Personally, I'm proud at what the club has achieved over the years without descending into Harry Redknapp style spendathons. Yes, we should have been bolder last season but this year, given the likely wages the likes of Pog, Drenthe and Bridge to name but three are on, we needed to be sensible. Plus...

Peter Grant is a candidate but possibly Stuart Beavon for me.

a view from Watford blog BHaPPY:

http://bhappy.wordpress.com/2013/08/18/reading-3-watford-3-17082013/

Here's a Newcastle perspective:

http://www.blackandwhiteandreadallover.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/a-defeat-and-couple-of-injuries-welcome.html

Some good assessments above - the fluidity of the 3 front men was impressive and perhaps hints at how the first team is being set up. Tshibola also looked unhurried in midfield while the only weakness seemed to be with both centre backs - I thought Sweeney looked a bit dumpy and struggled to cope wi...

wrong

Some discussion of the Pog in Michael Calvin's new book, which is a fascinating insight into the world of the football scout. A scout based at Fulham regrets that him getting away and gives a couple of insights into his character. Apparently, at a pre-season training camp while at Stuttgart, he blas...

An interesting perspective from Watford blog BhaPPY - one of the best around:

http://bhappy.wordpress.com/2013/08/01/season-preview-part-5-2/

Here are my predictions for The Two Unfortunates blog. I see us in contention - prepared to be shot dwon about QPR as they could equally finish bottom half although I do fancy Watford.

http://thetwounfortunates.com/ttu-go-predicting-a-club-by-club-championship-preview/

Here is a piece on Lee from just before he signed with Southampton early in 2012

http://thetwounfortunates.com/the-monday-profile-tadanari-lee/

Brighton's pretensions looks pretty silly in view of the boldness showed in this discussion in March

http://thetwounfortunates.com/this-is-albion-2-0-just-how-big-can-the-seagulls-become/

It looks like we are going to finish 19th in the League but we have actually come out of it a place worse when it comes to transport to the Mad Stad:

http://www.bettertransport.org.uk/football

An assessment of Southampton based on the game below which does emphasize the difference in spending between the two clubs but also highlights our shortcomings in comparison:

http://thetwounfortunates.com/big-spending-southampton-need-to-remember-pompey/

Indeed, as another article from the same site argues, being close to other, bigger clubs is actually beneficial in attracting loan players and other spillover benefits. When has having a large catchment area ever helped Plymouth for example? Whereas the likes of Wigan and Bolton have had long spells...

A look at the potential Brighton might have with much reference to Reading and Gus Poyet's remoured decision to stay put from the Two Unfortunates. Warning: the Brighton fan's comments on us might cause a few seizures on here! http://thetwounfortunates.com/this-is-albion-2-0-just-how-big-can-the-sea...

A few thoughts from a West Bromwich Albion fan on Directors of Football with Nicky Hammond provided as evidence of how they can work well along with Dan Ashworth of the Baggies:

http://thetwounfortunates.com/directors ... e-defence/

Calum Davenport
David Connolly

It's hardly a Decca/Beatles record of missing out.

Ricky Newman is a good shout - I seem to remember a game against Norwich where they were all over us with Iwan Roberts bullying our centre backs and Newman came on, putting a good few tackles in - we lost the game 2-0 but it was one of those watershed moments where the team's fortunes looked up afte...

I've seen him play a couple of times this season. Stands out for Oxford for they have a problem in that their build up play can be very ponderous and slow and he at least possesses a modicum of skill. Too much of a leap for him really but I could see him doing well at League 1 level. A different pla...

Was at the Barnsley game - taunts directed towards Michael Parkinson who was there supporting the away team. Bizarrely, the Bristol Rovers game came only a week after we had beaten Wrexham 4-0 and started to look an OK bet for the play offs.