Papa Lazaru

As Ritchie said, its paper talk, i can't see us spending that much on one player. If it were true, then he's proven at this level as a goalscorer and has a bit of pace so i'd be happy enough with him as a signing, but i don't expect it to be happening.

Its certainly a strange win when you look at the stats! Theres no denying we had a bit of help from the umpires, both teams got crap decisions but the aussies got the most and England never win this many tosses in an ashes series usually and it makes a big difference. I also don't think it can be understated how important Collingwood and the tail saving the draw in the first test as if we'd lost that one i think the series would have gone.

If it wasn't for the threat of Ashley and what he will do to us in terms of not selling, bringing in somebody like Kinnear and selling too many players then i'd really be enjoying this season. Its been so long since ive been to St James and been able to see us win, score goals and more importantly look like we will keep doing so. The crowd are happier so theres a more vibrant atmosphere rather than how horrible its been in recent times. But so far, at the time of actual games i've been very happy, its just afterwards when the spectre of ashley returns to your thoughts that you come down considerably.

Aye I was pissing myself at that. Just roaring like a fucking madman as Swann ran straight past him, then chasing Swann all the time screaming and giving it the double fist pump. It was a class reaction, and showed what it meant to him. Also what an effort as captain leading by example all the time with the bat when others around him were struggling. Great to win 2 home series in a row, hopefully this one will be followed by a competitive away series rather than a 5-0 whitewash!

If its set in stone that another 3 have to be/will be shifted then i'd take it, as its much better somebody like Butt than certain other players, if only we could dump Geremi as one of the three as well!

1 more to go, but how coll would it have been if Harmison could have finished the ashes victory on a hattrick there!

There'll be at least 25,000. Huddersfield have 7800 tickets even if they sell half, there'll be far more people in the ground than for the Leeds friendly. 21000 v Spurs is our lowest gate in a competitive game in 16 years, that won't be beaten for a while. I'd say anywhere in the 20,000's is likely, and in the unlikely even that Ashley makes an announcement on monday that we're happy with, over 30,000.

Hi Hard to guess the crowd but since we've started well it will be a decent turn out, though alot could depend on Ashley's announcement on monday and how many people he pisses off with what he does then! I think Hughton will rest some players because our squad is so small and lacking cover in some areas and will probably see more players sold, so i don't expect a full strength team out. But not a reserve side either, he'll have plenty of first teamers out there still.

Agree, he just gets on with it whatever mess ashley leaves him in, does the job not having a clue what is happening or going to happen and this season couldn't have started any better. He's definitely helped get that siege mentality amongs the players and fired them up, so all credit to him. And like you say he isn't another Kinnear, bullshitting everytime he opens his mouth and being ashley's lapdog, taking the piss out of the fans. He wouldn't be my long term choice as boss but i'd certainly let him keep going ahead of some of the people ashley is likely to bring in over his head.

Just had a read of a match thread on a Palace forum, most seem to think when we play we're a class above this division, that Smith looks the business and we were clinical in taking our chances. Also quite a few think we're going to get alot off refs this season being the 'big club' in the division, so lets hope they're right! I also get that feeling, and they mentioned it, that their team gave us too much respect early on and in games at St james' especially we want to see teams being arriving thinking they've got little chance. Look at Reading, after we went ahead i don't think they really believed they would get it back and thats a big help at home for us.

I agree, he'll be hating us being happy and will have something lined up! The genuine worry is that first of all he says he's staying and secondly brings a shite manager like kinnear in over Hughton, that would soon start undoing our good start!

The club is turning into the equivalent of Obi Wan, everytime Ashley strikes us down (sells a player) we come back stronger! If somebody had said four games in we'd have 10 points and one goal conceded i'd have thought they were mad, god knows what crowd we'll see at home to Leicester now...unless fat fuck ashley has appointed Kinnear of course! Good to hear Jonas got some assists as well and goals from Nolan and Raylor, who'd have thought it!

The inevitable wobble has happened which was always going to be the case, its never comfortable with England, but at least with 2 wickets down we already have a healthy lead of 206 and in a way if we struggle a bit with the bat then they should be in trouble batting after us on this pitch!

You wouldn't be surprised if there was a bit of truth in that story. If you believe Ashley is actually trying to sell and Moat is trying to buy, then Barclays could well be holding out for another 2-3 more to be taken off the wage bill before they agree to a deal. How annoying would it be if a sale was being help up by having the likes of Geremi still on the wage bill though!

Agreed, tbh the best chance we had for this season under the fat man would have been if we'd been bottom of the league after the first three games with 20k turning up. He would have shit bricks and (or at least any sane person would) either brought in players or at least not sold as many. As it is hes sitting there now thinking "this championsip larks a piece of piss, surely we dont need two keepers? and Sholas doing great so Carroll can go" This is Ashley, he'd think Shola's going great so him AND Carroll can go as surely the kids will find it a piece of piss in this division as well! But seriously i'd take the way things are now over us bottom, low crowds and in deep shit on the off chance it got Ashley to sell, because he may or may not have but whatever happened we would be starting in trouble and once you're down there with no confidence you can find yourself staying there.

160 all out, lead of 172, the aussies have no spinner playing, good weather forecast for the rest of the test, we couldn't have asked for a better chance. If we do manage to win the ashes it'll be funny to look at the leading run scorers and wicket takers for the series and they'll nearly all be Aussies!

Is that the time he did want to sign and Roeder turned down the chance to sign him based on age and injury record you're on about again? I don't know why you seem to have such a problem with Campbell, Roeder came out and said he'd turned down the chance to get him, one of the reasons being age and he then went and signed somebody the same age or older i seem to recall leading to ridicule on here.

Johnson out, come on!!!

Probably be down to ashley offering him a piss poor contract and we're being out done by Notts County! I suppose thats a good thing, considering our history of inflated wages for adequate players. I mean obviously i wouldn't be offering him a fortune, with the risk of injury at his age etc. but Ashley porbably took the piss and with 1 or both of Taylor and Colo still likely to go we had to try and tie up this deal imo.

I wouldn't myself. Bat ahain and put the runs on the board and have them bat last on this pitch which is offering plenty to the bowlers already!

I wouldn't be suprised if Moat did come on board in some context other than taking over, though what that would mean i have no idea as you can't work out what Ashley will do at any given moment.

Yeah, seems like Broad is taking some of whatever Shola is on these days, he's on fire and long may it continue!

Probably be down to ashley offering him a piss poor contract and we're being out done by Notts County!

Its true though that somebody who does have the cash can buy us now on the cheap (relatively so anyway) and if promoted the value of the club and its turnover shoot up. The problem is as time has gone on Ashley is making us less and less likely to be promoted as he strips all assets from the playing staff. If somebody had come in early paid the fat cunt what he wanted, got Shearer on board (or a proven manager) they could have been looking at a good investment. Now you're taking a big risk taking over when the window is near to closing and we have a tiny first team squad, with more still to be shifted by Ashley.

Oh dont fret, he will be selling enrique too soon No wink Enrique is right near the top of the list for players i don't want to see being sold, i've always rated him and think he will cruise through the championship this season, and he's the only bastard senior LB we have! But if a Spanish club shows up with anything like £3-4m plus i'm sure he'll be on his way with the fuckwitts we have in charge.