Bobbyboy

What it reminds me of is that initial Prem period under Adkins when we tried playing Schneiderlin and Davis in the holding MF role.. once Cork came back from injury it turned around, and allowed Davis to go more forward. I'm concerned that Victor is often up ahead of Davis today. That just doesn't seem right. Of course we had Jos and Fox playing back then, so there's no real comparison. Victor does seem both alone and too far forward though. Just made me think how Davis wasn't a holding midfielder.

When I read this thread I'm thinking things like 'well we never really replaced Cork', 'Wanyama always misses a chunk of games with injury/suspension' and 'we've got those Europa games if we qualify for the group stages' so I think Harry Reed will still get a chance, and this guy. I still think losing Cork may have cost us a position or even two in the league last year because we did end up a little short in that spot last season. The challenge is keeping everyone happy even if they're not first choice/playing every week. This guy may be a very good answer to that question.

Wonder why they're not saying how much the deal is worth? Just that it's more than the previous one. Still, very glad NBC keep it - sounded like the alternative was going to be all over the place with Fox and a variety of others all having a piece of the action. NBCs coverage has been really excellent and very accessible.

I think you may need to say this several times during the season, esp if the nuns aren't working.

This.

- Thanks, that's actually really good to know. We're thinking of just taking iPad, no laptop or anything this time, so hopefully something will work out. Be interesting if Valverde did go nuts and take Mur De Huy by enough to get the yellow. Do Movistar spend the rest of the first week wearing themselves out protecting yellow and leave Quintana exposed for the rest of the race? Valverde's just enough of a contender to make them at least think about doing that.

Last few years since moving to the US I've always done the NBC live streaming package, get to see the whole stage most days in HD, and it's in the morning like the football, so I keep it on in the background while working and ensure I have no meetings planned for any day there's a Cav sprint or a mountain finish. This year though... we're going back to the UK for the whole of July (well, leaving on Friday) so I'll be trying to figure out what happens for coverage in the UK now. Is it ITV4? Is there any online coverage in the UK? (I guess ITV Player?) The Kittel thing is weird though. He honestly thought he was ready and is apparently annoyed at the team for not picking him (though his results were so poor). I wonder if there's more going on there than we know.

I suddenly feel like a huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders. Seriously.

Who will win out of the Big Four? Will Froome hit the cobbled deck faster than Lallana chasing a pay rise? With no Kittel, can Cavendish win a few of the few flat stages? Is anyone going to even bother fighting Sagan for green? Is Simon Yates really 28/1 to win the white jersey? (Seriously that's worth a bet, all that needs to happen is for Quintana to fall over and the French to disappoint slightly, which has been known). Ten Brits this year rather than the four last time round. What's the betting that either the Schneiderlin or Toby sagas are still ongoing when it finishes? Take three weeks off from transfer rumours: it's time for the Tour...

Wonder if that was before or after we determined we were in the Europa? Stephens really can't be too far away from being ready now, seems an age ago he was playing for Plymouth in league 2.

I guess we may have an answer on at least one of those from Mr Blazer this evening.

I'm relieved, when I read the title of this thread I feared that somehow the rules were changing yet again to make the Skates get more payments.

Probably now depends on the sponsors as much as the legal investigations. If Adidas and co make real noises about leaving - or actually do so - Blatter and co will go. If not, they may still go if it is still rumbling after more than a week, but the sponsors are the ones who can make this happen right now. But yes, I expect to watch on in semi-astonishment as Blatter gets re-elected and everything gets buried nice and quickly again. I don't see how it can, but it always seems to work out that way.

I have a feeling RK doesn't want him. He played some in pre-season last year, even had a prem game if I recall, then was shipped out to Hull pretty quick. I think if RK had him in his plans at all he wouldn't have gone to Hull. Happy to be wrong and Gaston to become the kind of player we have seen very occasional flashes of, but I think he's done here because of whatever RK saw last August.

Is he going to put stripes on their cars? That should help

STRIPED not spotted FFS

I still want to know what the question is if Robson Green is the answer. "Disappointing ITV dramatic leads for 200 please Alex" Anyway, if we're talking about the goalkeeper Rob Green, I remember seeing his career end in one very specific moment during the 2010 world cup. It was a rare and beautiful thing, to see something so clear happen in the space of just a couple of seconds as the ball rolled into the net. Don't spoil it for me by pretending he still has a career. Meantime David Marshall would get my vote. He may turn out to be the next Kelvin but that's ok for now.

Who's going to introduce stripes instead of traditional part colours? Do these leaders know nothing about Stripe Science?

Davies is actually a very good comparison in terms of time and impact. Good call!

I don't think we're on the beach, I think we're in pre-season. A game trying stuff out without Clyne, no Schneiderlin available so trying stuff out in the midfield, giving Gazza a couple of games in goal to take a look. This is pre-season before the signings. Just need to get Isgrove in the team and we're back to last July! (And Billy Sharp in midfield of course). I'm actually not sure how much I'm joking btw.

Is there some kind of law of inevitability about SaintsWeb threads gravitating towards the Pompey nutjob thing?

Is that from the exit poll or an actual result?

I used to do Shoreditch to Clapham most days for about 18 months before changing jobs, rush-hour both ways although evenings were quieter. Never had any problems as long as I kept on the lookout. 8am on London bridge every day was very nice. But this was 13 years ago when London was but a small village. And now I'm old and live in Louisiana and don't dare cycle anywhere because the traffic moves faster than London's 3 mph.

I didn't blow anyone up today. Where do I get my 350 quids?

However they won't be able to finish 17th because that's our spot, isn't it?