sydenhamssocks

As opposed to dear old KD who can sometimes turn a straight forward take into a goal ! Loads of top keepers are a touch 'flamboyant' . "One for TV cameras" it used to be called. If he stops the ball crossing the line,then, for me, it's a great save, no matter how lucky or showbiz it was ! Boruc will save us more points than he gives away.

Saw second half. looked a bit tired all over the park resulting in some slack passing and mistakes.Not enough chances created going forward. A bit of pace and spark may well have brought home a point. Liverpool were good... but not totally unplayable. a stronger side might have beaten them today.

Agree. Boruc needs a run of games before we can say if he is the answer or not. For me, he is the real deal and when fully match ready would be our best and most experienced keeper since Niemi. Some soft lad moaning about a bottle of water put the club in a difficult position and created this dead end of a problem. Big Boruc is as mad as brush and was loved by Celtic fans for his crazy ways. Seems we all got to used to whispering kelvin. Boruc in.....if he is no better then we are no worse off....but will desperately need a new Goalie !

Great clip and that's Bristol Rovers boss Mark McGhee heading home the second one for Hamburg !

Reckon Boruc would have kept a clean sheet at Loftus Rd It's time !

Drum roll and crash ! I thank you !! Ah those continentals, always a step ahead It may be, that in pointing out this formation error on my behalf, you have stumbled across the answer to our problems...'The Front Goalkeeper' ! New, Innovative and a must to coincide with goal line technology......now that might just appeal to NC !

Wiki also says "In 2011, Frey joined Genoa on a five-year deal on free transfer after falling out of favour for the newly signed Artur Boruc who joined from Celtic in the previous season" Frey was popular with the fans but once injured never regained the jersey when Boruc took over and had to move on. Boruc played 62 games across 2 seasons in Florence In the relegation threatened season 2011/12 Boruc was a big part of the reason Fiorentina stayed up with 14 clean sheets in front of a poor defence. He declined an offer to stay, with a view to getting a move back to the UK as a free agent, which avoided the transfer window. Have followed Fiorentina for a while and saw a lot those games on live streams. As I said earlier in this thread, when match fit and given a run he will prove to be worth the punt. Got no axe to grind with Kelvin or Gazza that's just my opinion Mind you, Fiorentina have had a cracking start to this season though !

A match fit Boruc given a proper run will ease our pain... just like Niemi used to !

I think your right, it has made a difference. I remember Strachan being asked,after the Cov/promotion game "What do Southampton have to do to prepare for the Premier League" He replied," Definitely bring a couple of players to strengthen, but you cant buy a whole team" To be honest we practically have: Gazza,Boruc, Clyne,Yoshida,Davis,Ramirez,JRod,Mayuka, and you could include JWP & Shaw who weren't first team last season. That gives you 10 new faces. I imagine any place of work would have a change of dynamics if 10 new guys walked in on Monday morning. Takes time i guess !

Absolutely ! looking back at last season,albeit a division below, our midfield generally looked to have the right mix of bite and creativity to handle anything. Our mix isn't right so far this year and whilst the beleaguered defenders are bearing the brunt of the blame,a bit of 'bite' in the middle of the park would take the pressure off. It doesn't have to be a world class star, just a good pro with a good brain who can be economical but assured with the ball and stop his opposite numbers from playing. Granted, the level of opposition has risen in the prem but not at every club. Albion's midfield were not technically so much better, they were just stronger which in turn buys time for the defenders behind them. Who'd be a manager ?!?!

It's not such a sensational idea. Certain players regarded as, below prem standard, can sometimes use the challenge and opportunity of top flight football to raise their game above its normal level and achieve just as much as a billion dollar purchase. Their often combative style of play can be put to good use by a manager who's team is struggling a little and who needs an honest journeyman pro to step up to the mark. A past example of this for us was Chris Marsden during the WGS era. A guy who played well above himself, did a great job for the team and walked out in an FA cup final at Cardiff to top it off. The rush to spend lots of money very quickly isn't always the answer. I thought Nigel might have been the type to give his promotion squad a chance, as many managers do. As it stands, Our current league position would be no worse and the call for new purchases in January would be as loud as it is now ! Of course it can't work for everyone,but, the fact that Hammond, Harding and Sharp were written off before having the chance, may have been a bit short sighted.

