UpweySaint

Hold on I said likely. He may leave sure, of course its possible. But if he genuinely felt we would go back up and be better for itwith him central to this ...? Well no but my opinion is we are financially well managed, a few big player sales would see us over and we'd keep high attendances. Besides I have faith that long term our academy would see us right

Maybe, maybe not. But NC seems to have acquired a reputation as a man with a keen trigger finger for very little reason. He's been an astute, if perhaps a tad unsentimental, businessman and has run the club on such lines. All the "pressure" on NA was paper speculation. Yes results weren't going were, there was a meeting. Surely it'd have been absurd not to have a chat about things not going well? The meeting may have gone "Nigel I see the task, its difficult, you have my faith. Anything I can do to help?". We dont know NC has backed NA long term as our man and I hope, though football is football, he would see that through. Sorry for the rant but one final point on the spending. Yes in pure transfer fees we spent a good ammount, commentators and other managers LOVE to mention that, but lets be clear we kept wages reasonably low (so we're told) and didn't pay massive agent fees so the disparity between our outlay and other teams on players may, in real terms, not be that great. While we have to have the perspective that of course the team needs a lot of strenghtening. We achieved back to back promotions. A lot of the senior pros from league one wouldn't be good enough for the prem. Butterfield, Barnard, Dickson, Hammond, Jaidi ... I think, or hope, NC would recognise the spend was inevitable and would've happened even if we took another year to reach the prem (we'd have still been in the market for j rod, clyne, davis etc ...)

Ok going down would be a dissapointment BUT perspective. Lambert would stay, his value to us combined with his age he would ikely be overpriced for over clubs. Lallana is likely to stay. He's stuck with us through worse! Ok we might lose a couple but we'd reinforce, it's normal and natural. Financially we'd be ok and could hold onto plenty within reason. Worse case we see more playing time for the young players on the fringe maybe. But we'd come back up sharp. I am very much in the "I'd prefer to go down with Adkins" crowd. I have every faith that long term he's the man to take us onto the next level. He's learning as a manager and will one day possibly be brilliant!

Success is staying up, gladly take 17th though my nerves might not, anything above that would be a bonus and our young squad looking better is also a real plus. Shaw and JWP being in and around the side is a mark of "success" for our long term goals

I think maybe you're being knocked because you've stated your own opinions as if they were gospel fact. Sturrock actually had a good record before coming to us and Hoddle, good tactician or not, may not have been accepted by the fans, players etc. Perhaps it was felt we wanted somebody who would build the club without wanting to jump ship at the next oppurtunity? (Similar situation to Pardew and Adkins, Pardew allegedly had us down as a road to better things will NA wanted to take us onto these better things "together as one"). But heck it's a sport of opinions, this is an open forum, and you're more then entitled to yours though i'd suggest you shouldn't be so surprised a pro hoddle rhetoric is not all that popular

I'm sure other people have a better idea about the technicalities and costings of all this but how practical/expensive would it be to convert one stand to the "safe standing" model? Personally i'm in favour of anything that helps lower, or at least keep down, prices and helps to create a good atmosphere at games. Many lower league and non league seem to have three sides of stadia for standing and a seperate seating area at additional cost (my local club, weymouth, adds on £2 so hardly a fortune for anybody not keen or able to stand for a full 90) and it would be interesting to see if that could ever happen in the top flight ...

In three papers, may have actually come from somewhere. Not sure all the negative press around his agent situation is encouraging but the transfer fee seems reasonable and could be an effective player though I have to admit I have only read of and not actually seen him play!

Ince or Phillips for me in january now more important then ever. Both can play on either wing or cut inside like punch and lallana both do. Personal preference is phillips but wouldn't be dissapointed if we got ince! Of course there are always going to be options abroad and I wont be surprised to see our recruitment special advisory board (or whatever they're called!) find somebody we know little about from a foreign league. Maybe Anders fancies one last season back in the prem?

I'd still say its a learning curve for him. He's made mistakes but long term he is the man for us. He'l grow as the club grows hopefully and I'd suggest sticking with him regardless will eventually move the club on to the next level (a stable prem team!) even if, worse comes to worse, we do a wba boing boing for a couple of seasons ...

