Dr Gloom

kettle bells again for me today.

Just got to hope his dodgy knee holds out. Would be nice if we signed a natural left sided defender too

No chance.

I'm going. Hoping for. Better result than last season! It's a good away day out but not a place we've had a lot of success in the years I've been going.

Interesting comments from Pardew. I wonder if this means we'll see him starting finally.

He's good competition for Taylor. I don't think there's much in it between them - both old fashioned,big, no nonsense centre halfs. Colo is the one with a touch of class. I wouldn't fancy pairing the other two together if the skipper was out. The less said about our 4th choice option at centre half the better too.

Did seem a bit funny how Cabaye was up on his feet one minute pushing that qpr player in the back then going off on a stretcher the next. Butch Wilkins-tastic. Love the crab me.

He's going to need to put in a few more game like that until Ba comes back given we're 'not in the market for a striker'

No, it isn't. I want him in the side. That's why it's frustrating that he hasnt put in a better performance. Pardew kept him on the bench after he played better than that so I don't see him starting next time. I'm frustrated with Pardew for not giving him more chances and I'm frustrated with Ben Arfa for trying too hard when he does get the chance. He should be starting. The whole fuckin thing is frustrating. I fully expect to see some comments from Pardew in midweek about him having more to do more to fit fit into our style of play.

I haven't said I think he's right to bench him have I you bell.

I want Hatem starting. But he's played a lot better than that and then Pardew's still kept him on the bench. And you can fuck right off with that Wilkins comment.

Very pleasing result considering the performance. I was willing Ben Arfa to do well with every touch. We desperately need a player like him in the side to give us a bit of creativity but I've got to say I thought he was poor. He seems to be trying too hard, which is understandable give his lack of chances. There were some moments of class from him, a couple of tasty through balls, but overall he was frustrating. I don't think pardew is going to start him if he's not getting a look in at home to qpr and that 90 minutes won't have done his case any favours, sadly. Thought Guthrie was class. Continued his good form from earlier in the season and hopefully he'll keep it up while tiote away. Thought Ryan Taylor had another decent game. Looked competent in centre mid too. Every squad needs a utility man. Perch coming on with 15 mins to go was the right move, despite what the boo boys say. Crap defender but a half decent holding midfielder to help see the game out. Pardew's used him like that a few times now to good effect. Bet was good, a knock there is a worry. Shola did his usual thing of running out of steam after about an hour. Probably would have been subbed if Best hadn't gone off injured. Ba's absence highlights how short of quality we are up front. Shout to Jonas too. He has his critics on here and his final ball can be frustrating but you have to tip your hat to the shift he puts in every week. He never stops running.

you truly are a hopeless case. You saying the finances were sound when Ashley bought the club? I'm still waiting for you to show me where I said we would finish 4th Outside Liverpool and Man U I can't remember many clubs being sold for more than we were. Amazing to think we were such a hopeless cause. If Ashley had done his homework he wouldn't have bought the club, that's one of the reasons he runs it as he does. Based on what? I presume he's talking about not doing due diligence. Not a savvy move from a billionaire. He paid way over he odds for the club considering the level of debt it had. I'm not sure his transfer policy would be that different either way though tbh. And the fact he over paid doesn't really excuse Ashley from not spending more. He's still got a massive fortune. He could bankroll a more ambitious transfer policy if he really wanted to.

Why? well, it's the aim of the game innit. team in the bottom three at home, chance to go above liverpool. these are the games we have to be winning if we want to finish in the top 6.

Wide of the mark his signature

i'm right back in the mix after a slobbish few weeks over christmas. so far this week have done two sessions of kettlebells, one spinning and one session of circuits. going to give my well exercised arse a day off tomorrow.

i would love it if we bought him back for 10m. paying the scousers what they should have paid for him int he first place and doing them out of 25m would be priceless. i think they'll give him more time though. he's good enough to succeed there. they just need to learn to start putting the ball in the box for him to attack and stop expecting hi to be running in behind. even dalglish can't be so stupid that he thinks they've signed a like for like torres replacement.

seems a great coach. his two periods at the club, under rapey and sbr, have coincided with some good football. coincidence?

True dat. Our current lot seem intent on giving their manager as little help as possible. It's a combination of good coaching and scouting that's been behind our success this season and you can't rely on that forever when it's combined with paltry investment on players and flogging star players to balance the books. Got to tip your hat to Wenger though with Arsenal at the bottom of that table. They haven't won owt in a while but they're still up there challenging every year.

Tell me what I've said that isn't right? Parker is wank, there weren't too many crying eyes when he left. Shows how shite English football is when he can get 10 caps, his passing further than 10 yards is shit, he can't shoot, he's one of these players that the likes of Ray Wilkins stick to their mattresses about, and I put it down to the fact he's a Londoner in his mould. Best thing he ever did was the keepy ups on the McDonald's ads in 1994. i wasn't gutted when he left either. played the odd good game. always put in a good shift but i wasn't convinced by him either for the reasons you stated i'll be surprised if this lad doesn't bite though. spurs seem to rate him as much as the media.

fucking hell, villa have spent 14m a season since 06! and the mackems almost 13m. i suppose that proves that backing your manager is no guarantee of success. obviously it helps if you have an owner prepared to spend. good judgement is priceless and rare asset among owners too. our last lot, for all the money they threw at it, constantly sacked managers in august or september after letting them spend money in the window, essentially fucking up the whole year. plus they made massive mistakes like hiring souness, roeder and allardyce and sacking robson. the best thing to hope for is some super rich arabs but even then it's no guarantee of proper success. look at man city's return since the takeover. pretty poor so far given the cash they've thrown at it.

a bite must be coming now like

Can TD resist biting? He's showing remarkable restrain so far. Keep fishing Stevie, see what this lad is made of.

i think i'll cook up a thai green curry tonight. or my japanese soup noodle broth. definitely got the hankering for some spicy asian cuisine on a winter's night.

put whole gloves of garlic in so it doesn't burn, then you've got sweet garlic to squeeze out and coat the wedges in. try chili flakes or powder, salt, pepper and plenty of olive oil. sweet potato wedges are good too. i like to make a mix of both