Itchen_block4

Andy Carroll, Kevin Davies, Bobby Zamora, Jay Bothroyd, David Nugent, Carlton Cole, Fraizer Campbell and Emile Heskey have alll had England caps - Hardly the pinnacle of English players.The problem is that unfashionable players either aren't given enough opportunity to impress or aren't called back if they do impress. Bothroyd only got a 10 minute cameo. No big loss as he's **** anyway, but people wouldn't be too happy if he was good. Kevin Davies did enough imo to get a second call, but never did.

Lambert is 30 and hasn't kicked a ball in the top flight. He's in the situation that Grant Holt was in at the beginning of this season. If Holt doesn't get a (deserved imo} call up, then I don't hold out much hope for Lambert. I think he is good enough, but I doubt Woy would want to compound the grief he's already getting from the media by taking someone who most would consider a risk. Unless he has a really thick skin and intends to stick two fingers up to them.

The 50% figure is very much a long term plan. The current crop are a good few years away from their best years. Back in 2004, a 16 year old Adam Lallana graduated into the academy. Nobody could have predicted what happened over the next 8 years. The young Adam Lallana had a dodgy ticker and he didn't know if he'd be able to play again. I doubt he thought he'd be a key member of the team that went from the third tier back to the top level. Whatever the situations, a lot will have changed for better or worse by the time the current group are the same age as Lallana and playing at the top of their game. It takes a pretty special player (an early developer physically too) to take to the highest level straight away. Many of them don't, but that's not to say they won't be good players. I can see a few kids being involved next season, but I think it will be a while before they get considered as senior players.

No surprise really. He hadn't played, even reserve games, for months and rarely turned up to training because he wasn't in Warnock's plans at QPR. It would have been stupid to pay a silly fee or sign someone from the limited pool of available players when we could bury the hatchet with Puncheon for free. I really hope that he has changed his attitude for good or at least for the rest of the season.

Not sure what "lightweight" means anymore. I'm not convinced that height or weight have a lot to do with it. Players built like tanks get accused of it if they don't win headers and are **** on the ball. I've even heard people criticise Aaron Martin for being lightweight despite being about 6 foot 5 and built like a tank. Being short is an advantage when it comes to strength on the ball because of agility and a lower centre of gravity unless of course God made you Rickie Lambert. If "lightweight" means 'not very good' or 'needs to adapt' it would be more relavent to just hear that as senior players are the shape they are and that's unlikely to change a great deal.

It's a dream, do what you like.

Same team as the other night, but with Sharp in for Connolly IMO. COYR!

Easier to sell him than to sell a first teamer who might help to keep them up. Silly move from a football perspective, but there you go.

Morrison is a very talented player, but an awful ****. Chamberlain category in terms of ability, but the sort of violent, arrogant, waste of space that gives footballers a bad name. It's not exactly a glowing character reference that he has the talent, but Fergie has lost patience with him. If he does well, chances are he'll do very well, but if not expect fireworks.

Sounds believable. You know how much it was out of interest?

I though he was bonking that fine Ayumi bird?

Davis Richardson, Martin, Fonte?, Fox Guly, Schneiderlin, Cork, Falque Lambert, Connolly Bart, Harding, Hammond, Puncheon, Lee Lallana in for Falque and put Falque on the bench instead of Puncheon. Puncheon apparently was good against Millwall, but he came off knackered and its no surprise as he hasn't played for so long. He needs to be brought back gently to avoid an injury.

How old is Matt Tubbs, 27/28? A bit of a non-league journeyman before going to Crawley and banging goals in for them. People obviously see a lot in this Vardy lad, hence the interest. Never seen him play, but heard good things about the lad.

We've got one new centre forward already.

Amy Fearn, formerly Amy Rayner. Unfortunately she aint much to look at, I'd rather Sian Massey. Bart Richardson, Martin, Jaidi, Fox De Ridder, Morgan, JWP, Puncheon Lambert, Lee

Most definately as we created our share of chances. There are inviting crosses that aren't dealt with, loose balls in the box and strikers in unholy amount of space all over the place in youth football. Although playing solely to exploit youth football's obvious vulnerabilities to pace and power isn't the best way of teaching kids as it doesn't translate to senior football. The youths could play with Lambert in the box and lump balls to him. They'd score goals and win games, but learn very little.

At least we got a consolation.

The domestic market has been inflated for years. We're feeling the full force of it now because we're after the most desirable players with proven track records who everyone else wants too. Most teams do a bit of scouting to find a player they think will improve their team for a price that works for them. Obviously it doesn't always pay off, but that's swhere the likes of Rhodes and Hooper came from.

Deceptive really. Connolly isn't that quick, but you get that impression from the way he plays. Rhodes times his runs to perfection and finishes like a top striker. Time your run wrong and you end up offside or not getting to the ball.

West Ham are winning, but they aren't doing it comfortably. I don't think their run will last. Winning our remaining home game will be very important.

Can't see past Saints winning the league. More likely for me is another team, Reading or Cardiff maybe, going on a late run and pushing West Ham right to the wire and possibly overtaking them. Although West Ham are decent and have money to spend, for me they don't have the direction or the style to run away with the league. Fat Sam's doing for being a hoof merchant who doesn't know what he wants basically.

Rhodes will either stay at Hudders until the summer or move to a decent PL team that can offer lots of money.

As I understand it, the contract he's on at the moment is binding, just not the professional one that he can get at 17 which has more money in it. I'd imagine his pre-contract turns professional automatically so that he doesn't just decide to sod off at the end of it. The EPPP replaces the old tribunal system to decide compensation for when youth contracts run out. I don't think Shaw's youth contract runs out for at least another year, so if Arse and co want him now, they'd have to agree a fee with the club.

Not606 isn't a bad site. It's free for a start.

What are Killer and Claus up to these days?