david in sweden

the world is full of ..." what if's." Goes along with those threads about ..what if MLT had played in the same side as (say) Lambert, Ron Davies, or Mick Channon. etc, etc, The fact is that (if lucky) you only get 50% ball possession in any game, and scoring chances are few - so that if all these "star" players WERE in the same side, they would probably have had careers much less memorable than they eventually did - (if it meant playing in the same team). As it was, MLT and Ron Davies helped keep their sides up and free from relegation, whereas Derek Reeves, Channon and Lambert scored many goals that helped their particular sides get promoted. However, I have been fortunate enough to have seen all (the above play), and was glad of it. The only IF..I would put forward would be that all of these players (did) and would have benefitted more, had they had the service from wingers like Terry Paine and John Sydenham.

..maybe some others will start the; Nicky Maynard file, the Lukas Jut. file, The Sam Vokes file, or the JayRod file, depending on who they think we may eventually sign... (that's if there isn't one already that I've missed..?) ..but there was some strong pub gossip from the " kingdom of Yorkshire " ..was it someone friend in Huddf'd ?.. said that Sharp was already to put pen to paper for us next week ?. Being a stats. nerd.. I've checked out their various records and - apart from being the shortest stature (5'9") - Billy S. has the best % strike record of all those mentioned, but Lambert has played successfully alongside similar players (Connolly and Barnard) in the past ..(and as the future of both is somewhat uncertain ..for different reasons)..so that should be no problem. Billy is (an ex-Scunny player who knows NA well)... then my money would be on Billy Sharp ..come January. if you think one of the others ? ..feel welcome to start a thread for them, might be interesting to see the outcome. (although we ought to have an (U.K.nown foreigner thread too,) just in case.

don't think you've been paying attention. Yes he was out injured for a long time last season..but he's played in 4 League Cup games this season, came on as sub. and scored in the last 5 mins. of the League game v. Watford(h)...since when... he's been on the bench for the last 4 league games and actually came on twice. He is one of several players who haven't played regulary - mainly because someone else has been that bit better, but they do get on when there is a chance. Don't think you're comments really apply to Lee Holmes....or do you mean Lee Barnard?. He hasn't played in full League game since April, has had about 60 mins. playing time as sub. over 4 games - will now (apparantly) be out for another 2 months.!

Well Turkish, we can hope that none of the people we sign will come into.... that "category"... we've had enough dumb pric*s on the books in the past!

mind you ...as a goal-scoring sub. (4 goals - 3 as oncoming sub.) he rates about the same as Tony Funnell If you're too young - or already are stricken by Alsheimers...Tony Funnell was signed at age 19 (by Lawrie Mac. in 1977). In the promotion season 77-78. He first came to fame in March 1978 when he came on and scored both goals to beat Crystal Palace (H). L.Mc gave him the no.11 shirt for the rest of the season, and he finished with 8 goals from 14 starts and 4 sub.apps. Nearly all his goals helped win valuable promotion points. Sadly. he wasn't really up to Div.1 standard and he drifted off on various loan deals until a back injury finished his career. Few people who saw him play will forget his direvt style of play and vital goals.

surely..Adkins entire theory is to have two players for each position. Although (I'd like to see Martin get some playing time)....the most logical sub. for a left back is ...another left back...and that's exactly what he did.

good to hear, hope it continues for him ..however, to put in perspective..he's doing well in a middling to poor L1 side, but good to hear one of our loan players is actually getting some games .

just for the record ...I did (ignore it.)

part of Adkins tactics seem to be to give players a " shorter outing " - especially midfielders - so as not to drive everyone too hard with 95 minute games every time. He continually says this is a 46 game season and we're not even halfway yet. Stamina and fitness in the the last 10 games will decide who are the promotion sides. He has used 2 or all 3 subs. on 24 occasions this season - and only rarely for injuries. Sometimes tactical , and it's won us point (s) , or simply to give the bench player some playing time and not lose touch. Whether it was intended or not, Fox's subbing at Pompey, was not untypical as (in interview) he said.." we had already won the game " ... (the subbing backfired as we didn't have a "genuine defender " on the near post for the corner).

well said Rooney, exactly the point I've tried to make in previous threads.

Think you may have missed the red thread in all this Gingeletiss, neither I, or anyone else I can read has suggested we load up the team with "sub-standard" back-up players. We need to find replacements for some of our better players (in the long term) and some of our "regulars " maybe excelling themselves at this level but won't make the grade into the Prem. We need to find good prospects at this level, capable of moving onwards and upwards, without needing a fortune to buy in " someone else's " bench players" from some over-stocked Prem. squad... when /if we get promotion. The " loan suggestion " was purely aimed at getting short term cover for our only fit striker (Ricky Lambert) - and LJ was mentioned as it would have been an ideal chance to see him perform (perhaps from off the bench, for 5-6 weeks, before needing to fork out for a real transfer fee.

TBF no-one has suggested that he is the big ITN.). It takes a lot of small ends to be tied before a deal is actually done. Over the years, we've seen a lot of verbal agreements disappear into thin air before the pen hits paper.

we are not talking about the same product. AOC is a developing teenage talent, and in the long run even £12 mill.may seem like a steal for Arsenal bearing in mind what they are used to paying for their "stars". Rhodes has been good -even very good, for one and a half seasons in L1 - BUT he's still there . If he was SO good why hasn't he gone before? Don't get me wrong, I think he's a good player - and I think he'd be a good buy for us - but not at £8 million ! NEVER ! still when he eventually goes (somewhere) we'll see...eh?

OK great. We're agreed then. Will you e-mail Adkins, or shall I ?

.probably ..if you felt you were appreciated, but if they were dumb enough to give him that contract, he's a fool not to hold them to it. it's a long lifetime when you are a retired " ex-footballer " .......and he's already had a good career. Why should he bother?.

" miserable "...in the context of two lost points, and an inability for ANYONE else to score except Ricky Lambert. (I did think some of the midfield play was entertaining (in parts) but overall effort was disappointing (to say nothing more of Bart's early Xmas present to them.)

strangely enough ..I agree with all that Turkish, but that's only 14 players likely to be " good enough.." That means we need to get another ...EIGHT ?...(if we are to have two players for each position). ( we can't really talk about eventual Academy prospects as (almost) none have even had debut yet)

Ah ! what a sensible comment. ...but many people on here are suggesting that we shouldn't bother with anyone who isn't as good as those players we already have ...and even if we did, we shouldn't sign them ... in case we upset the present first team incumbents.

this is the same discussion in another form...but look at it this way... If you think we are going to stay in the CC next season ..not a lot of problems (except up front ... alternatively, which are our present players ... is of Premiership quality ?

somehow, don't think it was the same people...

surely the stats.you quoted prove the point.. 20 shots against 8 ..and we still only salvaged a point in the 93rd min.

well ..whoever, but Guly wouldn't have been there and a " proper " defender would have. (I do hope no-one comes up with that .." a good footballer can play anywhere " comment ).

nice debate fellas, but we clearly don't see things in the same way. I'll come back to this thread after Boxing Day.

I felt more relieved... than happy and wasn't over-impressed by Blackpool performance either.