midds

If Krul's playing well then I can't see much reason to change it. He needs games and deserves them unless he's costing us goals/games.

18 points from 13 games is about what I expected. I thought we'd need to make hay in the fixtures before Xmas and we've done reasonably well. For every Arsenal or Everton there's been a Blackburn or a Blackpool - it's sort of cancelled itself out. Problem is that we've only won 2 out of 7 at home and whilst the results overall have been canny the results in front of the home crowd (arguably the people who matter most) have been frustrating. You're only as good as your last game and as the fixtures suddenly start to get little harder, the league tightens up and other teams continue to pick up unexpected wins we could well drop down the league and into trouble. It won't take much for this 'pressure' to return. Hughton's done reasonably well but handing him a long-term contract is a big decision and if I were Ashley I'd be waiting a bit to see how things pan out.

Thought Sunderland were very good today. They took full advantage of an under-strength and under-par Chelsea team who are going through their sticky patch. They hung in, created chances and took advantage. Don't like it but they can be proud of that today.

More frustration. 1-1.

He really REALLY cares man. Really.

The FA interfering into who managers pick for games. Just read up on Blackpool making 10 changes. Completely wrong to take any action, ditto for McCarty last year.

Thick from Barton. Deserves a 3 game ban, hope he doesn't get one but he should really. Barmy.

Really, really disappointing result after the Arsenal performance. Missed a real chance to put a few more points on the board. Hughton needs to find a way to open things up against teams that come up here to spoil and contain otherwise this is going to keep on happening. Not the end of the world but losing regularly at home is frustrating for the fans.

Slut.

Come on you fuckers, keep going.

Still loads of time to get back into it.

Arsenal one up at Wolves.

Since Bale's super-duper show in Milan, Spurs have picked up 2 points out of 12. The extra European fixtures are having an effect on the League form which is the exact thing that will stop them from getting back in the top 4 and qualifying again. They should count themselves lucky that City have looked dodgy too.

Have been a staunch 'yes' from day 1 but going to Arsenal and winning is significant. It basically proves we can pick up points in just about any of the next 27 fixtures. Two big home games to come and we need to be filling our boots and start thinking of the top 10. It's now a 'no'. We can have a really good season and not get involved with the relegation scrap.

Graphs, tables, stats and charts. Fucking LOVE this thread.

Deserves to keep the shirt when Harper comes back. He'll make mistakes but he'll get better, Harper will make mistakes and get worse. No-brainer.

If the foul had not been made then Ranger was clean in on goal to either strike it or square it. That's a clear goalscoring opportunity. The distance from goal is pretty much irrelevant in this case. Red.

Nice, impartial stuff from Lee Dixon there.

Hang on, was that Arsenal getting booed off? Fuck me.

Some fans consider beating Chelsea 2-0 to be acceptable. Wigan, Stoke and West Ham up next. The same fans who consider going out of the cup to Northampton last month worthy of the sack? A month ago, by all indications, Woy was busy with his shovel at the bottom of a deep hole. If that form had continued, he probably would have had to go very soon indeed, because the club can't afford to not sack the manager if he's only won one game by the end of December. One month later, and we're closer to the CL spots than the relegation zone, so there's no need to fire him. Oh well that's ok then. Is he a better manager than he was a month ago?

Some fans consider beating Chelsea 2-0 to be acceptable. Wigan, Stoke and West Ham up next. The same fans who consider going out of the cup to Northampton last month worthy of the sack?

An absolute beast. Gets through the graft of 2 men in the middle of the park, wins it, keeps it and gives it. He's literally worth his weight in gold to us. He's the type of player you build a midfield around.

'condemn'. Seriously man, how hard is it? Jesus.

Got it spot on again today. Wasn't tempted to change the system and bring a striker off for another body in midfield for the last 20 (although Carroll played 15 yards deeper) and brought fresh legs on at the right time. The defence looked compact and organised. Simpson is way, way, way better than Perch and Tiote is like 2 players with his energy and distribution. No-one played poorly and Krul's save was worth a goal. All-round fantastic performance with no negatives at all. Caught Arsenal on a bad day but how many times have they let us down by not taking advantage of the superior opposition not clicking? 3 on the bounce now and there's no reason we shouldn't go on and make it 5. Nothing to be scared of in Blackburn or Fulham. Get in there.