sharkyvilla

My mate Dwayne is built like a brick shit house, or at least he was until he lost his legs in a car crash. He's more like a brick shit bungalow now

There were always likely to be big bumps on the way this season. Saints to be fair this season have looked half-decent, much better than 0 points suggested and much better than a lot of the league imo. I think the positives we saw in the previous two games far outweigh the shocking 40 minutes or so yesterday but it is going to take a lot of work. That is why most of us expected nothing better than 12th this season when asked earlier in the summer, and it is not going to be plain sailing. I am still very encouraged by the work Lambert is doing.

Trouble is, if we can't pick up points from teams like Southampton, we are not going to get enough points to make anything like 12th.

Trust me we will pick up plenty of points, especially from the new year onwards and especially at home

Just finished Skagboys by Irvine Welsh.

Set a few years before Trainspotting and gives the back story of the main characters. Not a bad read, lacks the fizz of Trainspotting but entertaining anyway.

I read that a while ago too and have been working my way through his stuff over the past year or so. Filth is something else. I've started getting into Phillip Kerr's Bernie Gunther series, I read one of the later ones to start with and really enjoyed it and am starting back at the beginning of Berlin Noir now.

We did harvest festival and sang hymns, I just assumed that was a normal thing at primary school, I'll have to ask the folks whether it was a CofE school. I'll be very shocked to find out they sent me to one when they didn't even bother to Christen me. Towards the end we dropped the hymns and started singing things like Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds and Puff the Magic Dragon, whether that was due to the change in headmaster or policy or what, but could explain why so many went on to become drug addicts. I loved harvest festival. I would happily send my kid to a school like that if it was convenient and had a great record from Ofsted.

There were always likely to be big bumps on the way this season. Saints to be fair this season have looked half-decent, much better than 0 points suggested and much better than a lot of the league imo. I think the positives we saw in the previous two games far outweigh the shocking 40 minutes or so yesterday but it is going to take a lot of work. That is why most of us expected nothing better than 12th this season when asked earlier in the summer, and it is not going to be plain sailing. I am still very encouraged by the work Lambert is doing.

Not a club one but I really hate the 'Your support is **** shit' chant. It just doesn't have any wit, you either sing about your club or if you're taking the piss out of the opposition then at least be a bit clever about it

**** me I think that Oscar goal is the greatest I have ever seen! Up there with Messi's chip for the Argies in the Copa America

I will never ever wish a poison croissant on anyone ever again. RIP Woolnough

He seems a brilliant judge of a player. It's hard not to get over-excited as there will no doubt be a few bumps on the way to the end of the season, but top job so far Lambo.

I have no real problem with City, in fact I much prefer the way they have gone about it than Mourinho's Chelsea for instance. If you're going to spend money then do it with the most exciting players you can possibly buy, don't suffocate the life out of the rest of the league like Jose did. Is it for Villa? I'd rather we slowly built with Lambert, I think the challenge is far greater and we'd have a bit more pride if we ever managed to get to where Spurs and Newcastle have got themselves to recently.

Just that Jimmy had invited him around to Sunday breakfast in his kitchen (It used to be called Jimmy Hill's Sunday Supplement) and he used to ridicule virtually every opinion that poor old Jimmy had. Plus Woolnough comes across as an absolute bell-end anyway.

Sunday Supplement is ok if youre happy to listen to in depth analysis of Spurs and Arsenal for 2 hours every weekend .

If ever a batch of poison croissants needed to be made it's for that programme. I'll never forgive Brian Woolnough for the way he used to talk to Jimmy Hill.

Sky sacked Mark Bolton. Neither Sky or Bolton have said why.

from his twitter feed in july2011

Sky Sports told me Im “Very talented & excellent on screen” but that Im “Anti-authoritarian” & that they’d decided to not renew my contract.’ So basically they dont like my attitude and wanted rid of a potential troublemaker within the company"

Wasn't it him who headbutted Richard Bacon for going out with his ex-girlfriend? Could have been someone else on Sky but I think it was him. He did sometimes have strong opinions on screen which I guess is more the pundit's job than the presenter.

I know comparisons are never the best but look at Sky football pundits and cricket pundits...On cricket most of the commentators are insightful and know what they are talking about and are not afraid to say it as they see it like Hussain

You're right, Zatman, Cricket punditry is a million miles ahead of that for football. There are almost no rubbish cricket pundits, and a heck of a lot of really really good ones. The worst cricket pundits in this country are probably nearly as good as the best football ones, and the best are in another league altogether. I'm biased maybe as a cricket lover, but as far as coverage goes, it's the best of any sport, I feel.

There is quite a difference in the level of education that Hussain and Atherton had compared to say, Jamie Redknapp, who can't even string a sentence together. Most of the cricket media have been university and even privately educated, even Phil Tufnell who is my current favourite on TMS. I think James Milner has A-Levels but I wouldn't bet on many other current or former footballers having the same. I'm not saying that is the only factor but it must have a lot to do with it.

