David Kelly

We need to get this new ball out of the way so him doing what he does might well be invaluable in doing that.

If he's playing on the left we don't really have any option other than to have Sissoko and Janmaat deal with him unless you want to move Sissoko from the right and replace him with someone else. And you can't put a defensive mid there. Ultimately we not have Tiote or Anita available so that's going to limit the defensive mid options for a start. I'm not sure how fit Colback is either. His performance the other night suggests he's not very. I think we'd be much better focusing on causing them problems and to do that Gini has to play in the middle. I think he's not being played in the middle he's not worth a game anyway.

I was on the previous board before this too. I've just started arguing more with the shite you post

Ah so your idea is to play 2 defensive midfielders at home, the exact thing everyone has complained about all season, and waste Gini on the left to do it. I respectfully suggest that is an appalling idea. Payet plays more on the left anyway so it's most likely going to have to be Sissoko who helps Janmaat deal with him (not a conforting thought).

Pretty sure we've both been on here from the start and you've managed 5 times as many posts as me so your career is certainly flying.

And your idea is for Gini to do this?

They seem to be bowing at a much better length than we started with. Lots just going past the edge.

I would say it was the biggest resort so had the most there. When I said Magaluf that was unfair really. It's the busiest nightlife area but it looked of a much better class than Magaluf or Benidorm. If you go, I'd definitely make the effort to go to Valleta. We just got the bus and from what I remember it was dirt cheap and didn't take long.

Not convinced we've bought a good player like. What's Shelvey's pace like? Possibly the biggest issue with SDJ is his lack of pace and Gini looks really nippy. I think Leicester are showing how important pace is in this league especially in a team doesn't keep great posession.

I think hanging around is just what we need here. Hayles looked like a walking wicket from his first ball there.

This board makes it easy to work in an office and achieve fuck all tbf.

Could have done with getting them out for less than 300 and it's disapointing we let the last two batsmen get into double figures. But it is apparently no more than a par score for this ground so it's up to us to bat well.

I can't beleive anyone would move Gini back out to the left. Clearly he never gets involved in the game there and we saw just how good he is in the centre against Arsenal and Manure. The way I see it, we have 4 real options for the left. Perez, Aarons, Thauvin and Saivet. None of those are great at the moment as Perez looks knackered, Aarons hasn't played all season, Thauvin could be away and may not be fit and Saivet has been playing in the centre and that's surely what we've bought him for since that's were he's been playing when we've scouted him. McClaren has to make a judgement on who is fittest between Perez and Aarons (assuming the Thauvin story is true, if not I'd have him in the mix). The defense picks itself, Sissoko on the right, Shelvey and probably Colback in the middle with Gini behind Mitrovic. Really the only two places of issue are defensive mid and left wing.

Got no idea what that's like so I can't compare. Valleta is a really old walled city. Only went for a day but it seemed to have plenty of bars and cafes as well as a few interesting sites. Had a day in St Julian's too which seemed canny. Didn't go on a night when it's the magaluf of Malta. Think it was St Pauls Bay where we went which was pretty touristy but without a great deal there.

I went to playa blanca with the ex. Despite that I thought it was really nice. Went to Costa teguise and Puerto del Carmen too before that and I preferred playa blanca. The marina was nice.

I was there about 7 or 8 year ago. Was with the ex missus so see above how much I enjoyed it! Quite a nice place though, particularly Valleta.

I don't think anyone isn't holding Ashley accountable.

While I can't say I'm confident we'll stay up, the fact that we are playing decently is a cause for some optimism. Teams who regularly play decently will pick up decent results eventually, just as teams who play badly and win can't keep doing that.

Aye it's ridiculous that not all nations use it. It should be a condition of being allowed to play test cricket for me.

Stokes appeal against Amla earlier was a perfect example. Hawkeye was showing a fair chunk of it hitting the stumps but we lose an appeal because the umpire didn't give it. I'm all for not allowing frivilous appeals every other over but when it's that close you shouldn't be penalised. Pretty sure Bumble is another advocate of this.

It's about time the changed the review process so you don't lose an appeal when it's umpire's call.

Looking like it might be a decent day for us now.

Good job the second string bowlers are coming up trumps. Massive wicket there for Stokes.

I hope we win on Saturday because something has to improve this shit week. Great actor RIP.

I'm certain our ownership deserves no confidence at all. But I don't think selling Gouffran weakens us at all. The only position he seems to be getting considered for these days is central midfield and he's absolutely awful there. Hopefully we've signed two better players than him and Tiote already. When one of Anita and Colback goes (it's going to happen by the summer at the latest if we stay up definitely) then we need another replacement in though. I'd be more concerned about letting Thauvin go on loan. Obviously he's made no impact so far but if he's going for nothing I can't see a replacement coming in.