I watched the game against the Belgian team on LUTV last saturday and I can confirm that Showumni finally stepped up. He looked powerful and provided some excellent attacking opportunities. The opposition were shite admittedly but if he plays like that I won't have any qualms with him. I think Macca knows we have a capable goalscorer (maybe two, let's see how Becchio works out) in Beckford and Showumni and Snodgrass seem to be pipped as enablers, similar to how Freedman played towards the end of last season.

I'm actually impressed by how little Gary Mac has spent in bringing in the players we need pre-season. I agree with the sentiment that we shouldn't have to spend big to escape from League One. Especially given that we already had a team that by rights should have earned automatic promotion last season. I'm confident that he's made the right decisions and our squad looks decent on paper. One good thing is it looks like the goals could come from anywhere on the pitch, which is pretty vital at this level. There's still talk of Telfer and Freedman joining which could provide that extra experience we need.

One thing for sure, that Andy Robinson will have a big impact this season. He's a rotund little bastard but he moves sharper than most players with two thirds of his girth. It's odd watching him tear about the park because he has the least athletic frame that I've seen in a long while. He's not so much fat as stumpy. It just looks weird. Almost Gascoigne-esque at times. He can play on the left or the right it seems. Good signing. Between him and Bradley Johnson we should have no trouble with delivery.

Roll on Saturday. Come on Leeds!

sleepkid wrote:

mattgringo wrote:
Would you believe that I am about to dust my ITFC lampshade?

I need a picture of this. Not of you dusting... but of the ITFC lampshade itself.

He has ITFC underpants as well. I have seen them.

I meant to add before, Jay Bothroyd has gone to 'Peter Ridsdale's Cardiff' for the £300k Leeds offered. I think Leeds have dodged a bullet there. I think he burnt the bridge to Elland Road anyway when it was reported that he was 'pondering' and 'mulling over' the move. From the responses I read on various LUFC forums, 'pondering' and 'mulling' are not desirable qualities in potential signings.

Definitely dodged a bullet there. I don't rate him at all. I think we'll be okay with what we've got now. If the worst comes to the worst and then to the worst again, we've still got Kandol. He's not particularly good but I think he's unfairly maligned. Eleven goals and eight assists in thirty starts last season isn't as appalling as people let on.

Tommy and DRC, fancy a trip to London Road in October?

Maybe! It would depend on me getting the time off work though. Hopefully that won't be a massive problem though.

Maaaaaybe. It's only an hour and a half on the train. Note also that this is home territory for honeyisfunny, although we would have to explain to him what was happening.

I've just joined the League of Slackers. Tough call with the limited funds isn't it? Anyone else get the horrible feeling that some of your 'fillers' are going to be a dead waste of money?

You've got to watch the relegation strugglers and the new kids on the block. Stoke, West Brom and Hull have some very cheap players who will still play every week, as do survivors like Bolton and Fulham. The former have some excellent fixtures going in too.

tommydski wrote:survivors like Bolton... have some excellent fixtures going in too.

Bear in mind though that Bolton will be playing next season with the self-imposed handicap of wearing backpacks.

iembalm wrote:
***Damn. Rangers go out of the CL to Kaunas. I guess I should be happy as a Hearts supporter, but I'm just kinda bummed. I always root for Scottish teams in Europe.

I was pessimistic beforehand and apoplectic afterwards. The manager, players and certain sections of the fans got what they deserve.