MarkSFC

Chaplow then!!

Oh yeah! Thanks

On a one off basis Im not too bothered. I expect Lallana will be given a free role in a 4-4-1-1 type of system with Punch (or holmes) up the left and Chamberlain up the right. Everyone else as started v Bournemouth. Guly for me showed he could play the target man role at least on an ad-hoc basis for 20-30 mins of a game on Saturday. Although it didnt come off he had one moment where he chased his own flick on which very few strkers do or can. And his touch looks better than Rickies. I do hope that Barnard is available but wouldnt be worried even if hes not. It do hope to see a loanee striker though soon!!

should be able to...

I like your ideas...there seems to be some interest council ways of improving the area along the river so who knows. It would be good to have a really good venue right on the doorstep of the stadium - although not sure what the police would think - and a proper "sports bar" is seriouslt lacking in this city! Havent been to the Emirates yet so thanks for the info. wasnt aware of that sounds great!

Players are much fitter, the game is quicker so almost inevitably there are going to be more injuries. Serious ones may still be much the same, it would be good to see some real stats because now we get to hear about every single injury because there ate cameras at every single game! My memory is letting me down slightly but didn't Mark Wright break his leg in the collision with Shilts in the semi-final with Liverpool in 83/84? As for stopping it I've always thought that maybe there should be a "penalty system" in place for the purbatrators of injuries in the following manner. If for example defender tackle attacker ( be it fairly, without malice or otherwise) and the attacker breaks his leg the defender automatically gets a suspension say 6 games. If deemed deliberate - however that was determined - then further punishment could be added. The scale would then role down e.g knee damage 4 games, ankle damage 2 games or something like that, I think this would improve the standard of tackling and decision making on the field but also add some fairness for "unlucky" tackles.

I hadn't really thought about it since the sad passing of Markus but if it's "the Leibheir Family" who own us now, we are even more wealthy than before!! Of course wealthy in regard to the owners rather than profit making ability of the club but that how they want to measure it!! I'm intrigued "holepuncture" what's this Saints village you have un mind?!! I also agree with them spending the vast majority of their money on infrastructure projects. Those will be their legacy.

Our attendance of "only" 26,289 ( though it would be a bit more!) was as the title says the 4th best in English football today. Only 3 games in the Prem were better attended and the closest Championship game was Ipswich/Leeds with 23,105. Bet that hasn't happened often!!

Exactly. Suspect their "yoof" are too young to remember.

no we don't. We do care when another clubs chairman talks bs and attempts to undermine our club. To us this was just a.n.other game on the way to the Championship. To you it was your cup final style day out at the best stadium in the league. Anyone who fights at football (or anywhere else for that matter ) is unwelcome and whatever side they are on should be banned for life. If it's true that one of our stewards has been hurt by a Bournemouth fan then I hope the club is able to convict them appropriately. Roll on next season for "our" derby.

For the last 50 years we haven't met in a League game since we were last in this level. Says it all really. This Ossie bloke is clearly over excited about a meaningless game other than the three points we are going to win. Of course it's their "cup final". Without our financial help in the past in terms of players and friendlies they may not exist now, ungrateful w******!! And as for the c*** Howe, he has shown his true colours recently and soon will meet his comupence as his team fall down the table and back into oblivion. They have peaked and now will start the decent. Jumped up *****

Irrelevant!!

If you could have pre-season all over again would you have signed: 1) another striker? 2) another centre-midfielder? 3) a speed merchant similar to papa or Antonio? and also; 4) would you have planned pre-season better in terms of fitness and real team preparation for the season as opposed to the shambles it was? 5) what do you think if Dean Wilkins? 6) where do you see you ruined career going from here?

Great move. Not been playing so a month is sensible. If he is match fit and plays well could be key to out season as hopefully we will sign him in Jan!! Well done NA!!!

Like this!!

Once again a thread that descends into "hate him" or "love him" and a few who are rational enough to realise that once again an Echo story is in my view deliberately inflamatory.

" Mitchell is a w*****, he wears a w****** hat, and when he tries to mess with our Nic, he looks like a f****** p****" (to "my old mans a dudtman if you hadn't realised!) Not particularly classy but if you act like a **** he should expect to be treated like one!! I hope to hear a few rounds on Saturday!!!!