I'd suggest Dann is an improvement on Jos so improves to squad and has shown, in the past, the kind of ability to suggest he could genuinely challenge Fonte and Yoshida. Genuine premiership class players who would want to join us, could settle in well, not cost ridiculous fees/wages and are proven at this level are few and far between ...

Ok ok, Dann is not going to be a world beater but could he do a job for a season and a half or more while we see the likes of Stephens progress? If we all agree we need a bit more back up for the season I think he does that, if the price is right. Does anybody have any other realistic options?

Had this conversation with others and seems to be an agreement Dann would do a job but at the right price. For me he knows the league and could well come in and do a job but value for money seems to be found abroad. I'd draw the line at six million personally but sure others would disagree on his value and ability. I'd just like to point out that january is difficult and is not the ideal time to be bringing in players who need time to settle. Better options?

Ryan Dickson would never wear a onesie ...

Lower league or not I'd suggest first team football really helps. If he had gone to Arsenal or any of the "bigger" clubs he might have found himself sat on the bench or rotting in the reserves and may not have realised his potential as early or at all. Dyer, Bale, Theo and AOC are all playing first team football. Though let's be fair I think now Morgan could do a job for many a "bigger" side without doubt ...

I think his circumstances have changed somewhat since the start of the season when, most of us, assumed he was not in the side and would go at the end of the contract. I think perhaps, again pure speculation, he was told clean slate and a contract was his to earn. Arguably he has earnt it and we've earnt him signing up after sticking with him and giving him a fair crack at the prem (not every manager does second chances!). No panic just yet, imagine it'l all get sorted later on ...

Agree with a lot on here. CB and Phillips would suit. Need a little more quality competition in those two areas.

Who expected him to come in and look class ? Could we have signed a quality striker in his prime on a fair wage for seven million (which was NOT all up front and therefore at this point he's more of a five million pound striker) I honestly have my doubts. Yes Ba, Michu etc there are rare examples but there are also many flops of big money "proven" players. Who remembers the brazillian goal machine Middlesborough signed a couple of seasons back for twelve million?!? Rodriguez will get better and we've invested in potential, that much im sure of, how long he takes to start hitting the back of the net regularly is beyond my foresight. Either way had a good game today, ok didn't set the world alight but not many would in a 1-0 against a defensive side, looked postive, good movement and almost had a goal.

A class cb for me. Somebody to challeneg Yoshida and Fonte, as I think hoiveld has been poor this season (dissapointed thought he was the more likely to make the step up!) and the likes of Stephens doesn't provide any real challange. Should we be hit by injury, suspension or loss of form i'd be seriously concerned by our options.

Wouldn't it be nice to be unique in that we back our players regardless of their form or our preferences...?

If he keeps up his form and we stay up ... worth a look for Roy for sure, and he has shown he is prepared to look around. Cortese sign him up!

Fans, of course, CAN boo. But I dont think they should and what does it say about us and, frankly, to the rest of the squad? Back the players on the pitch through good times and bad, all the is Guly good enough aside.

Punch was class, solid across the board, but I went for Morgan. Didn't put a foot wrong all day and kept winning the ball in the middle of the park stopping them from playing all day long!

Good to see KD back in and he looked solid, ok not a major test but you can only play whats in front of you. Really happy to see him helping Yosh, imagine the lad needs a bit of support, has not exactly been easy for him to settle. Shaw, again, looks assured and confident. Has really shocked me just how comfortable he has looked! Rodriguez actually looked ok today, worked hard, found some nice space. On another day he'd have had a goal for sure ... Punch again for me looked great! Causes so many problems, especially when a third player comes out to support him and clyne, be it cork or lambert (who was solid as ever!). Only negatives lallana's injury (GULP!) annnnd our fans booing guly. Came on, worked hard, looked good. Credit to those who sung his name when he was on. Like him or not he is one of our players and we should back him when he is on the pitch in the red and pinstripe ...

Playing two up top it was kind of inevitable. Without the three running back and forth and always having an option playing up diagonal to RL to knock down for Rodriguez will always be a good option.

Anyone so tense they've chewed through an arm? We've had slightly more chances and look effective from set plays, fancy that might be where a goal might come from, both sides very cagey in open play ...