Sour Mash

Would he be happy being behind Steeeeeve in the pecking order though? Can't see how that would work. Also why aren't we buying a Centre Back? ;-)

The new website is absolutely s****te, cancelled my Saints Player subscription as it no longer works for me.

From the bits of Pre-season I've seen I really don't get the fuss about Puncheon, still not good enough in my opinion.

Where has anyone said that Adkins or Cortese are lazy or don't care? Do you have to have been involved in a football transfer to have an opinion on one? Would negate these forums a bit. Also, on the basis that most final positions in the league are decided by a maximum of one or two points, then yes every game does count and a team needs to be as close to full strength asap.

By that theory they should be cheaper, not more expensive.

You may as well register that other person and get the game against their number for priority for future games.

Absolute dump of a town, dull little ground, tough game for us to get through.

Why? We've managed to be one of the best sporting nation's on the planet without hours taken out of the curriculum for kids to do sport. And why is the "obsession" with football unhealthy? There is a reason that hundreds of thousands will pay £50 plus a week to watch football over the next few months in this country, but won't be doing the same for cycling or rowing.

Would make sense to me as think there were less tickets available in the upper tier compared to the lower, plus only £2 more for what a lot might consider a better view.

Can still get us at 18-1 with Stan James to win the game, worth a couple of quid I reckon.

Good article I thought and offers a pretty reasoned explanation for some of the things we've been questioning over pre-season.

Cheers for that. Seemed like one of our problems that hasn't been mentioned so much on here was a fair bit of sloppy passing?

You do make me laugh Bearsy lad.

Not the brightest bunch on there are they. Does anyone care about Blackpool either way?

We don't have the players to play the 4-5-1 (or variations of it). Rodrigues is being wasted in his current role, that's been apparent throughout pre-season, so I'm not sure why we've continued to persist with using him out there. Adkins in all his recent interviews has made a big play about new formations, being flexible etc, but if anything we haven't tried enough different approaches/line ups etc and keep using the same system that hasn't really worked too well.

Thought both our CBs were pretty poor, worrying considering one of them was Jack Stephens. Actually thought our keeper was decent considering the score. No one else stood out or looked like pushing for the first team any time soon.

Yep based on the scope given in the OP, Ealing is the best bet.

The thing with playing 4-2-3-1 is that you'll have 4 upfront as a threat when attacking and 5 in midfield when defending if done properly. However if the players aren't quite suited to it you can end up with a load of players that aren't doing the job of either a forward or a midfielder and end up being wasted. Can see this happening with Rodriguez.

We really weren't great tonight, but depends how you view pre season games and Bristol City were always going to be a tough test. Hard not to feel our squad isn't quite strong enough yet though.

Will the games be played behind closed doors anyone know?

Of course and have to start somewhere, more than happy to chip in myself.

Nicky Banger, he senses danger... Never sure why he didn't quite make it, always looked promising back in the day. £70k is a big ask to raise. Will donate this evening.

What do you mean it "should"? They got used to real quality up-front and so that's what they're obviously going to compare to. It wasn't the exception, but the norm - Wright-Bergkamp-Henry, not like us just having a unique one off like Le Tiss. Plus they were then told that by moving to a new stadium and doubling ticket prices they'll be better able to compete and the opposite has happened. They don't rate Chamakah or Gervinho either, that doesn't mean they should think Walcott is amazing because other players are a bit rubbish.

No, just highlighting where Arsenal's reference points probably are in terms of quality forwards.

But compared to Henry, Bergkamp, Pires etc.......