shurlock

Don't know but I think we were serious about or close to getting a loan in - MPs comments certainly suggested so. Either way, I would have preferred our chances with Cortese around even if it was only a makeweight till the summer. A good number of prem teams got loans in.

It's bit of a mess. Assuming MP leaves, Les Reed would be involved but given the proximity of the working relationship, so would the chief exec. If and when we decide to hire one....

Not surprising - many on here are underestimating the impact of Cortese's departure. We'll find out soon enough.

Had Cortese been around, think we would have been able to shift Lambert for £8m and got a loan in till the summer when we could have reassessed things. The vacuum didn't help.

Still prefer Clyne at RB but Chambers is more versatile.

You can take Bletch out of Hampshire but you can't take...

Not so sure about Carroll - still think Hodgson wants to take him and he won't have to do much to get the nod over Lambert. Don't think the lack of goals is necessarily an obstacle as Carroll has been a nuisance in those games. The lack of playing time is the problem - and Carroll so far has shot himself in the foot. Because Rooney already drops deep and occupies the hole, I don't think England see Lambert as anything other than a target man who might offer something different -a more physical presence- should circumstances require. If judged simply on that criteria, Carroll is a better fit. Agree the suggestion of Berehino over Lambert at this moment in time is ridiculous - a mong on a mongboard making himself silly. Who would have thunk it.

There are worse ways to ****** away two or three hours. Hopefully you'll be OK getting back. Know that there are trains running to Shrewsbury etc till quite late.

Soccerbase is referring to the game at Anfield earlier this season - we're referring to the game at SMS last season. Incredible but we've beaten them twice the last two times we've played.

Correlation is not causation. That goes for Bazza's whereabouts as well as the topic of this thread.

Plum- more a reference to you pal. I can imagine it now - baggies mongboarders chaining themselves to Lancaster Gate at the injustice of Lambert's inclusion over Berahino Never mind that he has four goals and one assist to his name in his entire career (compared to Lambert's 8 goals and 7 assists this season) or that he hasn't scored in two months - after all, we're meant to be picking players on 'form' as you specifically put it, not reputation or even potential. To be clear, I think the lad has plenty of promise and there's a debate to be had whether he should get a call up in the future. But you're implying that there are clear cut alternatives, English strikers who are head and shoulders above Lambert in form. There aren't which makes Lambert's call up neither particularly contentious or hypocritical when the mongboarders lap it up on here. Chin up pal. Keep bashing away at the keyboard with futile arguments - you might strike it lucky one day.

I think we're in plum territory.

Of course, it's apples and pears. If there were strikers out there on a hot run of form, it might be double standards to claim that an out of form Lambert gets or should get picked. This was the very situation Lambert faced last season, albeit the shoe was on the other foot. But it's not double standards as the mongboard great and the good suggest. Whereas I can name lots of decent midfielders who deserve a look in ahead of Cleverly, I struggle to think of the same for Lambert. Lambert may be **** at the moment but the alternatives are even ****er. It's all relative -and for what it's worth Lambert remains the 4th highest English scorer in the league. A half-retired Defoe typifies how shallow the talent pool is. Ultimately, it doesn't change my opinion that Carroll will go instead of Lambert to the WC.

Misquoted - keep telling yourself that sunshine. Called out might be another description. As you like to check my posting history and tell me how many of my posts are about you -currently four posts in my last 50+- I wouldn't want you to get the wrong impression.

Not really pal - just flushing out s**t when I see it and you happen to produce a lot of it. Am flattered though xxx

How many in form English strikers are there at the moment? Lambert's case is very different from the out of form big club players you mention. There aren't really any English strikers who are challenging on merit or setting themselves apart in the way Lambert did when he wasn't being picked. If there were, the comparison might make sense. But there aren't. Appears you're the only one with bellyache, pal.

Its not that bad is it?

Bet Carroll will still sneak in at the last minute

Kid from Kid n' Play was practically white. Where's there a will...

Fan of the hi-top fade, bear? Pretty old school.

Next time, I hope you put out the first team.

As they say, you can only beat what's put in front of you. Bazza played a blinder.

Then you're a patronising moron - send him out on loan to a Brighton or something. Unlike you, he would probably be smart enough to appreciate the long-term benefits of week-in-week-out football as long as the door was kept open for him.

Take West Ham - they had 7 players over 30 on the pitch on saturday. Obviously their academy is a pile of s**t but it shows just how risk averse and negative managers get when the chips are down.

What about downing half the glass and attempting to motivate others that it's still half full?