S-Clarke

That Austin link is probably just agent generated. Can't believe we'd be interested now, got a feeling we'll be looking more into the European market and international level players rather than championship players. If we wanted Austin, we could save our bucks and keep Sharp instead! I rate them both as pretty much similar level players. It's probably a link left over from the Adkins reign. Would be staggered if we sign any Champ players this summer.

If we have serious backing, then why not give it a go. But we'd need a hell of a lot of signings to be honest! Who knows what the ambition is though, we may all be surprised by the level of players we end up signing this year.

Probably mentioned his disciplinary issue earlier in the season. No harm giving Kelvin a run out to be honest. Found it interesting that he got a guard of honour (sort of) in the behind the scenes video.

They've got a deeper squad and more premier league experience, maybe not much difference quality wise in the starting 11's, but we don't really have much below the 11 - whereas west ham have a bit more depth. As much as I dislike Nolan, you can't hide away from the fact that he's a pretty decent midfield player. When they came down a year or so ago, they kept the basis of a decent PL squad. Nolan, Noble, Collisson, Cole, O'Neil, Taylor etc. They probably didn't perform to their maximum last year, but the squad they had gave them a decent head start in the PL.

Pretty much. Our finishing position is pretty much on the money for us squad wise. As someone has already mentioned previously, the mid-table clubs can go on some stonking unbeaten runs (Norwich, Stoke etc) but they're also just as likely to not win in 10, which is what happened We're all mid-table for a reason, mainly because we've shown promise and have a good first 11 - but injuries and suspensions will knock our form and the other mid-table sides. Bigger squads and more depth will aid progression up the league. It's a little too easy to be flippant and say ''We were only 4 points off 10th, that's nothing. If we play like we have, we will finish there without stregenthing". The issue people seem to ignore is that of consistency, and squad size, we may touch 10th at one stage, but we'd need to have a season where all of our current 11 stay fit and on form for 38 games, which is actually impossible. So, even though it's only a ''small'' points gap, we'd still need to significantly add to the depth of the squad to achieve a higher finish. Don't get me wrong, I think we've done great this year to settle down as we have. Just that we can't rest on our laurels, and if we really want to progress how they're saying, then we'd need to add a bit more depth to the squad. Sorry to take this off tangent, good rumours by the way Crabs.

I think that's what most people assumed it was when the pictures surfaced!

Don't forget, he scored 2 goals whilst playing for a big club. That automatically puts him at the top of the list. Big club, scoring goals, shoe in. Even if they've only played 2 games and are pretty ****.

and maybe not.. BBC Midlands Today ‏@bbcmtd4m The Ricoh Arena is NOT on fire. A band is doing sound and lighting checks involving a smoke machine impressive bloody lighting if true.

It's currently on fire...looks like it's going to be gutted. hope to god no one is in there.

Possibly still has a knock on for us. Napoli were one of the main rivals for Davide Astori, so if they've potentially moved on, we may be getting somewhere with Astori.

Awful news. Condolences to all involved.

What's that got to do a transfer? We had a similar thread last year when Rickie pulled out from buying a new house.

Hope you're right fella. Would be a top addition, and for a snip really. You don't find many International centre backs hanging off tress for £9m these days.

Are you claiming the first ITK status of the summer?

Chelsea fans, generally, don't have a clue about much though.

Interesting ''team of the season'' from our old favorite, garth crooks. What do we all think? http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22574993 fair enough that we haven't got any players in there, but surprised he didn't include a Shaw, Clyne or Morgan in his honorable mentions list. Also, no Michu, which is a bit surprising.

It wasn't even close to being as bad as our start.

He did have a few touches, but he struggled to do much with the constant hoofs.

Ah ok, fair enough. Yep, Spurs was very good. Agree with what you say on the whole, we're now a pretty solid and sound side. Attacking wise we may have been a little off color in recent weeks, but defensively we're light years ahead of what we were in August. There's a real strong foundation to build upon for next year.

Nasty, ugly team, with niggly ugly football players. Their players really do fit the ''ugly'' team definition. Effective though, got to give them that. For all our nice possession and better quality, we haven't been able to beat them home or away. In the same way as WHU, they're irritating, but effective in what they do with the group of players they have. (and we didn't beat them home or away either!)

I'd have to say Man Utd away was our best display. The way we penned them back for an entire half was incredible, they just couldn't get out at stages.

It also sort of summed him up as a bloke and player. Didn't make a huge fuss, he just rolled himself off the pitch. So many players roll around and around and around, just because they've lost a toe nail. He is kind of similar to Scholes, in that I don't think he lived up the limelight as such - very much a keep himself to himself sort of guy. Tweet just posted by him michael owen ‏@themichaelowen2h Special word for the Southampton fans too. To be clapped off by a whole stadium was amazing.

Very consistent, a very comfortable premier league full back. Very much like a right sided Ashley Cole in the way he plays. Let's hope he keeps away from mobile phones and the like though.

I think we've done alright in the end, had a feeling that we'd finish 15th/14th or thereabouts, which is probably a pretty fair reflection of us overall this year. We're definitely a competitive premier league side now and after the first 2 months of the season, I didn't think I'd ever be saying that. I think the basis of this squad is great, we've got some fantastic young players to build around and the finance to do that. I think now that we've stayed up this year, it's only going to get better for us in the long-run. We've now secured that enormous new TV deal, we've cleared any uncertainty in the backroom - and clearly have some finance here. Our young players/better players are all committing and signing up for the future and I believe Shaw will be the next in a couple of weeks time. All in all it's been a good season, which has built on the momentum we gained in previous years and has allowed us to put a pretty solid foundation down, with regards to PL football. Expectations are going to be pretty high next year, I'm sure, but I believe this club will deliver again.

We started the game so well, and could have been 1-0 up inside the first minute, but then Stoke got imposed their game and we kind of got bullied out of it in certain area's. In terms of possession and total dominance of the ball, we were on top - as we have been for most of the season. But the same old issues came back to haunt us from the last few weeks. We lack a real explosive injection in the final third. Whether that's a winger who is powerful and quick, or a midfielder who is pacey and bursts through the middle. Up until 30 yards out, we're as good as anyone, but we seem to completely lose idea's at this stage and more often than not, we check, turn back and go back to the GK or CB's, thus not penetrating the oppositions back 4 at all. We need to find an answer to attacking teams who put men behind the ball, it's all well and good taking the likes of Liverpool and Man City apart - but they come for the win, they don't necessarily stick as many behind the ball as the likes of Stoke do, so as odd as it sounds...we have more opportunities to get in behind those sides as they're more prone to leaving a little opening. The Stokes of this world don't, and we don't really seem to have an alternative at this present moment who can provide a bit of explosion in the final third. 1-1 is a fair reflection in terms of chances I guess, bit of a drab game all in all and a typical end of season showdown. Glad we've not got the uncertainty hanging over us and we can now move forward as a club over the summer. It should be quite exciting as we have a fantastic base to build from.