Hopkins

Mmmm no...Giving a team the opportunity to not win a game but still qualify does not make games more exciting.

Think it might be the kit. If it is Stephens then fair enough but something tells me that Oldham wouldn't be too chuffed about selling him and then having to wait a few hours for Saints to tease and make up there mind about when too announce it.

Still baffles me how some people don't rate him. By far the best central midfielder in this league I have seen over two seasons.

Hated Pearson and rated Adkins before he came here. I'm awesome.

I'd be very interested in a ticket for Saturday too.

This. Actually knows world football better than any of those as well.

In fairness he's spot on about our game not being a derby.

An absurd idea by the way. Horrendous. Giving a CB a job to play midfield (Whether you like it or not, thats where Jones is, therefore thats where Martin will be ) will nullify our attacking threat as well as theirs. If we really are that worried about Jones then Hammond is more than capable of doing that job, and seeing as thats his natural position i'd much prefer he's given that role than Martin. Personally as much as Jones has scored some goals this year and is one of there biggest threats, doing a man marking job on him is absurd in my eyes because it hinders our attacking play, creates space for others in there team to exploit and will only help to ruin any shape we might have and cause confusion. I'm sure we have ways of dealing with his threat, and i'm sure they are more than able to execute those ways in a shape which doesn't harm our play and suits us better. Sticking a CB on him may plug one hole, but it could easily open up others.

Would take a point right now. Will be really tough and a point is not a bad result here.

Not that bizarre when you appreciate he's scored goals for fun this season. Don't know enough about too many individuals to really pick a team, especially in defence but I'd have Dawson from Rochdale in it. Fonte probably too. Must have a Brighton defender in it, so Greer maybe? Possibly even Calderon too I guess, but like I said my knowledge of League One defenders is toilet. Midfield would be Bennett, Lallana, Gary Jones and Boyd. Strike force would be CMS and BWP.

I request you not to do it. Not only are the majority of the guff, but none of them will actually be right either. This then leads to the one of two that might actually be alright to be deemed better than the one that they do actually come up with which only results in people getting all annoyed and depressed when the one they wanted doesn't get made.

They beat them 2 seasons ago 3-2 at the Nou Camp. A very underrated team and as above I'd fancy them against most other teams in the competition (United, Spurs, Inter, Schalke) but unfortunately I think Barcelona will be too strong tonight and Shakhtar will need too much to do at home.

You've said that with such conviction i'm hoping you've stuck good money on it.

Best passer? Not so sure. If your basing it on stats, I reckon someone like Hammond is statistically better. If your basing it on technique, I'd argue Morgan and Guly have the best ranges, control of passing, variation and ability to switch tempo. Most influential on the other hand...quite possibly.

Certain Plymouth will announce it. Even if Saints don't. It's money injected into the club therefore they will have to announce it to please the fans.

Just a hunch really. I know from various sources (No i'm not naming names but I know a few of the players that left in the summer and friends of them) he was close to leaving in the summer but was persuaded to stay by various people. The French under 21 coach I heard a long while ago wasn't happy with him playing at this level and I doubt moving up one division in 2 seasons will be enough progress for the coach and Morgans ambitions. Fancy him to go back to France and try and get noticed in his own country in the top league there. I fancy him to be good enough but it will be interesting to see how he develops if he does. What is his contract situation? I don't know why really, like I said, just a hunch.

Would without a doubt need a goalscorer. I imagine this will be Adkins first position he'll look to strengthen. I doubt Morgan will be here next season also so a CM will be needed, maybe Stephens on a permanent if he does well. But first and foremost we need a striker. Lambert, Barnard, Forte, Guly whoever, all unproven at that level and personally other than Lambert and possibly Guly (But more as an attacking midfielder) I don't see our strike force scoring goals on a consistent basis in a higher league. 1 or 2 top rate strikers needed imo. CMS will be a target and I hope someone else with him.

Do you know that for a fact? From my understanding of your posts you only know that Southampton enquired about Howard a week or two ago and also in Pardew's era? Do you know when they enquired about Stephens? Do you know about the scouting network that led them to highlighting Stephens? Or do you as I suspect only know that Southampton enquired about Howard and then didn't follow that enquiry up. Financial reasons may or may not had something to do with that. Or maybe they were using Howard as a back up? Or maybe they were using Howard speculation to politely remind Oldham that we have other options. There are a million and one possibilities that lead to the deal taking place. Just because you know Howard was sounded out two weeks ago, doesn't mean he was our first choice. You don't know the details of the Stephens deal. Neither do I.

Derry, I can't be wacked to read 7 pages but can you confirm to me if you have yet to entertain the thought that maybe...just maybe...Adkins and SFC believe Stephens is a better player than Howard? I'm going to say something mental here but I would be willing to back there judgement (bearing in mind its based on numerous scout reports, years of knowledge and involvement in the game and knowing exactly what our group of players needs) over yours.

Do we not have all day tomorrow too?

How about we just wait and see? I wouldn't go expecting massive names though. Just look at other loan deals in this league at this time of the year. Hardly world beaters. The two centre backs for Wednesday for example. A guy who couldn't get in S****horpe's team and a Wolves youngster. We just need someone capable of doing a job for a bit. Few months at most. Youngster or Older player whatever. Let's not go expecting massive names who are signed up to be part of a long term deal because as much as that would be ideal, it really doesn't matter or need to be that.

That's very much debateable though isn't it? I know a Reading fan who says he's pretty average. Reckons that any team who wants to be doing anything in the Championship next year shouldn't be relying on Howard. No doubt right now he'd be good enough, but after that it comes down to opinions etc etc. If we don't think he's capable of being something long term, get something in the short term instead and focus on long term later.

Interesting that you believe we have shot ourselves in the foot by declaring we want to play a passing game but what are your opinions of Brighton this season? They above all else want to play a passing game. Poyet openly admits that is the first thing in his mind and if players don't bring the ball down and pass it they will be out. He even takes all flak for mistakes that come from trying to pass the ball, and unless the ball is a 50/50 one he wants his players to attempt to bring it down. But our talk of a passing game is a hindrance? Personally, I'd argue that like Brighton fans I know, we are better against better teams. Therefore against terrible football teams we are going to have to be patient and take results and goals however they may come. We try and play our football and ensure that the quality comes through in the end. Against better teams our performances will get better because naturally it becomes an open game.

Just out of interest what part of our January do you have a problem with? The bit where the manager and club convinced our best player to sign a 4 year deal? The bit where we signed a midfielder who is very much capable of playing in the Championship? The bit where we as fans were desperatley calling for some options both out wide and up front, but in reality we all knew that the options would only be options and not first team players because you seriously can't be suggesting we go out and snap up a winger that is better than Chambo or Lallana, so instead we get a winger who's played Championship football this season until his club got new owners and revamped the squad and we also got someone who looks pretty rapid and too played at Championship level this season, although not exactly a goal scoring god, there is no doubt that he was not first choice (CMS, who it sounds as though we were priced out of) but instead an option the manager knows and actually offers something we don't have upfront (raw pace) but in reality like most players he's not going to start much while Lambert, Barnard and Guly are fit. I really would like to know what you expected and who you expected would be willing to sign for us in this league with the squad we have.