shurlock

Fancy dress (as opposed to facepaint/foam hands) and final day of the season go hand in hand. Our trip to Boundary Park has even become part of folklore. You might say that fancy dress has lost its wit; but its still fancy dress.

You've obviously never been to any American sports, then. Don't know the sociological or anthropological niceties but I would say dressing up in fancy dress is something very English. In part, its whimsical; in part, its self-deprecating; in part, its slightly surreal. The yanks are too earnest for that. Its also why fancy dress is most closely associated with the cricket and there's nothing American about cricket and its culture. There is a difference to be made between what the yanks do- i.e. facepaint and foam hands and dressing up in fancy dress. And yes dressing up in fancy dress has always been around. There is nothing sterile or modern about it, even if it isn't my thing. Somebody posted a link to the Zulu army in the 1980s smashing up half of Selhurst park in fancy dress. I can point out hundreds of similar examples.

Get your fill for next season, lads. If in doubt, do a Clichy. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2073499/Manchester-City-squad-Chelsea-defeat-Christmas-party.html

Is there a link to the interview with KD and MS anywhere? All I'm getting here in london town is west ham's woes.

Not to worry- they'll be out of the CL qualifiers well before the summer transfer window shuts.

I enjoyed both west ham games -proper atmospheres and a sense of occasion. Reminds me why going back to the prem won't all be soulless doom and gloom. Ipswich and Leeds away were also up there. And finally the 2-2 against the Skates was probably the best south coast derby in years.

The 5-0 loss at Sheff Weds turned out to be a great day.

Injuries apart, would be a good signing.

4th official is like the guy who buys hundreds of scratchcards and occasionally wins a tenner.

More relevant question is what kind of salary cap we'll be operating. £35K pw?

That's simplistic. There's an argument that it does matter what kind of player you are. Technical players who've looked world beaters in the lower leagues have often struggled in the prem. By contrast, players who can count on a bit of raw physicality whether its pace or strength in the air to complement their skills do seem to do better.

Danny Guthrie's another option. As is Kenwyne.

Dyer would arguably be ahead of Lallana at this stage - give it a few months though.

Am sure he can find a bum chum with a shared love for mollissey.

If true, the weak pound won't help with travelling around.

Barring Lee and any post-Euro acquisition, none will. Fox, the token sweaty, might get a look in as emergency cover if there's an injury in the squad or someone's been done for a drunken hit and run. But that's as good as its going to get. I'd be surprised if Lallana or Lambert ever get a call-up while with us or anyone else.

True but if the centre forward is dropping wide, the CB can go with him and the fullback drops slightly inside or focuses on picking up the knockdowns.

Dunno-think a bit of pace would have taken away. Think something similar happened against reading or the skates. Not saying he doesn't have other attributes. As well as finishing, his hold up play has really improved. Almost impossible to knock him off the ball when he has it in close control. But we're going to need some pace to really exploit that, especially as Lambert offers something similar.

Pretty common knowledge that Clyne is most likely off to united. Theyve been tracking him for a while.

Yep, agree. Newcastle's strategy has been shrewd (and to a lesser extent Fulham and West Brom). Their scouts must do overtime during the African Nations Cup given their signings and links. French players have also done a decent job in England. Saying that, going for Prem experience would tend to bias British players (more or less) and most of them represent pretty poor value.

Wolves 06/07 and 07/08 Barnsley 07/08 West Brom 07/08 Preston 08/09 Reading 08/09 Southend 09/10 Brighton 10/11 Plymouth 10/11 Ipswich 11/12 Leeds 11/12 plenty more...

Hindsight is a wonderful thing - if we knew how things would pan out, we'd all want to win via the playoffs. Fact is I wanted this done and dusted as early as possible - so if it wasn't Boro, I would have taken a result at Leicester.

Seeing some of our fans who went up to applaud up the coventry fans are exactly the same ones who would have turned against them if we hadn't got a result, i'd just say its easy to be magnanimous when you're winning. Have a lot of sympathy for Coventry. At least, our administration was swift and clinical. Looks like Sisu are clinging on to the bitter end to realise some kind of return, even if ends up in mutually assured destruction. Thought the atmosphere we created at the City ground in 2009 was also excellent -one of the best I've experienced. Guess these games bring out a similar response amongst fans.

Seeing some of our fans who went up to applaud up the coventry fans are exactly the same ones who would have turned against them if we hadn't got a result - a lot of Northam types- i'd just say its easy to be magnanimous when you're winning. Have a lot of sympathy for Coventry. At least, our administration was swift and clinical. Looks like Sisu are clinging on to the bitter end to realise some kind of return, even if ends up in mutually assured destruction. Thought the atmosphere we created at the City ground in 2009 was also excellent -one of the best I've experienced. Guess these games bring out a similar response amongst fans.

When he was put through on goal in the first half and lost the half of yard he had on the defender, causing him to cut inside was a perfect illustration of just how much we need some pace.