david in sweden

all this talk about " relegation form " ..surely at this level - it's called survival form...as those who remember " The Great Escape " will testify. A quick look at the table shows that we are a couple of points away from mid table...which effectively means that half of the table could fall below the line....if they show poor form and have a bad run-in. In those 27 seasons we had (previously) at top level, we rarely finished above halfway, but still managed to survive. For the first season back up, I think we've adjusted well even if results haven't shown it. It's an achievement to be able to stay in this league, but we will see in the next few years whether we have the pedigree to finish in the top half regularly.....

I think that makes two of us Olallana, True.Jay Rod took time to settle after the summer, (but he's surely wasn't alone there). Of late, he's looked a totally different player, and just because he hasn't been on the score sheet (not alone there either) it's hard to criticise him because of that. Rickie is (and rightly so) the key man ...and Jay Rod will need to wait till his time comes before we get a chance to see him perform in the " Rickie-role " Looking back 10-12 years, I recall that a certain J. Beattie was being touted as a waste of space after his £1 million signing and it took almost three seasons before we saw the " best of Beattie " in all honesty, the player who most concerns me on the " lack of goals " category is Adam Lallana. I'd join many others in praising his skill and bravery but his goals / shots tally.... must be appalling. I recall the home game v.Wigan.. .where he had enough shots to win three games.. and yet we lost 0-2. Criticism of players shouldn't be levelled at the player. He only signs the contract (whether it's a free, or £12 million)... the people to aim comments at are those who scouted / signed them. As for Billy (this thread is about him - after all ). Looking at last seasons stats.... he DAJFU when it was most needed, and if only for that was worth every penny ..and more. If he can do the same for Forest .or any other club, he'll be worth the investment. IF we do sell him (as seems likely ) .....hope we get a % of his next sale-on..it might amount to something. .

..let's hope we never have to find out , eh?

my thoughts, too ...100%

Agree with most of that Colin. Up until now he's had some bad luck; injuries and still doesn't seem to be 100 % fit - even now. There is such a thing as being the right player, at the right club ...at the wrong time ..and maybe he's been just that so far. I'd like him succeed with Saints but the £12 million price tag weighs a bit heavily on his shoulders, if he were to go to Arsenal he'd become " one of the boys " rather than a "slightly tarnished " golden boy. Agent's games? (you mentioned ) ....more than likely. Stories like this spread around often signify that he is " open to a move " without actually asking for a move. IF....(heaven forbid)..we were to go down, he'd be the first to go....and for a darn sight more than £12 mill.

good decision for all involved. Chaplow will get games ....and perhaps even a run-out at Wembley. A good showing will do him no harm at all, because he's hardly likely to get further than an occasional bench place at SMS. If Millwall (or anyone else) decide to buy him ...we'll get more than the (reputed) 50K we paid for him when he left Preston.

.that was good for a laugh-wasn't it ? first he says Lambert is 32 (isn't he just 31 ?)....and then later that he's not the finished player. At what age will he be " finished "....35 ?......He may well be, but it'd be another sort of " finished". The writer then goes on to run down all the current Wham "stars" ..so who should Lambert be likened to ? ...Geoff Hurst ?

it was more likely something he didn't do, rather than something he did.

..if you think they were angry, you should have seen my reaction .....and I was only watching on TV.....

would he be so brave ?, it sounds like a death or glory option to me ... besides I wouldn't want them to " recover " at our expense.

.......and of course, (the most controversial one )..would we be better off if Lowe was still Chairman.. and Burley was still manager...... comments please to 110_ Persaint (preferably as a PM). Over and out.

anyway lads...this thread is supposed to be about that 0-0 draw at Norwich on Saturday... reading through the last dozen posts...... it seems that some people are discussing; who didn't play, who didn't travel ....and what colour handbags they all had to match the snowflakes. my short summary is...we did enough to win, and had more chances ...that we failed to convert. I like Lallana, but if he can't score more often he should change places with Shaw.....:lol Justice was done, when Boruc saved the penalty, because referees like Clattenberg do more to hasten the use of all-round match cameras ..and make Blatter look more of a fool than he already does.

that's probably because the journo'.. (who wrote the article).... didn't go to the game, but probably watched the same streamed thread that I did. They had Fox in the start line-up.. but got it wrong ..even Sky had the correct start eleven on their website.

