Crazy Diamond

There were occasions where I was more frustrated than plain negative, I think defeats like Brentford at home and Rochdale away were completely self-inflicted. Brentford because we were just so insipid, though Andy Scott said that was the best he'd seen his team play, Rochdale because we tinkered and no one seemed to click. I'm expecting a few matches like that along the way this season, I just hope there's not too many. Put it this way, I'll start grumbling if we put in a performance like say... The 5 - 0 loss to Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough a few seasons back. That was downright unacceptable.

Doncaster? Interesting. I think the only reason they struggled so badly last season was because of a horrific list of injuries. It's widely acknowledged they've played the best stuff in this league - hence why I said when Pardew went that I'd want Sean O'Driscoll as manager. I would agree they need to improve though. As for Watford, they need to get this new managerial appointment bang on and immediately start strengthening. But people have been saying that for years. Last season was meant to be one long struggle but they had some very good early results and some said a play-off spot wasn't out of the question. Barnsley will be one of those that go either way. Keith Hill has worked with worse, but then again that was League Two in a season when there was a hell of a lot of crap around them. Would have to agree. Top ten and I'll be happy. I just wonder how much adjustment will be required. Cardiff are set for a season of adjustment, I think that's fair to say. Good shout.

No one has any early opinions on who's for the drop then? It's a particularly interesting one - you can't rely on one of the three promoted teams from League One as a tip to go straight back down. I imagine Peterborough will have learnt from their experiences last time out and will spend a bit of cash, us and Brighton should be looking far beyond safety. As I said before, Coventry look doomed to me. No money, Ray Ranson is leaving I think or he may have even already left, they can't attract any players and have a rookie manager. They'll either flirt with the relegation zone or go down if you ask me. But as I said earlier, other than them, no idea.

Lawrie said on Sky Sports News the other day that the Championship was the hardest league to get out of back when he was managing us - that was 40 odd years ago. It's probably harder today with the play-offs. Looking at the fixture list has made me realise one thing - it's early days but I can't pick a winner or a dead certainty for relegation. Birmingham and West Ham may be the bookmaker's choice for automatic promotion but just because they're recently relegated from the Prem doesn't mean they'll necessarily do it. Birmingham for example have a big rebuilding job on their hands. A lot of their best players are going or have gone (Seb Larsson is a decent player, he's off to Sunderland, Roger Johnson and Scott Dann their two defenders are jumping ship and their new striker isn't exactly encouraging - Marlon King). West Ham are going to lose even more, if they haven't already. Some talked about Scott Parker's valuation being £10 million plus, but the latest rumour is he's going to Spurs for just £4 million. Blackpool never had any decent players to lose to begin with in my view, so I reckon they'll either finish midtable or be in the play-offs. But there are so many teams that at one stage have a shot at the play-offs - Leicester, Hull, Derby, the Skates, Watford and Millwall all fancied themselves to do it last time round. Add to that Ipswich and Middlesbrough will want to go for it after being so disappointing last time. There's only one team I think that will absolutely bomb this season and that's Coventry. As I said on the fixture thread, I think I'll treat this upcoming season with caution. Looking at August's fixtures, I think at the moment I'd be happy with seven points off of Leeds, Barnsley, Ipswich, Millwall and Leicester. There are some games that for me will make or break a season - a trip to a place like Barnsley is one of them. Keith Hill is an arrogant tosser (I can safely say that having met the odious little man) but a decent manager, so that'll be a tough away game. All in all, right now it's far too difficult to judge. As it stands I've no idea at all where we'll finish, I'm just hoping it's the top half. Who do you think will be promoted, get a play-off spot or be relegated?

I think I'll treat this upcoming season with caution. I was quite surprised with just how many wins we racked up towards the end of last season, and given Huddersfield went something like 28 games unbeaten you have to reason that we must have done extremely well to have beaten them to second. I don't think arguments like 'we play on the deck' are going to work. Arrogance from a style of play won't help one jot. We've got a good squad and I always felt we had possibly one of the strongest squads if not THE strongest last season in League One, but we now require additions. Only when we've got a few more quality players in would I ever start thinking we're clear favourites in some games - looking at the fixture list I can't pick out any easy games. Having said all that, I would place my hopes on a top half finish and perhaps an outside shot at the play-offs, which a lot of teams have at one point or another in any given Championship season. I lost count of the amount of teams that were at one point in with a shout of it last time - Leicester, Hull, Derby, the Skates, Watford and Millwall all fancied themselves for a play-off berth at times. Looking at August's fixtures, I think at the moment I'd be happy with seven points off of Leeds, Barnsley, Ipswich, Millwall and Leicester. There are some games that for me will make or break a season - a trip to a place like Barnsley is one of them. Keith Hill is an arrogant tosser (I can safely say that having met the odious little man) but a decent manager, so that'll be a tough away game.

