david in sweden

I think it's bit hard on Hammond to say that. He isn't a " show-off " player like Lallana or Chamberlain, but having a defensive midfield role is hardly a plum job. If he misses a tackle - everyone says he rubbish, and when he wins the ball well,.... he's only doing his job-isn't he ? He is pretty committed..if 10 yellow cards is anything to go by, but Fonte has picked up about the same. I agree that Fonte would also be a good captain, but also that it wouldn't change the role of either player, if the "other " got the armband. Lots of players shout and encourage teammates without evert becoming "captain" but the role is important in lifting the side and communicating well with the officials, and in that respect I think Hammond is good. Fonte's wild-ish Latin temperament might be a bit provocative to some ref's (and to some Swedes) ..he looks remarkably like AC Milan's "Swede "... Zlatan Imbrahimovic , who is a real handful and wavers between genius and the teams " bad boy"... complete with several red cards each season). Hammond ? ..or Fonte? ..I don't think it matters. They do different jobs and both are well worth their places IMHO.

*** Not looked closely at stats, but I think the "mastadon-sized " stadiums in Manchester, and at the Emirates artificially inflate those figures somewhat. Many of the other prem sides don't have a capacity much over 35K, and some of them may struggle to meet our 21K average.

Whilst what you said may seem logical...I think it's harder to STAY in the Prem. than it is to stay in CCC. Some teams in CCC (and L1 for that matter) have been there for a decade or more without being relegated or promoted. The best often go up because of the poor standard in CCC (except this season it has been exceptionally good down to 9/10th spot...) and usually teams with debt problems / old squads are candidaites for the drop to L1. ..and occasionally..a team relegated from Prem. may go down again in 1-2 seasons.. (We did and so too did Charlton). I have noted in seasons past that maybe ONE team is lucky enough to survive a promotion to Prem. and often at least ONE or TWO (promoted) sides have come back down the first season. Our loss in the play-offs with Derby was a travesty as they had the worst Premiership record ever when they went up instead of us. Note: I don't think Brighton will do so well in CCC , despite a larger stadium and fanbase that may exist. They may start well but I'd be surprised to see them above mid-table by May 2012..even if Poyet does stay and not move to a "bigger " London club. ...and I wonder if they've really enough money to continue paying interest on a ...£93 million stadium.!! By mid season they wish they'd cut a few corners , and saved £10-15 million to improve the squad to ensure a promotion push.

I would have said that game, too. If we don't recall Forte for anything else this season , then his "super-sub" appearance and 2 goals in 2 mins. gave us 3 points that very few people expected at the time.

Fairs fair..you and a few other have come out and said the same. That's honest. You weren't really wrong about extra players, either. I said the same thing. We did sign Stephens, and N'Guessan on loan, and Forte (thank good ness for his two (sub.) goals at SMS v. MK Dons. and Connolly is almost like a new signing. He's been out most of the season and I didn't expect to see him back so soon.

....and of course ...that doesn't surprise me. It was AP who was raving about him in the first place. Sure ..let him go, but let's make a profit on the deal, and get a sell-on clause, too (just in case he does get much better.)

....for 5 or 6 weeks, then what ?

Alps.. REALLY, are you insinuating that we should get rid of him ??? I do hope not ! ..as Barnard still has unresolved issues with the judiciary, we should certainly keep DC much longer (and hope he stays fit ).

much as I liked Brett's honest endeavour, he was a good provider for others but hardly a goalscorer in the Barnard class. (11 league goals in 98 games (2001-2006). OK... it was Premiership I know, but ....! )

I think many of us might say.. .thank you ..for having the courage to change the manager early season...and pick a winner, too!

YES ....we all knew that promotion was ON ..from the time he entered the building ... and Elvis (sorry Pardew)... left it ! WELL DONE NIGEL !!!!

LEAGUE ONE ? .. thank you and GOODBYE !!!!!!!!!!!

I think some of us have done this before..BUT..for me, it was.... FA CUP 3rd round v.BLACKPOOL at The Dell . January 1959. we lost 2-1 in the last 5 mins. I saw the legendary Stanley Matthews playing (although I didn't know who he was at the time).

well I'm sure we all forgive you TDD, but it just goes to show what can happen in a 46 game season, eh ?

.putting it that way, I'd agree if it only meant condemning Ferguson JNR. to L1 for another season.

...because they won't be able to stay the pace in CCC

I agree totally, they have given us a good run for the money but TBH I hope that don't get promoted - if only because there will be enough top opposition in CCC - without having one more like them. But well done anyway, they are the only club who lasted the pace to the end.

