The Fish

Yeah, there's is zero chance of my lass getting into FM17. She can barely tolerate actual football.

Of course I do, but I don't expect this group of players to be capable of much more than safety (even if that safety is secured quickly). We have to be wary of over-reaching and be wary of too many changes in personnel. A few signings in key areas and we should be aiming for 15th ish. Next season aim for 10th. Get up, stay up, see where we are.

should do a blog mate. Yours is a more interesting tale than mine, where basically I took over from Rafa and I'm now evolving into the behemoth that will dominate the English football landscape for generations.

Yeah, there's a narrative appearing that we'll need a total overhaul, but that's just not true. We need to be better than 3 other teams, well I'd say that we're already better than every team in the Championship, so with a few additions over the next two windows should mean we're better than at least 2 of the teams that are up there with us plus at least one of the teams that survives the 15/16 season.

I think we've a core that can do it in the Prem. Darlow, Elliot, Krul Yedlin Mbemba, Lascelles, Clark ---- Anita, Hayden, Shelvey Ritchie, Atsu Mitrovic

Well, there's 2 that I can think of; 1. Doing a Secret Santa and 2. calling something else you do "doing a Secret Santa". For example, I'm just about to go to the loo and "Do a Secret Santa".

Not sure you've fully understood the "secret" part of the tradition.

Happy belateds

Most logical choice, but he's not been great and it'll mean we have to play Perez in the number 10 role.

My worry is how we'll play without Shelvey. He's been integral for much of the season and other players like Ritchie, Diame, Perez and Mitrovic have failed to show their class so far.

Yeah I've not seen loads of him, but he's well regarded and seems to be building on his debut season for Barnsley in 14/15 with a decent showing in 15/16; 3 Goals - 5 assists - 81.5% Pass Success https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2_oPO_aT6s

We've a knack for knackering leftbacks. Bernard, Enrique, Santon, Haidara...

I don't think he's fit enough to start a game.

But we have left wingers? Atsu, Gouffran, Lazaar, and even the likes of Diame, Perez and Ritchie could do a job over there. I'd pick any of them ahead of abig target man striker out of position.

Sure, but it was more like Ameobi's header back to Shearer for his wonder goal v Everton, rather than Cabaye's slide rule pass for Cisse against... Swansea? Edit:- It was Stoke

Might be worth us testing the resolve of Barnsley for Hourihane?

Great, now you're agreeing he should play on the left flank?!

Fuck, I'm terrible at those games too. Games that involve strategy and planning Games that involve actual skill, dexterity and quick reactions

I agree, which is why we should play wingers on the wing and strikers as strikers.

Or maybe, and this might just be the hot Ribena talking, but maybe we play one of the creative/fast players on our books ( like, Ritchie, Gouffran, Atsu, Lazaar, Yedlin, Perez ) instead of the lumbering target man?

He's got the turning circle of a tectonic plate and the acceleration of a bookshelf, he is not the solution to the weakness on our flanks.

Is that the one where you're kind of "dropped" into the action and if you're killed you respawn and go again?

I always got annoyed with people talking on Call of Duty or GTA. It was mainly high pitched kids either screaming random obscenities down the mic, or playing obnoxious music.

Think it was a position we should always have been looking at in the January, the prospect of losing Shelvey for a minimum of 5 games should focus their minds a little, no?