Fitzhugh Fella

2 players I was especially watching for last night were Sharp and Lee as I have doubts that either are good enough for the Prem. Lee was off the pace all night but as he is returning from injury I think the jury is still out but I do have reservations about Sharp. His main strength is his finishing but tonight he blasted one over the bar when very well-placed. OK it was only v Stevenage (not being patronising - they played quite well in fact) and it is only one mistake but overall I have to say I was disappointed in his evening's work. A squad member I suppose and we could have worse.

You should have seen his awful miss at Stevenage last night

Think thats a bit unfair - I have not sniped at NC at all on this forum apart from when he first took over when I pointed out that as fans we no longer had any rights. That was wrongly perceived by some as a criticism. In fact yesterday I was actively defending him when someone on the Ramirez thread suggested he had hoisted the white flag to Bologna. Rest assured those at SMS are well aware who FF is. I was hauled down to the stadium by Oldknow a few times for things I said re the club. I tell it how I see it no matter who is in charge inc Rupert if you remember. For the record I think NC has done a sterling job so far and the fact he seems to be putting his money (or someone's money) where his mouth is (Ramirez and Staplewood) shows that he genuinely believes in what he is doing. Credit where credit is due, I might not agree with some of his methods but like I said 3 years ago - none of my business really and what do I know about the best way to run a football club these days.

Shame my wife is in Dubai next week she could have dropped some off for you Phil

If any of the bravest phew come on here for info I can categorically tell them that Honest Harry is NOT going to buy them or invest. The source? The horses mouth!

Why not come to the signing party - should go with a bang, Lawrie, Crouch, Lowe, Cowan Wilde, Askham, Dulieu and his Scots mate whose name escapes me?

One day hoping to do a book on the "troubles" - funnily enough the one guy I suspect who would be most prepared to talk is Lowe!

Hi Mark - yes she could, she is leaving tomorrow (Wednesday) and then comes back on Thursday. e mail me your contact details to duncan@duncanholley.co.uk

McNish has now moved to Eastleigh on a months loan - he played yesterday

That has just cost you over three grand

Norm, just off the phone to Terry a minute ago. We are doing a Q and A at 6pm at Waterstones (High St) at 6pm on Thursday, earlier we shall be at Basingstoke Discovery Centre at 2pm. He was none too impressed with the game by the way, but there again who was. He is also going to the Utd game.

David, I reckon 6 quid should do it - making £21? Cheques payable to Hagiology Suited. Let me know your address

Mark - my wife is going to Atlanta next week so lets say £20 or its equivalent in US into paypal (duncan@duncanholley.co.uk) and she can post it then?

Sorry I missed this somehow - anytime you are near Otterbourne give me a shout on 07818403122

I think in the old days the two clubs always requested not to be home at the same time, because way back then there were people (myself included) who would take in each other's game in. Those days are long gone methinks. I wouldn't be seen dead in Farton Park these days

Wise words Toomer but somehow Burley and Skacel aren't in the same League in terms of class and ability. Fingers crossed he will be a massive boost to us but we still need some bog standard old fashioned Premiership defenders and, dare I say it, some pace out wide. Far too one-dimensional on Saturday.

Daft surmisation

We are now grateful we are getting decent rumours? OMG!

How long should we "track" a player before making a move and why wait until the last moment? Its all a tad bizarre tbh.

Well I tell it how I see it and who can complain as to what has gone on in the last two years. I really don't care who runs our club as long as we are doing well. Believe it or not politics is 2nd to football.

I know Norm and I take your point, but a sense of perspective is surely required here. I wouldn't be surprised if the guy was just putting 2+2 together like most of us are on here. It is what us fans do. I am sure NC keeps things pretty tight to his chest - in fact last week it seemed that NA was semi in the dark. The sooner this wretched transfer was done and dusted the better.

Manji just lives for threads such as this as it gives him (presume it is a him) the chance to hurl his "bed-wetter" insult. As soon as I saw the thread GITR I opened it in expectation and I was not wrong. Some things never change.

TBH - he has hardly passed on information that most of us who have been following this thread haven't deduced already? Its a bit of a poor state of affairs when a guy who works at the club on the retail side of things can't pass on a bit of gossip. Back in the day that was what supporting the club was all about - a week of rumours and gossip in the town about the players. Now we seem to be living behind an iron curtain.

I think we remain a good Championship side but we certainly are not a Premier one. The only significant improvement on last season is the addition of Clyne but we know we need a lot more in other areas. (Can't judge JayRod yet as he is being played out-of-position.) People on here are saying yesterday was a wake up call but to be frank we shouldn't have needed a wake-up call to know what the Premiership is all about. Wigan aren't a good side, remember they have just sold their best player, but they handled us with ease once they got our measure. Their finishing was clinical (why does Lallana always want to take that extra touch?), their movement slick and we lacked the guile or skill to cause them too many anxious moments. Come April we may well rue not picking up a point at home against a side who will be relegation rivals. Yes we have 5 days of the window remaining but under the circumstances of us needing to hit the ground running while we bed into a new league, why oh why do we always leave things to the last moment? Some other observations from yesterday I thought Guly worked his socks off but he is not a Premiership player - if he was there is no way we would have been able to sign him when we were in League One. No NC in the Director's box - was he in the crowd? Or maybe chatting a few chairmen up? I hope he has a few rabbits up his sleeve. Thought Davis had a good first half - tidy and busy. Their keeper did not play a blinder - all his saves were ones he should have made. Hooiveld looks really uncomfotable with the ball at his feet but he remains our best defender.

I really don't know how the BBC can continue to report the situation down the road with a straight face let alone a degree of gravitas.