S-Clarke

Now you've done it!

Those comments were made before he had any sort of scan or check, it was straight after the match IIRC. Typical positive NA comments! I doubt we'll ever get official word from the club as to when he'll be back, NA will just be asked every week to which he'll reply ''Who knows?''

Probably right on the 2nd half team. I'd potentially stick Davis in there, keep Gaston out on the left and put Davis in an AMC role.

Ah I remember Viafara, always liked him. ''Sorry I spoil the party'' is one of my all time fav goal celebrations...!

Just a couple of people I speak to who have their ears close to the ground. They may be wrong, but they've been pretty reliable on most of the stuff they've told me in the past. I hope to god they're wrong on this one though.

Apparently a season-ending one. That's whats come from a few reliable voices at the mo.

Chaplow isn't that good. He had a spell of about 7 or 8 games last year where he was unplayable at times, but that's it. He was rubbish for the rest of the season. Doubt we'll see much of him this year, he's not up to the grade if we're honest.

But in some games, they can - and do, lack a certain physical presence. So it'll be nice to have a ''physical'' option in the middle, as it gives you a good platform. Mulumbu at WBA, Diame and WHU etc - over the course of the season I think you need a powerful CM to call upon, and it's an area where I feel we've lacked at times.

Kana-Biyik - Plays for Rennes, who play tomorrow night.

But then you lose a lot of Puncheons strengths, which is cutting in side from the right and getting into the box. Even though he is left footed, when he's played there, he often wanders down blind alleys and doesn't' find it as natrual to cut inside. I think we'd be reducing his quality by doing that.

Luckily we only have 3 games until January - then we can go out and buy another wide man, which I felt we needed anyway - but has now become a must. Phillips or ince...

Had a feeling this was going to be a long-term serious one. I had a clos-ish view of it, and he was in so much pain. Basically his studs seemed to get caught, and all the weight of Tabb (I think?) went onto his leg. It was either going to be ankle, or knee ligaments - and it didn't look like a simple case of straining them either. Surprised he walked off if I'm honest. After his scream, you could also see the reaction of the players (both ours, and Readings) calling for the physio to rush over. The worry was etched over most faces.

Defensivley they're not a bad unit, they're just not creating chances. sessegnon has been a shadow of the player he was last year, Johnson has been a major flop so far and Fletcher is out injured. Other than that, they have very little creativity. Lots of ''crab like'' midfielders, i.e Colback, Gardner, Cattermole etc - but no real genuine class in there. Rose at LB has been their shining light this year, if it's anyone we need to keep an eye on - it's him.

They have been, but he's been more effective on the left in the last 2. However, he swaps during games.

Based on his showings this year, it shouldn't be too hard. Sunderland fans can't stand him. Fickle bunch, but a fair few of them want rid already.

It's a real advantage for us to have at this stage if I'm honest, especially in the run-up to the busy festive schedule. We'll have the advantage over Sunderland in terms of freshness, that's for sure. Whether it effects our sharpness is another thing.

Good player, not quite sure of Stoke have offered him a new contract yet - but there is talk that they're trying to tie him down long-term. If he does move it's going to be to one of the established big boys anyway.

Do you have a life mate? Going back through the summer picking people up on posts, for no reason. I don't get your point. Get out there and get yourself a job.

What's your point? It still stands. Once he's settled I believe he can be. Not sure why people are criticized and brought up for being positive about a player. Hey, sod it, they're all a load of ****, we've wasted ****ing millions on a cart horse. Adkins out, useless ****. There, sorted.

In a few years, when the big clubs come calling with £25-30m offers, we'll realise what a decent deal we had. Top class player, who is only 22. Full of ability, more than anyone else in our team. He can be inconsistent throughout a game, but some of the stuff he can do - and most importantly, see - opens up our team to a completely different level.

In terms of consistency, Alpine is right up there!

Classy defender who is coming back into form. Looks more composed, and his confidence is growing as it looks like he believes he can now play in the PL. (same can be said for alot of the players TBF) But he's dealt with some pretty decent strikers in recent weeks, Cisse, Ba, Holt, Saurez, and he's done his job pretty well on every one of them. I always believed he had class, and was confused at the back end of last season as his performances were uncharacteristic. But you never lose the class, as they say - form is temporary, class is permanent

It is a good point that you make, and one I didn't ever imagine anyone worrying about 10 months ago. An astonishing turnaround in fortunes if I'm honest. Would expect that the club are on top of this though. They're usually very quick to tie down players.

If we'd have achived what Alpine had predicted, he'd be all over this thread (and 100's more) posting his drivvel. I just find it really, really odd that you only hear from himn when things are going bad. He silentley slips into the background when it's all ok. I don't think he's a troll, I think he's a genuine fan - but he has serious issues. But this run of form has been terrific, we're starting to perform like the side I believed we were at the start of the season. I think our attack is top half mid-table if I'm honest, and now that we've got the ''balance'' sorted between attack and defense, we look a much more drilled outfit. We looked much more inline with the premiership than Reading did yesterday for example. This season will probably still be a struggle, but the important thing for me is that we've got our heads above water going into a busy Christmas period.

Reading some of the Tinpot fans comments, it makes me laugh. We're ''rubbish'' on that performance we're ''going down'' we're a ''poor side'' So on that basis, seeing as we won, and are 6 points above you, what the hell does that make you? Jeez.