S-Clarke

After looking at the results, seasons gone by etc - I reckon 2nd could be achieved by as little as 80 points this year. 90pts should win you the league. Crap....was just going to use the BBC predictor thingy, but they've removed it from their new site.

What we need at the mo is a run of wins back to back to get us going. We're stuttering along at the moment results wise, and that 11 point gap to 7th is now down to 6 - and everyone is closing up on us. Our away fixtures coming up look tough, Boro away, WHU away, Brum away, Leeds away, Hull away, Palace away...etc. Not an easy run it, so I cannot see us getting the same head of steam as last year, it'll be very very difficult anyway. I think 90 odd pts for 1st, and around 80-85 for 2nd IMO, based on a few things I've looked at this morning. I'd love to be proven wrong though! Let's just be in the mix come the end of April and we'll see how we do.

If our prime minster is coming out and saying that, then the country is screwed. Although we knew that anyway.

Not surprised, but he's not the one the Leeds fans wanted out - trust me. Bates is killing that club and they wasted such a chance to use the L1 momentum in a positive light. Entire backroom staff gone apparently.

If he failed at Barcelona, we don't want him. etc.

He's a good guy. Spoke very well of us before and after the match, and gave a very fair analysis I thought. I think their stand out player is Whittingham - but we didn't allow him the space to move the ball around as he usually does, but his delivery is outstanding.

I think we'll have to wait a few weeks before he regains that level, but he was playing at the level he did with Burnley - and I see no reason why he cannot continue that when he's fully fit, he's got all the talent in there.

I have to agree, it's a bit of a trend. We do lack control in the middle of the park without him. He's not very attacking in himself, but he organizes it much better than Morgan and Cork IMO.

Totally 100% What happened was pretty much straight after the goal. Punch and Cork went in the middle, Morgan sat, and Lallana played at the tip - and from then on in he ran the show. First real good game I've seen him have playing in behind, he was tremendous.

I wouldn't call Leicester a tricky little team.....their investment showed on the night and they were miles better than us, albeit we were seriously depleted. I do agree with the general point though. I'm always more confident with us going into a game with a good team, who are playing well. It will not be as cut and dried as many are saying.

Welcome back Chaplow....

Bristol City must be kicking themselves, it was actually £6m rising to 8m. Sven and his stupid spending policy

Yep, that would be our strongest for sure. I think Sharp will give us that extra attacking focal point we miss, too much focus is on Lambert and the space that opens up around him isn't being exploited by Connolly anymore. Sharp could have good fun.

Bristol City fans were saying the same when they came to SMS....! If this league teaches anyone anything, it's that no result is guaranteed. Anyone can beat anyone, home or away, top or bottom.

They should have focused on their midfield, with I think is toothless and doesn't provide their attack. Nolan is on his last legs and it now shows.

Zigic is out? Excellent (not that he's injured, hope he's fit soon....but they don't have much up top as it is)

cripes. How many years were those repayments based on...?

De Ridder has a bit of a tight hamstring, and Guly has a problem with his thigh - don't think we'll see him for a few games. Jos is out for another week according to NA.

Yep, exactly the team I would go with. This is the sort of game for Deano and Cork, not Morgan IMO. Adkins has a call to make on Punch, he's not quite fit yet and Saturday may come a bit too soon for him to start again - but we'll see. We do have options now though, you look at the bench and see players that can come on and making an impact. Refreshing. No disrespect to Holmes and Forte, but seeing them on the bench didn't inspire confidence what so ever.

I think the first half was pretty even, they had a fair % of the game and used the ball well through midfield - their goal was a foul before it was scored, IMO. Once we changed our shape I think we clicked. Lallana was magic in the hole, and made everything happen. Puncheon was floating from side to side and driving forward too. So up until we changed shape, it was pretty even. So credit to adkins for seeing that and making the change which changed the flow of the game.

I'm sure they said the same when they saw ''Sharp to Southampton''

Yeah Norwich do their business very well. Very shrewd. Same as us really.... He's gone back to Posh for the season though iirc.

squib even...

He gave a bit of his own back too which I enjoyed!