Chez

normally because the player has been sounded out (tapped up) before hand to see if he is interested and how much he will want paying.

John Smith seems to have covered almost everything except the improvement shown by Seaborne this season in terms of ball winning and nastiness. He's been much more horrible so far and if he keeps showing that then you won't hear complaints from me. If he returns to the `after you' style centre back then I'll join the sheep that are currently berating him every week now no matter how well he performs.

he scored 3 from the spot last season out of his 9 goals. Perhaps he spent all his time laying on goals for Marlon King. he's got 2 goals so far this season, neither from the spot. You have to look beyond the goal stats (think Shearer for us). He is just 22 and shows good potential. From the little I've seen of him he looks like he has something about him.

Really? Dann was outstanding in the Prem last season. Fonte was outstanding in league 1. Slight difference in opponent quality.

Fox is a fullback that makes the bench, so this isn't a policy.

you're not alone and that's from someone that has criticised him in the past.

Fonte was very poor against Millwall, diving in many times and getting caught badly. Criticising Fonte is allowed, as is praising Seaborne. Seaborne was excellent in the Millwall game and didn't put a foot wrong. Seaborne's distribution overall is decent, not perfect, but easily god enough for this level. I'm still to be convinced he is strong enough, but he has been miles better so far than last season. You appear to have made your mind up about him and now don't assess each performance subjectively.

uninterested or just out of position?

actually I do, and some excellent displays last season is the reason for that, but then again I often get suckered into liking players with endeavour, terrific engines and that give everything in games. Boy do we need Puncheon to stay. There is so much hostility to Dickson, Seaborne, Harding and Richardson now we have n Pulis to moan about.

he clearly doesn't rate Dickson that's for sure.

Brum looked very likely to sign him this summer if they had survived so he's clearly got quality if they thought he could play in the top flight. Very exciting signing should that happen.

I see what you mean, but he got a new 12 month contract in the summer automatically in the same way Butters did, but then separately he signed an extension to this contract.

I'm intrigued. What are you saying?

it's bloody great. It is so much fun watching him play.

he (AL) lacks a yard of pace that world class players have.

agree Fox will probably come in sooner rather than later, but Adkins has a lot more faith in Harding than you do, hence the extended contract. Tough to drop him, but you have to play your best players.

Bit harsh. He had a very good game at Barnsley and against Leeds. Butterfield may be a better defender (I'm not totally convinced by this - for starters he's no where near as good in the air) and he played very well, but he is far too slow. One or two wingers just jogged past him last season. The wingers are much much better this season. And faster.

Cork was our best player in the middle in the first half. He's wasted at RB. Very tough decision.

not sure what game you were watching, but Leicester failed completely to cope with Lallana. He took the **** and but for some great saves we would have won at a canter. If you are saying Leicester had a plan and it worked then I'd have to disagree. They won, yes, but we murdered them second half and the idea that they knew how to play us is way off the mark.

overall the ref had a decent enough game, but I was just amazed he didn't give a free kick. It was just so obvious that he was climbing n Lambert. He jumped do early and was all over him. Killed us. Having said that we should won the game. We took them to pieces. Brilliant display from us. Very very good game all in all. Doubt we'll see much better this season.

Lambert seemed to lose his cool and absolutely berated the ref. Which IMO he justified in doing so.

the game is about opinions. I'm not sure what Seaborne did that was so wrong. He made three tremendous `Bobby Moore' timed tackles and in the second half they did not have a sniff. Him and Fonte must have been doing something right. I said many times last season that he was lightweight, but he has been anything but this season. As for Lambert, his one touch stuff in tight areas was outstanding. Almost every time Lallana got in it was from a Lambert pass. He missed one opportunity to shoot and that is all I could criticise him for. He worked back and he gave Mills a torrid time in the second half. I'm not sure what fans are expecting from him. If he had scored today everyone would haver given him a 9. He didn't score, but that doesn't mean he played badly.

I've said the same thing after most games so far. A top notch striker added to the squad who has a bit more pace can not hurt. For nw though I'm going to enjoiy the short passing game these two offer us. We are forced to not boot it down the channels and that is great to watch.

both looked far better than the £5m Mills who was decent in the air but not on the deck.

For me you need pace and that counts Butterfield out. Richardson has been good this season, but there is room for improvement there should the right player become available. Not saying we shoukd get rid, I just recognise that he's not irreplaceable. Far better than some are suggesting though.