Pwoite

E Apart from JWP and Targett, where or when will our much vaunted youths ever get a look in? There is Martina and Caulker to consider, as well, so what hope Seager, McQueen, Hesketh, Gape, Sims or anyone else? How good do they have to be to break in. Even Harry Reed is now about sixth in the peeking order. Whilst on one level this is great, we have strength in depth, on the other, aren't we supposed to have one of the top three academies in the country?

An excellent result but to what extent was it our performance that was better or the opposition that was worse? Whatever, we seized the opportunity, but overnight the failings of our back four cannot have disappeared. Midfield, Prowsie was better, but again, how come we can suddenly up his game after years of not quite being there? Up front a suspect the players had a real opportunity to play to their skills, but they were given that much more time. The question for me is whether the performance yesterday is a foundation to build on, or a flash in the pan against weak ten man opposition? Can the players produce that form against a Swansea or Spurs, never mind an Arsenal or Man City? I remain to be convinced, but it certainly feels a better place to be after that match than it had after Thursday's.

Total rollicking, but with a 'B'

Every time we bring another 'filler' in, it pushes back the opportunity for one of the kids. And Koeman was supposed to be pro youth! Sadly, it seems less like happening, perhaps there aren't any consider good enough.

We would have to buy three good players or keep Morgan and buy two to set eighth, especially with Europe looming. Suspect 14th is more likely.

Someone wake me up or take the mushrooms away. We keep going from strength to strength. Someone, somewhere has got something right!!

Having played some of the last two games, it would appear that Cork is ahead of both Reed and Taider at present. Okay, we may bring someone else in, though the clock is ticking, but Koeman is either getting more impressed by Jack, or very determined to shop window him. As he gave the man forty five minutes of a game we wanted to win, and brought him on as a strategic change, one has to think Jack's star is back on the ascendency.

Just re quoting previous comments from the Forum....lol Find you, I've still yet to find anyone playing for us that is good enough for the team in everyone's eyes - except perhaps Gastos, as he hasn't played so can't be slagged off yet!

Bit dangerous saying Lovren was made to look good by those around him last season, whilst saying Shaw is far from the finished item, Fonte is not really Prem material and Chambers was not a regular first team pick. I have to presume it must have been down to Jack Cork to bring out the best in them all. Or, perhaps, having Guly on the bench!!!

Interestingly money has bought us players that look as though they might be a team. Maybe it's the bigger the deal, the bigger the ego.

Interestingly money has bought us players that look as though they might be a team. Maybe it's the bigger the deal, the bigger the ego.

Whilst one game is too early to make too many assumptions, but here goes.... We should be comfortable this season The squad is probably as good as last season's was, overall We have more depth this season We might be too lightweight in front of goal Not many other PL teams look like overtaking us this season Can we therefore finish eighth again? And, if we do, can we then push on from there or will we go into meltdown again next summer with another generation tapped up by the top six? Will the top clubs have to always dismantle potential challengers to ensure their own status is preserved?

Whilst one game is too early to make too many assumptions, but here goes.... We should be comfortable this season The squad is probably as good as last season's was, overall We have more depth this season We might be too lightweight in front of goal Not many other PL teams look like overtaking us this season Can we therefore finish eighth again? And, if we do, can we then push on from there or will we go into meltdown again next summer with another generation tapped up by the top six? Will the top clubs have to always dismantle potential challengers to ensure their own status is preserved?

Exactly my view, and why he slipped down behind Davis and Cork in Poch's pecking order. His good points, I fully accept, but we need the near complete package. Now, if he can score ten goals a season, unlike Jack, then that moves him back up, but being articulate won't win us games.

Whilst Jack is one of those players who wears his heart on his sleeve, and therefore gets fans support, his all action play flatters to deceive. He cannot score, which should be a fundamental part of the game of a player in his position, and he does not control a match. In fact, his all action style probably is his downfall, as he lacks the steadying control of Morgan or Wanyama. If he could add half a dozen goals a season to his locked, it would increase his reputation no end.

Neither Fonte nor Davis will be guaranteed starters if we get in Rojo and Van Dijk, with the midfielders already signed, so neither is an ideal captain. Morgan would be a far better choice, but his recent behaviour rather rules that out. Who else is guaranteed a start? Neither Clyne nor Wanyama strike me as natural leaders. Who else speaks good enough English to do the job?

Any more news on the rumoured medical due today and where the patient is liable to be English, Dutch, Moroccan or Argentinian?

Now can anyone predict a table at this stage, when players are still being transferred? By this time next week I'd hope that our position, with players in, will be totally different from where we were a couple of days ago. Ings, Forster, Rojo and a couple more suddenly is worth at least five places in the PL. Add Classee (sp), and potentially better still. Currently I see us around 16th, but with the rumoured names in, up to tenth, and with a couple of good surprises we might match last year's performance. (I think the consensus is that we were actually better than our final placing last season, but just didn't deliver against the top clubs above us. Give Koeman instill that belief when Poch couldn't? Mind you, if we don't get these players in, I'm all prepared to put that rubber sheet back in place!

We could but it would mean any new purchases were catching splinters on the bench!

Has anyone thought that we have delayed announcements until after the new kit was announced? Makes perfect sense. Don't want incoming players lamely holding up an old scarf. Suspect there will be good news next week, and each and every one resplendent in the stripes.

Exactly my point. About ten from the o21s who we consider good, plus the kids, and that's why we will need about eight new faces.

We think we know roughly the potential budget available to the Club. We know most of our likely 'existing' squad, and we know who amongst that is not at the level, we require, so how many players are we likely to buy? Keepers - we have three, need to buy or replace at least one Right backs - ok, unless Chambers moves into the centre, then we buy. Left backs - buy one, develop one Centre backs - we currently have one very good, one okay, and two iffy players. May need to bring in one or two, even three, depending on sales and Chambers. Central midfield - Morgan is the question mark. Tadic looks to be coming, but more to replace Lallana. Reed and JWP in wings. Arguably might need to replace one of the existing squad, and no more Strikers - work on principle that Osvaldo and Sharp are not part of the plans, and that JRod is out till Xmas, then we need three, with Gallagher and McQueen in support. Pelle looks to be one, so another two purchases. So, I reckon that is eight new faces in the squad, and more potentially if we have to sell any more. At that rate, they will all be in the £8-12m bracket, with no massive names or fees likely. If this doesn't happen, the squad will be very stretched and inexperienced. If it does, then there is a hell of a rebuilding and restructuring process to undertake. Koeman will certainly earn his bacon!

If Lallana and Lovren go, RK will need to find a leader pretty quickly. Fonte would me a possibility, but might not be in the starting eleven. So, unless we bring in such a character, I'd have thought it's a toss up between Davis and Morgan.

Trouble is, JRod will still be out for the first half of the season. With Lambert gone, Lallana probably going, and no one wanting Osvaldo within five miles of SMS, it does make the current strike force look a little, well, thin! I make the front three Mayuka, Gallagher and McQueen, with, er, Billy Sharp on the bench!! We need to buy at least three strikers or attacking midfielders over the next six weeks and hope they can work togather. That will be a good test of RK and his team!

Xmas? With the way tonight's match is going, he might be lucky to make Wednesday!