RobM

However true, the injury information we received prior to the last game turned out to be incorrect. Let's hope it's the same this time around

The dumb thing is, even if you paid no attention to his past antics or any rumours about him, just this one action on Twitter is enough to form an opinion. If any other player went onto Twitter to say similar things, they too would be considered unprofessional and an idiot.

Very true indeed. It is clearly unprofessional to make such comments about your employer in such a public way, however hacked off and upset you may be.

You forgot 'wave your season ticket at people you don't recognise'. To answer the OP - it's fine, of course it is, you're there to support your team not join in a fashion show. Last years kit is special too, being the anniversary kit.

All this shows is he is every bit as unprofessional and selfish as we suspected. He ended up with us because of his attitude (leaving previous clubs for the same reason), lost his place because of his attitude, he remains out because of it and he will suffer the consequences of it. It's also a very selfish thing to do, putting a negative focus on the club at a time when things are generally very positive. I've stood by my opinion that he shouldn't be given another chance and it's time to move on. This just backs that up. Spoilt little ****. We shouldn't sack him though, that would allow him to simply walk away and start over. Let him rot, train on his own so not to spread this attitude around, leave him until the footballing world has forgotten about him.

30odd pages and now, thanks to you, another thread to read about this subject. Perhaps there isn't any more to life than Gary Flaming Hooper (how did he get that nickname?).

That might have been true at the time the newsletter went to press.

You're right, I'm sure of that, it was a comment for the sake of debate really as I do see where Alpine is coming from. I know NA made a comment when Lee was first confirmed that discussions had been ongoing for some time, I'm sure that doesn't just apply to him. I just worry that with every game that passes, the pressure on new players increases. On the flip side, the more games that pass, the more games the current squad will up their game in to impress and keep their position, so it's not all bad.

Likewise I've lost the initial excitement about this possibility of this signing, but still think we'll have one last go at a higher - but not daft - price to test Celtics nerve. A kinda 'final offer' approach in case they then buckle. If that doesn't work out, I think we're sensible enough to know to move on before the window closes and we lose all chances of signing anybody. The world is bigger than Gary Hooper.

Oddly, I think that's a good thing. It's another reason to get other players involved - people like SDR who I really think has something to offer, but may otherwise be shut out a bit by this signing. That, plus I don't really care about the cup this year.

I can't and wont answer on behalf of Alpine, but on that note, perhaps if signings were indeed brought in earlier there would be less of a concern about integration, as less games would have passed and more - even if it's only slightly more - time would be on our side. The longer we leave it, the sooner we need people up and running and the more pressure is on to perform, quickly. On a more off topic note, if it had been anybody else (as you open this post) would you have posted the same first response? Argue with the post, not the poster.

I'm amazed I'm the first to say this - Ali Dia. But Skacel actually gets my vote as at least we'd heard big things about him. I blame Burley for playing him in the wrong position though - he was superb in CM for Hearts, we didn't play him there.

It shouldn't cause the team spirit any problems, since we haven't made that many signings. The two new players we have brought in are in areas we know needed improving, so it's not like we have a number of 'Superstars' in the team who will throw a temper tantrum. Generally we've benefited from competition for places, so if this means the likes of Guly and DC (the two most likely to be affected by this) have to step their game up and fight for their place, is that so terrible? The new signings wont go straight into the first team for this weekend in any case, so in the very short term it should be of benefit - the likes of Guly and DC really need to fight to keep their place. I would also imagine some other players will now be under no illusion that their future lies elsewhere though, particularly the likes of Dickson and Holmes who have struggled for games. Holmes especially is well down the pecking order now. The only person I do feel sorry for is SDR, who has a lot to offer and has shown signs of being great for us, but is now one step further away from a regular first team place. We're clearly aiming for promotion and building for the future now, which will always mean putting somebodies nose out of joint so the point is valid, but it shouldn't affect things in a big way.

Wow, he's so young.

Kinda missed the point there. You'd expect any forward at this level to score the vast majority of their penalties, but to score from open play is a good measure of the value of a forward player. It's not the only measure, but given the rubbish aimed at Guly and the love for Lambert, somebody who didn't know better would expect a bigger difference. They both deserve a lot of respect, IMO, even thought Lamberts all-round game is clearly better.

Reading that makes it very clear why he is here - if anybody can help him develop and find his feet, it's us. I'm really excited about the prospect of Falque and Lallana together, switching sides, running circles (figuratively) around defences. Exciting times and definitely a sign of intent, this is a great capture.

Or to appease fans. Even if he knows Hooper is gone, making these sort of comments in the press makes the fans think everything is sweet and Lennon is on their side, when in reality Lennon has little to do with it and the board will decide who stays and goes. If Hooper leaves Lennon will go quiet, making comment about not being able to keep a player who wants to leave, as if Hooper is the bad guy.

Yup Slated when he arrived, slated when playing for us, turned everything around and is now one of our most important and well respected players.

I thought Holmes did well. Caused them a few problems, starting almost immediately after coming on, he made some nice crosses but also did the simple things well. A very solid and confident performance, given his lack of first team action.

An imposter, surely?

He relies on quality service, that's for sure, he isn't somebody who could lead our attack or create opportunities himself, but is somebody who manages to get in the right place at the right time. He's a poacher, a goalscorer with a great footballing brain, but not a one-man strike force like you could possibly have with Lambert.

It's difficult to say we need signings like this, because we're top of the table and managed to win convincingly today without our top goal scorer. But it would be a massive boost, it would improve our chances and just as importantly, it would mean one more position is filled by a player capable of playing in the Prem. If we do get promotion this season, we start next with the core of the squad that got us there, rather than needing to rebuild. But we're doing well at the moment, so it's hard to feel too desperate about it.

We might even get a chance to see a couple of brand new signings for this game. Lee may well be in by then, plus this mystery signing Adkins referred to today. I can't see both starting, but to see something of them would be nice. We should smash Leicester. After todays win, a couple of new faces to give the place a lift and a good weeks training everything is perfectly setup for us to put on a good show!

Some good banter today, probably one of the most positive and amusing days on this forum for a long time. Cheers chaps! I just hope Minty made it to the toilet before it was too late...

Cork for me, with Morgan close behind. Despite Morgans excellent goal, Cork edges it for being involved in some great moves, creating chances and a goal and for his cool, calm movement on and off the ball. A class act.