OTF

After much deliberation and careful analysis I have reached a verdict: he's shite. At least we know now. Much of a muchness as Routledge, except 4 years younger, bigger and faster with quicker feet. Sounds ok when you read it, but it really isn't - not yet anyway. But still, there's a role for him in the team.

Agree 100% there, they state it as though it's categorically correct and that they know it for sure as though they know the inner fibre of Suarez's being. They completely believe it too. Blind support clearly, enviable in some ways but completely naive in most.

Obertan has still served a purpose throughout the season, you can understand why they wanted to inject some pace into the side. At his age having not played much at Manchester United it was always going to be hard to gauge how well he could play at the top level. Regarding Tiote as other have stated he's perhaps a little one dimensionsal for some of the biggest clubs to come calling. I don't think that's a wise decision on their behalf though as sometimes players like that give true balance to a top side.

As further evidence we've had at least a couple of five year strategies in his time LeazesMag - Do you acknoweldge that we have improved as a side from last season to this one?

No, he won't. do you mean if we use the rest of the Carroll money to strengthen the team without selling any of our major players ? Don't prejudge me, but do you EXPECT the above to happen ? It would be foolish to expect anything under Mike Ashley IMO.

No, he won't.

Just like the Balotelli 'stamp' against Spurs, I don't care what the rest of football thinks, I know I'm right. KSA - squaring up to someone is aggressive but it isn't violent. Can you actually be sent off for merely being aggressive? You get players shouting at each other and being held back by their team mates in matches pretty often, should they be sent off instead of the usual (and more sensible) talking to with the occasional booking? From around 45 seconds: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SK4_E7Cgq5g The fact that it was a pathetic headbutt doesn't make it any less of a headbutt.

Just saw that Jose Enrique is the only premier league goalkeeper to not concede a goal this season. Lee Ryder was saying that he didn't shake any of our players hands after the game... Hope that isn't true.

Everyone here can acknowledge the bad things that the club have done, but is seems that you LeazesMag can't acknowledge any positive moves that are made. Noone wanted Enrique to go, everyone would love him to still be here. I too am of the opinion that they should have been more proactive in using the Carroll money to improve the squad. What I think we have to be realistic about is the way in which Ashley does business - on his terms. He always wants a bargain, or to know undoubtedly that the signing is required. It's not optimal, but Pardew would have to have earnt some respect and therefore influence so hopefully he can get a few vital signings across the line. It's far from black and white (no pining intended) there's plenty of grey out there as well.

I don't follow your logic. If the club are going to reduce the size of our squad why would we suddenly be better equipped for Europe a year from now? The same reasons why you think Europe would be bad for us now will still be there then, and possibly worse. Gaining European qualification will increase revenue, rhetoric from the club would want us to believe that this would translate to additional playing staff. Even if it doesn't it will make it harder to justify any reductions in the current squad size. Two defenders in and I think we'd have a squad size that is capable of adding the Europa to our schedule without seriously affecting us in the league. Time will tell what happens with the playing roster, from there if we qualify, we have to rely on Pardew etc to get the balance right.

Don't know what you were watching LuckyMagoo but even my Liverpool supporting mate admitted it was a headbutt on review. It was the replay that confirmed it without doubt. So utterly moronic from Reina, must really be regretting it.

If I was a Liverpool supporter I would have been absolutely livid about the way that they were shifting the ball around at the back at 2-0 down as though they were protecting a lead. To me it shows that they're in denial about their current position, or are incredibly conceited making out that they don't care. Whichever way it is I hope they struggle to kick the habit, with the exception being the Cup semi-final. Wouldn't mind them being comprehensively belted in the final. There's a degree of the same denial from the supporters making out as though they'be just about already won the FA Cup.

It's a good read. Most of the respondents came across as level headed. The exception probably was in relation to Daglish.

Well said. We've dropped plenty of points this year simply because of shitty defense being played because of injuries. With no European football it's likely that the squad will reduce further and we'll still have the same issues. At least let our points be dropped because we're in Europe

Then what are we playing for? The incremental difference in league prize money is not significant enough to provide motivation. Attempting to qualify for Europe only to pass it up once offered would critically undermine a key motivational aspect to players, manager etc. I understand what you're saying, but it's up to the manager and coaching staff to properly prepare the team and for the depth of the squad to be called upon. I know we don't have a great deal of depth, but there have been a number fo decently promising young players who have been starved of opportunities this season. If nothing else send them out and if you win you've done so without impacting on the first team. If you lose there's not too much lost.

