Papa Shango

Jesus christ Yes they COULD be in the same league as us. But Blackpool probably have about an 80% chance of staying up. They only need about 10 more points to do so. With 15 games left, there's a very good chance they will do that. We are one of about 9 or 10 teams competing for promotion to the Championship. Yes we are one of the favourites, but it's far from certain that we'll definitely make it up. We have proved in the last two games we are far from the perfect side. With a few injuries to key players/bad luck etc we could end up in League One again next season. If that happens and Austin comes here, he'll be in exactly the same position he was at the end of last season with Swindon. If he goes to Blackpool and they do collapse and go down, so what? They'll still have a decent squad for Champo standards with four years of parachute payments. If we go up, we'll probably be in about the same position as them. So if he goes to Blackpool, the worst that could probably happen is he'll end up in a Mid table/play off challenging side in the Championship this time next year. The BEST that could happen with us is the same. Given it's more than likely Blackpool will stay up though, he'd be much better off to go there. As for Austin not wanting to move up North. He's not 5, I'm sure he'll be able to manage it.

Struggling to debate you? Hilarious. You have proven to be completely out of touch on this thread as well as the Charlie Austin thread.

Maybe he'll end up staying, I have no idea. Point I was making is these stories aren't just made up out of nothing like Gingeletiss and MLG seem to think. They're obviously getting their information from somewhere. Maybe they are being fed BS, but believe it or not in 99% of football news that papers/Sky put out there does come from somewhere. They don't just sit around the table every day and say "Hmm what story can we make up today, I know lets just say Alex Chamberlain is going to Arsenal"

You are seriously deluded if you think the whole Chamberlain to Arsenal stories have just been made up by the papers for the fun of it. Same goes for MLG who seems to live in his own little fantasy computer game world. When a number of different sources run this strong on the story there is obviously something in it. Maybe he won't end up going, but either way someone close to the player or clubs is clearly putting the information out there. Just because Cortese said he wouldn't go a few months ago doesn't mean anything. Getting upset at the papers for printing these stories is retarded.

But it's more than likely Blackpool are going to stay up, so he'd almost certainly be getting at least 18 months in the Premiership. He does well in that time and he's set for the rest of his career. It's far from a guarantee that we'll even be out of League One next season. Blackpool is a much better move for him.

Yes. Was cash plus Darren Kenton and Brett Ormerod IIRC. Guess the only chance we'd have of signing Austin over the other 3 clubs mentioned is if Austin doesn't want to move away very far.

Gary Neville to replace Andy Gray? Not the worst choice in the world. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1350854/Gary-Neville-lined-new-Sky-Sports-pundit.html?ITO=socialnet-twitter-dmailsports

Don't know why you're getting so defensive about this. Maybe the deal will happen, maybe it won't. It's not like the papers are making it up though. The deal either is/was close to happening or someone close to the club/player is feeding them information that isn't true.

Assuming we lose it'll be the fourth year in a row we'll have been knocked out on live TV. Rovers in 2008, United in 2009 and the Skates last year. Also went out in 2006, 2005 and 2004 when we were on the box.

No. We must be favourites to finish 2nd now though. Can't see Bournemouth lasting the pace, especially now Eddie Howe has gone. Think Huddersfield, Peterborough and Charlton will be our biggest threats. It won't be easy and we'll have a few more days like on Saturday at Tranmere, but I think we'll just about make it over the line, a bit like Leeds did last season.

Exactly. Team news isn't really that hard to get hold of, and apparently that's all this 'leftback' character has got right so far. All this stuff about the Liebherr's supposedly being unhappy with Cortese is complete ********. Even if it was true, how on earth would anyone know about it? The Liebherrs rarely step foot inside Southampton as far as I'm aware. I doubt they're expressing their concerns about how the club is run to anyone. Anybody who thinks any of that stuff is even remotely true is completely deluded.

99% of 'ITK' stuff posted on this forum (and others) over the years has turned out to be complete ********. Would have thought people would have learnt that by now. There's clearly some saddos out there with their own little agenda who are desperate for the current regime to fail. Pretty pathetic to be honest.

Yawn. Almost certainly ********.

Not really that fussed about what was said, but glad to see the back of Gray (And hopefully Keys as well). Their style of punditry is incredibly dated and clichéd. Would love it if Sky brought in people like James Richardson and Gabriele Marcotti to replace them, but I expect we'll get more of the same.

Jesus christ

Agreed. He's scored a hatrick for England, a goal in a cup final and has been one of Arsenal's better players in recent times. Can't understand why people think Walcott has underachieved or would have been better off staying here/going to another club. He's still only 21 as well so it's not like he can't continue to improve. He's an important player for one of Europe's top teams, can't ask for much more than that.

Does he really? What's the story there? Vaguely remember rumours about that a few years ago but not sure exactly what went down. All I know is Tyler got taken off the big games at one point and was replaced by Ian Darke.

The vast majority of footballers are arrogant ****s. Who cares as long as they do the business of the pitch.

Aren't Blackpool in for him now? Would surely write off our chances.

196

Suspended for tonights game now. http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Rumour-Have-Sky-Sports-Andy-Gray-and-Richard-Keys-been-dumped-from-Bolton-v-Chelsea-Monday-Night-Football-match-article680733.html

Good times. Could watch those clips all day. That game against Charlton (Or should I say Scott Parker) is a forgotten classic.

I doubt we'll sign both MacKail-Smith and Austin, but it's certainly possible we are in for both players in the moment just in case one deal doesn't come off. Got to keep your options open. Don't think Adkins rates Barnard much. He'll almost certainly be fourth choice up front if a new striker is signed.

Ridiculous post. Schneiderlin has been one of our best players this season, I can't believe some people can't recognise the great work he does. I think some people don't like him because he doesn't score goals, or go on mazy runs like Lallana/Chamberlain, or run around like a headless chicken kicking everyone up in the air. Guess what, that's not what he's there for. The whole 'He's a foreigner so he won't fancy it on a cold Tuesday night up north' is a pretty lazy stereotype as well. He did pretty darn well at Oldham the other week on a Tuesday. Yes he's had a few bad games this season, but so has nearly everyone else as well. The guy is a talent. As for the United game, I'm definitely in the not that bothered about it camp. We'll get outplayed and outsung for 90 minutes, comfortably beaten about 0-2. More excited about Exeter away three days later. Much more important game.

Anyone got the link for when Cortese said Chamberlain wouldn't be leaving in January? Not doubting what was said, but I'm interested in hearing his exact quotes on the matter. Maybe he was going to stay when he made the statement, but OX has had a change of heart since then? At the end of the day if a player really wants to go, it's difficult to stand in their way. Also just because the papers made a few factual errors in their story, doesn't mean it's completely made up. With a number of different places running with the story there's obviously something in it. Also it's not normal for a manager to come out and speak publicly about a player unless a deal is fairly close.