Matt

So now Milner's crap too, do we have any decent players? He'll never be an outstanding winger because of his lack of pace but I think technically he's pretty decent. He'd not be one I'd look to sell and if we did I think there'd be no shortage of interest.

Owen could cover half the yards Martins does and get into twice as many good positions. Martins doesn't really know where to position himself as a striker- until he sorts that out his game won't come together.

I'm just amazed by some of the reaction tonight. The result was poor and the last half hour we looked sloppy but we played more football in the first half than we had in the last month.

Did I say that? Didn't think so.

We appointed the right man this time, but then our club changed hands and the financial situation changed considerably. We were set for a very tight few years and I think we went for a manager who could get us back on the road slowly- perhaps this is no longer the intention of the new ownership who may choose to put in considerable funds and expect some results to go with it.

I don't think Roeder damaged us at all, we just treaded midfield water. But we got rid of him at the right time, and that's hopefully what we'll do with Allardyce. It would be nice to get a few results if not for points, but to get us through the January with speculation receding and at least give the chance for the board to decide whether to terminate his contract in the summer. We'd have time to think about the options available. If we go all kneejerk and appoint Shearer I'd be over the bloody edge.

Dave, every side Manchester City have travelled to since the opening day have 'got something' from them. Anyone who saw the game tonight will have seen that there definitely was something for the taking. They're a very good side on the ball and play it about nicely, but there are clear deficiencies when under pressure. On another day we could have had a couple by the time they scored but we looked very short on confidence up front (not just Martins). I dont think expecting something from the game is excessive at all. It's wholly reasonable. Disappointingly we ran out of steam after 70 minutes and never looked the same threat after Duff was understandably withdrawn. What I can't understand is the total doom and gloom from the game. We were far, far worse at Fulham yet the three points shut everyone up. Until we start staring a relegation battle in the face we have to look more to performance than points- for now at least.

This happened last season in our home game against Bolton. Diouf was fouled but made a meal of it having previously been warned by the referee.

Finlandia going down well here. Got one last year called Dovgan. Best I've had, lovely stuff.

Throw your names down. I'm off all day so whenever.

Just for you matey... From .com

Who expects instant success? No-one. But we've a manager whose approach on Boxing Day was to go and contain the threat Wigan had to offer. As a result we mustered 1 shot on goal all game and we concede a goal from a set piece. Now with the same squad of players, same opposition but a different approach to the game, are you really saying there is no way we could have fashioned more than a solitary effort from the 90 minutes? The cautious, safety first option is used by top managers in big games because it's needed. You'd see it in Champions League semi finals or crucial league head-to-heads. It shouldn't be needed for going into games against the last three we've faced (I wasn't at Wigan and have only seen highlights, but Fulham and Derby were awful). We've failed to establish ourselves in any of those games, because the manager has instilled an inexplicably negative attitude within the side. I honestly thought Allardyce was far more flexible and was the sort of manager that would maximise his resources and play the way that is most likely to win the game and progress in the league. Even at Bolton they played some good stuff on occasion and when it came to the big boys who would out-football them, they sharpened the studs. It's the mentality I don't understand. I can't see how the approach is helping anyone. Maybe that just makes me another braying idiot.

In this time Sir, I feel this has to be called upon. Great, I can't wait for my next (lack of) fitness appraisal down the gym now! In all honesty, this is the first year that I've come up with resolutions well in advance and one of them is to be less of a fat heifer, so bring it on!

It's a make or break year for me. Very much up for it.

Wrong again. Doesn't know when to let go, does he? Betfairs always win, but plenty of other people win very big, too. In essense, some of Betfair's big-hitting punters are virtually bookies themselves.

So should I bump it on Good Friday?

"Are you baking in here? I'm roasting."

Wrong, Betfair's not a bookie- that's the whole point. Other users set the odds. Betfair don't really care who wins or loses, they take a commission from one side or the other regardless. Of course I'm not counting the Betfair Casino in all this, just the back/lay markets.

Absolutely top stuff, also good to bump into none other than Mr Geordiesned. Singing along to the Christmas songs with half a throat was not a good idea. Whenever I speak today I sound like Leonard Cohen after a razorblade gargling session.

Good fun, I dont think I've ever managed to see closing time at so many bars in such a short space of time. A proper day out, though both my head and wallet are a little sore today!

I'm getting dropped off as part of a christmas shopping expedition so I will probably beat you all to the bar. See you in there.

The anti-Martins crusade is hilarious. Fact is, the lad needs quite a lot of coaching on his positioning- but then how will improve playing as a pseudo-winger? He's looked utterly useless in that position. Controversial it may be, but I always thought that quick players are best played on the shoulder of the last defender. This is where Martins looks useful- he might miss more than he scores (Bellamy did too) but the fact he's quick is enough to put off defenders and make them drop back or double up. We should use this space but rarely do. Liverpool put three men round Martins and waited for him to run into him as there wasn't another black and white shirt within twenty yards. He's got bits of his game but needs a lot of work to bring them together. To suggest he's simply a sack of shite is bollocks. Especially when we've got the likes of Alan Smith headlesschickening their way round the park.

He's not though. He gets booked with his first tackle and spends the rest of the game covering ground. Have we not moved on from Scott Parker?

Jimbo- they're OK for recording and processing but won't be much cop for pitch correction. Adobe Audition is a cracking programme but the pitch shifts in there are awful. The market leader is the Antares Autotune, but as a plugin that costs £250 (VST format). You can get free VST host programs. This is a free pitch correction tool http://www.gvst.co.uk/gsnap.htm Sadly, I think you're likely to be stuck between the homebrew and super-professional, there doesn't seem to be much in between.

Tuning software tends to come as a plug-in to a main sequencer package. As with most musical purchases, it all depends on cash- there are things out there for free but if you want better quality sound- it costs. Also what sort of spec PC will this be running on (it will be quite demanding on the PC's resources).