oxfordshire_saint

SSN were only covering friendlies that involved Prem or CCC clubs yesterday. The sad reality is that we are a League One club, something we will have to get used to this season! SkySports did however mention it on t'web: http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_5453394,00.html

I'd have him over Stern, but it looks like Rasiak wants to leave and Stern wants to stay.

I'm excited about the left sided partnership of Mills and Harding, can see the two of them interchanging well and overlapping.

AP is probably waiting to see how much he can improve his fitness in a short space of time. There's clearly a few extra pounds he needs to shift before he can be considered for a contract. I for one hope that he does manage to do enough, he's a good communicator and if he can get himself fit he could be very useful.

Not sure Jaidi and Thomas would be such a great partnership. Yes, they'd scare the bejesus out of people, but if we faced any team with a pacy frontline, in the words of Mr Pardew we would get "absolutely raped". Sodje would be ideal, he's physical but he can shift too. In all honesty though, CB isn't a position we should scrimp on, go out and spend some money on someone worthwhile.

Yeah, the Maradona one sums up his personality though, I thought it was an entertaining read. The translation was amusing at times too, especially the constant use of the word "vaccinated"

Is it the one where he follows them for a season?

The Brazilian book is great, really explores the root of the culture out there and is a collection of fascinating stories from all corners of the country and all it's levels of football, rather than just being a book about Pele, Romario and Ronaldo (although there is a chapter dedicated to the story of Garrincha) Highly recommended!

I own both, great reads. Currently near the end of the John Foot one. Futebol : a Brazilian Way of Life by Alex Bellos is also a great footie book

I've always had a soft spot for Torino, would quite like to visit Superga in a completely non morbid way. Did they ever manage to do anything with their old Filadelfia stadium?

Didn't Carl Cort have a little stint down there once?

My favourite: Glenn McGrath & Ramnaresh Sarwan McGrath to Sarwan: "So what does Brian Lara's **** taste like?" Sarwan: "I don't know. Ask your wife." McGrath (losing it): "If you ever ****ing mention my wife again, I'll ****ing rip your ****ing throat out!"

The last time I heard him was the other morning on a radio ad on Talksport for some two-bob suit shop in Laaaandan. I do believe Mr Ruddock had to go through with reading the shameful line "more suit for ya loot" Oh dear

Porto vs Benfica, March 2008, I was sat (or should I say stood, not sure I actually had a chance to sit at any point) in the Ultras end via some contacts in Portugal, it was bit scary at times! Brilliant atmosphere though!

Vassell joined a Turkish side yesterday, would have never came to us anyway! Pretty sure John Oster is up on a rape charge or something.

I would expect no more than 2 or 3 new arrivals between now and the start of the season. Probably not as many as we need, but I have a feeling it'll get re-assessed in Jan.

Looking at how many players managed to score a large amount of goals last season, is League One easy to score in? So what is it? Rubbish keepers? Bad defenders? A lot of strikers who managed to find form at the same time? Looking at the stats: Rickie Lambert - 29 Simon Cox - 29 Jermaine Beckford - 27 Matty Fryatt - 27 Gary Hooper - 24 Craig Mackail-Smith - 23 By contrast only three players scored over 20 in the CCC and two of them only just about did that with 21 (McCormack and Scotland) Whilst I'm sure all of the strikers who bagged large amounts in League One aren't bad players, the ones that are making the step up to the CCC this season, Cox, Fryatt, Hooper and Mackail-Smith, I would bet that none of them break to the 20-goal barrier. So just how useful could a real CCC quality striker be to us this season? Or more importantly, how valuable could Kelvin be at the other end?

He's just a homeless Paul Wotton........

Teams of semi-pro players who up their effort to 110% because it's the game of a lifetime for many of them. As I said, we all know the problems which contributed to the results we've been having, I'm sure it'll turn around now that the setup is being put in place. Will Real Madrid be losing sleep over only putting 1 past a team of butchers, bakers and candlestick makers from Dublin? Will Liverpool be staring relegation in the face this season after losing to Rapid Vienna this weekend? Will Man City be spending another £500m on players because they lost to Orlando Pirates? If we lose the first few games of the actual season, then have a whinge. Until then, accept that until a few days ago, the club was in freefall with a joke setup and only recently has this been addressed.

I agree, Liebherr out!!! FFS, some people on here must enjoy pessimism, because it seems all they are capable of. The majority of those results were when we had no proper management set-up and a real mish-mash of players who weren't sure whether they were coming or going. Pardew is in now but he needs to build his coaching team and make the necessary changes to the squad too, I'm sure this will be addressed predominantly this week and next. I'm sure those who matter are well-aware of the fact that the start of the season is just around the corner and things need to be set right before then. All the thread title whinge has done is stir up a negative mood over a problem which is probably going to be addressed on the training ground and in the board room very shortly.

Did they actually mention us or just the fact there's Prem interest? Wouldn't suprise me if someone like Hull would take him.

Georges Prost was one of the best things to happen to our club, but we need to start looking forwards not backwards. He's an old man now and deserves to enjoy life at his own pace back home in France. We should be looking for someone from the new generation of coaches to come in and refresh the academy.

It's not that important really is it? I can understand it at rugby venues and when I've been to German football, where you can drink in the stands, but who cares about necking a pint in an overcrowded concourse having queued for 10 minutes and almost missing the start of the second half? Have yourself a few jars of your choice in a decent boozer before and after and savour them. The same with the food. Have lunch beforehand, have dinner after, sorted. No need for rank, massed-produced garbage.

You can stop worrying about Euell now, looks like he's joined Holloway at Blackpool

Talksport is usually just two presenters trying to be intentionally at loggerheads to generate discussion. That and some of the most cringeworthy adverts you will ever hear.