shurlock

Yep, some goggle-eyed, Eastern European psychopath.

Afellay, the AM/winger, also available. Tracked by the scousers and a host of European clubs. Hopefully further weakens Bologna's hand over Ramirez.

Don't know much about him but I'm hoping for bit more experience/age/maturity at CB. One position where those qualities are genuinely worth something.

That wasn't 'just before the goal' though.

But why is a yo-yo strategy more sustainable? How many clubs have genuinely been able to plan relegation-promotion-relegation-promotion while picking up parachute payments with clock-work efficiency. No matter how much you invest in the team, there are f**k all guarantees about relegation -hence the abysmally low percentage of teams that bounce straight back up. The reality is that most relegated teams are forced to rebuild as they struggle to keep their best players (see Wolves) and, in return, can only attract championship-level players, confronting them with the same quality problems (should they get promoted) they experienced when they went up the first time. In short, it's a ridiculous strategy that nobody consciously plans for and much, much worse than simply investing in quality and aiming to consolidate in the prem.

Not saying you claimed that. More out of curiosity - whether the lack of activity is due to failure to identify a target/agree a fee or just different priorities. In contrast to strikers, we heard very little about getting a defender in January (admittedly not as if we would know) suggesting it hasnt been a priority until very recently.

Did we actually go in for any CBs in January. I know we were linked with Collins but CB didn't seem to be the priority.

Goodwillie is just like Rohann Ricketts last summer. All the clamour is coming from the player himself which means we'll never sign him.

Dunno (not my job)-just think £6m for a striker of RL's age would be good value. We have been linked with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. From what I've seen of him at St. Etienne, he would be an excellent shout. Tall, quick and tricky and would give us something very different. But as I say it's not my job.

Such mouthwatering fixtures?!? The fact is that until we start to becoming successful in our own right -something that won't happen overnight- our attendances will be hostage to who we're playing -and for your average daytripper, there are only 4-5 truly glamorous ties in this league.

We dont play Man U every week either.

Say it again, if someone offered £6m for him, I'd bite their hand off...

Yeh, exactly. That said, he didn't see much of the ball. A similar story in pre-season. We do seem to attack predominantly down the right for whatever reason. Hopefully Rodriguez starts Tuesday in his preferred position and has a chance to shine. Dont think Lambert is a shoe-in up top -he didn't do a great deal today, even if he remains a sacred cow for many. Even if he was, hard to see the two clicking as a central pairing. Thought he was an odd signing in the summer and nothing's changed my mind. Or maybe Lambert and Rodriguez can play together?

Their support didn't help - wtf was that high-pitched rendition of I'm a Believer? Shouldnt be necessay but am sure united will wake a few more of our lot up.

Itchen North was s**t. The old block 4 has been disbanded as many have moved to blocks 1-3 and blocks 1-3 contain lots of people who prefer to sit or just want to save money. Not like the old days when you knew what you were getting in those blocks and tended to attract like-minded people.

Tbf, we were at our worst when we went 4-4-2. Couldn't get the ball off them and Wigan toyed with us. NA effectively blamed 4-4-2 for our inability to get the ball back in the post-match. Jrod and Lambert didn't look comfortable playing together either. Against City I thought we only switched to 4-4-2 after Sharp came on?

Despite the bright start -Fox's injury/stoppage seemed to knock the wind out of us, it was predictable, ponderous stuff. Clyne was probably our most direct player which is saying something. That said, Wigan didn't show much and I thought we contained them pretty comfortably. We do need a pacier CB and more cover but, right now, our attack feels like a greater concern. NA's post-match interview was very revealing. Its pretty obvious that he will stick with 4-3-3 at home and away, raising questions about how to accomodate Lambert, Jrod and the other strikers. NA switched to 4-4-2 in the second half, giving people what they wanted; but it coincided with our worst period of play when we couldn't get the ball off them and they toyed with us. NA basically conceded that the switch failed: play 4-4-2 and you give the opposition too much possession which, against teams that are comfortable on the ball, will kill you. The personnel didn't help either. Sure they are learning each other's game but Jrod and Lambert looked lost togther, getting in each other's way as both made the same runs, often coming short. Still don't understand the fixation with RM. In both games, our right hand side has looked pretty good. Rather the left hand side appears to be the problem. Finally, the Guly bashing is unbelievable - he was one of our best players in the first half. Put in a peach of a cross for the header that the keeper made a great save from. Like the rest of the team, he faded in the second half and conceded possession; but often because he was trying to make things happen unlike the rest of the side that huffed and puffed and laboured in its one pace football.

edit

Seriously, who gives a s**t.

And don't play Lambert?

My fear too. Hot headed itais have made an art out of cutting off the nose to spite the face. If so, pragmatism can go do one.

Coco the Clown's joining us?

While Bologna are holding out for other offers, I assume they realise that their antics are simultaneously putting off potential suitors who are probably concluding that it's not worth the aggro dealing with them.

Agree with some of this- Lambert's introduction coincided with NA deciding to go for it more and that as much as any accounted for our greater threat. Still Lambert won quite a bit in the air -comfortably so- and that made a real difference. Only need to think back to Donny last season when Lambert was out and Guly played up front by himself to realise what we lose in the air without him. Still doesn't explain why Jrod, a more mobile player than Lambert but better in the air than Guly didn't go up top in the first half.

Tbf, think Seedorf would be a better choice in that swaggering, class is permanent role. Del piero ain't too shabby either tho:)