The Kraken

According to the Echo his loan runs out after the Daggers game, so he's cleared already.

I thought when I saw this pic from the OS that Punch looked particularly glum, but that I was probably looking too much into it. Leftback's been spot on a few times before so let's see how this plays out. Watching Chamberlain rip it up against the Daggers could be a good move in itself.

I wouldn't say Harding has really done too much wrong all season. However, I think it is telling that both of our full backs combined between them have contributed just one assist this season. It was well documented that we treied (and failed) to sign Inigo Calderon from Brighton, who scored his third goal in the last 3 games on Saturday. That is a dimension I think we just don't have at the moment, I see Butterfield as more safety first and I just don't see Harding getting forward quite as much as he did last season. Maybe its the way they're being asked to play, but just 1 assist combined is a very poor rate of return. As for Puncheon, while he blows hot and cold I would be averse to relying completely on Chamberlain just now. At 17, and with the responsibility of being first choice, he will also have his ups and downs. For now at least I'd hope Puncheon can pick his game up while we continue to use Chamberlain as an impact and support player with the odd starting appearance thrown in.

I always find it amazing how a positive thread topic still manages to bring the negativity out of people to such an extent. Yes, we're probably still a way off playing to our ultimum standard. But yesterday we won 3-1, and had 60% of posession. That suggests we're moving in the right direction and not "playing poorly". As I said earlier and others have also mentioned, we need to look at form over a long period. Longer than the first few games of the season, and longer than the 9 games Adkins has been in charge. If we're judging a manager over the course of 9 games (when his stats are still pretty good) and after he has only been allowed to bring in 2 loan signings, then I think its a very sad state of affairs. The bigger tests will come against Brighton and Peterborough; but until then you can only beat what's in front of you. We started this season fanastically poorly, and then got even worse after Pardew left. Already under Adkins we've improved massively, and to make such sweeping generalisations about his ability after less than 2 months in charge is a bit daft IMO.

Panda, its the nature of football forums, they are totally reactionary to individual results. It's why I liked NickG's threads last year of Pardew's form, it gave complete perspective to a series of results over a long period rather than individually criticising single performances.

Great news. Really like him as a player and will keep Morgan and Hammond on their toes while also offering decent backup.

A MK Dons - L (0-2) H Colchester - D (0-0) A Sheffield Wednesday - W (1-0) A Yeovil - D (1-1) H Bournemouth - W (2-0) H Tranmere - W (2-0) A Huddersfield - L (0-2) H Oldham - W (2-1) A Notts County - W (3-1) H Daggers - W (4 -0) [EDIT WITH NEW RESULTS] A total of 20 points from 10 games, 2 points per game which would equate to 92 points over a whole season. Not quite championship winning form (yet), but very impressive nonetheless. And more impressive, our form in October has seen us win 4 of our 5 games. Manager of the Month for Nige?

I think leftback has been on the nose many more times than he's been wrong with information out of the club; unfortunately it tends to sometimes get caught up in his self-confessed anti Cortese/Reed/Hunter agenda.

I'm not saying they don't do it. I'm saying it doesn't happen enough, and from your figures I'd suggest that us having only 1 assist from both full backs is indicative that they're not creating enough chances.

Yeah, I worded that badly. His crossing he has been good I'd agree; there's just not enough of it. Also true of Harding in the last few games, I think our full backs are not getting forward as much as they did last year. Watching Calderon's goal from right back for Brighton last week showed what we're missing, a full back who will regularly bomb on past the midfielder and create chances either for himself or the team. I don't think either of our full backs are doing that at the moment, maybe because they have more of a safety first attitude.

Sensible team, I'd guess that would be most people's choice. Butterfield has been steady but I don't think he offers us enough offensively. Come on Saints, lets get this season properly going. A repeat of the Bristol Rovers away result would be a beauty (though I'll clearly settle for a scrappy 0-1 scoreline).

If this mock up is in any way accurate then its unlikely you'd be able to see it from the bypass. And I'd have thought we'd have had a press release / OS announcement if work was actually under way.

We'll see, I guess, but I've been impressed with what I've of seen them and keep hearing other teams that have played them say they're the best they've played. Calderon's goal from right back last week was excellent and highlighted an area of play we don't have, full backs who are able to properly push on and become a scoring threat. I thought Dickson and/or Richardson may provide that, but for alternative reasons that hasn't happened.

I don't think Bournemouth have enough to sustain a promotion challenge; certainly not from what I saw in both games against us. But Brighton seem to be the class team of the division, and in Poyet have an excellent manager. Wouldn't be surprised at all to see them go up, hopefully in second behind us (though we need to get our arses in gear, sharpish).

Get Billy Sh1te to post his blog ramblings up there; job done.

I fail to see the problem with the coverage. Poyet has done a very good job with Brighton and, with their stadium on the way, they could even push for the Premier League. And Eddie Howe has done an incredible job at Bompey, just remarkable considering the lack of resources. Lets hope we can make it a South Coast hat-trick of promotions from League 1, that would be a decent news story.

It probably goes much further than that. I met Watford's scout a couple of weeks back and he knew about loads of our youngsters, mentioning specifically Jake Thompson (yes, I know he left), McNish, Mills and Reeves while also saying that Chamberlain was a special talent.

Someone at Notts County leaked our team to you? Er, what?! Am I missing something in the translation?

Being as Weston has form with Lallana-based news, you might want to temper that somewhat.

I very much disagree with your assessment of Bale. In our first team at 16, a regular and one of our most influential players (from ful back) at just 17. My memory of it is that most people had him destined for a top four club within a few years. During his intial spell with Spuds I always maintained he would come good, though seeing him playing on the wing is a surprise, and a testament to his talent. Also, to say Walcott hasn't progressed is a bit daft. He's gone on to establish himself at club level for a top 4 side, and at international level where he has scored a hat-trick against decent opposition. He's still frustrating and a bit raw, but he's definitely moved well on from the player he was with us.

Supposedly £6M up front, the rest based on appearances.

We won't lose him for nothing; we will be entitled to a development fee for him, which will be decided by tribunal according to his actual worth. Take Dan Sturridge as an example, who left Man City for Chelsea when hos contract expired. Chelsea will have to pay £3.5M up front, £0.5M for every 10, 20, 30 and 40 appearances, and £1M if he makes an international appearance. So a total of £6.5M. The tribunal system these days is much fairer than it used to be. If he does go, there's every reason we'll get a very good amount for him.

They've done the complete opposite though. Using terms such as "bearing in mind the opposition", plus announcing the Kingland and Chapel stands will definitely be closed for the game, will only ensure that the fans will look on this game with apathy, that it's "only" Shrewsbury.

It seems a bit petty to me to be airing the dirty laundry in public. The club have already won the "fight", against the mightly Shrewsbury; why the need to go public and brag about it? Of course Shrewsbury will want to maximise their profits from the game, clubs like that need big cup games to make ends meet. Very strange; boasting about one-upmanship over a small League 2 side.

I think you need to learn the difference between tax avoidance and tax evasion. Silly boy.