UpweySaint

Not even as a player who can play lb, lm and, im told, down the right flank as well? I imagine the english player premium would mean there are better options but we could do worse! Lowton was pure class though and has played every game this season for Villa, if we didn't have clyne i'd love him!

Lee Clark may not have much choice! He's not in charge of the ins and outs, the club may well find themselves in even more trouble soon and he only has one year on his contract with the uncertainty at the club at least something that will come under consideration should he be offered another.

I think you missed the boat on this one The whole villa vs wigan game may cause some problems ...

I've got it as twelve but either way double figures is decent for a rb! Not sure why you think he couldn't play against spurs. Is he likely to command a starting spot in a prem side, maybe not, but surely he's a better option then Yoshida, who has had some terrible displays out of position, and Cork who has been vital to the way we play alongside morgan in midfield?

He was FAR from the worst offender tonight. Albeit not his shining hour but been one of the few bright lights fur sunderland this season and they seem pretty keen on keeping him, must be a reason.

Likely but they could yet go down or we could offer him a chance to stay down south being a london lad. Worth a punt at least.

Money where mouth is, fair enough. I think we'l stay up but wouldn't mind a grand to console me if we went down!

Doubt anybody else is watching but Villa Sunderland cracking game. Got me thinking I'd take Rose. On loan from spurs and rumours are he's likely to have a permanent deal at sunderland but could we hijack it? Can play lb or lm, has pace, eye for a pass and defensively sound. The price quoted around in a few papers is up to eight mil with so much of it up front. Sidenote Lowton looks cracking! Not a player we need with Clyne established at rb.

Perfectly fair point but I dont think utd can be our benchmark, aspire to the best and all that but we dont have their pulling power and may have to play the long game to attract the best players. Ramirez case in point, had Liverpool, Spurs or AC Milan come knocking we'd be in trouble whereas I imagine Utd dont have similar issues, not many sides can wield that kind of pulling power.

Spot on. Was a very good player last term and I dont see that he suddenly couldn't do a job for us even with conceding Clyne looks the better player at such a young age!

Ok we might be more likely to look abroad but I certainly wouldn't rule out championship players. Look at how a lot of our lot made the step up, is they're good enough and the price is right, whyever not

What's wrong with Richardson? Honestly dont get this, havent seen have any mares, has enough pace to get up and down the flanks ... he's no clyne but could certainly do a job rather then shifting cork out of the midfield where he's been key or putting yoshida on the flanks where he's been useless.

Being a bit picky but he's not really an academy grad. We got him in from eastleigh. All the same good to see the lad getting first team football at a decent level!

In which seen do you start the mexican wave and when does it end or is it continuous throughout its entirety? Thats committment to mexican culture right there!

Woah calm down, he said IF. No harm in a bit of pessimism. Its far from likely but football is a funny game. Im 99% sure we'l stay up but until we get one more win or the next batch of results go in our favour I wont be popping champagne corks just yet Either way good to hear about Forren, would love to see him given a crack against spurs. Though if Forren is paired at cb it leaves open the whole "who's playing at lb" issue.

Good post, the troll should put up or shut up. Though I would suggest our transfer policy has not been quite "spot on". It's been good and done the job but there have been a few quibbles for sure.

Ok I know its bad form but football manager suggests he can play right or left back, its not gospel but they do an amazing ammount of scouting. Ince probably will, true. I do wonder though if he's learnt to only go back if he's guarenteed a certain ammount of first team oppurtunities as that's what forced him out in the first place. Agree with Phillips. I think he's gettable and could do a job now as well as developing. Sidenote I think he's Scottish technically but it's all the same in football terms. No doubt he's done well, award winning season for the lad, I just don't know what sort of striker he plays best as. Err I believe he's still owned by Udinese but the transfer may become, or have became, permanent. Not that it stands for much with the arrangement they have!

I rate Schmeichel but not sure he'd be a number two. Would provide serious competition for Boruc though with KD not really trusted and Gazzaniga hopefully going out on loan to get a run of games. Trippier is a very good shout and hopefully we'l have fairly decent rep with burnley after giving them a fair deal for rodriguez. Ince might cost a small fortune but certainly would fit into our side. I still rate Phillips and would love to see us go back for him. Not ideal but he sulked after not being allowed to talk to us last summer so eventually they may have to cash in, five million could land him and would be good business. Vydra has shown quality but I admit I haven't seen enough of him to know if he'd fit into our style of play. That annnnd should Watford go up he's surely going nowhere?

While I imagine some of the delays are due to "penny pinching" (not the worst thing, nothing wrong with being financially prudent in the right situation) I would also imagine, such as in the case of Ramirez, there are other external factors. With all the teams supposedly interested I cant imagine his agent pushing to get him signed asap while his club were playing the long game praying for a bidding war that never really materialised. Not NC's biggest fan but he tends to have been effective and efficient in the transfer market to a point especially when you look at other teams. Did we sign every player we needed in the best manner over the summer? Nope. But we did assemble a decent squad and tick most of the boxes with some real bargains Clyne, Davis, Yoshida .. Rodriguez certainly looks like he might be value for money too!

Have you ever tried starting a mexican wave at the theatre? Dont half get some odd looks during Hamlet!

Standing areas it's inevitaly easier for the louder folk to congregate and once you've got a solid group making some noise you'l find more join in, simple critical mass theory Maybe post super stadium expansion we can chuck some "safe standing" (I love the fold up fold down ones used in Germany) behind one goal like at Dortmund and group together some of the more vocal lot.

Feeling v doom and gloom about this one. My spurs supporting housemate is going back to see this one for his birthday and he fancies an easy win for them too. Think we'l lose but hope we show something else then we did against wba. Jos out, was woeful saturday. Boruc Clyne Fonte Yoshida Forren Cork Morgan Punch Davis Lallana Rodriguez Puncheon will hopefully play with a man with a point to prove, Lambert has looked lacking sharpness last few weeks, would like to see him as an option off the bench, a five man midfield should keep us solid while allowing for quick counter attacks.

Fair play, I should think we might be in similar spirits had we had your season, all the best and good luck for the rest of the season. Hopefully next year we'l give you at least one better game, maybe even two!

At the end of the day it's up to MP. I think he'l get to know his squad by next season and if he still feels having AL is cpt is best then thats that, if a change is to come it'l be over the close season. Personally im happy for Lallana to stay as he's been a big part of our club for years and has earnt the chance to lead the side out BUT I seriously hope he'l be a bit more vocal next season in games like yesterday.

Likely but Cork is kind of wasted at rb