Crab Lungs

They're an absolute bunch of c()nts, hate them. Small-time, bucket-rattling Blackpool wannabes with their success built on similar sand to that of Portsmouth's, their illustrious bigger brother. Can't wait for it to go tits up and they're begging us for a friendly again.

Bet the open top bus is getting a dust down

As you've probably seen him much more than me, tell me more....

Yeah, it's a shame really. No longer in the cool club anymore and bullied by Fry and Turkish. Bad times!

Was that Hargreaves who just said we miss Forster more than Alderweireld and Schneiderlin and that Stekelenburg has really struggled? WTF

Dragovic and Gonalons NOW. Hopefully, if I say it enough times, it'll become true. Here's hoping.

Yeah, slightly inclined to agree. I'm sure the people who "played it cool" over the summer were secretly worried like everyone else... good job it worked out for them, I suppose. Think we'll be ok IF we do get a quality CB and DM and perhaps play Clasie in advanced postion ahead of Davis.

Yeah, this is true... but what of performances? Are they at the same level? It does look like we are significantly weaker than last season... hence why people are a bit concerned, which is fair enough.

This is a lesson that proves we can't keep replacing our best players every season. Either we we go balls out, or we gamble and become a Norwich, WBA etc.

Balls out for Dragovic and Gonalons and we'll be ok. We'll get van Dijk and Romeu instead by the looks of things. Not that that is terrible, just not the same standard. Hopefully when Clasie gets back he'll have found a bit of rythym 'cos he looked like a very bad Lee Cattermole against Vitesse.

WTF Yoshida.

Is it me, but does anyone else think that our centre-halves are also doing the fullbacks defensive work as well?

Saints GK home kit maybe?

it is... just defensively, we don't have the same big characters this year and we're getting punished

Wrong. Is it still that funny, 12 months or so on? Really. I never told anyone my "source" and FWIW, there was two or three people and it was nothing to do with Lallana. No, I don't cling to that opinion to beat Uncle Les or co... I just don't think he's very good. I'm normal enough a human being to differentiate between the purchase of a player and the actions of the footballing board. I'm also normal enough to admit things that I'm wrong about and laugh about it if so. You just seem a bit bitter and a bit weird. Time to let it go? I'm ready.

Hi Halo, sorry it's taken me so long to reply, just read this... appreciate what you've said, seriously. What I don't get is... I've made a climb-down from what I said and I did pass on everything that I'd been told but yet, for some reason, more than a year later, I'm still being trolled. To be honest, it's a bit weird. I'd be quite happy to engage with these people, sensibly, but the same old tired lines are just repeated, over and over, for no real good reason even when I'm simply posting an opinion. I made an arse out of myself, agreed and I've admitted that. Bit weird some people can't let it go though. Quite happy to bury the hatchet but it appears they aren't. Doesn't matter anyway, it's only the internet.

That said, in Cedric's case, there clearly is ability. For some of the others, though...

I love the "he's young, he'll improve" line... get that a lot with Forster last year. He's 27. Might be true that, Oscar Gobern just moved from Huddersfield to QPR.

We were as open and messy last week as well.

Yep, it's obvious we haven't (yet) replaced with players of equivalent quality.

The Schneiderlin screen and Alderweireld shield has well and truly gone. We look half decent going forward, but we will not repeat last seasons feats with our current squad. We're WBA level at the moment. As I've said previous, Alderweireld- quality CB and composed, hardworking DM of good quality (won't be Schneiderlin quality, no-one is) and we'll be ok. Feel a bit sorry for the likes Stekelenburg... Forster had it easy last year compared.

Fonte has been immense for us, there is absolutely no way we should sell him to make room for van dijk as captain. Would much rather we went elsewhere then unsettle our most consistent and important performer.

Paul Clement will be terrible, I was saying that to a mate when he was appointed. Early doors, but I honestly believe he will be.

Say it. Say it a million times over.

Derby didn't sell out the other 8000 seats. It's their fault. Utterly bereft of passion that club.