david in sweden

Haven't changed my opinion since seeing him last Autumn. He's one year older, but it doesn't seem that he's learned much. In one respect, he's similar to Butland ......in that half-a-season in an L2 side isn't good preparation for facing up against Prem. class strikers. I can't tell the difference between watching him in slow-motion.... and at ordinary speed.

The problem isn't just Hooiveld. Both he and Fonte are 30 years old in this coming year, although they are fair /reasonble in the air... they lack pace on the ground and it shows against a fast winger. Lovren looks a league better than them, and although I concede that Fonte has been good this season, I think Lovren makes him look better than he is. Our real problem is the lack of Boruc. Forgetting his impressions of Winnie the Pooh and Fred Astaire, he's much better between the posts, and TBF... I doubt if we'd have done better if KD had been fit.

well ..as you asked ..Last season we had (total) 7 clean sheets .....and Jos played in 5 of those matches. ..perhaps your judgement is overshadowed by the number of times that balls have struck him and gone in and he's been " credited " with own goals?

can't say more - well done fellas.

poor Spurs:( ....they've got TWO of their players injured. Is that comment building up to an excuse for when they lose, I wonder ? but they still have £80 million-worth of talent in their squad - don't they ? How many have we had out injured in the last month?

Cameron thinks we will lose, eh ?...........did they have a vote on that in the House, or was he using his executive powers? ?

A player who arrived without having any set position, but seemed willing to play anywhere the (various) managers asked him to, but without ever really mastering any of them. He was also quite brave and suffered a number of injuries ..for the cause. Rarely distinguished himself, but I was inclined to ask myself... ...if he was such a success with long throws (at Stoke) then why didn't we have someone capable of getting on the end of a few when he was with us.? However, most people will remember that 135 apps +17 subs. and 5 goals, in 5 years -----wasn't really much return for £4 million (at the time).

.......but perhaps not necessarily better than Gazzaniga ?

.....thats what I wrote - wasn't it ? I'm just sorry some people like to slag them down just because they haven't made the grade, but are still under contract.

just read another article tanking Guly as a second-rate Brazilian. That maybe true, but a little backward look may explain a few points, and lighten the load of negative reviews our non-starters get. No-one expects Guly.....or Lee....or Sharp....and even Barnard (yes he's still, here) to be chosen, or even to get on the bench nowadays, and with just cause. Those mentioned (and a few others, too) were signed back in the L1 days ...(Sharp and Lee at the tail end of our Championship season), and most people are willing to admit they looked like good signings,(then) and the idea of a 3 year contract seemed " like a good idea at the time ", especially as no-one expected our rapid rise to the top eschelon to happen quite so quickly. Nobody except Nicola Cortese, that is, and no-one believed he was sane anyway....all that stupid talk about Premier League in 5 years ..and European football , but it was achieved, in double -quick time, with a generous sacking of unwanted managers along the way. BUT what about all those " unwanted players ". Most of those we now throw scorn on, were good enough at the level(s) we used to be at 2-3 seasons ago, but few people expected any of our playing staff to be good enough when we finally made it (to the Prem.) But hey look ....Lambert, Lallana, Fonte, and Schneiderlin they're still here , so what happened to " the others " Surely most of us have seen players of dubiuos quality rising to their level of incompetence in a very short time at the top level - when they get found out. others simply were never going to get to that standard in the first place-so don't blame them. They all DAJFU ...when it mattered...even Jonno Forte. so in the season of goodwill, let's not be so ungracious as to continue slating them at every opportunity. Most of them will likely be out of contract next summer and will just be another forgotten name in "ALL the SAINTS " (an excellent publication - if you haven't got it already - treat yourself). Pesonally ; i'm just glad that they were around when they were.

the madness was spending £100 million on a group of fairly-talented individuals who all came from teams playing a different style. That doesn't make a team. If he chose those 7 new players, then he got it wrong. If a " committee " bought them, then they ought to be sacked. still ....IMO it couldn't happen to a nicer bunch of wallies. I'd swap a place in Europe..... just to finish above them this season.

if he's got any sense he'll steer well clear............on the other hand, if he just wants the money, he'll say yes to anyone.

.when I started watching football.....the Scots and the Irish were regarded as " foreign players "...

ABSOLUTELY ! ......Adkins started him wide on the left last season and he really looked lost (as indeed he did in hid England debut) - but going full pelt down the middle he's quite a handful for defences. looks a totally different player this season.

