scoobos

Do you not think that Englands demise has coincided with the doing away of the foreigners rule? For me, we have no leaders because no top flight team is going to put that trust in an England hopeful, we buy superstars from around the world and put a few token British players alongside them. It is, to some extent kick and rush football because we have world class international players who can be relied on to make something out of nothing. All of our players look scared of the responsibility of having the ball, I thought in the last match even Rooney was dropping deep and hiding behind players at times. Seriously, the last team I can remember that had more than 7 English players and challenging , was us, under Keegan, all those years ago. Also, I think the playing style does matter in these early stages because they need to gel and be creative and defensively strong if we're going to compete when we get there, the players need confidence and self assuredness, 10 men behind the ball isn't going to achieve that imo. I also doubt we would have won the last match if it wasn't for the sending off,

I wonder what our players think if anyone looks in here.

Where did that info come from? What a class A knobhead.. If Spurs falls through I want him training and playing with Beardsley .

Well , good job I'm not charnley - I would have flogged him for whatever I could get, early doors.

We are stuck with this fucker aren't we?

I think blaming 2 of the 3 players, who were only signed last year - with manager overhauls a plenty - for our relegation is a bit off the mark. The whole way the club was run from top to bottom relegated us, not Gini, Mbemba and Townsend.

Can't believe he's sat in an airport "waiting for the call" again. What a fuckin numpty. I also can't understand why we aren't ripping peoples arms off for half of what the club are asking. 15 million is a big gamble on a guy like this

Colback out, schweinsteiger in... come on Rafa.

He's looked alright to me like, problem was when I last saw him play (last season? or the one before?) no fucker would pass to him.

Martyrs (2008) - hardcore I thought, but had a great story and developed really well. Spookiest ending I've seen in a while too.

Lets hope so

7.5 mil not bad considering we paid 5 for him. I'll always remember him fondly for being perhaps the only person on the field to give a shit AND score goals in a few games under Schteve.

I thought I'd never see that again, can watch it 50 times on loop and I still cringe.

oh ffs I didn't realise it was serious. Can I change my submissions please? First match 0 conceded 4+ in, second match 0 conceded, 4+in and today's match 2-0 please.

If we retain Krul and it was genuinely to keep him in top flight football somewhere in Europe, I wouldn't be too disappointed. It'll increase his value if he performs well and if he doesn't then we can get rid.

thanks for the goal links - loved the assist /fake shot that looked from Mitro but couldn't have been - who was that?

Gouffran on for Aarons whos crocked himsel straight off.

Those guys are doing every match by the way - facebook page lists the link every game. God help the commentators though, 1 of them seems to think we're playing Northampton, twice now hes called them that.

I really want Mitro to be a 1st team choice, but get the feeling from media / interviews that Rafa perhaps isn't a fan. He better not fuck up today ...

Yup this. But I still think Anita has a key role to play for us. I never like to knock anyone with versatility and openness to fill gaps where needed. I also think Gouffran will improve under Rafa, he had some good moments in the last match and just needs the "defensive mentality" that Pardew fucked him up with, removing - so he can be a forward again. Before anyone starts going mental - I'm not saying I'd like them as first teamers in the premiership, but they are valuable squad players. The likes of sissoko and the others wouldn't put the effort in when asked to play out of position.

We get an away win, first in many months AND a clean sheet and still the whinging ! that said, at least we're not trying to sack Rafa after 2 games!

I'll dig it out - it was a press conference where he openly said "I don't discuss transfers in these meetings" then went on to give out his loan / active offers list.

Rata has listed some surprises for loan / sale tho. Krul being the biggest surprise

Yes, totally agree - GPirlo if you're saying Lascelles isn't good enough for championship, you're effectively saying hes a league one or below standard player - and that he isn't. No better place for him to develop than the championship and , at times, I'm sure Mbemba will carry him - but this is really one of the few positives to take out of the championship - we don't need to loan players to give them experience and keep them out the squad. They can be selected and play alongside their squad players and hopefully develop themselves and their interaction with the "Premier League" first teamers. I'm really hoping this is what Rafa's doing - that all these signings he sees as fringe players who just need a bit of development.

First thing in the morning for me, so not read whole thread - if anyone hasn't seen the highlights here: give it a watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3PAYMP4_vc Having seen that - Mick Lowes really didn't portray the match the way this makes it look. oh and a great tackle and pass from Dummett in there too (I think)