I'd like to see Holmes play for a season before we consider getting rid of hm.

perhaps so, but they do learn a bit after they've played against him a few times.

good grief.the price of seats has gone up. I recall that SMS was supposed to have cost 32mill, which was about £1 million /per seat, OK it was 10 years ago, but 93 million ? ..just how big is their new stadium?

I for one would have liked another signing in the (prev.) window, but certainly not one for £4 million, as I think his skills would have been wasted trying to play good football on some of the ploughed fields at L1 grounds and getting kicked half to death by some of the stonewall defending we've seen from some L1 backlines. I wanted another striker..partly as cover, because the latest turn in the Barnard saga hasn't helped (thank goodness Connolly was back). As it was ...who could have forseen we'd have FOUR midfielders out at the same time ? Stephens maybe in NAs long term planning, it was good we could get him on loan when we did. Hopefully the squad will last to the final game, it will have been enough, but I'm glad we don't have another 6 weeks to go.

Oh I'm definitely looking at signings for CCC. With the impetus (and the funding) we should have I'm expecting us to "do a Norwich" and challenge for the Prem. next season. (assuming the obvious of course). WHO ? Kelvin is still a class act (in L1) and of course goalies can go on longer than outfielders, but if the worse comes to the worst, I wonder if Bart is the real article ? IF not another back-up (no I'm not expecting revelations from Forecast, either ). I'm happy with all the defence (as a squad) and we've played all EIGHT of then in various combinations this season. Jaidi seems to have a short shelf life now, but I still think he'd be good to have another season, (when does his contract go out) ? ...but we must get another (type Jaidi) 6'4" , mobile, uncompromising centre back whose built like a brick outhouse, and who can tackle in the box without giving away penalties all season. Even if (as I expect) AOC goes, we still have some very creative midfielders to play alongside Lallana but I'd like to see us get a good DEFENSIVE midfielder who can dish it out, too. Memories of Jimmy Gabriel, Hughie Fisher and Chris Marsden. I do have concerns about the front line. Thankfully , we've had two, almost injury-free seasons from Ricky Lambert (and hopefully two more, but at 29 his days are surel numbered - if we're talking in terms of the Premiership...in 2013/14.) Lee Barnard is the sort of striker who could still be with us in 5 years time , if he has a GET OUT OF JAIL card when he passes GO. (sorry bad joke, but everyone knows what it means.) Without Lee (and /or Ricky), we must have more TWO good, experienced strikers to give us some options. I know Guly can play midfield role and sometime striker but he's not born to the role - is he? I like Connolly - but if only he can stay injury-free - I'd sign him for another 2 years and he'd pay for himself in goals. Back in the days of Beattie and Co, 2002 or was it 2003..? we had FIVE front line strikers who were all injured at the same time in January. The ( then) new signing Brett Ormerod volunteered to play even though he had a stomach problem at the time - we had no options). If we go 3 or 4 games without scoring, it could be decisive. We might not win every game, but we must score every game to keep momentum. So for me ; an extra goalie, ONLY if we see cracks in the facade. No panic to get the right (who better than Nigel to know who ...?) another central defender; type Jaidi / Fonte (unless Seabourne or Martin matures enough in the close season). A defensive minded midfielder, and here I would get an experienced, older player around 30-ish, (type Bellamy, Scholes) to cement the midfield - though I have nothing against Chaplow / Stephens and Hammond except ..their " relative " youth and lack of CCC track record. Again ... a couple of them might take big strides by next Autumn, but they may need encouragement from "a n older head ". (Remember the "wow" effect of having Alan Ball coming into the side in the late 70's ?..and Jimmy Case some years later.) How about TWO, ex Prem, former international strikers who know their way around the Premiership, but can't get a regular spot with any of the top six, but nevertheless would get bucketloads of goals in CCC. (Can't give you any names today but I'm sure they exist.) Lawrie's big "coup" may have been signing KK, but I thought the appearance of Boyer and Mac Dougall in the team was fantastic at the time, and later with Worthington and Jordan (though they weren't great scorers), the impact of their presence was noticeable on the rest of the squad.

well I agree with most of this but...you don't seem very convinced about the pedigree of the newcomers..? Of course Puncheon will go ...and it seems that Dale Stephens (from Oldham) is one of the best midfielders in L1 (given that NA says Lallana is the best) ..and DS had scored 10 goals before arriving. Chaplow lacks a little consistancy, but not effort surely. NA knows Forte's potential (from Scunny) and let's face it - he's worth the move if only for his 2 goals Sub app. v. MK Dons. N'Guessan is only a loan and I don't expect him to stay. We will certainly buy more in going up to CCC, but I can't fault the other buys much .