I've got my doubts he'll even get that many games there to be honest. It's not that I don't rate him at all, I'm sure he can be useful, but Huddersfield can afford to buy decent players and have a good midfield already. Really not sure what he adds to them other than depth - which is what he would have provided had he stayed with us.

Exactly. As nice a gesture as it is to go and play at the Silverlake, doing our bit to help local clubs out, it has no benefit for us at all. Decent opposition from now on please. No more first team trips to Norway to play a crap side that will ship 12 goals. Pre-season preparations have to be perfect or else we'll be chasing other teams to get to anywhere near our potential. Look at last season. Good opposition in a former Champions League team (FC Thun) and a strong side in FC Sochaux, but I'm led to believe everything else went wrong. We didn't look our best until we played Bristol Rovers in our fifth fixture.

I think it's safe to assume that if he was any good he'd have been signed to a long term contract a long time ago. He wasn't, and he's gone. To a team in the division below. Not even the slightest bit bothered about this.

Would quite like to go to Fratton, but financial and geographical circumstances (as in I am a student at university) have meant I have been to naff all away games, and on that basis I wouldn't want to get a ticket in case someone more deserving missed out. One day maybe, one day.

That letter reminds me of one person and his 'we love the fans' statements. That person is a certain Michael Wilde.

The White Lightning F.A Cup would be fantastic though (yes I realise its cider).

This is what Premier League teams have been doing for years. As long as it's not the pathetic 'let's have a different collar this season' joke then I don't have a massive problem with it.

Not sure about this money grabber theory. Have met him and can't say that occurred to me. He even wanted to rejoin us in 2005 when we were struggling in the Championship under Redknapp, believe it or not. In the end Fulham made him a promise of first team football so he went on loan there.

He does. When I worked at AFC Bournemouth in 09-10, he was at almost every home game they played. So when he took over at Notts County, he did well mainly because he knew a hell of a lot about the league and its teams.

Which makes Poortvliet's comments after winning at a **** poor Derby County of 'we want a play-off spot' all the funnier. Well, in hindsight it is I suppose.

Interesting stuff, cheers for the write up. I'm starting to wonder with regards to transfers. It doesn't particularly bother me we've not signed anyone yet as I think we've a decent squad, but having said that, is it still early days for signings or is the market fully underway now? I can't really tell if I'm honest. Have Championship clubs even done much business? The only transfer that sticks out to me is Chopra going to Ipswich, though if Nolan does sign for West Ham that'll be a big one. Perhaps even the biggest we can expect.

Ha. With a set of reviews like that, it's no wonder Burley kept trying to buy him. Always had an eye for a crap midfielder. Jermaine Wright, Inigo Idiakez, Jason Euell (though to be fair, he was a forward playing out of position)... the list goes on.

Some good stuff there guys, thanks. Keep them coming! Have added all of them to a wish list on Amazon. Yes I've been aware of Jonathan Wilson for a while now, and quite agree from the first chapter and prologue alone that it does come across as academic, I'm also struggling with his writing style at times. It's interesting though, and I was amazed to learn that football tactics began partly in Winchester! I'm really interested in 'Behind the Iron Curtain', I've always wondered about stuff like the Soviet League and communism's effect on football. That's incredible! Sounds like a must read.

That's rich (excuse the pun) coming from the team that have spent £1 million on a single player when we've spent nothing so far. Poyet himself has even said that he expects to spend more than that on another player! So, £2 million plus on two players. Yeah, cos we're really ruining these leagues with our spending.

The whole world seems to be against it. It's really quite hypocritical. Everyone is saying that McClaren should be given a second chance, a lot of the press are saying that despite being the ones that destroyed him, yet Shearer is doomed to failure before he's even started. I hope he does well. I really admired him as a player, for us and Newcastle. That Newcastle team were doomed to failure by decisions made long before that season even started. It goes as far back as getting rid of Bobby Robson. Given time and the right backing, I hope he can prove himself. UPDATE Shearer has said he did go for an interview but was unsuccessful!

Well, you say that, but reading just the prologue of 'Inverting the Pyramid' has taught me one or two things already. I take the view that there's just far too many people out there starting blogs and stuff with articles along the lines of 'I like football, my team isn't very good, this is why, what do you think' and it's just not any good. I'd quite like to know a bit more. Knowledge is power after all.

Yeah I've come across that book a lot actually. Sounds like it needs to be on my list. I've managed to pick up 'One Night in Turin' and 'Once in a Lifetime' (the story of the New York Cosmos) for less than ten quid.

If memory serves, they've got a chairman who made a big fortune from online poker, and he's backing them.

Ha, yes, have to admit I'm dubious. But I do like the concept, so it's going on the wish list. Cheers rpb.

With their delusional fan base? Yes, perhaps. I still don't understand why they think Poyet is the messiah. I think a lot of other managers could have done the job he's done, and with less or no moaning at all. Well done to them for a good season last time out but I hope they get a nice reality check. Oh and they need to stop being such a bunch of morons. We are not your rivals, now **** off.