Shance

Hard to knock Fonte there. He was only answering questions put to him.

Were we actually in for him?

Brilliant!!

Rodriguez is our best finisher so hopefully he comes on and scores. It will do his confidence the world of good!

Would be nice to draw Astra and demolish them, just to rub West Hams noses in it all the more!

I don't know why everyone is worried about Caulker. The lad will do ok for us, he's had a disrupted pre season and is trying to fit into a new system. He didn't start well but he grew into the game and made some very good challenges. The thing that would bother me more is the gaping hole in midfield. If we play like that against Newcastle they will over run us but I am pretty sure that the players dropped a gear after Pelle's goal. There was no need to keep such a high tempo. Overall i'm very happy. We've had a decent confidence building pre season and have won our first two competitive games of the season 5-0 without being particularly troubled. Newcastle's pre season hasn't been great and they lost to York so I think we'll be going into the game with a lot more confidence than them. Add to all that, that we are now seeded, it's been a cracking start to the season. COYS!!!!!!! P.S. Big shout out to Martina who looked very comfortable. Funny how some fans never learn to not write off a player before they've got going ffs.

Koeman swearing on camera.

I'm not.

Anyone got a decent clip of the goal? The link above won't load up for me for some reason.

Of course his reading of the game was good, but his movement wasn't anywhere near what Liverpool wanted.

I think there's a bit of truth to that. They were used to seeing someone as mobile as Suarez up top. Lambert is a lot slower and more predictable than that. We played to his strengths, Liverpools system didn't suit him at all.

His legs weren't gone but you can't deny that he was tired and needed a rest. Towards the end of the season he looked ****ed quite often on the pitch. Pochettino's mental training regime probably didn't do him to many favors in that respect though.

I'll never forget the moment he scored the winner for England against Scotland! Was so proud of him and I don't even bloody know him! haha The only other player to have brought that emotion out of me was Le Tiss!

I'd take Kalidou over Van Dijk all day long. The lad looks class!

Where did that rumor spring from? Doubt we'll be in for him!!

I haven't seen him yet this season but I've seen him play a few times last season and i'm confident he can make the step up. He has all the attributes needed. If he looks lackluster for them atm I can only imagine he's either not 100% match fit or that he knows he's leaving.

Nobody is talking about his pace but lets be honest, he'll struggle to play every league game next season. He needed a rest in his last season for us and barely playing for nearly a year can't have done much for his fitness. I honestly lay the blame at Brendan's feet though. He knew full well he didn't need Lambert and that he'd barely be used. There was absolutely no need for him to buy him.

Agreed. I used to love other fans and pundits saying that Rickie Lambert couldn't cut it or was just a big lump that we hoofed the ball up to. The Norwich fans were especially funny when comparing him to Grant Holt

The thing for me that sets Lambert and Pelle apart is their contribution in the build up play. Yes Pelle can and does get involved but not to the extent that Lambert did. Lambert was double figures for goal AND assists one season for us in the prem. Only a few other players in the top 5 leagues could boast that stat. Yes Lambert is now on the decline but i'd have had him back as back up to Pelle. Rotating those two would've been good imo. One thing in Pelle's defence though is his goal tally for last season wasn't padded out with pens.

OMG OMG OMG it must be Charlie Austins!!! Yay he's signed!!!

It won't happen but could you imagine if it did? Winning a European trophy and qualifying for next seasons Champions League! would be un ****ing real!!

He would be a decent buy depending on the price. Decent young player.

Mane is NOT a winger at all. He's a proper #10.

It is reasonable because I read a lot of it on here. Champions League realistically was never going to happen but it was fun being up there challenging whilst it lasted. I'm buzzing about the Europa league tbh and really hope we qualify as a seeded team! I honestly think that with our recent success, a majority of our younger fan base have become too accustomed to winning ways and now just expect they unexpected. There were so many melts on line coming up with statistics and percentages about how we were going to finish in the top four. Embarrassing really. Anyway, lets make the most of it. I'll take survival this year along with a good run in Europe and maybe a domestic cup run as well.