AyeDubbleYoo

Sounds like he's having a cracking game tonight.

If he has 'rigorous self-analysis', then he should use it to assess his terrible fitness levels and get himself down the gym. Maybe hit the town a bit less as well.

It might actually give Nolan the kick he needs if he was dropped for a couple of games. He needs a wake-up call, no doubt.

I agree, not as a footballer though. He should consider a career as a doorman or something, he loves a night out. He could get tips from Mike Hooper.

There's too many motheruckers ucking with our shi.

Nothing about the way Nolan is playing is temporary. Unless he commits to a complete diet and fitness regime change, he'll never be a good player again.

One or both would be out the door at the first chance KK would get. Remember, he actually played Butt in every (?) game he was manager. Smith wasn't sold by Keegan because he was "a good guy to have around" iirc. But yes, Nolan would be out of the door pretty quick I could imagine. KK never really got the chance to sort a team out. Yeah right. Haven't thought about that actually. Wonder what "his" midfield would have looked like if he would have been given a chance to sort it out... his midfield would have looked like one that attacks with speed and purpose. He would have needed a lot of new players for that!

I liked Shay Given and he did give us a lot of great service. I guess he thought he had to go to City mid-season or they would have splashed out on another world class keeper instead, but the timing of his departure means I will never have positive feelings for him now. If he had waited until the end of the season I'm 85% sure we would still be in the Premiership now.

On the bright side he's not Boumsong-bad... he's young and there's a chance we can work on his weaknesses (i.e. jumping in when he shouldn't and backing off when he shouldn't). I haven't given up on him completely.

This game will end up costing me hundreds of pounds when it finaly happens! I really just want a refund now, can't be arsed with it.

I'd be very surprised if we buy a RB now we have Simpson permanently. I agree. We've given him a long term contract for a reason. Aye, because he was cheap. Quite possibly, but at the end of the day because we want to use him as first choice RB for the next 3.5 years. Read that and physically shuddered. I vomited just after writing it.

The day will come when we don't have to endure the embarrassment of these knackers running round in the black and white shirt. The longer Hughton keeps Nolan in the team the less credible he becomes as a manager IMO. If he does it when Jonas and Routledge are both fit then it's the end of my respect for the man.

I'd be very surprised if we buy a RB now we have Simpson permanently. I agree. We've given him a long term contract for a reason. Aye, because he was cheap. Quite possibly, but at the end of the day because we want to use him as first choice RB for the next 3.5 years.

You must know that he means alongside some new players to fill the other spots.

Might spread the Champs League money around a bit, that's something. I don't agree with playoffs at all in principle, even in the lower divisions I think the top teams at the end of a season should get the prize.

I'd be very surprised if we buy a RB now we have Simpson permanently.

We look a different side with Jonas and Enrique. Lets not forget that up 'til now the left side has looked our only threat going forward. Routledge might be able to balance things out but he's new to the side and he hasn't played much when we've been at full strength. We rely on the lefties a lot, without them we're toothless.

David's list is pretty realistic IMO, not for 'success' in the Premiership, but for staying there. The only one I would disagree with is Smudger, he'll be way out of his depth in the Prem. Take out our obvious weak links like Nolan and add a few players with real athleticism and energy and we might have a shout of staying up. Not there yet obviously.

Nolan wouldn't fit through the door, he'd have to stay.

Yeah, it's a double-edged problem though, most of our team are so immobile that their passing options are very limited. They still should be better at keeping possession though, I agree.

Guthrie is our best central midfielder, probably by quite a distance. Sad but true. We just need someone with real energy alongside him, and both the wingers to be playing. I think he would cope a lot better in those circumstances.

Simpson is shite I agree, but we've just given him a contract so I imagine the club are planning to use him if we go up.

Almost certainly not! The thing about exceptions is that it's very difficult to know when to make them. Imagine if we'd had a wage structure in the past and we'd made exceptions to sign Damien Duff for a cheap fee but with big wages, or in the case of Michael Owen. We'd soon be back to paying over the odds for 'star' players who aren't really worth it. IMO if you're to have a wage structure there can't be exceptions.

thing is there would often be times when the uefa cup was stronger the the european cup because teams who won the league weren't doing so well by the time the european cup came round the following season.. however i agree that 4 is too many. definitly top 2 or 3 though. top 2 with third going into a play off like we had with zaleznicar would be ok. Yeah, I just think it puts undue emphasis on coming 4th... it shouldn't be an acheivement in the top division. I know the only way for European football is to get bigger, but a lad can dream.

There shouldn't be four Champions League places anyway, it's ridiculous. The idea that people can celebrate coming fourth like they've won the league is stupid. I would much prefer to see the CL kept just for 1st place.