IMO....because I don't believe it's in his nature...and besides Forest need Billy more than we do...and so it's a seller's market. If Billy goes for anything less than his * original fee, there will be a part-ex, or something of the sort. If I'm wrong, we can discuss it after the deal has been done.

quite right wild-saint.. Billy came into that small, but almost unique list of players who played few games but scored invaluable goals ...in the second half of a season. Well worth the money-even if he never plays again... (if pressed I could probably give you a list to prove it ).

that's only the price..... that Forest have told the Mirror to print (when they leaked the rumour,) ....I don't believe that NC will sell Billy at a loss.....

in the six game period between Newcastle and Fulham we conceded only 4 goals in 6 games..with Yoshida and Fonte as CB's, but the main criticism surrounding Yoshida seems to come... when he is forced to play at right back.... He clearly is not as happy there, but having said that ...his very timely interception (and cleverly back-passing in the six yard box) ...stopped an almost certain goal yesterday. Play almost ANYONE out of position and you can expect some problems to occur. The problem is not having a adequate replacement for Clyne....when he isn't playing. Don't blame Yoshida.

perhaps.... he left his snow boots in Zambia ?

Kwite rite Norm, if they 'ad... then they cud speek English proper, like wot we do .......

KD's extended contract has a two-fold purpose. (If were not counting Lallana's time as a youth player)....then Kelvin is the longest serving player on the staff (?)..and provides continuity. Many have said ..he's a great role model for younger players, and of course keeping fit for such emergencies (that we hope won't ever happen) is sensible...but nevertheless.. it's a good decision. However, if Gazzaniga hasn't got the no.2 spot by the end of next season, then either the goalkeeping coach isn't doing his job ...or Gazza isn't the real thing, and an " improved " Cropper may pass him. Assuming that we sign Boruc...as no.1, then....Gazza may spend some time on the bench (as Bart did) before he outranks Artur, but I don't see MP keeping him for any patriotic reason.

maybe not a better side, but certainly we need to get other players in better positions to finish. Lallana must surely have much fewer goals per attempts than most others. He's usually pretty good at finishing inside the six yard box, but his longer range efforts are very poor in comparison. With Lambert in his wider role, it means that Rodriguez and Puncheon are the best finishers (if playing) than most of the others. Ramirez has scored a few nice goals but mostly from close in, and it's good to see Schneiderlin on the score sheet a bit more often. We need to see more goals from midfielders, but sadly Lallana's profound skill have been brought into question... when we see threads like this one. IMHO he should be playing deeper and giving more chances to others, at least until he's had some more shooting practice.

what a question !.......none of us can really say with any certainty - can we?. as for me, I'm still waiting for my crystal ball to come back from the polishers ........

Surely.....there is no scale for judging a player who has never been selected to play a League game...and there are a few of those... Pulis, Almeida and Bleidelis come to mind...and there are more, I'm sure...like Delgado's cousin..." what's'isname " ....even Ali Dia's started one match, but his very short career was missed by that fella' who went for a cup of tea ...and a toilet visit......

Interesting list Professor, but surely a question to be asked AFTER they have left Saints, and not soon after they have joined. Going on past performances..... players like; James Beattie, Chris Baird (and most recently Jason Puncheon)...didn't get much praise when they started, and took several seasons to get established. Although both the first mentioned left the club ....after about 6 years service, SFC also ended up with a good profit after their departure. What's the betting that ONE of "your list" on the OP..... may end up becoming a club legend.....? NO!.. I'm not going to speculate which one .....

Mmm...really ?...in my day it was called " a Charlie George ".