Ally

If Swansea can get a result of any kind it would be incredible. Who'd have thought we'd go into December ahead of Man City and Man Utd?!

France qualifying for the World Cup is one of the best things to happen this season. Sissoko, Debuchy and Cabaye have all blown hot and cold this year and flit in and out of the French team (except MD). The motivation of getting in their squad and team must be massive. Just look at Shola! Cabaye would be daft to leave in January. Any half decent agent will be telling him to play well this season, have a good World Cup and then get your big move. World cups always inflate fees, salaries etc so there is a lot for them all to gain. And good luck to him if he gets a good transfer - players come and go and if we've got 3 seasons out of him for £5m investment then we can't have many complaints

Despite all the foreign competition there is something nice about a good old English centre half who cost us peanuts doing really well. He's been a good player for the club, as noted he's has some apocalyptic performances but so have most of our team. He's playing with confidence and only getting better. Plus, it means Steven Taylor is no where near the first XI

I'd argue Shola is a better finisher than Cisse tbf. How many sitters do you see Shola miss?

I think the inquest said they didn't know why...of course his family are entitled to their privacy though so quite whether they learnt stuff they never released is anyone's guess.

Nothing much more to say that hasn't been said. Felt like someone I knew had died that day, RIP

Chuffed for Williamson. I think we all got to the point this time last year when we felt a new CB was needed but he's come out of the shadows incredibly well in the last 6 weeks. It keeps Taylor out of the team as well which is always good. Anyone who thinks 'Tayls' is the answer needs their head checking. He is the common denominator in 10 years of defensive ineptitude (Champ season apart)

Another example of ordinary fans being priced out of watching football.

Did well today. Intercepted well, tackled well (on the whole), tidy passing. He seemed the only one who really gave a shit

Whose this bloody stupid woman on the FA board? I'm all for equality but putting black people on a commission, or into a job (in any line of employment) just to allow 'black representation" is about as nonsensical as I've ever heard.

Isn't Adrian Chiles half Croatian? That comment wasn't racist in the slightest but anyone who thinks it was would have to be pretty naive to think a descendent of an immigrant was being racist towards immigrants

I was at school with James Coppinger and played with him numerous times out of school . Our PE lessons must have been the making of him.

I feel a bit for the journalists. Until the match day they have to write stories on the back of a clichéd press conference from someone like Frank Lampard. The main story the next day will be about someone sitting out a training session!

Play for Brazil then. Too many loopholes to pick and choose which international country you want to play for imo. He already has done. He's been capped twice. I thought if you had a senior cap you couldn't play for anyone else? That's why Sterling made a pointless appearance last season to keep Jamaica away

It's an interesting discussion. Plenty of other countries use the dual nationality loophole - Deco, Camoranesi, the current guy who plays for Atletico whose name escapes me. It's daft us taking a moral high ground on it. You get counties like Germany who due to their history have a mix of birth places in their team across Poland, Austria etc. In our case we are seeing a rise in players who have come to the UK as kids for political asylum from places like Africa who, whilst not British born have assumed nationality and therefore can play for us. Zaha, Sterling, Bigirimana, Berahino etc. we are exercising a loop hole in itself there so we can't be too contradictory. Look at Mo Farah ffs he is a national hero despite being 'adopted' by the UK. The Janujaz thing is a bit ridiculous though given he's only been in the UK for 2 years. Why would he wait until 2015 to play international football for our rabble?!

This yellow kit is like one you or I could get for our 5 a side team out of the Puma catalogue, dreadful.

World cup season. No time for le sulk. I try not to be over cynical but just because Pardew said it doesn't mean it happened.

Cabaye confirming what we all knew. As soon as there was some interest in him the club leaks it to all and sundry. I bet he didn't go on strike, rather the club wrapped him in cotton wool to avoid injury during a perceived bidding war. We've seen this time and time again, Ashley and Kinnear are liars and always will br

Colo didn't even attempt to win a header for goals 2 and 3. Lukaku is a big bloke but come on man at least have a go. Surely our tactic wasn't let the long ball bounce over to Krul?

You'd think he'd have burnt his bridges with QPR though? I know he did ok last season but jumping ship and then going back smiling when they're in the Premiership again is hardly the kind of thing they'd want

That's my worry - Taylor, Jonas and Tiote come back in as default. Anita has looked good every game this season but I fear he is Pardew's "fall guy".

I like how Levy essentially blames Bale. The whole not for sale thing became totally pointless as soon as it became clear Real would offer such a big fee.

Each to their own indeed

The worrying thing is (sorry if this is repeating a trend I've not read the whole thread) is that whilst Pardew is pretty useless we will not replace him with anyone better. We go cheap and cheery so it will either be JFK or an out of work nobody. I'm thinking Curbishley etc.

I'd like to see us sign Victor Moses, even if just on loan. Could give us some much needed pace and power