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As someone else posted, hopefully Utd not being at the top will mean some of their super overrated players (Welbeck and Cleverley especially), are nowhere near the England squad. With regards to our players, I cant see Lallana leaving.

Wowzers. Quite a few out for this, but am surprised looking back at the team that won last season is no better than the one we might be fielding tomorrow. Just so long as Yoshida isnt played at full back...!

Do you mean one of the most one footed players, along with Clyne?

Doesnt look that sharp for a keeper, but does seem to have good kicking ability. I'd rather good goal saving ability though!

Definitely. He's a youngster in a very high profile position - needs some encouragement from the crowd!

Davis for his experience, Gazza to give him experience. I actually didnt think Gazza was that awful last season - a few stupid mistakes, but with a lot more time with the group, a better group around him, and a year older, I'm confident that he will do ok if picked.

Was it Villa last year where he ran circles around them and we smashed them 4-1 or something? Repeat please!

Worked pretty well for us against Palace? Dominated the defence that day. I know their defence is weak, but he did look a class above. I'm keeping the faith - a few games, get rid of those niggly injuries, and maybe a few more starts and sure he'll get a few more goals before the new year.

So... what was the score?

Cork is a great player. Definitely better than Davis and Guly, but in a different position where we're currently very strong. It cant be long until Wanyama gets banned, and very unlikely both Wanyama and Schneiderlin will go the whole season without missing a match here or there with a knock, so I would expect Cork to get a few games yet. Cant imagine any of the players mentioned would go for less than 10 mil. Got to think Lallana and Shaw will both be worth much more. Shaw's the one I'll be most worried about losing, as I think he's the only one that might want to (if Chelsea came in for example).

That must be a first up there for November!

That must be a first up there for November!

To be honest, I think if we do make wholesale changes we are likely to lose tonight, away on a cold wet night in Sunderland. I hope I'm wrong and I do have faith in players like Cork and Ramirez amongst others, but wouldnt be surprised if we dont win.

So we now have this guy and Targett as young pros who play at left back (or + centre back here), along with Shaw of course, and Fox. Plus a couple of guys in the Under 21s who can play at right or left back I think. Seems like we're well stocked for (youth) options there!

Welbeck awful again for England. Thought Sturridge was quiet, but looked a lot more dangerous on the ball than Welbeck. Shame Rickie didnt get on, but was never going to happen. Good to see JWP score. Osvaldo subbed after 50 odd minutes, hope he's not injured...

Looks a class act to me. Great skill, strength and good movement. Good goal v Palace.

First live match of the season, and chose a good place to sit (in the Chapel)! Told my mate they were saving the goals for us in the second half! Wanyama was decent, but looks like he's going to pick up a lot of silly yellow cards by poor control and then diving into challenges to get it back. He VERY easily brushed off Palace players though, which was good to see, and something we've lacked in other years. Lovren very classy again, and a massive improvement for the whole defence. Shaw was lively, and Clyne and Fonte did well against their old clubs. Thought Schneiderlin didnt really get that involved in the game but was decent enough. Lallana was decent, but I'd say that Davis didnt really impress - a few misplaced passes and poor shots - I wouldnt have him in the starting lineup for the next game. Lambert did ok, maybe should've drilled the shot in the first half rather than curl it, but the free kick was awesome. MOTM for me was Osvaldo. Looked very classy, good skills and great strength (often winning the ball back off the defender when it looked like they had tackled him) and a great goal. Was very impressed and think he's a top quality addition. Ramirez should've been brought on earlier instead of Ward-Prowse (who didnt really get into the game much). Overall, very professional display and always comfortable.

I like how they havent mentioned our best defender when talking about our impressive defensive record!

It's near to sell out but only 3 pages on the build up thread?! Is the forum dying?

My first match of the season, against my local team. A few of my mates support Palace so hoping we can get the 3 points. They're not confident, and we are due some goals. We're also due a poor defensive performance though! Hoping for Osvaldo to get his first goal(s). Am looking forward to catching a Wanyama piledriver sat near the top of the Chapel.

what was the attendance?

Looking forward to this (on Sky+). Match last year was mainly dominated by Suso and a couple others on the fringes of the Liverpool first team. Also got to see Forren play football!! Wonder if any of the 'forgotten men' will play today - i.e. Barnard, Sharp, Lee, Forte etc. Barnard played the away match last season I think (and was mostly hopeless).

Didnt think he was as hopeless as some have made out, but obviously not good enough for Premiership. We've got rid of a hell of a lot of players this summer, but do think we need one or two more to ensure if we do get a cup run, we dont have to play the same 11-15 players every match. Good luck to Steve, thanks for your Reading goal.

Definitely a striker. With Lovren (who will be first choice), we've got Yoshida who is a good player (apart from at full back) and prem standard, along with Hooiveld, who proved he's a decent option last season after a shaky start, and Fonte who is also pretty decent, and probably about as good as we can hope for 4th choice in our current position. The two youngsters are also supposed to be good but havent seen them outside of a few development / under 21 matches. If we were to sign someone else that'd be the end of either Hooiveld or Fonte. Upfront we have Lambert who obviously had a good season last year, but definitely was tiring and pretty ineffectual in a few games near the back end of the year - and will we really expect him to play every game in a high pressure system we're now playing? J-Rod I've been pretty impressed with his running and commitment - work on the placement of a few shots and he could easily score 10-15 next season if played upfront. Mayuka has also impressed me a little in the few opportunities he's been given / times i've seen him - and hopefully after a bit more time in and around the squad he'll be a decent option off the bench, but feel he's probably a bit of a confidence player, and obviously hasnt got much not playing often. However, beyond that, we're really struggling. Any injuries / suspensions and what are we going to do? Guly might do a job for a match or two, but he's more a midfielder, and we dont want to rely on that. Think a striker is on the cards we've all we've been linked with, and think they're prepared to pay big to get the right one. It's pretty exciting, but also frustrating. Fingers crossed we see a good striker brought in soon!

Dont remember Britt, but like others, watched a few Under 21 matches last season and thought Rowe looked good. Decent delivery and good pace, but very small. The new Nathan Dyer?