If that was indeed the case then why did they purchase Papiss Cisse for 9M pounds? That turned out to be the most expensive piece of business by an English club in that window, and we were in no danger of being relegated at the time. There's a strong element of cross promotion involved, but apart from the visual eyesore I don't think it has a large bearing on the footballing operations.

I just like that we can have a discussion about why Ben Arfa is doing so well. I don't really care why, so credit to Alan Pardew, credit to the ground staff, credit to the canteen lady, credit to Obertan, credit to all and sundry inclusive of little ol' HBA himself.

It's still better for us if they do, otherwise we need to rely on Tottenham not beating Chelsea. If it's a Tottenham vs Everton FA Cup final then we're stuffed either way. If Everton win they obviously get Europa League qualification, if Tottenham win Everton will still be qualified as a result of Tottenham qualifying for Champions league (assuming they stay ahead of Chelsea on the league table). In that case we'd be SOOL in 6th place. I'd prefer Chelsea beat Tottenham and Everton beat Liverpool then lose to Chelsea in the final, but it's a much easier equation for us if Everton lose as we don't have to worry about any other results including the final.

I don't think that's the case. The prize money isn't particularly grand, but the increased ticket revenue for home games should be a significant amount. Certainly you don't end up behind on being involved. And like I've said it can't harm our European profile which in turn keeps us on the radar. I really wish they'd do away with sticking the Champions League drop outs into the Europa League, I don't think there would be much argument about that from the Champions league qualified teams either. I'm sure they do it to increase the profile of the Europa league but it can be a little counter intuitive if the teams involve don't give two hoots about it regardless of the stature of the club.

Nothing too unexpected in there, but nonetheless I'm feeling a little warm and fuzzy after reading it.

The way to move on is to maintain the core good feeling and playing staff at the side, whilst strengthening the area of weakness and adding depth across the board. Ashley is vastly more cautious with his money now, but apparently will spend money where deemed necessary. It still annoys me that we haven't seen close to all of the Andy Carroll money invested into the side, but on the strength of this season I'm resigned to waiting it out to see what happens. Money will be spent on players who are deemed to be the right options, it's more the departures that are cause for concern. Unfortunately mate the climate of World football has changed. We were left behind a long time ago now, and it was nothing to do with Ashley. He certainly accellerated things when he took over, but we have hit the bottom and appear to be rising again faster than anyone could have predicted. We can only hope now that the rise is properly managed so we don't push for the sky only to come crashing back down. Sensible, sustainable growth is the answer. Froseeably we have a strong foundation to have our revenue amongst the top 5 or so in the league. If that is established again then it's a solid platform to once again mount an assault on the Champions League positions. as it stands currently there is a certain amount of biding our time required. We have to hope that the owners of Chelsea and Manchester City grow tired of their playthings and move on as it's flat out ludicrous to exxpect us to compete financially with teams that more or less don't care that they're throwing away fistfulls of dollars by the second.

Spurs are the perfect example of why you're wrong. In order to bridge the gap to the very top sides players need to be sold - for the right price. It's not so much the season, but the trend that was established in our Championship season and continues to this day. It cannot be disputed that we are now in a vastly superior position to where we were in 2008/09, with a younger superior squad on lower wages.

On your last point I strongly disagree. If we don't make Europe this season it could conceivably be an excuse for letting go of some players, where-as if we do make it the (albeit small) increase in revenue will hopefully fund some inbound movement, or at the very least make departures less likely. Plus, I'd never say no to any form of Europe as it increases our continental profile and provides additional options for the development of promising young players who otherwise aren't seeing enough competitive football.

Ben Arfa's explosive pace was too much for Enrique. He goes from 0 to 60 in no time. Over 100 yards I'd fancy Enrique over HBA but over that first 5-10 yards it was no contest. Enrique had a very ordinary game by his standards but most of that was down to Ben Arfa absolutely terrorising him. I'd like to think that's why he put his hand up to go in goal, because on the face of it you'd expect someone like Carragher to be the one. Ben Arfa's touch is phenomenal at the moment, and he's not pushing things too much as well which is great. It's no surprise that after a run of a few games in the side he's really gelling with his teammates... makes you wonder what could have been earlier in the piece?

Pieters and a centre back in.. and noone of importance going the other way...