The Prophet

Have I missed an inside joke here?

Hasn't Hughton said a couple of times he'll be after a striker? Also if we're not signing a centre mid or a striker who do you see us signing? Must admit I can see Hughton bringing in a winger on loan.

Would you expect any different? The step up in quality probably reflected a squad that will be pushing the top four and a squad that will be battling to keep its head above water. Pointless statement.

The lad is having a half decent pre-season. His style of play still reminds me of Ranger though.

If he gets a good pre-season under his belt Best might start banging them in.

Wonder how the 'team spirit' is after demoralising deafeats here and at the Raizor.

Christ, just highlights how much investment we need to become an established Premier League squad again.

Dirk Kuyt is a damn fine goal scorer but not a great football player. He was forced out onto the wing simply because he 'works hard'.

Lovenkrands could be used in the Premier League to reasonable effect, more so for his pace and intelligance more than his goal scoring prowess. Don't get me wrong I'd prefer a superior striker being bought but if needs be I'd pick him up top along with Carroll. One particularly positive memory of Lovenkrands in the Premier League was the Manc home match. There were certian spells in the game where along with Martins and Jonas he ran riot. Obviosuly we no longer have the pace of Martins but it hints that his runs could be useful up top if he uses them intelligently enough. I think he could certianly cause some of the lesser teams probelms. As far as confining him to playing at home is concerned I don't think that is an issue, I can't see Hughton going anything but 4-5-1 away from SJP.

I can't believe people are using this 'team spirit' argument. Yes its presence is nice and there's no doubt it played a role in our instant return to the big time, but would you really use it as an argument opposing the signing of a quality player or indeed selling one of those central to it's existance i.e Smith or Nolan?

Badly needs loaning out. Can't rot on the bench but at the same time he'd be way off the pace in the Premier League.

You disagree?

When Martins left us he was a striker low on confidence. He was on a crappy run and needed a bit of luck to get back on a goal scoring run, unfortunately for him it was never going to come in a relegation scrap. As for Martins in general, he has all the attriubtes to be a top class striker but he will never have the footballing brain to hit the heights. A highly infuriating player to watch.

Fast with inconsistent end product.

More realistic players for sale. Would love to see us ship Best, Xisco and Ryan Taylor before the end of the window. Unlikely of course.

We're blatently going to be strung along for a few days before he signs for a club participating in the Champions League.

A much needed option at centre back, especially with Taylor out. Priority is a striker now, as much as I'd like another attacking midfielder we need a proven striker.

Sums up our summer buisness so far for me. Solid but unspectacular.

For me milner is an industrious player with no outstanding attributes that has been playing at his optimum in his correct position under the correct manager.

He's certianly got his feet under the table, he's shipped: Insua Aurelio Degen Benayoun Rodriguez Riera And has brought in: Young (supposedly in the pipe line) Wilson Jovanovic Cole Bloody good buisness so far, although looks as though he'll have to find a replacement for Mascherano which won't be an easy task.

It's not that he's slow per se, it's that he's slow to turn due to being a big fella. He doesn't have the lowest centre of gravity.

Nah man it goes: Rumours of Ben Afra joining spread, despite evidence that points to the contrary. Most are rightly sceptical but a select few go a bit overboard. Similar rumours of him joining Milan begin to spread. The select few desperately cling to straws rubbishing any source that carries the Milan rumour, despite the fact sources no more reliable than those initially linked us with the player. The majority begin to get pissed off with the select few when the thread grows a page every ten minutes implying something significant has happened.

I'm unsure why people read into statements such as this and the ones previously made about Ryan Taylor. It's simply a confidence boost to the mentioned player before the season commences.

Hughton has denied we've made contact. His agent claims there has been no contract. Reports he has joined Milan. Do we need any more evidence? Give over lads.