shurlock

I would have paid good money to see you spin six posts about the Ipswich game as negatives. A pretty lame example.

But lots of people have expressed doubts about some of our targets and yet they haven't been shouted down. Perhaps, its because they argue each case on its merits, stick the facts, give credit where its due and reach conclusions that don't appear preordained and agenda-driven.

Yes I did- basically saying that the happy clappers (his term - more likely anyone who disagrees) won't have heard of a player one minute and then as soon as the club's linked with them, cream themselves the next and witch-hunt any dissenters. Just that I haven't heard a convincing argument from you as to why he wouldn't have a job except a selective ragbag bunch of quotes from another team's forum and conjecture after conjecture about our supposedly poor dealings in the transfer market, leading to the inevitable conclusion that we've f**ked up.

Or just an uninformed one.

Shame - watching his interview on their OS. Looks a rock, totally calm and unphased by things. Perfect player to soak up lots of pressure and grind out clean sheets on the road.

Absolutely, loads were gutted. But that's not the point I was trying to make. I was suggesting that most fans will typically seek to play down the loss of any player or justifiy his departure by saying he was overrated, no matter how much it stretches reality. Call it sour grapes, denial whatever you want. But this bias is everywhere (look at some of the assessments of Oxo on here) and its important to factor it in when putting weight on the views of opposing fans.

As you say, the old brick sh*thouse CF is becoming a thing of the past. Millwall are probably the most direct team in the division (along with Coventry, Birmingham etc), so if given the choice between someone who has genuine pace and acquit himself in the air and a less mobile but totally commanding CB, I would probably go for the former. Giving Jaidi another season wasn't an act of charity either - he'll have a role to play this season.

Who's he signed permanently though? Cork Chaplow Forte De Ridder Fox Cork is one of the first names on the team sheet; Chaplow, if not starting games, features in most of them; its too early to assess De Ridder or Fox who have joined us during our best run of form in our history; only question mark is Forte. At any rate, its outdated to look at just the starting XI. To say its a squad game isn't happy clappy ********, denial that there are winners and losers. Its part and parcel of the modern game. Just look at NA's willingness on saturday to replace Lallana with Fox who helped steel up the left hand side.

Why? Quite a lot of Burnley fans didn't think losing Cork was a big deal, said he was too lightweight, that McCann was a much better player etc. Unless the player's an absolute world beater in a world beating side, fans have a fantastic ability to rationalize anything.

Fontaine is better than Seaborne and Martin - Brizzle's best CB who's gone off the boil the last couple of seasons in a nothing team and unfortunately rushed back into action ater a few niggling injuries. Before that looked premiership class and now needs a new challenge. Only 25 - remember seaborne is 24. He is quick on the deck, Gorkss isn't, so depends what you want from a CB. Technically good on the ball, though could be more vocal and aggressive but think he'll work well alongside Fonte. Was on my CB HCDAJFU list (along with Gerrard from Cardiff). Waghorn is an interesting one - will give us power and unpredictability up top and challenge Lambo as a quasi-target man. Good in the air and can take players on. Not quick off the mark but has got pace once he hits his stride. Looked excellent when he first went to Leicester but desperately needs games. Is a confidence player - so do worry if he doesn't get a run of games. Both are gambles but both have shown real potential, so the payoffs could be huge if the signings work out. Even if we did sign them, it wouldn't necessarily be the end of our activity.

At least, he can score against these overpaid c**ts http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7seLlg9PyqY&feature=related

******** you ********

...and still make a swift million if ******** came true.

Good he was on my HCDAJFU list

If that was a benchmark of success, David McGoaldrought would be a world-beater.

Would be a surprising signing. He has had a stop-start time since he moved permanently and is a confidence player but his form has always been erratic. His main asset is his energy and his ability to work goals out of nothing. Was likened to Rooney when he first moved - likes to play off the frontman (seemingly like many of our players) and is all-action, running, tackling and taking people on. He prospered under Pearson when Leicester played more direct football - v.good at holding the ball up but wasn't seen to have the necessary touch, awareness or pass on him to play in a more technical team (though some of this is down to over-enthusiasm and trying to do too much after coming off the bench). Is a powerful runner in an athletic, box-to-box way but not lightening quick in a ball over the top way. Not a clinical finisher; but can score goals out of nothing. Nothing like Barnard; has elements of Rickie - is more mobile but less polished on the ball. Question is whether the rougher edges to his game are there to stay or whether they can be smoothed out. Would be worth a gamble but not at the price Leicester bought him and shouldn't preclude us from finding a CF who genuinely plays off the shoulder of the last man.

At least, it captures the whole build-up to Guly's goal, including the deft turn in our own half which took out three of their players.

Do think being on the road all week and having to take control of games on other teams manors took their toll. If you went to Barnsley and Ipswich, you would have seen just how phenomenal the workrate was - probably greater than our performances at home (as you would expect). By contrast, Millwall had the luxury of two home games before yesterday.

Also helped that Millwall's last two games before yesterday were at home - going on the road l does take its toll and we've clocked up some pretty hefty miles during the last week. Disagree that Millwall had more in the tank because they play a slower game than us. They battled and went toe to toe with us for large parts of it. One positive I take is that, bar a few sloppy passes in the final third and being slightly narrow at times, we kept possession of the ball pwell and worked some decent openings - probably against the hardest working side in the league. Was slightly concerned that Ipswich, Barnsley et al. might have indulged us, making us look good by backing off but yesterday our players showed that they could get their foot on the ball and do the same even with opposition in their faces. One concern with our tactics is that our widemen - Guly and Lallana- do like to come inside. As our goal yesterday showed, it is both effective and deliberate; but it does give their fullbacks alot of space to get forward and deliver crosses from deep.

Thought the decision to take off Hammond and Lallana was a brave but inspired call.

Maybe Rickie is too honest for his own good; but there are many times when he doesn't bother jumping but just stands his ground - makes it easy for the ref to award nothing.

Guly was my MOTM. Seaborne and Lambert also had good games.

What made it so ridiculous is that they didnt even bother to close the northam car park - that's usually the first thing they do and would have been enough to deal with a bit of handbags today. Questions will be raised why the club/OB can take precautions for Brighton and Bournemouth yet not Milwall.

Why doesn't he fit with our other signings?