Let's not think the eventual Boruc return will solve all the problems. If anything else were to happen we'd be back in the same boat....with Gazzaniga or KD. Which one would you choose ? Julio Cesar can just as well sit on our bench as he can at QPR.......and of course he give us a viable alternative to Boruc in case of loss of form etc.. 'arry only wants to keep Rob Green in the spotlight.. with the hope he'll get to Brazil as an alternative to Joe Hart.

OOPS ....No you're right ...he was sacked, but they did manage to avoid relegation ....

Er ....do you mean English ?

.....Er ....when should he do this I wonder?. From previous info. he seems to spend a very long time at SMS / training .....almost every day. I doubt if he is so alert enough to learn at 6pm. I'm sure he's OK with standard football terminology and communicates with players, but there is world of difference between expressing your own thoughts, and answering stupid media questions. I teach English to a varied selection of nationalities and if it were that easy, he'd be word perfect by now. Established (foreign) managers like Wenger (example) aren't perfect and are often misquoted. Using a good interpreter ensures that most of what he wants to say comes through. I'm sure there are a lot of journos who are just waiting for the chance to " put their words in his mouth ".

Britt and Johns have had a couple of outings each for the U21..along with Gazzaniga and Cropper (who has been unfortunate to play in two of their heaviest defeats). All four seem to be used in rota. The only other regular is U18 keeper Harry Isted..... almost got frostbite in the 7-0 drubbing of Pompey in the FA Youth Cup, he had so little to do. But let's hope Boruc is back soon .. especially as Gazzaniga seemed to take a knock in that incident prior to the ref's knockout v Newcastle. I wouldn't like to have to call upon any of the others in any upcoming games.

....this is not a " who is the best " thread, but am I alone in being impressed by Calum Chambers' performances so far? I still rate Clyne as the best starter, but do not sense that inner " groan " when I see that the first-choice player isn't available....he seems more than capable. He was thrown in at the deep end at the start of the season, and for someone who didn't have Clyne's 100+ apps. behind him does well IMHO. Back in again after two month's absence, he looks as though he's never been away. Not afraid to tackle.... and thank goodness for that goal-line clearance yesterday. He looks very good going forward, and I'm just waiting for his first successful attempt at a " Ivan Golac-style " goal. He could be another good prospect for England honours .....in two or three years time. Older fans will know the one I mean (and it's still on You Tube somewhere).

Few people doubt he has skill.....and we'll still be talking about that goal v. Man.City at the end of the season....but it was one of the most physical games I've seen this season, and as has been said before...it can take time for some foreign players to adjust to the different style of play. Given the opportunity he will score more, but there was a lot of grit in yesterdays game and skill was a bit low on the scale. Dour defensive work on both sides didn't leave much chance for anything else.

I wonder who the WBA Board have got lined up to replace him ?....because if they don't have someone already waiting in the wings ?..they all need certifying. They may not be the best team in the League, but IMO he is one of the better managers.

I'd go with these comments 100%.....and if only Steven Davis' volley had been six inches further to the right, we 'd have got all three points.

How can we forget the furore surrounding Mauricio Pochettino's arrival (not to mention Adkins' dismissal) ..and those amazed responses of ..who We learned of MP's reputation (somewhat tainted by Espanyols' relegation - oh well, it can happen to the best) and then his friendship and admiration for Jose Mourinho (no less). Since when many of us seem to have happily embraced the Pochettino effect, (and the players double-training). So imagine the surprise...to hear that Mourinho has " recommended " MP as the next manager at ....Real Madrid. At least... there...MP would be prepared to answer his own questions from the media. Surely a cue for Nicola Cortese to give him a 5 year contract?. (However contracts, as we have sometimes seen ....aren't worth the paper they're printed on ) It is, at any rate, a feather in MP's cap......or could it just be ....a back- handed way for Mourinho to get rid of one of his most-dangerous rivals

interestingly though, he's just REFUSED " a gift " of a new car. The Swedish FA organised a special surprise (a brand new Volvo) - as a present for Anders to commemorate his 148 caps, but then he discovered that he would have to pay the Swedish Gift tax on it, and with his salary....he'd have to pay for almost the entire value of the car.....over £20K.... so he politely refused and they offered him a deal for a 3 year contract on a leasing car instead. A bit embarrassing all round really.....but such is life for the rich in Sweden.