James

I think this as well, I can't see how we can squeeze JRod and Lambo into the same team and at the moment JRod looks a lot more mobile. I'll be the last to write off Rickie though.

Good observation about JRod, his control and touch were very good but left wing is most definitely NOT his position. I began to think it would be more and more of a problem fitting him and Rickie into the same team as the game went on. Nice problem to have though as thought both did well today. Shame Jay couldn't have tucked that chance away, but came at him very quickly and didn't really expect it.

Really? I thought for the most part he was one of our best players, bar a few passes which went astray. Strange how people see things differently. But accept that a few on here are never going to accept that Guly can do anything well!

How predictable. Overlook the fact that we bossed the game for over 30-40 minutes with our strongest side out there and focus on the negatives. The attack created plenty of opportunities against a top quality defence, the sharpness will return was just slightly lacking. Defence was generally good, especially Clyne and we were undone by one mistake from Fonte. Sure we need a bit more quality in defence but we'd done a good job with what we have. The alarm bells are most certainly not ringing 'loudly' for anyone else...indeed they probably aren't ringing at all. But, typical WUM post we've come to expect really.

Assuming Davis is fit of course, slightly worrying that even if he does regain full fitness he won't have had any game time with the team. If no Davis, WP to start I think.

JWP looks likely to start the Man City game I reckon given the amount of game time he's been given, that and the fact he always seems to be included in our 'strongest' line ups.

Good starting XI, bar JWP for Davis it's probably our strongest team at the moment. Looking forward to seeing Gazza, Shaw and Chambers off the bench.

You realise I meant Mackie to Blackburn rather than Hoillett to QPR right?

Ridiculous move for him if true, more than good enough for the Premier League, get in their Nigel!

I thought this. Quality ball in for the first. Always thought he was better than Harding, even in our League 1 promotion season. Don't quite understand why he hasn't been given a chance.

I enjoy the fact that anyone advocating that we sign a few proven quality premiership players is met with taunts of 'what like QPR' or 'let's just do a Pompey why don't we?' Fact is, there IS a middle ground as the signing of Steven Davis has proved, but his signing came about in unusual circumstances. Nobody is asking us to pay over the odds for supposed big name players on astronomical wages which would break the bank! Or at least, I don't think those advocating the signing of more 'Premiership quality' are saying that. I'm all for the approach we have taken so far, if the players who best suit our needs come from the Championship then so be it. Would we have been able to buy a right back from the Premier League as good as Clyne for even £4-5 million? I don't think so. In terms of strikers...what would 7million have bought us in terms of Premiership quality? Perhaps a player like Steven Fletcher who may have been preferred by some, but seemingly only because he has played in the Premiership. I for one would rather have JRod. It would be nice to see a couple more signings with top level experience, but surely the most important thing is signing the players that Adkins believes will better us. If Adkins had wanted someone like Fletcher he would have got him or at least attempted. Top Premiership quality players perhaps do come at a cost and it is a cost we might not be able to afford/risk at this moment in time. Of the 'proven players' available to us realistically we are looking at players from teams who have struggled or players from teams who have gone down, but then if these players were so good they wouldn't have been in struggling teams and may actually not be any better than what we have! Of course there are exceptions, players who do have talent but play in crap teams (Dann, Olsson etc) but the mention of Dann is what sparked the whole thread off! As others have said, it would be nice to sign these affordable, good proven top level players. But the reality is, for a club like us at the moment it just isn't going to happen, that isn't to say I think we aren't a big club or we won't do well next season but what matters is how the outside world or potential signing sees us and at the moment we are a newly promoted team at risk of relegation.

Also, for everyone praising Reading's transfer activity well, their new team including Pogrebnyak lost 2-0 to Sheffield Wednesday yesterday. I know everyone will say its pre-season but I wonder how some of the wrist slitters on here would have reacted if we'd have lost.

Surely this is unlikely what with us already having Cork, Morgan, Chaplow and Hammond and perhaps Lallana capable of doing a job alongside Davis. Not to mention the emergence of JWP over pre-season. Central midfield is an area I cannot see us strengthening any further.

I think that if we do change captain it will be given to Steven Davis, makes perfect sense.

I agree with you, was just clarifying why he'd been mentioned. FWIW I think Dann would be a top notch signing. Blackburn were an absolute shambles last season and have a manager who doesn't live in the real world. If he came to us then he'd do well i think.

Presumably because he's just been relegated with Villareal.

I expect around 14th with the current squad although may revise that come the end of the window. Think Clyne and JRod will make big impressions.

Wouldn't be surprised to see any on the bench, but I hope that is all they are going to be used for this season at least. I'm all for them getting their chance and appreciate what you say about the 5 sub rule last season. But I'd feel uneasy going into the season assuming that we already have 4 CBs (including Stephens and Seaborne) and would much prefer 2 more experienced players to come in ahead of them.

Regardless of whether Stephens has made the step up we still need 2 CBs, lets not put too much faith in the young players just yet. Lets not forget not one of them got anywhere near the subs bench for a league game last year, let alone got on the pitch so I am a little uneasy about suddenly believing they are ready to come into the team in the Premiership.

No Lambert? sure....

Jack Butland looked excellent for Team GB last night. Is this one completely dead? A shame if so.

Regardless of how many strikers we have - if that move was feasible it would be a truly excellent signing.

Sounds like Chambers has had a hand in everything going forward. Maybe why we aren't chasing a right winger?

JWP seems to be having a cracking pre season so far!

He's tweeting his goodbyes and thank yous to Palace fans. Its done for sure. On the Palace board one ITK guy reckons he turned down a top 4 team to join us. Wonder if that is true/who it was?