Cabrone

Well played Ricky and watching his set up play for Welbeck shows me that he could play in the hole for us and be very successful with Ossie. Welbeck is a funny player for me, scores next to no goals during the season yet when he does he looks an excellant finisher. He really should be getting a lot more goals because he has the talent. Welbeck and Ricky looks like it could be a very fruitful England partnership if they both stay injury free. More importantly Ossie and Ricky should be an even better partnership for us.

Ali Dia was a bit of a laugh. OK so he couldn't play for toffee but come on, if anyone on here was offered a chance to have a go in the first team you'd jump at it too. Got to admire the guy's nerve. Also don't mind Fox, the man's a regular whipping boy on here but I think he's a perfectly adequate back up (emphasis on the words 'back up').

---------Boruc Clyne Lovren Fonte Shaw ----------Cork -Wanyama Schneiderlin -----Lallana\Gaston ------Rickie Ossie

I think we've had a very good transfer window. The absolute top priority was to get a good centre forward to take some of the weight off Ricky's shoulders and IMO we exceeded the brief with Osvaldo. Defence needed strengthening and all signs are that Lovren and Wanyama are going to be excellant acquisitions, both young and hungry and huge levels of potential. We kept all our top youngsters especially Shaw which is like a top signing in itself. When was the last time we managed to successfully hold onto our own talent? You have to go back to the days of MLT (and he was a complete maverick). The only downers are losing Puncheon, can't see the logic in that one and not cutting out enough players who realistically don't fit anymore but that's small potatoes compared to the pluses. I'd give it an A- or a B+.

The biggest problem yesterday wasn't Wanyama - it was that the full backs were not providing adequate width in the final 3rd and the whole team suffered. We need all 3 DMs playing, one infront of the back 4 to cover the attacking full back and the other two in the centre maintaining the defensive squeeze. For me Cork would be best infront of the back 4. He's far too good to be on the bench. We also need Shaw and Clyne back ASAP. Not knocking the two guys yesterday but Shaw and Clyne are unquestionably our best 2 full backs and provide a vital function to the team. Targetting a 21 y.o that has just arrived from the Scottish league after one anonymous performance amongst many is knee-jerk. The lad has all the attributes to be a damn good player but he needs time. He isn't the finished article and was never sold to us as such so he needs some patience from the fans.

Terrible display, as bad as our 3-0 loss to WBA although at least this result is not critical. Should have had a penalty, unbeleivable decision by the ref and I suspect the fact that he let Fonte off right at the end was him 'balancing the books' so to speak. We lacked any kind of intensity and were ponderous, predictable and devoid of ideas in the last 3rd of the pitch. Far too slow getting forward, far too little bite in midfield and far too little cutting edge up front, seriously dissappointing from a team with the players we have. I know we are better than this and I know we will improve. Just as well as today's performance would have seen us beaten by a decent league 1 team let alone prem opposition. The only outfield player that looked like he cared was Lallana. Boruc was OK (albeit the goal was a bit dodgy) and so was JWP but the rest were anonymous TBH. Norwich weren't much better either and I don't think a 0-0 would have been unkind to either team. A performance like this with the team we have is unnaceptable. It's not the losing, it's the manner of the defeat. I fully expect a drastically improved performance against West Ham in 2 weeks.

David Connolly's goal at Brighton in lge 1 : losing 1-0 with 6 mins to go and Huddersfield breathing down our necks Connolly scores having come on as sub only 10 minutes previously. Fonte followed up to get a vital last gasp 3 points. Hooiveld's goal at West Ham : big goal as it stopped them opening a gap on us and gaining real momentum. Lambert's goal at Leeds : the win was a big confidence boost after an almost total siege. This was the result where I started to believe in promotion. Lambert's goal at Villa : vital 3 points against a rival. Lambert's goal against Chelsea(h) : effectivley gained a 3 point advantage over our relegation rivals and a massive confidence boost.

Solid pro, was instrumental in bringing the winning mentality back into the club and played a big part in pushing us all the way back to the prem. Best of luck at Leicester, they've signed a very good pro there.

Puzzled why so many want to see Ossie play behind Ricky, Ossie is our best goalscorer and should be up front either alongside Ricky or with Ricky dropping back into the hole. He's a CF - play him there and he will do what he does best, score goals.

------------Boruc Clyne Lovren Fonte Shaw ------------Cork Wagamama Schneiderlin ----------Ramirez --------Ossie Ricky

I don't know what that journo as expecting but I for one never expected a walkover against an underestimated Sunderland side yet we still created enough chances to beat them comfortably. Our main goal threat is Ossie and he must play up front with Ricky just behind in support. Not on the left or the right but right at the top. These two need games to start to read each other and when they click they will be potent. JRod should be benched IMO, his biggest weakness is his lack of cutting edge. I suspect he's a bit too much of a nice guy, needs to look at how Ossie operates and get a bit more selfish. I'd use him as an impact player later on. Same with Adam. Gaston should be put infront of the midfield in the creative role and Cork put behind in the protector role to allow the full backs to bomb forward and let Morgan\Victor to squeeze the life out of the oppo midfield. Despite the article I saw a very good team in the making on Sat that just needs to gel together. We are going to get hiccups on the way but this team has the makings of being one of our best ever given a bit of time. Looking forward to this season but the prem is a tough league and we are going to have to fight for everything.