Bingo ! Warnock is still working and so will nigel but the prem is a jump to high for certain people. no shame in that just a fact of life

I have to agree. Nigel's decisions generally seem a bit harem scarem. We all know he's learning on the hoof but it's becoming a bit too obvious to everyone else ! The fact that our '5 year plan' came home to roost ahead of schedule may well turn out to be reason that, from top to bottom, the club has just not been quite ready for the prem. There's no doubt that big cash has been spent but it appears to have been some kind of fast track attempt to get us up a level overnight. Of course it's harsh to call for a new manager at this stage but if you take into account all the new signings, they aren't exactly Nigels promotion squad any more, so a new experienced face in charge may well galvanise our relatively new group of players. What ever happens Adkins is not a bad bloke or a bad manager maybe just a victim of too much too soon.!

Here's an old fashioned notion ! Thought the aim was attempting to win every competition you enter no matter what level you are at.Or else what's the point ? For us (or some of us) to think the League Cup is not worth it doesn't make sense. The Man U's etc, may view it differently but there fans are flying all over Europe in the Champs League on a regular basis. We don't have that kind of success in our history to be blasé about a bona fide long established cup competition with entry to Europe for the winner. I can only imagine,that in the event of us ever reaching the League cup final again, Tickets will be easy to get !

Thats the hard to beat Sunderland with only one defeat so far this season . a coupon busting draw !

And... when you see the draw, Both Norwich and Swansea have a real chance of at least a semi final place. A cup run might well have perked things up. missed opportunity !

Boruc is a top keeper and will save us more points than he gives away. so far he's doing no worse than the other two and his experience will tell. Not long before he takes on cult status, it's started already ! He will appeal to lots of cults very soon !!!

The Man in the Glass When you get what you want in your struggle for self And the world makes you king for a day, Just go to a mirror and look at yourself, And see what that man has to say. For it isn't your father or mother or wife, Who judgment upon you must pass; The fellow whose verdict counts most in your life Is the one starring back from the glass. He's the fellow to please, never mind all the rest. For he's with you clear up to the end, And you've passed the most dangerous, difficult test If the man in the glass is your friend. You may be like Jack Horner and "chisel" a plum, And think you're a wonderful guy, But the man in the glass says you're only a bum If you can't look him straight in the eye. You may fool the whole world down the pathway of years. And get pats on the back as you pass, But your final reward will be the heartaches and tears If you've cheated the man in the glass. Dale Wimbrow © 1934 1895-1954 Nige made a few alterations to his version. maybe that makes it fit better ? you would have to ask the man in the glass and be true to yourself !

Absolutely correct !!

Agree totally. Boruc will know what he is up against now, a back four low on confidence and few other attributes required in the prem ! Boruc will be fine. needs games.

You're right too ! we both agree on 10 players who should be on the pitch to give us the best chance of a result. and using your line up, I would also put in Morgan. Probably our current best 11 ? Lets hope they don't make a ****ing mess of it .

Sorry !! Should look like this : ---------------------Gazza/Boruc----------------- ----------Fonte--------Hooiveld--------Yoshida----- Clyne---------------------------------Shaw --------------Davis----------------- ---Puncheon------------------------------Llalana----- ---------------------Ramirez---------------------------------- ---------------------------Lambert----------------------------------

Here's a thought. play with 2 pacey wing backs and 3 across the back to combat attacking height. in a defensive scenario this could mean up to 3 players, (eg Punch/Clyne/Fonte on right) covering one flank. Attacking options would be as normal + more height up for our set pieces. Gazza/Boruc Fonte Hooiveld Yoshida Clyne Shaw Davis Puncheon Llalana Ramirez Lambert Now remember......it's just a thought !

Delighted we have Boruc ! He came in to Fiorentina before Frey left, think it was to cover injury to Frey. Once Artur got between the sticks Frey was never seen again and moved on. As for his time at Celtic,he played under WGS who knew a good keeper when he saw one ! This is a great signing and could prove to be the best of the season...for nowt !

Boruc turned down an extension to his contract with a view to returning to the UK. managerial changes in Florence possibly helped his decision. I have watched a lot of Fiorentina on live streams following a visit there a couple of years back. Boruc arrived and took over from then current and popular keeper Sebastion Frey. Once Boruc got between the sticks Frey never appeared again and ended up moving on. 3 years younger than Kelvin and 3 inches taller he is a proper free agent, not injured or over the hill ! A keeper who commands his box and is very vocal too. I have no problem with Craig Gordon but Artur Boruc with 40 odd international caps and 130 plus clean sheets from around 290 games is the real deal. Lets take on Everton for this guy.....it could go a long way to keeping us up !!