alpine_saint

Well, definitely seems that Nicky, Nigey and Lessie werent paying sufficient attention during that Reading game, considering the amount of attention defensive reinforcement got during the summer

I see it a bit different. You cannot say it took nearly 8 months to realise the squad is inadequate provided we move quickly to address the inadequacies now, which would suggest a degree of preparation has been undertaken during the closed window and when we were performing so badly. However, we are now 8 days into the window with not a sniff of a completion, so I'll conceed the signs are not that good; it does seem not enough preparation was done, which could indicate incompetence/tardiness/control-freakery or indeed a lack of awareness. For me, the biggest issue was that the management should have been thinking about this season from March time, considering about how long we occupied the top of the table, and considering just how bad we were against Blackpool away and Reading at home. For me, this means our transfer activity over the summer was incompetent.

Yep. Good post.

You mean Alex Buttner. Hopefully a kind mod will change the title for you. I thought he had been doing OK performance-wise. Disciplinary issues p*ssing Fergie off ?

And take us back down again. If the "word" is true, maybe Dalek has a point.

For me he will have demonstrated he doesnt have enough for the PL if we are relegated. So what do you do ? Give him a chance to get us back up again then fire him ? Bizarre, you simpy cannot do that. But not to do so risks yo-yoing. Or do you appoint someone who can get us up again THEN keep us there ? OK, here's an idea: if we go down, give him a chance to get us up again, making it clear he has a job still if we are promoted, but someone will be coming in over him. Its up to him then to decide if he can live with that.

FWIW I think he's safe for the season now, but will be gone if we are relegated.

Or is it that we've made naff substitutions ?

Interesting stats, Nick. I dont think anyone, including me, is denying that we have tightened up at the back. But one thing we havent done is worked out to power-on or shut-up-shop once in the lead; we are still leaking points having got ourselves into a winning position. Additionally, it remains to be seen if that start, resulting from a dire transfer window and pre-season, has already dealt the "death blow" to the season, that we simply cannot make up for lost ground.

Yep. I found that comment bizarre. Its a dog-eat-dog world. Look at what might have happened with Buttner's transfer to us.

Tell me, what are the "You're a troll/Skate/lunatic" jibes if they are not aggressive finger-pointing ?

Why not ? Everyone else does it. I couldnt give a sh*t about that.

Noodie, imo he wasnt even given the chance to show he wasnt up to it. Especially considering how the rest of the team was also performing at that time.

Yes, but Dunes various log-in names are associated with various shades of tw*ttishness too...

I'll tell you what. Lets see who comes in for us by the end of January. Then lets see if we can identify one of these so-called legendary "chains" that led to the amount of time it took to close that deal, OK ? If we can, I'll promise NEVER to moan about transfer window activity again, whilst the window is still open. Deal ?

Yep. Written off and f*cked off after two short subsitution appearances. A great reward for the bloke whose goals got us over the finish line.

I disagree. In my opinion he sucks up everything the club says/does and wouldnt think to doubt it/challenge it. I often wonder if NickG has a second user name...

Actually, I was busy laughing at the extremes of it. Its a pity that so many of you have a problem with subtlety; if you arent 100% behind everything the club does, just sucking it up, you are a skate/troll/moron/etc...

Wow, we've descended to posts 100% abuse and 0% content - nice one.

Wow, you've reached new lows of bell-endedness. DD refers to Dig Dig. The world doesnt revolve around you, galley-boy.

Yes, youd rather we save a few 100K and risk losing out on the TV rights bonanza next season. And you have the temerity to call me stupid.

And however many times you whine this point incessantly, it still aint true. I am here after every match, giving my opinion. Also, I reckon the mods could demonstrate that there is generally more traffic following a defeat than a victory. Its human nature to moan and focus more on the negatives. Of course there is even more discussion during the transfer window, especially how we conduct it.

I dont see why having an opinion on how they are signed means I should have one about who they sign. I dont really have doubts about who they are allegedly targeting (though for me there are still question marks about their summer achievements), just seems to me its a bit half-hearted / tight-fisted.

Childish. Very childish.

Is that right ? You reckon players retain their value when they go down in a relegated team ?