Chez

some of those points are fair but how about thinking along these lines: Gobern goes out on loan, gets the valuable experience he needs at this level and then when he comes back he breaks into the side, and because of the time away he has improved just enough to make that little bit of difference that subsequently earns us an extra point to take us into 6th position.

rangey, leggy whole hearted central midfielder. He looked to be a beter tackler than dribbler which makes me wonder why we play him out on the wing, but then again I've not seen him a great deal.

he paints pictures throughout the pitch. Actually he's more Carlton Palmer.

Interesting that the MK Dons think he can do a job at this level. When moved inside against united he looked a genuine Charlton Palmer Mark II.

I agree with both of these statements. So long as he is ahead of Wotton then at least we know Pardew's eyesight is OK.

Man City's gelling period has been pretty short and I agree with Steve Claridge when he says that it doesn't take decent players any time to gel. Right backs know how to play right back, strikers know how to play up front etc. For me its all about the balance and lack of pace and quality in the side, not the gelling in period that has held us back. As time goes by better quality players are slowly getting in the side and that's why we are perhaps moving forward.

but he was out of contract. Schneiderlin and Lallana both have contracts so no one else can sign them until the next window - or was that what you meant?

what if we fail to win but the `old team' are the star performers?

I'm expecting us to dominate the game - pretty standard for any home game if I'm honest - but that doesn't mean I expect a win. This side clearly has enough talent to beat anyone but we have to go out there and do it. Its all very well AP sayign we are almost there and the side is coming together, but football tends to kick you in the teeth and a loss when the side is on the turn (for the better) is going to knock another load of stuffing out of us. Saturday offers no opportunity for excuses. I hope we don't lose a player to a sending off or suchlike and can go out and show to the fans what the side is all about. Looking forward to it as always

we never ever get to the byeline. We also lack pace up front.

Charlton were winning games long before they went down. Don't you recall them coming to SMS towards the end of last season and looking like one of the best sides in the CCC? For me they were easy favourites to go back so long as they kept hold of the likes of Bailey.

did he personally place the bet?

so more of a fibber than scammer? Can't see why MLT would mention it or allow it to be included unless it was totally accurate. Graham Hiley wouldn't make it up either. Making money by defrauding the bookies and then making money telling the world about it seems a very strange thing to do by a man happier to stay in Soton than to follow the available cash.

I have to say that I am very dissapointed. No matter how irrelevant it is to the final result he should have his mind focused purely on winning the match.

Cos Jaidi, he’s gonna be the one that saves me Cos after all, he's a ****ing brick wall (Wonderwall)

lose Thomson for Meilis.

at last we have a back four capable of handling oponents long ball game. With Lambert, Patterson and Hammond all adding height we should be safe as houses at set peices. Lets hope we don't start to get undone by pace now.

is Thompson actually pacey? I've not seen him demonstrate it as yet.

October was mentioned at the time.

if we start serving up some chances for the lad then he'll start scoring goals again. I've never been a big fan, but the biggest reason for him failing to rack up the goals in recent times is the lack of chances created. Hopefully that will change.

its always hard to get excited by a signing that we have known about for yonks, but if you try to put that out of your mind and concentrate on the fact that we have signed a 6'4" brute of a centre back that should put a big dent in the number of goals conceded from set peices - then you start to think again what a great signing this is.

only seen him five or six times and on each occasion he took the fullback apart with is pace, but you are right his touch wasn't always spot on now his final ball. As I understand it his wage at Brum was massive which was the key reasons for not renewing his loan dea. last January. So much so that when they didn't extend the loan period there were enough wages available to pay three players (Sinclair, Bowyer and Bouazza).

pace to burn

Dejan Stefanovic now available. ah too late.

how very dare you.