BigWalrus

Like it or not, the game IS global now. They pan out pretty much how I'd expect - the recently more successful clubs, who have had more global exposure, are up there at the top. They might be limited to younger fans, as it's FIFA players, but there's a huge sample in there so it gives some indication of where we stand around the world. I found them interesting figures, so thanks for posting them.

There's no pressure on us at all. I'm not even going to bother trying to predict it. I'm just going to sit back and enjoy it all, for once.

Yep, he was initially played as a full back for us, and was woeful. His transformation came with a few stand in appearances in central midfield - after that he's played pretty much everywhere across the defensive triangle and done a superb job.

Shola put most of the spin on the ball. It was a tap in from there on.

It was brilliant to have an actual footballer at right back. Made a world of difference.

Holiest of fucks. That was a pair of goals. I think I'll be sporting this semi for the rest of my life now.

Always had a propensity to drop an absolute bollock.

Interesting team. We're still going with the three up front. Maybe Pardew is afraid of pissing any of the front three off before the transfer window opens...

It's not often an issue because he plays deeper, as a sweeper. We played higher up the pitch against Fulham and he was caught several times, and not by particularly quick players.

I work with a lad who is a sensible, level headed Liverpool fan. He's a bit miffed about how this season has gone, but reckons Kenny should get another season. I disagree with him, as I reckon he should have a job for life there - he's doing brilliantly for them!

I think I'm with you there. I can look back on quite a few brilliant games over the last couple of seasons. Liverpool fans can't do that at all. They've stumbled through to the final and won on penalties against a Championship side.

Coloccini doesn't really have any pace - that's why he plays a sweeper role. He's a class defender, but if he's starting from the half way line, most strikers in the PL will beat him in a sprint.

If you're walking down the street, merely tripping over a half inch paving slab can knock you flying. It's piss easy to get sent arse over tit from someone clipping your heels when you're running at pace. However, I don't think it's these cases where there is any dispute over the foul - it's where there is barely any contact at all, or where the player has gone in deliberately trying to win a foul. Boils my piss, but there's bugger all I can do about it other than call the offending player a c*nt and move on with my life.

Playing a high line will suit Chelsea down to the ground. They'll soak it up and catch us out on the break. They don't even need quick players to be able to counter, as we have so little pace across our back 4.

No nerves at all for me. We're going to get battered, and we're going to take it like real men.

Swindon?

I know one player wasn't replaced with three, I was trying to combine two points (that the Carroll money has been spent and that wages need to be considered). Ba, I believe, is on about £25k, but with a substantial appearance bonus. So when that's taken into account, he has probably hit almost £60k a week so far this season. Net transfer spend isn't massively useful for measuring cash flow. We are quite unique in paying for transfers up front and receiving cash up front. Most clubs still pay and receive over a few years, spreading the cash flow. The mackems sold Darren Bent for £24m, but half of this is still outstanding, hence them being liked with a load of Villa players as they're the only club who will accept a credit note in exchange for a player...

Truly and utterly horrendous. But hilarious.

Signing Douglas and Pieters, whilst retaining the rest of our midfield / forward line, would be spot on. If Guthrie leaves, as looks likely, we could do with a replacement for him. We could also do with a decent stand in strike-force for January...

That's right. Also clubs often write off players who have onerous contracts. So the likes of Alan Smith and Xisco will have had their contract value impaired to nil, as they're not worth anything. The simplistic view of "net transfer spend" is an almost useless statistic. Sale of Carroll = £35m fee received plus £2m per year saved in wages (over 5 years left on contract) = £45m benefit Purchase of Ba (£4m fees + £9m on wages over 3 years), Cisse (£9m + £12m on wages over 5 years) + Ben Arfa (£2m + £8m on wages over 4 years) = £44m Replacing one player with three is all very well, but the funding for the additional wages don't just magic out of thin air. Anyone with a basic business acumen would be able to grasp this, but the popular football media seems focused entirely on "net spend" and transfer fees. Unfortunately, fans of all clubs around England, on the whole, buy into this theory completely. The truth is that football is a very very simple business, just a risky one.

It's a good type of nerve fraying though. We can't finish below 6th. There are still 4 games left. We could still finish 3rd potentially. Still can't believe the above is the crack.

Liverpool, Man Utd and Arsenal thought they could waltz into this one and win without even trying. They were wrong. Pardew is tactically switched on and won't underestimate Wigan. I don't expect us to murder them, but I don't expect us to play for a draw.

Agreed, and we seem to be doing a lot better on that front already. Two examples show the difference in approach: 1. Albert Luque sat discussing contract with NUFC. Luque makes it clear he's not really arsed about coming to the club. Shepherd doubles his offer from £40k to £80k a week to convince him. 2. Gervinho sat discussing contract with NUFC. Gervinho gets his phone out and stars texting during the meeting. Llambias calls a halt to the meeting and tells Gervinho to f*ck off. I like approach number 2.

Kyle Walker is quick, very comfortable on the ball, can tackle, is positionally aware and is decent going forwards. What more would you want from a right back?

Other fans will like us because we don't have any abhorrent personalities in our team. We've had loads of players over the years who have had brushes with the law (Barton, Bowyer, Bramble etc). Now we've moved on from having a team of players beginning with B, and we have Cisse, Cabaye, Coloccini. Things are moving up. PS - Ben Arfa, Best and Ba were strategically ignored for the purpose of making a non-existent point.