Chez

I thought 4th in a three man race was bad enough.

if you had to rank the three it would have to be Safri first, Wright second and Wotton 4th.

jim ratcliffe

Anyone that thinks losing Lallana this summer will benefit the club needs their head looking at. A playes with real talent AND the attitude and effort to match...these are few and far between IMO.

if the buyer is serious would they not want to get hold of the club as soon as possible because the longer it takes the less time we have to get the club back on track and going forward?

depends how much cash is available, who the manager is and when it will all be sorted so we can start recruiting the right players, shaping the squad and start turning this club around. If all those three elements went our way then I still have to question whether our scouting system is such that the right players have been identified to take us up. If they have then we have a chance and could go straight back up if we start well. So many elements that could **** things up so the chances are that we will struggle no matter what.

Quinn and Keane managed to bury the hatchet so...

I'd take O'Driscoll like a shot. How about Mike Newell. He turned Grimsby round and perhasp he'd bring Ryan Bennett with him

never wanted hin to leave. Thought he did a very decent job at right back (Colchester away apart). I guess we were unlucky with Thomas' injury but going into the season with only a centre midfielder to play at right back (without any cover in front of him) was a massive gamble which for a large part of the season did not pay off. If James stays I don't think there is room for Jemaine back though.

Morison is signing for Millwall I think.

Jimmy Ryan (accrington stanley midfielder) Luke O’Brien (bradford left back) Simon King (Gillingham defender) Ryan Bennett (Grimsby defender) Stephen Dawson (Bury midfielder)

I wonder will away crowds hold their own as there are lots of local games but obviously these are smaller clubs with less fans. I expect us to lose quite a few more season ticket holders this summer as the last two years has drained the life out of many. Pricing and summer transfers hold the key.

updated the league tables but not yet changed the teams in the main secition. I expect that might happen today as well though.

it wasn't all that great with him. League 1 might be his level though, shame we are paying upper CCC wages.

that will make a change

I suggest Hopkins that you read these facts and good sense.

CB is without doubt our weakest area with Thomas yet to prove his fitness, Perry being a liability IMO and Lancashire looking like he has great potential but with no idea when that will be realised. If Lancashire toughens up he could well be a very decent player as he has the ball skills required. Getting Saijs back is extremely important. A ball winner or two is a must. Having said defence is a weak spot I look at our midfield and wonder where are the goals going to come from if Surman leaves. We seem to be OK for holding midfielders with Gillett looking good. I can't stand Wotton but at least he has heart. I'm keen to see if Gobern can fill that role. When moved into the middle he reminded me of Carlton Palmer. A drop down a league won't do him any harm either. The problem though is creativity. With Surman assumingly gone that leaves Holmes and Schneiderlin. I certainly won't be holding my breath for Holmes to beat a man and Morgan doesn;t seem overly keen to get in the box so IMO we desperatly need to find some pacey wide men and attacking midfielder and I have already mentioned N'Guessen a million times. I don't see Thomson as being ready and I am far from convined Lallana is a wide man. Is McGlaggon more suited down the middle? If McGoldrick leaves then Patterson/BWP ticks all the boxes for me. Mind you Rasiak and Saga might still be here!

some very good observations in your post. I agree with just about all of it especially his ability to link the play. The lad has a very good first touch and then the vision to do somethign with it. The one thing I would say was that when he was playing up front on his own he simply did not work hard enough to get in the box. He never busted a gut to get in the six yard box ever. He made exactly the same runs (or lack of them) as when he was asked to play at the head of the diamond. The difference being was when he was in that formation it actually helped us that he held back and provided some cover should the move break down. When he was the only striker there was not a need for him to walk to the enge of the box, we needed him right in there. Casual, laid back or lazy? When playing up front he was lazy IMO (and I had backed him all season I must add). He certainly bucked up though once Stern John ****ed off. Funny that. He has quality and for that reason I don't want him to go because I have seen an ever eroding levels of quality at the club over the last 5 years. We''ll sell him and then buy ****e.

seeing as we have been relegation candidates for months (well all season actually) and having zero funds available I think I'd of had my scouts looking in league 1, 2 and below rather than above. I'd be very interested to know if anyone on here knows any of our scouts and withotu naming names have they spent a lot of the season doing just that. I mean how many times have they watched N'Geussen for example?

can you offer any more information about these players? Are they free/cheap because their current clubs don't want them or are you talking about compared to fees for well known players?

did you not notice Grayson dropping down a division to manage Leeds United. If the money is right and owners make the right noises about ambition then any manager is a possibility. I just wonder if there is not someone in the lower leagues (other than Tis) that would be suitable?

following on from your question does a private owner actually need a board at all? Could he/she not run the club themself making all decisions (perhaps with a CEO) and doing all the work as well if he/she wants to. I guess if a limited company uis created then a secetary and chairman are minimum requirements for a board.

we will have had to have done this last season in order to have the knowledge to buy them this summer. Have we?

an effective board needs a range of diverse opinions, but they all must be pulling in the right direction. We at least know that Crouch is a fan and wants the best for the club so that is a good start. Lets hope the other members feel the same.

yes Holmes is over rated IMO. Surman is underated.