Arizona

Well, the current squad have all got contracts, which would obviously explain their performance. After 3 goals in 3 starts, Saga couldn't seem to maintain his scoring rate when sat on the bench last season, which brings us to football basics #437: Players generally perform better when on the pitch.

...you wish we still had? Seeing as how we've had "indifferent" results (so far) since clearing out the "deadwood," which players from last season do you look back on and think, "I wish he was still here" For me Davies (obviously), Rasiak, Saga, Licka and Vignal. - - - - - - - - - Davis - - - - - - - - - - - Thomas - Cork - Davies - Vignal - - Lallana - Surman - Spiderman - Skacel - - - - - - Rasiak - Saganowski - - - - If only...

Didn't see that one coming. Well done Vettel. Can see him ending up in a Ferrari in a couple of years.

Even in the playoff season, Skacel looked a class above the rest of the midfield. To leave him out now would make it seem like we are trying to get relegated IMO. You CAN NOT just stick out a team of youngsters and expect "totaal voetball". I almost cringed with embarassment reading some of the comments on here preseason. Every time the likes of Saganowski, Rasiak, Safri, Licka or Viafara left it was "oh good, another over rated, over payed journeyman off the wage book." Nobody seemed concerned that we weren't actually replacing them. John... aaah I don't know. On the one hand this system doesn't suit him at all. On the other, we need some experience in the team somewhere. I think our biggest mistake this season (appart from losing about 20 players from a squad lacking depth and bringing in just 10) was getting rid of Saganowski AND Rasiak. They are the only two strikers we have who I feel could perform in this system.

Some people are saying we had to sell the players we did and more to cut costs. What I honnestly don't get is why the cuts have to be that drastic and where is all the money is being lost, if it isn't on wages? The accademy and stadium costs are both c£1-2m, so I am lead to believe. Pretty mch all other clubs in this division have to pay some costs towards the accademy and stadium, yet they aren't forced into effectively playing the youth team to stay afloat.

Alitalia has 3 major problems. 1) A very large short haul fleet of aging, thirsty MD-80s. 2) A very small long haul fleet (by nation airline standards) 3) Ryanair are taking them to the cleaners on a lot of European routes.

Many people seem to forget that relegation isn't a financially viable option either. If you sell pretty much the whole first team squad and replace them with kids, you are leaving yourself massively exposed to that risk.

I guess it will ultimately depend on whether we avoid relegation this season. If we are relegated and it becomes clear that the youngsters are not up to it and JP was the wrong manager, then Lowe ultimately takes the lions share of responsibility. If on the other hand we do well and finish in a secure midtable possition, then he will take a lot of credit for it.

TBF, Scotland had to sell their 3 best players in summer.

You seem to have ignored the fact that Burley's results came in the Championship, against the likes of Plymouth, Southend, Ipswich and Leicester, having spent £10m in 2 seasons. Managers like Hoddle and WGS achieved similar results having spent less than that in the Premiership, playing the likes of Manure, Spurs, Villa and Arsenal. Finishing 6th in the Championship is a lot easier than finishing 8th in the Prem. Burley badly underperformed IMO. Anyway, he's gone so I'll leave it at that. Good luck on a speedy recovery Killer.

I wondered which of our resident gimps would post that. TBH I am shocked at your behaviour.

Done. I would also like to start one stripping Michael Schumacher of the 1994 World Championship.

I conker with this statement, although I am partial to a battered pineapple ring every now and then.

They used to have a right moose in their line-up, but now she has left they are all prodable.

I'm going to be optimistic and say 3-1 to QPR.

Pretty sure it's Australia. Remember hearing once that the only inventions ever to come out of Australia are the lawnmower and rotary washing line.

At the moment we're okay, but any more injuries and we will be im die sheize. Cork - Perry - Wotton - Surman/Skacel Wouldn't be too bad IMO, but we seriously need some fullbacks. We don't have any who are ready for the first team at the mo. Just 3 midfielders and a couple of centre halves who can plug the gaps.

I designed a couple last summer when, if you remember, we had the shirts hanging in the dressing room and Jones, Pele and Bale had left. Here is a slightly modified version of one of them: Incase you don't recognise some of the moments, left to right are: Niemi, Rasiak's playoff goal, Pahars and Beattie with those celebrations against the Skates, Keegan, Stokes, Last goal at the Dell and Moran.

More to the point Lallana has proved in the past he can play very well on the right and could easily move over to accomodate Skacel. Dyer, Thomson and White have hardly been impressive thus far.

That's pretty much the line up I'd have gone for out of those 11 players, except I'd probably switch White and Skacel. I know White isn't a left winger, but we won't really gain anything playin Skacel there as that slot is already taken in the first team by Holmes. Worth trying Skacel in the hole IMO to see if he would be a better alternative to White.

Weird that the OS are putting a possitive spin on Skacel, yet show a picture of him looking like he can't be a*sed. Guessing the team will look something like: - - - - - - - Forecast - - - - - - Imudia - Davies - Argent - Skacel - - - - Dunford - - Hatch - - - - - - Thomson - White - Dyer - - - - - - - - - Paterson - - - - - -

Think there would be a public lynching if that happened TBH. I don't think anyone other than the FIA and Ferrari will claim it's a fair penalty.

I wouldn't expect anything greater for a team 20th in the league with 3 defeats in 4. It may come as a surprise to some that our players and total football system aren't the envy of every club in England.

Yes, but in that instance Alonso was repassed later on in the race, as Lewis was when they were lapping the Williams half a lap later. Alonso wasn't penalised after the race, so surely Hamilton shouldn't either.

Best photo I have of Eau Rouge is: Oh, and just for Saint Kip: