merrimd

AP is also rebuilding his reputation here. The better he does with us, the bigger his next job. If (sorry, when) we get to the CCC, he will be looking for a Prem job I think. I would say Boro is too small a club, too early in his rebuild.

To be fair, his latest injury can be put down to the flying defender who clattered him, rather than the number of games he played 3/4 years ago.

And Harding perhaps?

I think you are right. Claude Makalele was not the greatest player in the world, but made Real Madrid, France and Chelsea tick, just by allowing the great players in the team the space to play. I think that is Wottons role in the team at the mo. The other players are playing fantastic, but I think that is because Wotton is allowing them too.

that has helped us turn the corner do you think? AP takes a huge deal of credit in getting him playing in possibly the most pivotal position on the pitch. Perhaps he DOES know more about football than the rest of us on here after all!!!!!!

Lloyd James. HTH

Should be a good game , just 2 points above us if you count points earnt, but we have momentum so I say 1-3 away win.

However, if we got prmoted from our current position, most on here would say we would already have a CCC quality squad, how many more would we need to bring in?

i would deffo go for emergency seating mate unless you can stretch out. 6 weeks after my ACL reconstruction there would have been no way I could have sat knee bent for 45 mins !!!!

Thinking back it seemed he was never refused a work permit, we never applied for it as it was thought at the time that it would fail. My reading of the situation, fwiw, is that we have consulted with employment lawyers who have told us how to get the permit through, and so have filled out the form and sent it off. Fingers crossed, but I would be incredibly suprised if we had signed him, knowing there may be a problem initially, without sorting that problem first.

Exactly the reason i am not joining in the mass wrist slitting that seems to have broken out!

Only if your forecasts are usually accurate.

FFS, where the hell do you get we should be 2 down?????? They had 2 (just 2) chances all half. But hey, lets ignore the fact we had chances ourselves, plus bossed (as per SSN who i guess are actually at the game so might have an idea what is goin on) the first half. Why bother mate, honestly. Support Rangers or something if you want to win every week. Jeez

Does this still exist though? we have replaced all but 2 outfield players plus pretty much all the backroom staff and board. Ssurely that pretty much constitutes a new team and so, in theory, remove all mental baggage from last season? The only thing still hanging around from the dark days is us, and our mentality will not lose us any points this season.

Maybe NOT losing Saga & Spiderman should be seen as pretty good business (heres hoping they are not just delaying the announcement they have both gone!)

I thought we looked much better second half because of thomson. Not so much because he played particularly well, just that he stayed out wide and gave us an option, plus created more space infield for the midfield, thus giving them more time to use the ball properly. AL only decided to play in the last 15 mins. Amazed people thought it was so awful. It was not good first half but much much better second half and only looked like 1 team was going to win. With a few more games playing together, with Mills, Holmes and McClaggon(sp) back, we will definately get there. I hope.

Am I the only one who finds that funny. Having a pop for not finding any decent players, then backing it up with proof that we have! Loans are probably the ONLY way we will be able to get CCC/Prem quality players when we are so far adrift at the foot of the table. Come January we will hopefully have got ourselves into a decent position in the table and we will then be able to pick up more players who will push us on. I am afraid, we will have to be patient. However 4 permanent and 2 loan signings, all of which are quality players, is all movement in the right direction for me.

There is one other thing in common that is unusual for us. All 4 are better than what we already had in their position. My god.

My hope is that he will free up the creative players (AL, MS) so they can get on with stuff at the business end, rather than having to constantly try to plug up the holes in the back. Heres hoping anyway.

I am wondering if it is more frustration than disappointment. In previous interviews he has stated how hard it is to attract the players he wants here. I think we may need to wait a while before the major player movement as we will need to be seen to be an attractive proposition, rather than just potential, before the Paul Mersons of the worls will drop down to our level. Anyway, 2 in who want to be here to replace 2 who do not is not, in my view, status quo. that is a huge improvement. I like the way we bring in players who are BETTER than what we have already got (all 4 signings fit this IMHO). Now that is a refreshing change.

Its a real bugger that we are not in the ccc. thought that was pretty comprehensive motd-lite style coverage. not sure you can expect anymore for L1 & L2 unfortunately.

I thought he started slowly, got into the game mid way into first half and then faded badly in the second. Interesting how his performance in the game matched the team performance! Just looked a bit short of match fitness, he didn't seem to figure much in pre-season so was quite suprised to see him start. In my view of his performance in 1 word - encouraging.

OBS, I would love to get promoted this season, I truly hope we do, however there are strong teams in Div1 this season, and we have -10 points, so there is a distinct possibilty, that I recognise, that we may not go up. Me accepting that as a possibility is not me showing a lack of ambition, its me being realistic. Am I part of the 'Happy Clappy' crew, just so as I know for future reference?

Thats easy to say, and 2 months ago I would have said the same, but a few weeks ago, when we were that close to going out of exsitence, I felt like my heart was about to be removed. I might have got a new smaller one, but it would not have been mine and I would never have looked at it as mine. Triggers Broom mate. Cannot tell you how awful that was. I honestly hope you don't have to go through that, but I fear you may!

Didn't Mikey F pass the fit and proper test?????? Is that the actual news thats being reported i wonder. Interesting how the price has remained the same (£60m) despite £30mill odd of players have managed to escape!