Badger

Yes a golden memory from that season. When he joined us there was a fair bit of dissatisfaction that Lawrie had signed a 34 yr old for £20,000. But he won the crowd round especially after Christmas when we went on our cup run to the semi-finals. Remember the 'Frankie Goes to Wembley' t-shirts. But for that b^stard little runt Heath, he might have done. Definitely. Lawrie said in an interview he wanted to sign him some years earlier from Bolton but we already had (from recollection) Osgood or George etc, and FW went elsewhere 9possibly Birmingham). Shame as he'd have been incredible alongside Ball, Keegan & Channon

Don't worry I'm sure we're capable of getting something far worse.

Agree - different club without Brendan, and after Klopp was appointed. Be interesting when Klopp starts putting his own team together, which will probably see Lallana slipping down the scales to Stoke or such like.

I suspect that nearer the truth is the possibility that he was interviewed but not offered anything as Adkins was the preferred option. These things tend to take on a life of their own after a while. Some Exeter fans maintain Tisdale declined the job before Pardew was offered it, but story I heard was just that he was invited to be interviewed and considered but declined that. Somewhat different to ever being offered the position.

Although Lovren is the main focus of ridicule there, I think many are still smarting over the manner of Nivea Man's departure. And he's just scored a third for them.

He did not fail at Burnley. Talking to a Burnley fan through work and he said Howe had started to turn things round well up there and had them playing some good football on the deck, a refreshing change. He left for personal reasons. When he returned to Turf Moor with AFCB he was given a warm welcome, hardly something they would have done for someone regarded a failure.

Aren't specialist GK coaches a relatively new role, or just that they've become more prominent ? Can't recall who we had during Lawries time at the club, or Chris Nicholl's for example.

Not sure St Mary's or Staplewood dressing rooms are big enough to accommodate him, and his ego.

....unless it's through the Fair Play Award ticket of course

eruption

Yep, Lowe to return as Chairman, Branfoot as manager. Dream ticket.

Club's been going backwards with 'Wreck it Ralph', and Reed is a clown.

Suggestions on here a week or so ago that Trippier was our preferred option but he wanted the £££ on offer from Levy. Byram is a strange one though, we were heavily linked in 2014 and I read a few times that we had made a bid but would'nt meet Leeds valuation (£6m in the press), yet we then went off the trail. Shame as I think he'd have been a better option than either Cedric or Martina.

Amnesia UK ? Personally I hope it isn't as tacky as a betting company, but each to their own.

Back on topic though, what are peoples views of the possiblity of replacing Sadio with Oxlade-Chamberlain? On form and against a poor Man City & Villa last season in particular - he looks a world class talent, but what about the lengths of the season he went missing and looked disinterested ? If AOC could stay fit and live up to his early promise would this be such a loss (if sold for £30m - to anyone but Poch of course).

David, I salute you. In our house the loathing for the norf london yobbos surpasses even the level of 'skate-hate'. Its not a recent thing is it? Sugar, a man associated with tacky goods, El Spiv (Venables - who was told by a High Court Judge his eveidence was unreliable), now Levy. Many dislike Arsenal but they are light years away from the y*ds in the dignified way they have conducted affairs over the years (Hill-Wood family onwards).

GoS or not, he can justifiably dine out on that goal for the rest of his career and beyond. However, question remains if he can be relied upon over the course of a full season. Personally, I see him as a good squad player, but not a first choice RB if we have ambitions of maintaining our existinf position of EL/ perhaps on the periphery of the CL chase. Agreed.

Anyone else noticed her chin.? Related to Jimmy Hill perhaps. No beard visible though.

Hadn't previously considered the implications regarding Chelsea so if so, a draw is the preferred result. With spurs suffering a few injuries and suspensions. Perhaps Hiddink could knee Poch in the balls as well, or maybe leave it to Erwin on Sunday.* * Ron is far too civilised and a gentleman to resort to this.

Would it be such a bad move if for example we took Begovic in part exchange ? Similarly, FF was linked with Barcelona (probably far less likely I know), but if Ter Stegan looking for regular football could be enticed ? (Again unlikely as he is probably seeking CL football). Don't get me wrong I'd rather keep a settled side, and especially the back four (RB aside), but if FF did leave there are good alternatives, but ideally decisions should be made and have them lined up early rather than going on to our third and fourth choices.

Trouble is, the player went "missing" for much of this season also, but his recent good form seems to have erased that from people's memory. Delighted he has found form, shame he's unlikely to stay, and a shame if he did stay the current form and attitude might not be sustained August - May.

What should he have done differently, to keep Poch & Clyne at the club?

Would he have been allowed to play in our League in 1939 as a Spanish national ? Had he stayed of course, we wouldn't have had a real league for him to play in until after the war. Fascinating story though, thanks Nordic, for unearthing it.

Why do you regard Reed a clown ? He seemed to do a pretty good job in the background in coming from L1 & Championship , although his role has become more prominent since promotion and moreso since Adkins was sacked. I agree to some extent with you over the disappointment of not signing Toby, but you are overlooking that the player was always going to have the final say on joining us or not. He made encouraging noises about staying with us, but if you remember these interviews changed to staying in the Premier League, and he was linked with spurs towards the end of the season. Joining Levy for more pieces of silver was always on the cards. Naive in the extreme to think otherwise.

Not so much the sacking of CN, but the selection of his sucessor was the problem...