SaintBobby

We're probably 15-20 points off a top 4 slot over the course of a season, at a wild, early guess. We'd probably need 3 or 4 truly excellent signings (internationals pretty much at their peak) and would need to be in a position where winning against the top six is seen as pretty natural rather than a shock, surprise result. Quite a way off this at the moment. But wouldn't say it's impossible over the next few years. Just unlikely.

Still think we'll be somewhere around 8th to 12th. But it's surprising what a wobbly start some of the big teams have had.

I'm starting to think we might finish top six. Mental.

Another epic fail from the OP

How much does being on Sky reduce attendance? Does two things - means a reschedule (I couldn't make the West Ham game once it switched to Sunday) and means staying at home and watching on the TV is a pretty good substitute. Seems to me we've got the pricing about right for now. At least for the League. The club deserved to only get a truly pathetic 8,500 for the Bristol City game. Mental pricing. Games like that are made to get casual fans in for bargain basement prices.

We should win this with relative ease. As long as we don't let in an early goal as per Sunderland, we will be fine. 2-0 or 3-0.

We are better this year than last year based on the first 5 games. Not by miles. But by more than inches. Should finish somewhere around 8th-12th. IMHO.

Huh? England are pretty poor. Lallana and Lambert would not get into the Spanish or Brazilian or Argentinian team. Is that a reason not to talk about "fringe players"? The idea that Lallana wld need to score "a minimum of 10-12 goals" to get into the team is utterly nuts. Wellback has been a nailed on selection having scored just 1 goal last season as a striker. Half a dozen or so assists from Lallana and maybe 3 or 4 goals should be enough to put him in the frame

Ahhh bless. The biting wit. The incisive pun. The brilliant sarcasm. What a total dribbling moron you truly are. At least you seem to have stopped starting your own threads with almost exactly the same title as those already being discussed. Took some time to beat that out of you, though.

Worse than that, they firmly asserted that the Summer wld not be a problem. Didn't even try to gloss it over!

It's a bloody farce. With all the time and money that goes into a bid no one seems to have asked "Is the temperature in this country okay-ish or will footballers risk dropping dead like flies on the pitch?" The criteria for selecting a host nation should be something like this: 1. Is there (or will there be) a sufficent infrastructure and a good enough natural environment to host such a major competition? 2. Is the legal framework basically acceptable for players and fans of all competing nations, including those in the qualifiers? (Israeli fans/players, Muslim fans/players, gay fans/players etc must all be welcome. The World Cup shouldn't be held in a war zone or in, say, North Korea) 3. Consistent with 1 and 2, is the competition being rotated globally on about the same ratio of the number of qualifying slots for each confederation (So, Europe about 50% of the time, N/S America about 30%, RoW 20%). Qatar only barely qualifies on point 3.

Yep he's now the longest odds to be next manager to be sacked. Still around 80/1

Nah. They would panic may before May 2015 if things were going off the rails. I think he has to get them CL football this season or he's in real trouble. In their games against their rivals at the top, they have so far been woeful.

Geees. Did people actually take my "sack MP" thread, seriously? PMSL. Hahahahaha.

Man Utd's midfield was woeful (again) today. They are better than our midfield overall, but not by miles.

How is it that Sky is to blame for the PL becoming predictable and boring at the top? The cash each club gets from Sky in the top flight is pretty even (more so than gate receipts or merchandising) It's the riches of CL that distorts domestic competition so badly.

Not a prayer. He must be on two or three times the wages of any of the Saints players, quite apart from everything else.

Maybe even at half time. Shake it up a bit?

A 0-0 draw would be unacceptable to many. I guess 1-1 or 2-2 might just stay the execution. But a defeat, and he should go, agreed?

Sunderland and West Brom looking like early candidates for the drop...

Matt Le Tissier on a free from Vale Rec is probably our best signign ever. But Lambert has definitely been one of the best.

I've read it. Agree it's a really good read - but something doesn't quite ring true. I feel sure that the stories told are based on a pastiche of things rather than being directly true. Otherwise, some of the tales are so specific and involve so many people that I feel sure the Secret Footballer would have been "outed" by now.

Hodgson has also said he's not adding anyone else to the squad (making it more likely Lambert plays the full 90 mins...but is a dumb decision IMHO)

Sturridge has just been ruled out. So Lambert is sure to start, right?

PMSL...they have only won one game in League 2. Tee hee.