shurlock

Arguably the stats are a bit padded. If there's a criticism of SRL, its that he's not greedy or instinctive enough. Will often try to work extra space or want extra time to get a shot off, leading to things breaking down. Would rather he get a shot off early and miss than be seen as 'efficient'. That's where Punch has made a difference - despite having a history of putting the ball in row Z.

You don't know what they can open up

Soton is absolutely crawling with foreign students from the mainland and they provide a cheap and reliable source of mandarin tutoring - many even have some kind of basic certification as tutoring is used to supplement their allowance. Cantonese is largely confined to BBCs - british born chinese. If anything, mandarin tutoring can work out significantly cheaper than European languages - simply because it is a bit more rough and ready. If you learn French, Italian or Spanish, you'll likely to get some weird, lesbo spinster who's been living in the UK for years and got every professional qualification under the sun - and they charge accordingly. If you are happy to accept a slight, though not a massive, drop-off in quality (though structure is important when you're starting out), the savings can be significant; and ultimately whether you pick up a language has less to do with the tutor than your own motivation and willingness to put in the time outside class.

Try Chinese (mandarin) - lived on the mainland a few years and been learning it nearly 15 years. Requires serious commitment but not as difficult as people claim. More about whether you have a good ear than are able to drill sh*t loads of grammar. Tutors are dirt cheap too (as well as other things). If you want upfront results and can't spend a few hours every week preparing classes tho, stick with Spanish.

Agree - gets more interesting, the more you understand it -and that takes more investment than most other sports . Anyway SRL loves it.

Morgan does a great job as quarterback.

Miltonroader even gets a look in. Nice to see the likes of Fox, Butterfield and Guly at the forefront of these things.

Thought Kelvin made a big difference - no saves of note to make but he came out and caught everything he needed to and just exudes a spirit of calmness and professionalism that spreads across the back 4. There was one moment yesterday where Yoshida shepherded the ball out for a goal kick and the attacker went in late on him. Kelvin went over, helped pick Maya up and gave him some encouragement. Gazza doesn't offer that: in the Norwich game, we were awarded a free-kick. Maya was going to take it only for Gazza to come over and push him and tell him to f**k off down the pitch. Small things but they matter.

Probably not but he's put in MOTM performances (Villa, Newcastle) where he was the standout player on the pitch, something echoed by the players who have been gushing in their praise. Its easier to see the 'potential' we've bought in GR's case (and he's younger than JR), though its equally valid to question whether he was the right priority at this moment in time.

You honestly think rodriguez would step up and carry the load this season if Lambert went down? Indeed, you yourself basically implying that he wont as you keep trotting out the 'potential' argument as defence for what have been pretty average performance

23 turning 24- same age as Cork, Lallana, Morgan etc. At his age, I don't expect him to be the finished article but for £7m I do expect him to be in the same bracket or nearabouts as those players. He isn't by quite a distance.

Thought Guly was decent too when he came on. Rodriguez was more a nuisance than a threat IMO -not bad but reckon any number of alternatives would have worked as well, if not better.

They had a pretty effective, if predictable gameplan last season and it seems that they havent built on it. Where they had pace last season, they had none yesterday (fair dues to Clyne for nullifying Mcanuff who looked a world beater last week against Rafael, supposedly the best RB in the prem). Where their midfield snuffed us out by chasing and closing everything, the likes of Leigertwood were soft as s**t and where Pearce and Gorkks were totally dominant in the air, Lambert had much more joy against Morisson and Mariappa.

Thought he had a good first 15-20 mins but after that drifted in and out of the game -and didnt really look like scoring or creating anything. Continued to work hard and chase the channels but I expect more from a £7m signing.

My first instinct to every screamer scored against us is jammy b*****d. Am slightly more charitable with well-worked, passing move resulting in a goal. But they suck the life out of you and you;re in no mood to clap.

I guess you still assume the sun orbits the earth.

With this arrival, can we ship Sibley off to the skates.

An interesting one. Maybe Cortese is heeding calls for greater communication and transparency; alternatively, he's hired own spin doctor/master of the black arts and, among other things, a few hush-hush curry evenings with the mods are on the cards.

Along with flying cats, no images of dead horses being flogged?

I wonder who mr daydream is. In his happy world, anything can happen and facts are no barrier.

No. He just says that the debt is an efficient way to access credit. It still means we're borrowing while it doesn't mean it's for Staplewood.

Your logic makes no sense: debt is tax deductible, so it is an incentive to borrow and structure deals in a particular way. But this could be done to fund any number of projects including transfers. From this, you jump to assuming it must be for the redevelopment of Staplewood. Where's the evidence? Even your suggestion that the timing is very close doesn't really stack up. For all we know, the dome is the reason for the falling out with the contractors.

Don't mention the a-word...plenty on here with a self-styled persecution complex.

The ranks are swelling - an intimidating total of three (granted the odd straggler here and there). Your shtick might work if you were actually in the minority on this subject. You're not.

By who? MLG and his army of one?