Monroe Transfer

The amusing thing about the whole Cockney Mafia nonsense is that Ashley isn't actually a cockney.

Yeah, bit early for the Sir Bobby comparisons, although I understand the underlying sentiment.

The good thing about the likes of Routledge is that they've got something to prove. Indeed the whole team do really, but things didn't work out for Routledge at Spurs and Villa (who clearly saw something in him) and he'll want to deliver on the potential he showed at Palace a few years ago. He's only 25 but he'll do well to get m/any more chances in the Premier League if he fails again. I personally think he's been a fantastic acquisition. Same goes for Williamson, another new face with something to prove in the top league after what happened to him at Portsmouth.

There are a few who clearly aren't worth holding on to in this league. There are even more whose abilities in the top division are debatable (Simpson for one, despite my sig). I think a top class striker, a CM, and a RB are what we need in as minimum. CM is an interesting one as on paper we look pretty comfortable there as it is. However I think Barton is too unreliable, I doubt Nolan will be able to deliver consistently, and Guthrie I like but I'd rather have him as a squad player if I made my way. They might be important members of the dressing room but playing the likes of Smith and Butt will just be asking for trouble. edit; Do I think we'll get the 3 (minimum) - 6/7 (maximum) players that we need in? I honestly doubt it. Time for Ashley to prove me wrong.

He's also a bit... predictable? In this league that's not a problem as he's far too strong for most defenders.

Forest deserve it, if that's possible. I'd rather the weakest club of the lot got lucky, as others have said. I'd hate to see Boro manage it - not likely I know. They don't deserve it at all. Doubt they'd fill their Wembley allocation even if they were to make the final.

Bit early to come to a conclusion like that isn't it? I'm giving every member of the relegation side a proverbial blank slate to work on from next season. Delivering in the Championship doesn't guarantee a great deal about a player's ability in the Premier League. I fully expect the likes of Gutierrez and of course Enrique to prove themselves as genuine PL players next season. They're clearly too good for the Championship.

The club handled the situation impeccably tbh. Can't fault them. Stuff like this would have been in the papers for days upon days in years gone by. The complete silence put an end to it having any real damaging effect on the team and indeed the club's massively improved reputation (as I perceive it, at least). The fact that this was the only real controversial incident is quite astonishing really, compared to what we've been used to. Doesn't matter that we're in a lower league - any controversy involving us would have made it all over the back pages regardless of what league we're in. As was the case for the topic of this thread.

Should see if we can get Benzema on loan. That Henry is getting on a bit too.

Won't miss the standard of refereeing. Will miss being on TV so much. I live in the South at the moment so can't get to many games, and since I can't rely on streams in this division, very much appreciated the media attention Sky and the BBC gave us.

Wonder if he at least came down to the changing room after the match. No sign of him in the .co.uk pics.

Stopped reading there.

Still a few tickets going apparently. I'd love to be there myself but it just isn't feasible especially on a Monday evening.

Would be the biggest anticlimax in the club's history if we did... maybe less so if Forest don't beat Cardiff. In all seriousness the vibes around SJP alone should carry us to a decent victory. 3-0. Ameobi (not sure Carroll will start), Lovenkrands and Smith. Can't think of a better night for him to actually score on.

3-0 loss, Barton found the champagne before the match and couldn't help himself.

Who is the they that deserve it? Not the fans. The board, whoever got him in. Was he simply a cheap option?

Got a long way to go before most fans will be comfortable with him. Right now I appreciate the stability but this coming season is going to be massive not just for the club but for Ashley, presuming he doesn't sell regardless of the increase in the club's value. I'm not expecting a great deal and if he doesn't support Hughton this summer then he's learned little.

Anyone, I mean anyone, could have told that getting Laws in was going to be a bad idea. No experience in the league, but most pertinently, he was sacked by a club in the bottom 3 of the Championship. He's shown nothing to suggest that he was much more than a decent League One manager. There's a few names that I could think of that would have been tempted by a job in the PL. But instead they went for the guy who got sacked by a bottom 3 Championship club. Got what they deserved to be honest. It was always going to be a struggle for them to stay up even under Coyle (although they made a decent start especially at home), but one win in however many games says it all. And that was against West Ham.

It's fairly poor form but I guess from an emotional standpoint they couldn't sit through that.

Hopefully he'll get plenty of runouts during pre-season, as well as perhaps a couple of matches in the next few weeks. It's the problem with keepers. Difficult to keep them happy. He knows if he waits a while that he'll probably eventually replace Harper (if he's as good as he appears to be), but does he really want to spend another season on the bench waiting? Especially when he knows he's highly rated and that other clubs want him - although they might be after him as a no 2 as well.

Krul has been superb in just about every game he's played in. Problem is, he's only played in a couple. I can't see how you could choose him over Harper after 2-3 matches. I'd agree with your second sentence but I want top spot and think we're better off sticking with Harper until (if) secure that. Harper isn't really getting any better but he'll do for another season or 2. Krul in the Premier League is a risk, but I do want him to get games as he could prove to be a perfect replacement as no 1 when Harper hangs up the gloves. Keepers can obviously play on for a bit longer than outfield players mind, so it could be a while. Harper will need to cut out the mistakes next season.

Barton off, Gutierrez on. Fair play Chris.

Unbelievable. If we mess this up...

CMON BRISTOL

Bristol will be my 2nd club if they get a winner (assuming we don't capitulate). For a few weeks at so or so at least.