S-Clarke

W'ere fighting for the 'Who can end the season more ****?'' award. Level pegging at the mo.

He should just be released in the summer, preferably after this game. Horrendous player. No idea what the recruitment team were thinking when they thought signing him was a good idea. It was followed by Mayka too, so I hope those 2 scouts have been sacked.

That finished last week, and like Magic, we had big features on Chelsea's defense and why it's so good. I must have lost all of the features they had on our back 4 when we were the best up until last week.

Please send your obvious problems to Freepost, Staplewood. thx

If only football was that straight forward.

People underestimate how important a competent goal keeper is. Organizing, communicating, pushing the centre backs out, distribution. They're a rudderless ship with a couple of flappers behind them who seem incapable of making a save.

He shouldn't be a GK.

2 new keepers. an absolute MUST, otherwise we'll be in this position again.

Gazzaniga is clearly a joke player. Should never be near our team. Any shot on target, it's in.

And as you most often are, the chances are good for us.

I read that although the injury will be a bit painful, there's no harm in playing on - no damage or further issues can be caused, this was confirmed by the doctor apparentley. So whilst he has to dose up on pain killers before games, he won't be causing any extra damage - and at this stage of the season, you want all your best players avaliable.

Sturridge out for 5/6 months with a hip injury. Oh dear.

They've been outstanding all year for them, very highly rated. I think they've both played 40+ games in all comps. Key components to their young team.

Thank you bear, it saved me having a brain freeze.

But we sold them. MP was lucky to have that terrific crop of young players at his disposal. The level isn't quite as good at the moment, but academies fluctuate - you'll have good spells and leaner spells, but the foundation will always allow us to produce good players more often than not. I think we'll see the likes of Stephens, McCarthy, Reed, JWP, Hesketh and co used in the Europa games (if we get there). It's the best way, for a club of our size, to ensure we don't over-stretch the entire squad. You can start playing the stronger teams when it gets serious, but when you're playing the local dog and duck from Lithuania you might as well give the kids a go. Most clubs would love to be able to have the youth team supply their depth.

An U21 midfield of Reed, JWP and Hughes probably has Les salivating.

As a squad player I guess. Doubt he'd entertain that move. He's already made a big move to a top club, on big money, as a squad player - but he wants to play. I like toby, but I don't think he's a top, top, top level player - but more than good enough for us. I genuinely think he'd be happy to stay here, but 90% of this deal is on Madrids shoulders. The 'agreed fee' seems a bit pointless in that aspect, as Madrid still hold most of the cards.

A couple of people on Derby's forums were suggesting that this is already a done deal to us, but it wasn't totally concrete. Have to wait and see. Would be very surprised if we're not interested though.

I don't agree with that. When you go down that route, you normally end up with a squad bulked up with a load of crap. The method of buying better than you have is the way to go. Evolve the positions in the team over time, don't just buy backup to be backup. Too many clubs do that in the PL and then have a nightmare getting them off the wage bill when they are inevitably relegated.

I think we'll compete, it's harsh to throw that stick at us. We've competed in every game we've played, even though Sunderland was a total **** up, we did totally dominate with 10 men. But as per usual, lacked any real threat. But you need to ask yourself this for one minute - if in the summer, someone told you that saints would finish on more points, with a better GD and a higher league placing than last season, would you have sent them to the mad-farm? I think a few would have. If you remember back to the summer, Koeman said a few times at how he wanted to 'maintain' the level and 'improve' if possible. That's pretty much what's happened, in a summer of utter chaos we managed to maintain our level the next season. As well as good management, that's pretty impressive recruitment as well. Not bad. Makes you hopeful for the following seasons and the next sage of the plan, as I think our ambitions will be much higher now.

Belerin has come through and has rightly nailed that place - he's been terrific. I don't know if Chambers injured or not? As it's odd their £16m signing is not even on the bench (great fee by the way). But as with all of our 'defectors' it is certainly a sign that the grass is not greener what so ever. I saw some quotes from Clyne today regarding that he's happy to stay, time will tell if that's PR guff or not, but you'd think that the lack of success the other players have had since leaving may play on his mind a bit. It's not like we're an horrific club playing at a rubbish level - we're still competing at the top end.

Yeah, I believe the Cork contract situation was handled a bit poorly. I think he should have been offered one in September/October time, but my opinion is that the club felt that he was potentially blocking a route for Reed/JWP etc and therefore weren't as keen to commit long-term - whether or not that's the right way of going about it is up for debate, but the club have been pretty clear on making sure there is always a pathway for youth players.

Enjoy it. Summer transfer windows prior to your first PL season are exciting, linked to many players who you'd never have thought you'd see at Bournemouth. I think Howe will go with the spine that he has though, and just supplement it with bits of quality around the edges. That's the best bet rather than wholesale upgrades. (It didn't get QPR anywhere). How has Surman been for you this year by the way? His best season for us was our top 6 play off season, when the dutch due of Wotte and co got hold of him and played him at left back he tailed off. Always liked him though and I don't believe he's had a fair crack at the PL as yet, with either Norwich or Wolves - so hopefully he gets his chance now.

You're right, he's not had lots of opportunities - but in the small handful of chances he's had, I don't think he's put his marker down. Yoshida, when he had his chance, did put his marker down and stepped up. A couple of games Gardos played in stand out for showing his rashness/clumsiness, Sheff U away in the cup, Stoke away in the cup, Newcastle away in the league (their first goal). I don't think he's fully trusted 'yet'. I hope he does cement a place here though.

He was on loan at Fulham a few years ago and was trash. Hopefully he's improved a lot since then! He's one of these players who had a big reputation at a young age from the Roma academy, but never really fulfilled it.