VectisSaint

Well, it is and it isn't. He would not be eligible for the Play-off round assuming we get there, but he would be OK for the Group Stages. So technically he is right.

Its on Twitter

Think that makes 6 in pre-season friendlies. Not a bad return.

Intetesting, I think its pretty easy to see Ron's team with what we have at present - Stek, Soares, Fonte, Yoshida, Targett, Wanyama, Classie, Davis, Pelle, Mane, Tadic. We will sign CB to be ahead of Yoshi and of course Bertrand comes back in when fit, but can't see beyond this yet. JRod will be pushing but think Ron is still a little anxious to make sure he is OK. Good to have option of Juanmi and JRod, and also JWP as backup in MF.

Why are you lot just going on and on about Davis. He is currently our 3rd choice keeper, we all know he is past it, but when FF is back he will be 4th choice. He's not even on the pitch any more.

Oh, Mr anti-Davis crawls out of his hole, still with his eyes wide shut.

Went on to make 569 appearances mostly in Italy. If Gazza can finish with figures like that it will be a miracle.

Turnbull playing for Swindon Town this afternoon against Liverhampton.

Missing Steven Davis, that's why. But that's OK, this is only a friendly. Just shows we are over-reliant on one or two players.

Its not his comeback, he has played already this season. You really do post some drivel.

Decent cross from JRod, Long needs to grow an inch or two :-)

Anyone relying on this thread by the way, we have also had at least three decent opportunities, two for Long and one for JWP. Its not all bad news. Keeping up on Twitter today.

From the goal on Twitter is Caulker playing right side of centre and Fonte on left?

Of course Davis was woeful, he has been for at least a year now, too slow. That said, the defending was appalling, leaving Sevilla acres of space to fire home. Targett lost out to a header in the centre of the box, but the whole defence had been pulled over to the right leaving Targett horribly exposed and no-one covering their right.

Good, we don't want any Belgians. They play for Spurs.

Featured in every pre-season match up to and including KVV Quick. Not seen since, suggests possibly an injury, perhaps just not room in the squad for today. I would guess whether he goes out on loan or stays with us may depend a lot on our progression through to the Group stages of the Europa. He won't get many games next season otherwise (unless he plays as an over age player in the u21s).

Will be interesting to see if Caulker can operate on the left of centre with Jose on the right. From what I know, Caulker has tended to be right sided (or maybe Jose will play left). Pity we don't still have Osvaldo, he could take on Espanyol single handed based on their display at Reading :-)

Scored twice in pre-season, and was denied by a good (not outstanding) save on Thursday for what was a very good, curling shot. Was guilty of some poor passes on Thursday (as was nearly everyone) and is often guilty of being caught in possession in dangerous places when he is having to play as defensive MF rather than attacking, but still makes many good openings (often the assist for the assist) and his energy and awareness really make us tick in the centre. When he was missing in some games last season our energy level markedly dropped and we looked ineffective. Sadly a player like Matt Oakley who is not appreciated until he is not around because he is not spectacular.

Good, thats cleared up then, I was basing what I knew on Koeman's interview opnline which didn't mention any injury, just that he was not fully fit. Doesn't sound too hopeful of Gaston being involved in any way this season based on the Echo report then, whether anyone thinks that's good or not is another matter.

Are you sure? Shearer was never on Newcastle's books before he joined us in 1986. He was previously with Wallsend Boys Club where he was spotted by our then Chief Scout Jack Hixon. I also don't recall any reference to him playing as a keeper, he originally played in midfield. Apparently he did trial for Newcastle as a keeper because they were short in that area not becuase it was his position but was rejected and was never on their books. Bale was not very good defensively, his best assets were the attacking side of his game. Bridge too always looked like a midfielder in the making, always liable to be caught on his outside when defending, nevertheless he had a decent career as a LB of course.

Don't know how else you would describe the pl. Thinking more it can only refer to uefa club comps.

I'm not 100% sure but I suspect that covers teams that play in the CL and then drop into the Europa later on.

But he also said it just before Stephens went on loan to Swindon last year. One of those things that Les Read says that has a different outcome in reality, bit like getting more Academy players in the first team.

Extract from UEFA Regulations (this is from last season but doubt they will have changed significantly) Article 22Yellow and red cards 22.01 As a rule, a player who is sent off the field of play is suspended for the nextmatch in a UEFA club competition. The Control and Disciplinary Body isentitled to augment this punishment. For serious offences the punishment canbe extended to all UEFA competition categories. 22.02 In case of repeated cautions:a) before the group stage, a player is suspended for the next competitionmatch after three cautions in three different matches, as well as after thefifth caution;b) from the first match in the group stage, a player is suspended for the nextcompetition match after three cautions in three different matches, as wellas following any subsequent odd-numbered caution (fifth, seventh, ninth,etc.). 22.03 Single yellow cards and pending suspensions are always carried forwardeither to the next stage of the competition or to another club competition in thecurrent season. 22.04 Exceptionally, all yellow cards and pending yellow-card suspensions expire oncompletion of the play-offs. They are not carried forward to the group stage. 22.05 Cautions and pending yellow-card suspensions from club competitionmatches expire at the end of the season.