Chez

Lambert is fitter. The rest is largely the same - brilliant link up play, only less goals from freekicks.

and some are easily pleased. If he wasn't so slow he'd of been in a position to shoot. Because he is slow he was forced to square it and luckily we got the pen. You can gloss it up as awareness, but it was much more down to his lack of pace and dare I say it lack of confidence to take the chance on for himself. jeez, next you'll be telling me the whole game turned because of him. My argument is that he is not an impact sub. He doesn't have an attribute to change the pattern of the game.

he crossed a ball that led to a penalty. I thought at the time that a sharper striker might have got on to the ball quicker and taken the chance on himself. I still thought he should have shot, but he made the right decision to pass. Other than that square pass he did pretty much **** all. That's not an impact.

Sharp is a goal poacher. His all round play is pretty average and he is so slow its not true. That doesn't mean he's not a good signing, although I personally never thought he was the right guy, but what it does mean is that he needs to play the whole game to give him the maximum chance of doing what he does best - taking a chance when it comes. That is what he does and expecting much more of him is wrong. He doesn't have a secondary attribute - pace or strength or dribbling skills for example, that means he's not ideal as an impact sub.

I think fat Sam has done a decent job. Yes they play hoof ball ****, and yes they have bought players, but they are right there, challenging for promotion and as we all know this league is as tough as old boots. There is never a guarantee of going straight back up even if you do retain quite a lot of your Premiership squad. Newcastle apart, most big sides with huge wages that go down stay down. West Ham were terrible last season and he has turned a losing mentality into a winning one, all be it one that has stumbled recently. Sam has done what he has had to do. I'm not a fan, can't stand him or his style of football, but west Ham fans expectation levels have been sky high.

I don't care what anyone says, Puncheon has been woeful since he came back in almost every game. Much worse than when fans were jumping on his back over a misplaced pass or poor control. In fact I don't think he has been good in any of the games, even the first one, which was perhaps his best. I've backed the guy since he has been here, largely because I like underdogs and I suggested him as a player to buy on the HCDAJFU thread many years ago, but I think now that he has become more `popular' with fans (perhaps just to neutralise those that are quick to slate him) he's no longer an underdog and I'll start slating him. Far too casual, needs to get right `on it' from the first minute, pull his socks up and start using that ability he has to much greater effect.

where did you get to in ull? I lived there for several years back in the 90s and frequented Boothferry on many occasion. The KC apart, I imagine ull as a whole is still very much in the 90's?

we have 75 points already, so add 6 more and that makes 81. West Ham add zero points in the four games and they will be on 68. We win against Pompey we go 16 points clear with 15 available.

can't wait to hear from our friend fat sam. Now someone tell me Reading have lost

and then a man blocks on the line. Lucky west ham

cross bar saves west ham

get in boro

I can feel a Boro goal coming. What do you think Alex?

just shows that it won't be a walkover at SMS by any means, but even more pleasurable should we tonk them

everything is just wonderful apart from the skate game

12,186 at nottarfkrap

West Ham get away with a handball in the box. Who's paying off refs now?

I have your solution

starting to hear boos now

About time Adkins started to trust de Ridder. He has performed very well when called upon. A few very average games, but he's not alone there.

how on earth have they got so many points? So average. Can see us winning up there. Mind you Hammill is causing one or two problems and we know how old boys come back to haunt.

pitch reminds me of Dagenham last season on which Guly had perhaps his best game in a Saints shirt

I never thought I'd see the day when opposing fans are talking about us buying off refs. Desperation or what?

Connelly at 175/1 for top goalscorer. Just glad I also took Lambert (£25e/w) at 22/1. Premiership season ticket paid for. Hopefully.