afar

I guess not, flog that horse a bit more guys.

I had come over from the US where I was living at the time and went to SJP that night, can still not shake the image of Woody slipping up on the halfway line that led to their goal. After winning the first leg 1-0 away, criminal that we couldn't finish off the tie at home. Oh and Amalfitano is basically taking Guthrie's spot, if he's not as good as guthrie is right now then that's not good news.

Are we done yet with the last name crap ? This is what this summer of inactivity is doing to us.

FT 2-0, good job lads.

So far the progress has been to replace the lost fringe players with younger fringe players, that's a positive move but I fear not enough to be able to cope with a busy season coming up. A wouldn't be upset if we didn't bring in another GK or Midfielder, but a first team striker and CB are paramount, upgrading RB too would be nice but at this stage a don't see that as happening.

was that the Lee Bowyer summer ? yep

I love your contribution, keep it up Jack. Yeah it's great when we have people close to the action that don't mind keeping us up to date with the latest.

How good a prospect is Rolando ?

Semi kicking off in an hour, is it ? Reguarding Campbell, we might think he's too young, but he's at that age where if you are going to be a great player you tend to break into the first team, Owen was I think younger than he is right now, Rooney too. How old were Shola and Carroll when they made the breakthrough ? Shouldn't rush him of course and everyone develops at there own rate, but if he's an Owen type of player his peak could be a lot younger than other types.

Is this summer the most boring since the "keeping the powder dry" summer or what, our lack of movement is getting more worrying for me.

Just how close is Campbell to a senior side club up. Seems to be banging them in 5 this tourney already, everytime I read about the kids his name is always prominent. With the lack of strikers at the club now, he might be closer to a call up than we think.

Up the road ? That's Berwick Rangers. One promoted team, one of the 3 times that wewnt up last year to suffer 2nd season syndrome (strange how a year on they all have new managers), plus WBA because of their managerial choice

Wish we had gotten Clyne in, less pressure to secure this deal

I think a striker is just as important as those three, I would put that need ahead of Anita easily arguably more important that Debuchy. My order would be Douglas (or a.n. other quality CB), new striker (my preferance for a young development one, who can play the odd game now), Debuchy (I would have prefered Clyne personally, not that he's a better player but I think we would have gotten better value there) and then Anita (if money left in pot, would be a nice signing but luxury not a necessity). This assumes of course we lose no one else.

Spot on. I'm starting to get a little nervous right now about our whole lack of movement in the transfer market. We need that squad built up to at very least the level it was last season. We've lost 5 first teamers I think, plus all the fringe guys they released and replace them with 2 developmental players. That squad is just not big enough right now to cope with a season, that includes european football and a ACON. I want Carroll back and for those figures you mention I too wouldn't hesitate to pull the trigger, but 20million is ridiculous, so lets move on to the next guy on our list, whoever that is.

Tell me about it, at work, really quiet day everyone is on vacation, but there's bloody nothing going on to keep me entertained, there's f*** all going on with my Miami Dolphins too with their crazy long off season, we are lucky that we don't follow their schedule with 16 games played in 4 months and an 8th month off season, lol, stupidity. Gonna be a long day at work today.

Moses decision to play for Nigeria surely rules him out of a move here. That would leave 3 strikers potentially unavailable for a the month of the ridiculously too frequent ACON.

I think West Brom look the most likely, their choice of manager was suicidal. Swansea too are another good shout, just can't see Laudrup being a success there. I'm not sure how often this happens, I would imagine though it's very rare, but last year none of the promoted sides were relegated, surely the same thing can't happen again ? So one of the West Ham, Southampton or Reading to go. Fat Sam sides don't get relegated, so that removes West Ham, Reading are investing well in players that can keep them up, so I just think Southampton could be the unlucky ones, although wouldn't surprise me if the had a season like Swansea or Norwich did last year.

I would be more than happy with Clyne in Simpson out, Clyne and Debuchy in Simpson out would be even better.

Absolutely me too. But if the likes of Fulham, the Mackems, Stoke, West Ham or Villa finish ahead of us I will be disappointed, Europe or no Europe.

Weren't we after Mariappa in January, wonder why we are not interested now.

I agree with 6th-7th, but saying "players like" is instructive. Isn't the worry that you only have those players at that level (and not enough more "players like"), and over a whole season with injuries, suspensions, Europe and the like that may cause problems? That said, we'd expect Man U, Man C, Arsenal, Chelsea and Spurs to be the top five based on the last few years (and money). We'd expect Liverpool to challenge, based on money. One of that top five might struggle (possibly us, in transition), and anything could happen with Liverpool, so I think your ceiling this year will be fifth. I reckon you can still add Everton to make eight, but just don't see anyone else mounting a consistent challenge. Eighth should be your minimum, not because your players are much better than eighth, but because nobody else is that great and the top sides have better squads. Fair enough assessment. There are so many little leagues within the league now, realistically only Manure, Chealsea and Manshitty are capable of winning the title in my book. Arsenal, Liverpool and Spuds are capable of finishing in a CL spot and Everton and ourselves are threats to mix it up a bit and make the UEFA spots. The rest of the teams are mid table/relegation fodder. So based on that if we do not make the top 8 next season, that should be regarded as a big failure.

Don't like it at all actually, white band on sleeve is terribad.

Why pick those 2 and Leighton baines as your models, bloody hell

How does Victor Moses qualify now he's played for Nigeria ?