bobzy

I read this and thought "that sounds like something a shit manager would say, but this is League One - surely that doesn't go on?!" Then I looked at the table and saw where Stevenage are. Turns out, it's just something a shit manager would say.

Which is why he should wear **** shinpads ;P

Not sure they're pointless stats. He's a striker, we need him to be involved, hold up the ball and be a threat. He kept the ball 5 times and won 1 header. He attempted more passes, had more touches and won more headers than Agbonlahor. Who would you rather have in the side?

I've never, ever, ever seen Emile Heskey show any sort of technical ability as per Holt's cute flick against Liverpool. Creating that sort of space for someone to run into alone is valuable enough. I was impressed because I thought he'd be much more immobile. I love the pointless stat quoting by the way. Did you see that Holt had more touches, won more tackles and committed less fouls than Gabby did against Liverpool?

Impressed by his work rate and touch on the ball - thought he was more of a lump than that. Good cameo performance, promising.

I'm not sure anyone has ever said we have a maximum of 2 million to spend - we're just unlikely to pay more than that for a 31 year old? #staynegative

Although it's 2 domestic loans innit. But yeah, I think Holt was loaned from Wigan. Do they play in the Championship still?

We need to end this dirge in the transfer speculation thread lads. Besides.... ...WHO'S COMING NEXT?

Gabby as a genuine winger?

we need more than that. Kea,westwood and sylla all need replacing I'm not so sure. I think some or all of those three could be much better in a real midfield. Their problem is they're all usually played together (or with Dekph) and they all play the same position. With a real AM in there I think all of them would be better. Basically I wouldn't want to write any of them off yet. We just need a creative central midfielder. It would solve so many problems. Delph can then play the engine role that he's clearly suited to and Westwood can sit back and distribute sensibly. A world-beating midfield it ain't, but it has the right components in the right places and would have proper balance.

There's nothing concrete to suggest that Bertrand is now replacing Luna, not least because it's just a loan. Who said Lambert can do no wrong? Well he seems to have no responsibility for poor signings and his main supporters seem to have little issue with performances or results. So I'd be interested to hear what they think he does do wrong as you rarely read it. What are you on about? Of course he has responsibility for poor signings - they're likely to be even more frequent given the nature of his spend, to be honest - it's what he does to address this that's of concern. Bertrand, as previously stated many times, is an acceptance that our other left backs aren't cutting it at the moment. Maybe they never will, but at least we'd be able to move them on (young, still able to do a job at a certain level). It's a fine policy for a club with limited resource. The difference is that people in favour of Lambert not getting sacked (which you're classing as "supporters", haha) can accept he's made mistakes but can see the long term ambition. Those opposed to him are unable to acknowledge he ever does anything right. I take it you're unhappy with the Bertrand loan?

And before anyone says "not experienced?! He's played 50 times for Chelsea" just remember, Clark and Baker have played more than that for us. Westwood can't be far from that number either, yet they're considered "kids" Probably played another 150 games or so on loan though...

With Okore to come back as well, who seems to have the pace that the others lack. Decent.

We can't sign any more players on loan domestically now. We could still bring in foreign players.

It has certainly improved - I think as a result of the more defensive, possession light play. It comes to something when a 0-4 loss isn't a 'hammering' anymore.... Must've missed that 4-0 league defeat. Remind me when it happened?

And also the fact that there's very little value around in January. Summer is the time to spend a decent amount - it all makes sense really.

It actually speaks more volumes about Lamberts' ability to hold his hands up and say "I was wrong", in my opinion. Rather than stick with our left-hand side getting overpowered game after game in the hope that Luna/Bennett comes good, he's moved to address the issue - acknowledging that the signings he brought in haven't instantly been as good as he'd hoped. I completely respect that.

Always look for the negatives lads; always look for the negatives.

Loved that mask/blood photo of him. Would not mess.

Downing and Carroll basically leveled out the ridiculous Torres fee, though. Spurs signings arguably covered by the Bale signing (and Levy having an infamously tight wage control over the club). These clubs both have more commercial streams than Villa as well - especially Liverpool. Chelsea/Man City/Man Utd can make poor signing after poor signing and simply gloss over it by pumping more money into another signing. There's just no recompense for their mistakes. Didn't work out? We'll throw another £30m at the problem! It's not reality - not at all. The Matic signing underpins this. "Sold" for £5m - bought back for £21m. Money isn't an issue. We simply can't operate on this footing, and neither can most clubs in the league.

Apparently. Twitter rumours say we're "definitely" signing one player - various other tweets saying we're "actually signing 2" players.

Looks like a few tweets going round saying that we're in for a CB and a CM tomorrow. TWO signings? Surely not...

Did we play good football & pick up points between Feb & May last season? Yes we did. I don't really understand what point you're making here?

Exactly! Problem is the whole team are doing. "just fine". fine1 fʌɪn/ adjective 1. of very high quality; very good of its kind. "this was a fine piece of film-making" synonyms: excellent, first-class, first-rate, great, exceptional, outstanding,admirable, quality, superior, splendid, magnificent, beautiful, exquisite,choice, select, prime, supreme, superb, wonderful, sublime,superlative, very good, of high quality, of a high standard, second to none, top, rare; More

Yeah, Young was an expensive risk that worked out pretty wonderfully.