No, you don't get rid of your best players unless you get a silly offer. Personally I'd be playing Cork in the starting XI between the defence and Schneiderlin\Wagamama, he provides a fantastic defensive shield when he's in that position which allows the midfield to press + the full backs to get forward + improves the team shape IMO. An underrated player on here.

JRod's feet were onside but his upper body was ahead of the Sunderland defence because he was accelerating forward. Very tight and on another day it could have stood as it was so borderline but technically it was offside. Great pass from Ricky to create the chance in the first instance.

He's going to be top class when he gets into his straps, probably quite a few cards too - never a dull moment with Ossie. Wagamama is something else - I can't believe we got him for £12M, Celtic got mugged and the top 4 must have been asleep at the time. He's got to be right up there as most dominant midfielder in the prem, a real powerhouse. Have to say Morgan looks small in comparison and we all know how good Morgan is. Quite a player.

Frustrating result but a lot to be excited about, when the boys really start to gel over the next few games we should see some fireworks. Ossie is class if a little volatile (but we knew than anyway), Gaston looks like he means business and Wagamama is a monster. JWP + Adam also had a good games. Make Ossie the spearhead, put Ricky in the hole and let Gaston supply the bullets and we're going to do some damage.

Fans are allowed to get excited and a good job too, it's what gets them through the turnstiles. Football is one of the few areas in life where you can let go with your emotions, postpone reality, talk shyte and dream a little. We've had enough crap to put up with over the last 8 years, we've paid more than our dues into the misery account and now it's time to enjoy ourselves. If you can't smile when the sun is shining when can you?

It would be very tough to finish above either of these two, even if Arse don't sign anyone and even more so if Everton manage to keep their players. They are still two top teams who will be there or thereabouts next May. Was a bit concerned that Arse might have put a 12th hour bid in for Ossie TBH esp after Saturday's result. Glad they didn't. As far as SFC is concerned I think the Don will have let MP know that he expects at least a good crack at europe, even if we don't get it. I think that with his big ambition he's looking to overhaul these two teams.

Football is a market place and every player has his price. I'm sure if Man Utd stump up enough he would go but 10M is a long way off and besides, he seems to have his head screwed on and would know that a transfer to a top 4 club would probably mean a lot of time out of the team, just when he needs as much experience as possible. One day he'll go (assuming we aren't having a go at champs league ourselves and with Cortese who knows) but I still think we've got him for another year or two yet.

------Boruc Clyne-Yoshida-Lovren-Shaw -------Cork Schneiderlin-Wanyama ------Gaston ----Ricky-Ossie Onus on the full backs to provide the width with Cork supplying defensive cover. Sunderland are going to be tough opponents, thought they looked OK against Fulham and Altidore looks like he might be a handful. Going for 3-1 to us but wouldn't be surprised if Sunderland poop on the party.

Let's see how he does with Ossie in the team. I'm hoping he'll come more alive with a player that likes it played through the channels or ahead of him. Big season for Gaston and I think he'll come good, he's got some quality about him. Need to get off the guy's back and cut him some slack, if he doesn't do the business Poch will take action anyway. I have to say I haven't been this excited about a Saints team for many years. Still can't quite believe we've signed Osvaldo.

This was the one I really wanted but never dared thought we'd get. He's a genuine class act and if MP can get the most from him (and Ossie will be fired up in a WC year) then we've got a bit of a monster striker on our hands. Salivating at the thought of Ossie as the spear head and Rickie as the foil. Gonna be some fun. Cortese is like a terrier, once he locks his jaws around his target he just won't let go. Welcome Pablo and enjoy your stay.

Well that's a surprise. Great result against a very decent team. Love it when we grind out a game like that one, sounded like we had them under control most of the time, defensively we look good. Just need Ossie to fill the missing link. Arsenal losing at home and the fans singing 'spend some money' makes me wonder if they are about to go into panic buy mode. Hope there isn't a last gasp Arse bid for him.

If Osvaldo does not materialise would Jordan Rhodes be worth a shot? 27 goals from 45 games in the champ is none too shabby. Decent British player - could he have a similar impact at prem level as Ricky did?

Should find out soon, the club have put a deadline down and should stick with it. I'd love him to come here but there has to be a limit to how far SFC will go. Shame about Vydra, who else are we looking at?

Can't see more than a draw TBH, West Brom are a decent footballing side and whilst Lukaku is a loss Anelka is a decent replacement who will get the goals. Be interested to see how Diego Lugano gets on at WBA. A decent player and a good battle between him + Jonas Olsson vs Ricky will be worth watching. 1-1 or 2-1 to them.