One word....complacency pardew f**** up and Cortese did what he had too. We will be promoted, it looks difficult but really it isn't when the players start firing. Well really just Rickie and Adam just need to get going which they will and with a couple of additions now and in January no worries. The fear of no money is illogical and I see no evidence of that.

What a truly ridiculous thread...why even bother!! I will comment though, just because these types of threads need quelling!! IF Pardew had still of been in charge we would still have the sane team playing predictable generally long ball upto the big man football (especially while Lallana was out). IF Pardew was in charge still we still would not have signed the striker we ate desperate for, the wide pacey player we didn't replace Antonio and Papa with, and we'd still lack a different (better) option in centre midfield. And given that Pardew managed to fail in this recruitment in the months he had over the summer, what posseses anyone to think he would manage them all via loans. Adkins WILL 100% IMO get us promoted if not as Champions then certainly as runners-up. Last year when the vast majority were questioning whether we would even stay up let alone get into play-offs I was confident. I'm even more confident this season that we will win more than the 83 we did last year and I should think 87/88 will be top two. The reason for my optimism is not blind faith it's based on these points: •we have only let in 8 goals in 9 games-4th best •adkins is incredibly positive and makes impactful subs already with a group he hardly knows •Rickie WILL start scoring and once he does the whole team will explode •the style of football Adkins plays suits our players and is effective when implemented. He also is implementing planB,C,and D. •we will sign a couple or three loanees •none of the other teams look better than we do-seriously I stated on a thread before the MKDons game that I thought we could win three and draw one from the first 4 games of Adkins reighn. That would have put us on 14. A win on Saturday will put us on 12 points ONE point behind where Norwich were last season. If pardew had still been here I for one would be far less confident than I am right now that we will get automatic promotion. At the end of last season I had every faith in him but he failed overall in the summer in terms of key signings and clearly could not motivate the players or get them effective enough from game one. Last season he had an excuse this season he didn't. I was sceptical when Adkins was appointed but the more I hear from him and watch the team the more impressed I am. Corteses best decision so far by a mile!! Promotion...not under Pardew.

Played in the league cup last week

Was grateful for t'internet when in Sydney for the Ashes in 2002/3 because we were able to get the FA Cup win over Spurs straight away early in the morning!!a good few days as England won the test too!!

Two changes from the starting XI v Colch hopefully. Holmes for puncheon and with any luck a loanee CM for Hammond. Ideally a loanee striker for the bench too as all 3 strikers are not 100% for different reasons!! Probably a really good time to play at Hillsboro too

Well "John Smith" if you think I'm scum thats an interesting situation. Your opinion of me is based on my very constructive post on my opinion of watching Hammond for getting on for 25-30 games this and last season. And you call me (and others) scum without any debate. Having an opinion on a footballer who I pay money to watch is perfectly fair, whatever I think. Having an opinion of the person who had their say rather than purely the words written is truly pathetic. When you get a chance maybe you will read my post in full and debate "my opinions" as you feel fit. If though you want to comment on me personally without knowing or meeting me then you should not be welcome on this forum.

I can't think of a game where Hammond has run the show. Sure I didn't see them all but neither do I recall Reading that he was awesome, even for one game. This sums him up for me. His "range" of performance is quite narrow and his "best" is good in league 1 but beyond no way. He also fails to produce his best regularly and this wasn't noticed in a winning team. In a losing team it is obvious. I've also said on another thread that I don't think he has known whether to sit or run but that could be partly Pardews instructions. He would be best used from the bench. It's strange that he is captain cod he seems quite quiet on the pitch and never seems to get the game by the scruff of it's neck to coin s phrase and certainly doesn't lead by example.

Until yesterday I thought a speedy right winger was top priority. I'm not do sure now. I thought Alex Ox-C looked like he is becoming settled and st times looked superb. Maybe getting someone else right now will stunt his development a little. Also I just wonder whether maybe Lallana will go out there as NA seems to like righties on the right and lefties on the left! Perhaps wait till jan and sign Antonio permanently rather than a stop gap now? Defensive CM is paramount. Butt/Case type of player to let Morgan attack. I think Hammond and Morgan never really knew who was doing what role...sitting or running! Butt is available isn't he?! Another striking option is obvious. A loanee will be difficult I suspect. I think we should go for Vassell as could also play down the right if needed. Experience and would buldoze a few defences. Not prolific higher up but maybe great here. Surprised he hasn't gone any where yet so may be easier to get now.