Rayvin

Yep, that's my thinking on it too. Shame as Cardiff with Mackay probably would have won.

I reckon he'll get another game or two off the back of that performance (not that it was great, but they kept fighting at least). I suppose this'll mean he gets January too, actually. Increases the pressure on the mackems anyway, although I reckon they should beat rudderless Cardiff today, sadly.

I think this is West Ham playing to save Allardyce's job...

Looks as if Allardyce is going to relegate West Ham. Even if they'd had Carroll fit, I'm not convinced he would have saved them... they now have no centre backs remaining...

That is awful...

Gotta love the optimism there. I'd take Djeko but he could probably move to a Champs League club rather than us =/

I read that thread you made in their forum - You'd have been hard pushed to get a more frothing, incoherent response from rtg if we'd just beaten them 5-1. It's still a step below Liverpool though as you say - I'm trying to imagine what RAWK would have looked like back when Dalglish was still in charge (post-Suarez racism) if they'd been on the receiving end of today..! Hehe... I doubt they'll go down this year mind you, but Hughes might find a way to get them relegated - he's gifted.

I think on that basis then, you'd have to say we could only improve by taking on Champs League standard players i.e. those playing for the traditional (minus Man Utd) top four. We're not likely to improve from players we'd be competing with mid-table teams for. Otherwise we buy young players and hope they develop into Champs League standard - but as you've said, that's not what you asked. Also - can't decide on our weakest players. Probably Williamson and Shola. Then Santon/Gouffran? Not that they're bad at all, just struggling to rank people really.

Not really sure on that to be honest - I'd get another striker I guess, just in case Cisse doesn't recover. Defence seems fine, although rightback cover for Debuchy might be worth looking into (although I guess we have Santon). What about a playmaker to replace Cabaye? If we get one now, he can bed in/provide cover this season to ease his transition in the next. So I guess Striker, Central playmaker. Not sure a third is needed.

I am cautiously optimistic. Although if we won, we'd be 3 points behind them with half the season gone. And that just seems unlikely...

Well I only saw the one angle but if it had happened against us, I'd be pissed. It's still more of a suicide than an injustice though - the Stoke players were just so poorly disciplined. We definitely should have had a late pen when Shawcross hurled Cabaye across the box for one thing, so it probably evens out.

That sending off on Whelan did look harsh mind you... And our second was out (not so bothered about that one though as Stoke still made a dogs dinner of getting rid of it). Not that it matters, Stoke are a detestable team.

Pardew's comments seem to suggest that if we beat Arsenal, and move into touching distance of the Champs League places, we'll buy differently. I guess Ashley might be prepared to sanction more spending in Jan if he feels we have a reasonable chance of the added income that the Champs League might give us. It'll be a moot point anyway if Arsenal beat us though.

This is obviously not going to happen but - Liverpool have Chelsea next, away. Everton have Southampton without Howard. If we beat Arsenal (possible, IMO), we could go 5th, level on points with Liverpool... Weird season we're having.

I think Stoke are getting some sympathy decisions here. Although to be honest, it's actually hard to sympathise at all. They've been fouling in the box repeatedly...!

GETTIN!!!

Oh god Cisse...

Hahaha!!! Another penalty!!

Atkinson apparently. And you're right, they should look to go down - do our players generally do that though?

Can't see any reason why we shouldn't do some damage against Stoke, but I reckon we'll miss Tiote tbh. They'll be physical I'm sure, and we could have used him.

Fair play to him, nice to see someone doing something constructive for the region. Well in.

If we'd won a cup any time recently it'd be the Champs League for me. Given that we haven't though, I'd definitely go for a cup.

HAHAHAHA!! That's fucking amazing.The very definition of clutching at straws!

Apparently they're going for Tim Sherwood... with Les Ferdinand assisting.

Would we take Villa Boas if Pards left? Not that Spurs would go for him. Capello is the man by the sounds.