Badger

No. You're forgetting Bialkowski, and in particular his show at home to Blackpool ?

Result is no real surprise, but yet again manner of it leaves a bitter taste. Dubious penalty (or so I read) , but we come back from that to collapse in first half injury time. Rodriguez is biggest concern . Proves yet again how thin the squad is, and how lamentable our gk options are.

Talk of a sporting director raises a few questions in my mind. What does a sporting director do that will improve things ? And whose role will that be taking over or encroaching on ? Where will this fit in with Les Reed's role ? A director of football to be involved in scouting, transfers etc I can understand, but the sporting director role is a little more ambiguous, and perhaps leans towards SCW territory.

No, don't apologise, I'm exactly the same. I intend taking the dog out for a walk shortly, and then learning the result when I get back in. No result will surprise me, but it will spare a couple of hours of F5's, semi-naked nuns, and 'woots' !!!

Oh well, sorry for my brief outbreak of trying to have a fair and 'balanced view' of him. Yes I agree, he won't make a goalkeeper as long as he has a hole in his arse.

To balance the above comment on thinking about it and in fairness to him, didn't he play v Man City at St Mary's earlier this season ?

In mourning for the fact Gazzaniga has to play ?

Yes, strange how it works. Although I suspect we might have 'handled' him differently to Stoke, but no idea how it might have turned out.

Agreed - I've been harping on about this since the window of January 2012, it was too risky to expect KD to make the jump to Premiership (despite some thinking him a candidate for an international call up !!!). Gazzaniga was a hopeful punt on the back of what at the time was considered a bold bid for Jack Butland. Boluc has been a good signing but prone to occasional 'moments'. Oh for another Niemi in his prime.

Not seen any in the last 48hrs.

Been there nearly three months now. He can't be far off headbutting a coach, colleague, or linesman can he ?

Fair point, in particular selling Osvaldo ( I'm open minded about Ramirez). But then again sell Osvaldo, and we don't need to dip into the Shaw funds so far for a striker.

I'm not a fan of Wellbeck and find watching him play for England frustrating. He always seems to play in clown's shoes, and spend much of the time falling on his arse. That said, from Hodgson's perspective, Wellbeck has to some extent established himself in the squad, played in a tournament before, and in the Champions League level for his club. Rodriguez on the other hand made one indifferent appearance for England, and probably represents a greater gamble.Unfortunately I expect Woy will take the safer option of Wellbeck, if Rodriguez went to Brazil and "froze" the press would have a field day. . Totally agree, there have been many occasions where he has tried to stroke the ball into the net, and even yesterday he probably could have had a hat trick before he eventually scored his first. I expect Rodriguez will play for England many times in the future, but he seems more likely to be another Alan Smith (ex Arsenal) striker, than another Alan Shearer.

Lukaku would be an obvious choice, but if Chelsea are really looking to offload a striker, then I'd go along with a suggestion on here about the young striker Bamford. Right age to fit in with our crop of youngsters.

If only it were that simple. Do you think Remy, Lukaku and the new unnamed LB will accept a third of the wage Shaw is on as well ?

Chubby Brown to my knowledge is from nr Middlesbrough though, so not a Geordie.

"I'm not having a go, I'not going to nitpick, they were all f'kin terrible.." ( although he does add another nine minutes after that!). "they would look less likely for their f'kin holidays, less ready for it, if they turned up with their passport, suitcases, and sun cream on..."

Are you referring to designs or quality ? If designs, them I don't totally agree with you. Although our template is crap other clubs have had conventional stripes from Adidas - Hull for one spring to mind - and if this had been selected in red/white stripes very few would complain. Then of course there is this: as many have said, just reverse the red and white !

Best write up imaginable from an opposition supporter...

Would go well with the Keegan era shirt.

Dell or Liebherr would be good. or TY Beanies. Difficult choice.

Isn't that just a scaled down version of the skates planned stadium from a few seasons ago?

No, that's his brother, George.

Has anyone established what Hans Hofmeisters role is yet ?

Apparently their adopted team today, Gosport, also got stuffed: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/26706037 not a good time in Greater Skatesville