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So that''s a whole new right side from Scandinavia in the past 6 months! And our second full international from Euro 2004. Now we''re cooking with gas. Ama

Hmm, why is it we rarely (if ever) loan players out? Other clubs seem to do it more than we do, mainly younger players drop down a div or two to get experience and build them up. Strikes me as a way of saving on their wages (thus allowing a bigger squad) while not losing players who might make it but haven''t yet.

I think Worthy is very astute and knows when to involve the media - perhaps to put pressure on an Agent or selling club - and when to keep schtum, just telling us that he''s on the case but not revealing any more. Sometimes there are other parties involved who have other agendas and that throws a spanner in the works, or a player simply chooses or refuses us, but he''s done well so far. At least we''ve got something to look forward to, unlike the binners who are struggling to put 16 senior players together to make a squad for the opening game of the season ;-)

I think he should stay, provided that he''s on practically naff all wages. He won''t feature for us this year, but could spend a year in the reserves, rebuild his match fitness and be ready for the following year. We could be back in the Championship, we might have lost a player or two up front, and we may then need him. I think he''s capable, when he came back last year didn''t he score a few before he got injured again. I think his stats for Norwich are 7 in 30 starts, which isn''t exactly hopeless for someone who has been recovering from injury most of the time he''s been here! So I think, pay him very little, keep him and see how he gets on in the reserves. Maybe even loan him out to a Champ club during the season to build himself up and get a proper look at him. Although, it does look like the writing''s on the wall and NW will let him go....

I think we need to let this one go, its becoming like the dead Parrot sketch. Ama

Worthy said no to ''the whole package'' so there''s something in there that''s not right for us, or out of our reach. The price sounds good at 500k, so perhaps the wages or signing on fee or something are too high. Or perhaps the aussie mentality wouldn''t fit in our dressing room of good apples! (I can''t help but think of Muscat, Tiatto etc). Ama

Hmm, its not as if Arsenal have a threadbare squad now is it?! They''ll have another full international waiting to step into that position!

Well said bananaman, if we enjoy the ride and expect the worst, anything else will be a bonus! And when I look back, imagine how we''d feel if we''d gone up through the playoffs in 02? Our squad is much stronger now than it was then!

Yeah, I''m certainly going into this season hoping for some results but expecting the worst. At the end of last season everyone seemed to say "yeah we''ll come back down, but its gonna be a great ride" amidst the euphoria of promotion. Then after a few weeks there seemed to be a belief that we could do really well. Now we''re nearly there I think the reality that yes, its a tough call, is starting to bite. I''m still feeling "yeah we''ll come back down, but its gonna be a great ride" and I hope we sing like Portsmouth did when Arsenal thrashed them 5-0. Just maybe, we can go on to do what Portsmouth did after that.... I see all the predictions, but I also remember that they''re rarely right. There is always a surprise or two (not least, us getting promoted!). That''s why its so exciting!

I think by putting Briggs on the list rather than paying up his contract, the hope is that he will go for a small fee, so at the moment we''re not throwing any money away. (Mind you, he will probably earn in 10 weeks what we would get for him as a fee!). Crewe were interesetd in loaning Rivers in about March weren''t they? But I guess at that time Worthy felt he needed him as cover for our run in... you never know. Water under the bridge now though. Ama

Could it be an injury? No, that''s too dull. And anyway, Worthy said he was injured. BTW, My sauces aren''t anywhere near the ground. Ama

Nah, it wasn''t to make people look stupid - most of them are long gone anyway! The point is, this time last year it was all doom and gloom and people thought Worthy didn''t know what he was doing. Clearly neither was really the case, as hindsight now proves, so perhaps all the moaning that has started of late is also misplaced. It could be the end of Aug before we get the players we need, just like last year. I just think a bit more optimism is called for... look at those old posts and see how far we''ve come in under a year! Luke Beckett... LOL!

And Helveg too apparently, that''s why he didn''t play on Sat. Perhaps Worthy is losing the dressing room, time for him to go?

Mr R - I think he was suggesting that the white players have been arranged so that their number are symmetrical about the centre of the photo. I think it may be heighist as well - all the shorter players are on the front row. Ama

And anyway, one player alone can''t guarantee our survival. What if he gets injured? One player alone didn''t get us promoted, although he did play a big part.

I have a nagging feeling that you''re on a wind up and I should just ignore you G&Y, but in case you''re not, this should help set the record straight: We''ve signed 5 new players so far, with more to come. Helveg replaces Briggs in the squad, but cost less than him. Want to talk about the relationship between transfer fees and quality? If Helveg had cost 2m people would still say he was a good buy. Plus, we''ve paid out in additional fees on players like Huckerby, MacKenzie, Svensson, so he''s spent more than 750k. Plus, for the first time in years we''ve got a top quality player in Green who we haven''t had to sell, and who''s signed a new contract with us. Which is a bit like signing a new player. Plus we didn''t ''win'' 20m when we won the 1st Div. We get about 14m from sky I think, much of which is already committed. Plus, we won''t go bust if we go down, unlike some other teams in this part of the world.... Ama

I couldn''t resist re-surfacing this old post too, as it encapsulates the problem with people moaning. We should have pushed the boat out for Gareth Taylor... the club lack ambition. Well, hindsight suggests that when Worthy said he''s not worth that much... he was right. Which suggests that we should trust Worthy a bit more with who he brings in. He''s brought success to the club on the back of some good players and an effective attitude and style of play. He''s not perfect, some players have been and gone, but as long as we''re moving forward that''s fine by me. And replacing Briggs with Helveg looks like moving forward to me. Ama

Its funny how some things never change... need a new striker and a midfielder... not happy with NW''s tactics.... change everything. What can we learn from history?

Something to moan about I guess....

Nothing like a bit of old post revival to bring some much needed perspective to the proceedings... ;-) Ama

But have you seen him do keepy-uppy with his balls?

Probablynot true, but would be a good idea to build them up. We still need extra players though and that would only exascerbate the situation....

Clobbered Leicester?! Didn''t we draw 2-2? But my point was, was last pre-season anything to get excited about, did it point to what was to come?

Here, here! (Although, we did beat them 2-0 at Highfield Road in about Feb) But yes, moaners: be gone with you.

"I recall the pre seaon games before the play off year, we bristled with intent, and anyone could see we were ready for a successful season." But we didn''t go up, and then last year scored more goals without giving any clues in pres-season that we would. All I''m saying is, don''t judge our prospects on one pre-season game, because its not a good indicator. The first few games of the season are a much better indicator, see last year.... Ama