love Dawson's endevour, he just isn't as good a defender as McAuley. He's slow, always looks like he's going to foul and isn't anywhere near as dominant in the air.

Then you've got the midfield. We acquired Gardner who is a reasonable all rounder, who's main strength is a good shot. It would make sense to play him as a box to box midfielder next to someone more defence minded so he can get forward and chip in with a few goals. As yet, we've seen him and Yacob in the same team only once, at Chelsea away. As a result, Gardner's primary job has been to defend and we're in December and he's yet to register a goal.

I personally think Mulumbu has proven over the years that he's a better option than Dorrans and Brunt who seem to play no matter what. Between them, they haven't had many good games this season. Yet Mulumbu has one bad game and he's gone. It was no surprise to me that Brunt wasn't missed when he was injured tonight.

[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

I don't dispute at all that Irvine's selections are poor, and Varela's cameo tonight underlined that he should be featuring (jury still out on Ideye for me). But the dilemma is, sack Irvine without solving the underlying problems, and you just dump the same mess onto a new bloke. This should have been sorted two years ago when the problems first started to surface, but they've been allowed to drag on and take root.

If sacking Irvine is part of fixing this mess then so be it, but it shouldn't be the only action taken. Far more needs to be done.

[Worldclassalbion]

I may well get shot down here but I think Irvine has to go. Putting Varela on last night was forced upon him and we all know he wouldn't have featured otherwise.

Sadly for me he has to be removed, the sooner the better. Everyone with an ounce of football knowledge knows that pace and width is a better option in the premier league (Actually any league) unless you have a midfield like Barcelona who CAN play comfortably narrow without blistering pace.

We were warned by OWLS fans and PNE fans what to expect and they were bang on. We will be relegated with AI at the helm.

Yes he's a nice bloke and a great trainer so give him that role, get someone in who has some attacking fire in their belly and give him his own No;2 and lets see what happens. If we are to be relegated (and theres a good chance we are if AI stays) I would rather it be having a go at teams, not like the mere fleeting glimpses we have seen so far this season.

If we do get a new man in I would ask him to listen to AI's advice and then do the OPPOSITE, ie: pace, width, attack instead of slow, narrow and defend for your lives!

This is obviously just my opinion for what its worth. Just for once I would love to see this team;

                                                                Foster

Gamboa                     McCauley                                     Lescott                    Pocognoli

                                Mulumbu                                     Gardner

Sessegnon                                                   Blanco                                        Varela

                                                                Berahino



Just for once