SNSUN

Ooh ooh ooh Mark Paul. A name that gets trotted out once in a while with him described as the next Michael Owen. He wasn't. http://www.ex-canaries.co.uk/players/paul.htm

Anthony Pulis - if only for the comedy posts about him.

Nice bit of massochism on Friday 13th! I don't care about Premiership experience, they'll get that in the first four fixtures anyway without much expectation. 'Sides, there's more signings to come, so we'll see if anyone comes in with that. I like our lower league signings anyway. As Norwich did before us, it shows that quality players do exist in the lower leagues - I think some Premier League clubs are blinded to their own division.

After we'd been relegated from the Championship and knew we'd have the -10 points, I was waiting for us to hit rock bottom. You could argue that we hit rock bottom the day before Markus and Nicola came on board, as we knew it'd be uphill from then, but having to conquer that -10 was still mind boggling. The Stockport result perhaps was rock bottom, and from then on it's been constantly uphill. (My guess is until we get walloped on the opening day vs Man City, but I'll keep an open mind.)

From what I gather, he's improved a lot from his days with us. I still liked him though, from being plucked from non-league he obviously had some talent, he just needed nurturing, like Aaron Martin, only in a different position. As for Reading, it's surprising to see them sign nothing but free transfers so far. It's only a matter of time before they start splashing the cash.

Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, relegation season, freezing cold night. I was with a Palace supporting mate, who ribbed me constantly during the game. We lost 3-0, and Shefki Kuqi made us look inept. The only player that shone for us that night was Jack Cork (believe it or not) and I could see then he'd become a top player. (Thank God we then went and signed him years later.) My Palace mate said Lloyd James looked OK too. He didn't to me, he looked clueless.

Best job? Still not brilliant (very few jobs that take you away from your free time are, I guess), but I used to be a passenger boat skipper in Windsor in my late teens/early 20's. I started as a crew, tying up ropes, a bit of bar work, and largely able to sleep for half an hour every hour, which was a doss job and loads of fun. Very social too, we threw night parties for anyone stupid enough to pay for them and it was so easy to pull birds. The lack of a stock system helped too, when we fancied a sneaky drink. As a Skipper it was even better, just driving the boat up and down in the fresh air, anywhere from Hampton Court to Henley. It was even better when i was sunny. The pay was shyte (as a skipper it was a bit better), the company was badly run and in the height of summer we were working 16 hour days, six days a week, but otherwise it was lots of fun. Winters sucked a bit, standing outside in the freezing cold painting the boats up, but all in all a good job, and I made friends there that are some of the closest I have. I get paid tons now in comparison, but every now and again I do miss it.

IMO we'll bring in a GK, CB, RM and one surprise attacking player. We'll keep some of the players that the Echo mentions too as squad players. Dickson should leave, but is resigned to sticking around at the club on his bigger salary, Chaplow, Puncheon and Hammond will be useful too at some point. Harding and Barnard will sadly leave. Still, we'll see, there's still nearly 2 months to go until the end of the transfer window. I think our early season form (which I predict to be dire) may see one or two unxpected players be brought in, such as an extra CB or a RB.

Seemingly what Paul Lambert was trying to achieve at Norwich, only with Championship and League One stars. Zaha would be a good signing, he's still young and learning the game and I'd have faith we could mold him into a complete footballer.

Until somebody comes along and spoils things one day, Mr Liebherr set in place a legacy that will see the club thrive at the top of British football for years to come. We feel deep affection for someone that made something we love better, especially as we were a car crash beforehand. You'll never be forgotten, and you'll live on in our history.

Good job we chose to play him in midfield then... :-) I trust Hammond in the central midfield spot more than I do Chaplow. Chaplow doesn't have the same discipline. I think both have a place in the squad, but who knows who'll still be here come September 1st...

I am ITK. SMS bog staff will be using Cillet Bang this season after their Mr Muscle contract expired.

Hypothetically, and I hate to say it of course but it is a possibility, if we got relegated next season (and perhaps the thought was in the back of the management's mind when they offered Hammond that contract), we have to ask ourselves who we would lose. Morgan and Cork would potentially be sought after, and so Hammond would once again be needed. Add to that he's be a relatively useful squad player this season anyway (IMO, certainly in the cups) and I feel he still has a future this season. This isn't a pessimistic post per se, just a "what if". If our signings continue in the same vein, we'll easily be safe. (Adkins will sell Hammond now and this will all be a moot point. You wait.)

Great news. Morgan, Cork and Davis is a very strong central midfield three, even if Morgan is untested in the Premier League. I wouldn't be surprised to see one more central midfielder come in, although perhaps Hammond will utilised as the fourth.

The unveiling of Buttner, Clyne, Curtis Davies, Steven Davis, Kevin De Bruyne, Jack Butland, and someone we're not expecting, all at once.

Hell no. Plus he's nearly 26, that's not THAT young. He's not better than Richardson either. From what I've seen of Clyne, he'd be a good right back signing but if we have trust that Jack Stephens is around the corner of promotion to the first team, then we really could use an experienced right back signing.

Adam Johnson would show we mean business, even if it is a loan and he would be a quality signing. After persuading Buttner we're the best option for him, I have renewed faith that we could persuade pretty much anyone we want with our set up and vision.

Get well soon Whitey. I hope the hospital food isn't too bad!

I'm weird. (As if you hadn't noticed.) I started going to games more regularly when we'd dropped into League One. I went to the odd game before that, but due to shift work, financial issues and a mild case of agoraphobia I really couldn't make that many. This season we're back in the Premier League, and I should really be looking forward to going to games, sadly I'll probably only make a handful. If I could get to every (or nearly every) game, I would with bells on. I'd grasp my season ticket excitedly in my hand and I would be off to St Mary's joyfully. Sadly that will never be the way as long as I do shift work. To me, a fairweather fan is one that doesn't feel anything when we lose but celebrates the wins. A passion for your clubs says you get behind them no matter what, and you truly feel it when bad things happen. You can't turn off your support when a run of losses occurs, or a key player gets sold, or administration happens, that's for the plastic Manc fans of the world.

Wasn't Jake Sinclair the next big thing? Or do we have to we wait for our first season back in the Championship to see him in the first team? (Ducks)

I buy my suits from there. Good quality and the MandS in Camberley is so massive they have a great choice for shopping, especially if you have a large invenTory of goods to buy. My favourite coat came from there too. It's a good place for clothing (and up to a point food too) if you're not into labels.

Good for Corky, so long as he doesn't knacker himself out or get injured. I hope this will speed up the midfield strengthening too. (Sorry, I'm just itching for signings!)

The most annoying advert on telly is changing. Currently they have a countdown pictured at the end of the advert with an angry person that cannot change the channel, and the billboards have been changed to look like they've been graffitied. Apparently something's happening to them tomorrow. Hopefully they'll kill the tenor off and have decent ads but I doubt it. Any ideas?

I went to Kavos on a 2wentys holiday years ago. It's basically one strip of bars and clubs (with a fork at the end) and one strip of beach. Quality weather but the main thing you'll notice is the smell of shiiiiiiiiiiiit. It stinks. But hopefully you'll be so drunk you won't notice!

Eek your right! I've only been married 3 weeks and I've already forgotten my anniversary! :-D