Deano

I was fully supportive until the Americanism popped up. What?

Lampard wastes/loses possesion too much for england, carrick just doesn't do it, hes got a better range of passes and in capellos system should work better than lampard alongside barry given he naturally sits deeper than lampard who wants to be alogside gerrard too much Carrick and Gerrard in the middle for me. Ashley Young and Aaron Lennon/Milner/Wright-Phillips on the flanks.

3 times in 5 years isnt it?

Spot on! A good business man? Or a business man who knows how to fix something he has broken? Pffft...Dekka pisses me off with this bullshit, top and bottom of it is as Alex said...FMA has put in 35mil this season when had he put half of that into team building last season and not sold Given and Milner we would be in a much better position now.

I dont understand this... Gutierrez will do fine Barton has ALOT of PL experience but also ALOT to prove. Smith ALOT of PL experience. Guthrie has a good amount of PL experience. Raylor good amount of PL experience. None of the above are fantastic footballers but should do a job in the PL. Im not saying that its good enough, it does need improving but its not as bad as some make out. New owner in and a cheeky 10mil bid for Rodwell and play him instead of Smith.

Well from what i seen he always covered alot of ground protecting the back four and getting infront of the box in recent weeks. Personally i think he is still good enough for the PL and as for getting sent off alot in PL.....you not think the CCC refs are for more card happy?

I do like Smith yeah, do you guys really not think he is good enough? I mean it would mean a change of system once we went up, instead of Smith playing as a box to box midfielder in a standard 442 he would need to play as an anchorman sitting deep infront of the back four and then either Guthrie or Barton at the tip of a diamond 442? And i do think Carroll and Lovenkrands would do a job but id rather we got a pacey lad to play with Carroll.

Tamas Kadar does look promising, composed on the ball, strong and aware but he is predominantly a CB not a LB....i'd rather him and Williamson be back up for CB alongside maybe another CB and us go and get another natural LB as cover for Jose. I agree about CM and ST but the thing is once we are promoted, who out of our current group of CM's and ST's will leave if any? Personally i'd wait and see what kind of impact Barton has when he returns, if good then id imagine him and Guthrie would be battling it out for a 1st choice CM place alongside Smith next year, if that was the case id want to see a DMC and a young promising CM brought is as cover. Id definatly let Nolan and Butt go, both dont have the legs for the CCC so definatly wont have the legs in the PL.

I agree. You think we should go in for him on a permanent deal at end of the season or do u think we should be lookin for more "finished" options? We desperately need cover for left back as after Enrique we have nothing after him. I don't think Aanholt would come cheap either! Chelsea will see him as one for the future I would have thought Yeah thats what i thought, probably around 4mil for a young talented player but with NO PL experience and isn't developed defensively to justify the price. What other options are there though? Little known players from abroad maybe? What about RB? Would people be happy With Simpson being our 1st choice RB in th PL or do we need someone better and us Simspon as backup? Personally id be happy with the former.

Don't get too close to the radio, or you'll damage your hearing Give it a rest fella...wearing a bit thin now! From WATCHING a fair few Stoke games on TV it always SEEMS like a pretty good atmosphere.

Never been to Stoke nor have i met anyone from there so i cant comment on what the people are like "stereotypically". But iv always thought that there is always a loud and pretty good atmosphere at the brittania stadium.

I agree. You think we should go in for him on a permanent deal at end of the season or do u think we should be lookin for more "finished" options?

Yeah, back for our next game. Van Aanholt done OK but im really looking forward to Jose linking up with Jonas again. And with Routledge hopefully back too we are going to have two good partnerships down our flanks. Hope Jose gets a goal for us soon, always looked like he has one hell of a strike on him!

Sickening. I also feel sorry for Shawcross...poor lad didnt mean it. Get well soon Aaron lad. Although i think its safe to say his career is fucked...no-one comes back the same player after an injury like that.

Noelie, I listened to the game on the radio and I thought we were fucking mint.

No offense Noelie but you never fail. No we werent great but it was a gritty away performance in what was always going to be a tough game...we hadnt won in 6 away games and it was a pressured match. 1st half we were the better team, 2nd half you have to expect Watford to come at us for an equaliser, after all they are the home team. I do however think we should of went on the get a 3rd and kill the game off. Last 5 was nervy but that happens...i didnt think we were bad today...just done enough and im happy. On a side note....Best is absolutely fucking gash and so was Ranger when he come on.

Next 3 games... Barnsley @ Home....Got to be a win Boro @ Riverside....At least a draw...they are shit. Scunthorpe @ Home...Got to be a win 7 from 9 would put us on 76 points. Forest have... Swansea @ Home...win PNE away...Lose Barnsley away...Lose 3 from 9 puts them on 64 points WBA have... QPR away...Lose Sheff Wed @ Home...Win Blackpool @ Home...Win 6 from 9 puts them on 69 ---------- 3 games time we could realistically see ourselves pulling away...8 points ahead of WBA and 13 infront of Forest.

Cant stand the bloke.....must be all the pressure of managing a big club.....*cough*

More importantly, we are now 8 points clear with a game in hand over Forest who also have a far inferior goal difference. Really?

Whats more is Forest lost 3-0 so we are 8 points clear of 3rd with a game in hand over them 6 points ahead of WBA. Im confident

Good result...not a great 2nd half performance but 3 points all the same. Well done lads...whats that? First away win in what...6 games?

Didnt he score a couple of neat volleys and a couple of placed finishes? He's not as bad as some people make out imho.

We break from the back really well at times!! Carroll good header!! 2-0 He keeps on scoring!

Pardon? You're really terrible at this mate. Anyway, Alex had you rumbled within 3 posts, I'm just realising it now. How'd you know I was talking to you? I didn't quote your post or anything. 2bias posted before me...how do you know I wasn't addressing him? Who is Stevie, anyway? Yours was the first reply after my post and I thought, what's this chap referring to. Anyway the important stuff, the internet coverage of the game looks like it's sadly ended Looks like its BBC Newcastle or Tony Cottee then. Mines been spot on! Still live....