david in sweden

Ricky's subbing ; injury, precaution or whatever ... only highlights what I.. (and a minority of others)..were posting a week ago when the Lukas on loan story was in full flight - and we were mercilessly condemned for even suggesting that we should have / needed another striker in the squad. Whether it was /should have been Lukas, or someone else..IMHO there should have been a " someone else ". " Ricky has missed only two games in four season " (someone's quote I recall) ..well unless let's all hope it is only a "twinge " and he gets over it. To my knowledge hip injuries are never simple. If Nigel is lucky enough to guide us through the next five games until January (with or without Lambert) then fine.. if not there are 15 points at stake before we can find another striker as cover.

I'm not arguing for /or/ against a larger SMS, but are you saying that 9000 people stayed away because they thought they might not get a seat ?

EXACTLY Dalek, (getting tired )... that was the point of the "why didn't we get someone on loan " threads we had last week - wasn't it ? I hope Lambert's subbing was only a tactical one, otherwise the " we don't need to sign another striker brigade" will look really sick - won't they ?

Sorry!.. I lost my crystal ball a long time ago but, at the time we refer to, (mid 1990's) those MU players above were just getting established in the MU side. very few of them had that many caps THEN except perhaps GIGGS but he started at age 16 anyway. Can I look at OUR present academy side and forecast (No! - not HIM)... who MIGHT become an international? As we are talking about 16-17 y.olds - a bit difficult, but what about starting with those who have already been capped at their age group... If the standard set by Theo, Gareth and Alex at 17 , is anything to go by, those who do stay and get established as first teamers may well end up getting capped... when we are the Premiership ...you do believe we'll get promoted - don't you ? .(isn't that the point of this thread?)

so, everyone finished ..? thank goodness for that ..what's next ?

what I meant was ...the official Swedish translation of " inne-bandy " is .. FLOORBALL (for some ridiculous reason! ) If I had to describe Bandy (when played OUTSIDE)... I'd say it was like Hockey but played on ice... but NOT Ice Hockey !

Hi Turkish, ..not wishing to get involved in ..what promises to be .. a very interesting word-battle between you and Wes Tender but...its only a little over 10 years ago that ....Manchester City were playing in League 1 (third tier) ...and of course on your other point...Manchester United did this back in the 1990's with THEIR Academy side ..incl. Beckham, the Neville brothers, Butt, Scholes, Giggs ...(so even that has been done before). funny old game -isn't it ?

...........but they didn't Turkish, it was all a Hollywood PR trick, look at all the counter-evidence on You Tube !

as a part of the generation who watched Brian O'Neil take pot-shots from 40 yards out, I have to say that MLT was the most spontaneous long distance shooter I've ever seen, though I did enjoy that James Beattie special with a 45 yard punt into the Chelsea goal after ..13 seconds was it ? Nice one BT.

well a football can be hit pretty hard, too. A few years back, Swedish TV Sport did a test with a few proffs. (incl. Henrik Larsson f.Celtic and Barca) for the hardest free kick. They all registered around 100 km/hr. and one was 108 km/h...that's around 80 mph.

to be fair, both of them were fairly young and inexperienced when they were here (on loan) and have developed a bit more since. but I don't believe that either of them would significantly improve our midfield. Our present quartet have knotched up over 500 games between them.

Thankfully, we haven't had to play without Lambert, but I wouldn't like to have to re-structure the strike force without him at this satge... If you think we didn't miss Adam Lallana you've forgotten the previous periods without him. AL was out three times last season. First after Pardew's dismissal for 5 games and we didn't win a single one ! then later on for 4 games when we drew 0-0 home to Notts County, lost 0-2 at Tranmere, only managed a late 2-1 win at Exeter and that ridiculous 4-4 draw at Pete'boro. his third period of absence saw us losing 0-2 at Rochdale and that embarrasing game where we only managed a 1-0 win v. Bristol Rovers at SMS. He's the most creative player we've had for a decade, we'd have real trouble without either of them for any period of time.

my comments in thick type

......and hopefully a long time after that ...

really Dalek, NOT having signed anyone may be a disappointment for some, but If Nigel is happy so should we be, I suppose ... BUT I can't believe anyone would write a sentence like that ...enough to finish mid table ! Being 5 points clear PLUS a good goal difference, surely most people are anticipating promotion and not losing form, do you really expect us to suddenly falter and drop down 10 places down the league ...?

Why do you think he can't?. He's playing in a sh*t awful side at the bottom of the league and yet would be second highest goalscorer if he were in our squad. Personally, I always want to see at least one big man up front but without Lambert we'd be very short of height and aggression up front. Agreed Guly is just over 6 foot, but he's not a 90 minute player and NA has subbed him almost every game so far, presumably to rest him up. Whoever we eventually sign will be an aggresive striker between 22 -25 who will develop and be a force in the future. Guly is already close to 30 and will have a short shelf life in the Prem.

Whilst I agree with most of your text, it has unfortunately been devalued by someone (there's always one ) ...who picked on your phrase about Barnard..and ...prison ! We all hope it might be probation or community service....but people have got inside for less than ABH, so no-one can say for certain. As for the rest of your contribition - I agree 100%

Lambert isn't going to be lured away anywhere...and I wouldn't give Beattie any sort of contract beyond the end of the season - unless he really finds good scoring form !

if he doesn't get any other offers - he might... if he does well (as a sub.) he might revive what's left of his career, but not necessarily with u , but ..you never know.

I'd like to say I feel sorry for them ..but what the heck ..why lie ? What happens next? Does the missing Mr. A turn up at Fratton P. at midnight with a suitcase of newly-printed Euros to pay this months salaries, or... ? ..will our near neighbours once again be plunged into an uncertain future with no credible owner at the reins? . This promises to become the longest-running football " soap" in recent years...Wait for next week's exciting episode.

There are a lot of things we could do ; Window Cleaner...and some of them might work ..in the short term, but sooner (rather than later) we need to get a Ricly " clone " who can be prepared to be the alternative big man up front, None of the existing names mentioned seem to fit the bill.... and of course we hope the management have got it right.. I really do, but history often tells another story ....

I wasn't thinking in terms of the " normal " footballing injuries; hamstring, groin strains and ankle taps... but serious things that keep people out for months like; knee ligaments, achilles even broken bones. They happen by accident and have nothing to do with fitness or recurring injuries. IMO Guly is great, but he has needed subbing in almost every game he's started this season, and rightly so but he's not a 95 minute player like Ricky. Much as I shine to the idea of the " Roy of the Rovers " scenario you wrote about ..Butterfield did that once ..in a Cup game. Don't see him or anyone else doing that on a regular basis.

yes well that's a PLUS, isn't it Vectis. If there had been video technology for penalties, too we'd have had about 4 on Saturday.

well I do hope you're right Dibden ..there are 21 points to be had before January and a serious injury problem up front could cost us the fantastic lead we have built up so far.....