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I don't think Lee's the answer to all our problems, but I pretty much agree with this. It was that brief 4-5 game period a year ago when there was a misleading sense of optimism about the place.

Skacel or Harding? Harding please. McG or Rickie? Rickie please. Surman not yet replaced but Mills back from loan looks v good. BWP or Someone Else always offside? Someone Else please. Euell or Mellis? Mellis please. JPS not yet replaced and CSDAJFU but if we get Jaidi that'd do. Not that we don't need new blood. But I'm not sure we'll miss most of what's gone.

Yup I agree with pretty much all of this. The thing which mystifies me is the continued determination to play Lallana out wide. It's so obviously a waste - surely AP and the coaching staff can see that. Play him just off Lambert and stick with it for half a dozen games (especially if Greg and Saga leave). He's been shunted around so much in the last two seasons he probably doesn't know if he's coming or going anyway.

Wotton at CB isn't a bad shout - especially for away games. As long as he's told he has to do two things - win headers and when in doubt thump the ball into row Z. Just don't want to see him in midfield. Ever. Again.

My vaguely realistic dream team for Brentford: Davis Murthy-Jaidi-Whitbread-Harding Mellis-Morgan-Racon-Mills Lallana Lambert

Dare i say it but last season if we'd been playing (by all accounts) pretty poorly, we'd be one or two down at half time away. We're still in this.

Just for the record, nothing in this translation about being completely unaware of the level of the CCC. But as several have said this is all thankfully history. Admin could have gone either way. We rolled the dice and thank god it came up good.

Well if the OP gets the most votes that's cool with me. I'd just make it a little closer to the original to make it easier for peeps to remember. When you're down St Mary's way On any given Saturday Hear the fans begin to roar When Rickie Lambert's got the ball We all live in a Rickie Lambert world A Rickie Lambert world Etc Still like Monster and the Torres song too though. And Chez's efforts natch. Good work lads.

I think anyone who still harboured doubts about whether Liebherr/Cortese are the real deal should shove them aside for good today. This is the strongest statement of intent yet. How many 1 million pound footballers do you think will sign for a League One club this season? And with Boro sniffing around at the same time... Excellent news and feels like it's part of a serious long term plan. Shame it didn't happen a month earlier, but much bloody better late than never!

I like this one. Simple. Easy. Good tune. Maybe Who's that coming in for the kill, it's Rickie Lambert, it's Rickie Lambert!! Southampton One Northampton Nil, it's Rickie Lambert, it's Rickie Lambert!!

Just to update myself - Next signing - Rickie Lambert. Result - we probably have the best striker in the league. Happy ****ing days!!!!!!!!

It's that optimistic time of year so I think we could just get more points than anyone else in the league. Sadly in our position that may not be enough to win it. But seriously folks, if Cortese et all deliver the goods we will have one of the best teams in this league. Look what they've done so far - Day one persuade Kelvin not to go to the Prem. Result - we have the best keeper in the league - First two signings - Murty and Harding. Result - we probably have the best first choice full backs in the league. If they keep going I see no reason why we can't get to the play-offs.

Spot on. I think there were more nerves in the crowd/in front of the telly than there were on the pitch - because we're all so used to the last twenty minutes collapse. I thought we looked pretty solid too, but Millwall were pressing hard because we were running out of puff, and because we didn't have enough strength in depth on the bench. Pardew and Dean Wilkins should sort out both those concerns, given a bit of time.

Just imagine the half time mood at Carrow Road. Caaaaahmm on! Let's be 'aving you.

If that's true we have to get a new centre forward in next week. No excuses. Time to splash the cash Markus!

Pretty good so far. Harding, Morgan and Murty all looking good. But get Gillet on soon please. And big thanks to Martini for the Bet365 link. Quality mush.

Can anyone tell me which channel is showing the 5-0 demolition of Millwall in Asia? Is it Star? ESPN? Thanks.

You may be on to something here you know - if you ask me I think that as long as we can't persuade good CCC players to believe that that it is worth it to make the drop to League One when they have just a few years left (of course I am talking about a short career) then others hear about it on the grapevine. And that makes it far harder to recruit new talent. If you were asked to drop a division and you know that others won't do so then I for one can certainly see why people hesitate. That would certainly be the case for me. You've got to be Human in this League.

I officially nominate 'why's he called fish?' to replace 'has skacel signed yet?' as the comedy question of choice on this forum. Why is he called Fish anyway? And where's Rudi?

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11719_5475267,00.html Oh I do hope so. Whoever wrote that "the skilful wide-man impressed during his loan spells away from Anfield" is either taking the p1ss or is on drugs.

If they both sign then Murty-Jaidi-Perry-Harding wipes the floor with any back four we put out last season in the Fizzy IMO. Good stuff. Now for Ricky Lambert or Fernando Torres.

I hope the team for Millwall is Kelvin Murty-MysteryNewSigning-Perry-Harding Lallana-Gillet-Morgan-Fish Rasiak-MysteryNewSigning Although it could be Thomson on the right with Lallana pushed up behind MysteryNewSigning up front with Rasiak offski. Bench: Bart, James, Patterson + take your pick (Thomas if fit).

Leeds probably hoped it was two seasons to get out of this division too. Won't be easy, but I'm still hoping Pards has quietly been given a 5-7 million quid budget to spend on players (plus whatever he can make on sales) and that we can be top ten in with a shout of the play-offs with five games to go. Mind you, I convinced myself we'd finish top ten with an outside chance of the play-offs last summer too. So I'd best keep taking the pills. Come on Pards - 1 x quality of each of the following: right back; no nonsense centre back; box-to-box goalscoring midfielder; wide player with a decent cross; lightning fast striker. Oh, and get Morgan and Lallana playing to their full potential. Not too much to ask is it?

Really good interview - we aim to get somewhere towards the middle of the table by Christmas and then try to push on from there. No promises, realistic stuff - and what he's heard from the fans over the past week sums up the problems he can already see himself. So we're not as stupid as we think we are.

Listening to his interview on Saints TV he seems to know what the problems are already. Lack of passion, lack of fight, and in some areas lack of quality. He's not going to come out and say I've got big bucks to spend and I'm looking to buy six players, is he? But when he says there'll be some movement I think we can believe him.