Rayvin

We look scared... not good.

Yeah, this is going to be one of those tense games...

I read that he's just bought some team in Bosnia or something like that as well. The start of a football empire..! He must just have more money than he can spend.

What utter bollocks.

Pardew making nice with Wenger here - apparently our plan for the next 3-4 years is to finish top 8. I think we all knew this, but I'm wondering why it's 3-4 years and not 'forever': http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/dec/28/newcastle-arsenal-pardew-wenger-champions-league Also they can fuck off with that 'Arsenal on Tyne' bit.

There's Ozil as well of course. Although I understand he's lost some of his form - not that I've seen any evidence personally.

Someone had to take over from the Venky's..!

True enough I guess. Plus there always seems to be at least one 'revival' team..

He beat a fair number of decent teams. To be totally honest, I don't think Cardiff were in any danger of going down this year. They probably still aren't I suppose, given how shocking West Ham, Fulham and Sunderland are, but if he stayed up then I'd say he would have proved himself. Tan sacked him because he's an egomaniac who is used to being worshipped by his employees; not because he wasn't getting results.

Fair point - could argue that a competent manager, familiar with his sides strengths and weaknesses (both physically and psychologically) might have done something different in order to shore up the defence once Sunderland pulled one back? To be honest, I just think he's a massive bell end and am looking for any opportunity to confirm this assertion. This will do.

Although to be fair, I thought they'd flat out lose - so he's actually not done as badly as I thought; possibly just because Sunderland are so dire though.

Gah! I hope Tan is proud of himself...

I think Wilshere is playing, this is his first game back after that suspension - Ramsay isn't though.

I reckon Short will sack Poyet just before the next derby in order to 'give them a lift'. Seems to be how he does it.

Sunderland 2 down - and they are shocking...

It'll be an interesting day if both Manchester clubs fail to win...

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.