CWD

This is awful, shocking news. RIP Markus, my thoughts are with your family and friends, today, football comes second. Thank you

First chance I've had to post since getting back from the game. First half we were AWFUL, but we know that and to the team and Pardew's credit they sorted themselves out in the 2nd 45. Dickson was terrible, but it seemed to be more of a bad day at the office rather than him not being good enough, so don't write him off just yet. Wotton and Hammond were solid, but without Morgan there's no real creation there. Wotton has still yet to pass a ball forward during his time at saints, but it was better than the constant, pointless, long balls to Punch, Barny and Oxo. Barnard can't really play up front on his own. Puncheon, i thought, was terrible. Constantly ****ing up good opportunities and refusing to pass. However I spoke to a couple of Bournemouth fans on the way back to the train station who thought he was brilliant, a constant thorn in their side and, quote 'too good for league 1'. I guess the reason he seemed to mess up a lot was coz he was on the ball a lot so I guess he did ok. Lallana is quality, unplayable at times. Lambert is crucial, instant impact. We were poor, but top teams have to win when they are playing poorly and we did that with a weakened team. I wanted to slit my wrists at half time, but now i feel a lot more positive. COYsashes

Oh come on Alps that is a completely unfair comment. I very rarely get involved in the constant berating of you as I think you often make some good points, albeit sometimes I don't agree, but it's a forum and that is what we're here for - debate! but seriously that is just a ridiculous thing to say, "lack of action"? We had a two week training session in Switzerland? how is that doing nothing? I think the abuse you get on here is unfair at times, but with comments like this you just seem to encourage people

I took it to mean that he is pretty confident the squad we have now is good enough to start to the season well No need to panic just yet

+10000000000

sexual

Hmmm suddenly the squad does look a little thin, I wouldn't be confident against Plymouth without Richarson, Dickson, Punch and Lallana

Oh well, fun while it lasted

haha beat me to it!

so Neil Danns is a certainty now surely?

Alan pardew replaced with Alpine

I think he was captain of U19s, not U21s. Still Blanc may well want to look at his younger options. Would be brilliant for him, but puts him very much in the mind of PL managers....

I think.... 88. It would be amazing if we got to 100 though!

This is **** news

Ah ok. why aren't we scouting both? FFS

The problem is, every fan knows their own players better than other teams'. So you never get a fair comparison. The only real way to guage who is better is by asking teams we've played.... I'd love a Hudders or Walsall fan to go on that site and tell them how bloody brilliantly we can play!

I thought this too, but he is listed in the starting line up on their OS

Haha I know i stole the idea from you! thanks! i'll edit the OP to credit you..

Just looking at the Sheff Wed forum and came across this thread. http://www.owlstalk.co.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=131903&st=0 Makes interesting reading, they really rate their squad (rightly so as it looks very strong) but IMO they are seriously underestimating our first 11. Some of them claim that Lallana and Lambo are our only good players, and one even said that Ricky 'isn't that good'! They accuse us of being arrogant (which at times we can be), but then make outrageous claims about them going the whle season without losing a game! Still it's an interesting read, and it seems their mindset is very much the same as ours - we're the best so automatic is the minimum expectation. IMO our first elevens are similar in terms of quality, but what they gain in having arguably better squad players, we match in terms of having had a year of gelling. Looking forward to the games between us and hope we smash them Credit must go to faraway saint who gave me the idea to go on their site...

not until 6

I HOPE this is good news and that he has failed to secure a move. He will be a top keeper for us if we get the PL IMHO

Bart is playing for the U21s today according to twitter, read into that what you will

4-0

I don't find that Raolmoatley funny

No Richarson? he must be leaving