I love Gerry Armstrong when he commentates on La Liga and when he's on with Kevin Keatings it's fantastic. Rob Palmer, the other guy who does La Liga is a clearing in the woods and goes way overboard with the Barca loving (as much as I love Barca). Scott Minto is shite.

I like Lee Dixon, I think since he has moved to ITV it has shown how good a pundit he really is as he sticks out like a sore thumb amongst that shower. Really confident and almost looks like he has bothered to do some media training. I also like Graham Taylor when he's on Five Live and I've enjoyed Joe Royle when he's been on ESPN before, he actually goes out of his way to praise refs from time to time.

Randy's made lots of mistakes but he's learning from them. I'm not sure what more we can expect of him, other than discover the secret to time travel and go back and correct the cock-ups the club have made over the last 5 years. He's obviously decided the club should go on a different path based on a completely different financial model and has recruited a manager with the same values it seems. He's then backed him with funds to do his job and I expect after a slowish start, the club to grow quite rapidly again. Can't wait.

I'm surprised he's gone for two up top, maybe he feels it's worth throwing caution to the wind. He's said he goes into all games thinking he can win. However I struggle to see anything but Newcastle domination for 90 minutes.

On FM I've had bastards who wanted a certain amount of money per week for the rest of their contract when I've tried to flog them. I expect real agents are even bigger scoundrels. The trick is to not buy utter shite from other teams in the Premier League and I'm glad we haven't. A bit risky for this season but in the long run the right approach imo.

I'm just pleased that we seem to have learnt from our mistakes. Lerner has given some decent funds and Lambert hasn't just blown it on the likes of which we've blown it before. I'm not expecting miracles but I see this as just part 1 of the recovery. Hopefully we'll show some heart in the first half of the season, before becoming stronger in the New Year, giving us some momentum going into the summer where I think we'll really start to kick on. Good luck to the lads anyway and I hope they hold their nerve.

Even with the signing of Benteke I think this window has been pretty much been a disaster and it comes the same month our owner made $1 billion.

I've been pretty furious and I'll admit probably very annoying on here. I don't think I'm even angry anymore, I'm just really gutted, really, really gutted.

The major dissapointment for me was that some really good players have moved this summer to teams that I believed we're bigger than.

I don't buy the idea Lerner will spend next summer, it makes no sense to risk relegation if the money is there now?

Maybe something amazing will happen tomorrow but I just can't see it.

Has Lerner actually got the money for the Browns yet? I didn't think he could officially sell until October. If Benteke signs then the spending would be above £15m and it's possible there will be other moves tomorrow too. If you compare it to the £24m Sunderland spent on Fletcher and Johnson alone then I think we've done the better business considering the whole squad pretty much needs changing.

I'm glad with how we're doing things, its clear we dont want to end up with players like Warnock and Hutton over the coming years.

Shit players on big contracts that nobody will touch, i dont think anyone we've signed could be put in that bracket.

At little less risky yes but if it means we're not stuck with bad eggs then so be it.

I could see some Villa fans creaming themselves if we were QPR right now.

Exactly, I get a bit fed up with people saying 'oh look at Sunderland, Stoke and QPR, we'll get left behind' etc etc. We've been there, done that, and it didn't work. I'm much happier going for young British players and slightly more experienced overseas players.

Spearing is gash

Just take one look at the pool forums to see how they rate him

According to them he has half the ability of Henderson and we all know how rubbish he is

Tbf most Liverpool fans are completely nuts. I'd say Henderson has no ability, at least Spearing can win a tackle and has a good work ethic. We're also comparing £20m against about £3m. I think El Ahmadi would appreciate someone like Spearing next to him.

Neil Moxley claims we're in for Spearing

Vomit.

I actually reckon he'd be a good signing but probably belong in the wrong opinion room for thinking that

If we could get rid of Hutton for £1m, Warnock £2m and flog the Zog back to Wigan for £5m, that would free up a shit load of wages to partly pay for Lennon and Parker say for £12m for the pair, that would be one more nice surprise before the window closes.

----------Given-----------

Lowton-Vlaar-Dunne-Bennett

-------Parker-KEA---------

Lennon--Ireland--Gabby

-----------Bent-----------

I'd feel more comfortable about that

I really hope Lambert tries for Lennon. He's one of the few players with Prem experience that are still young and if Spurs have listed him, relatively decent value. His pace and ability to take a man on would be a welcome change. Him and Gabby either side of Bent would be an interesting combo, plus throw Benteke into the mix too and things look a bit brighter.

I'm not going to get my knickers in a twist about signed the young unproven lads as I think we will benefit in the long run much more than panic buying. As long as we stay up...