chicago_shearer

just like the experienced players we have like butt and owen who are holding the team back Believe it or not, there are better experienced players in the world than Nicky Butt. What I'm saying is that we don't need to be dropping foreign loan signings in at the deep end of a relegation battle. I'd rather sign players who know what they are in for and know what it takes to battle for an equalizer on a freezing away day or hold on to a 1-0 lead in the last 10 minutes of a scrappy home game.

Money is one of the few advantages we still have over the likes of Pompey and Blackburn, it would be mad not to spend in this window.

I don't have any confidence in Kinnear, but you are probably right because I don't have much confidence in our ability to attract a suitable replacement either. What we need are two or three good signings to lift the team. Not 17 year olds, not flair players. Good players with experience at bad clubs and with the right sort of attitude in these sort of situations. Go out and find some leaders.

Except he wasn't a gardener, and he had more than rose bushes and bermuda grass depending on him. He had an entire club of supporters he claimed to appreciate and understand.

I'd be willing to bet that whichever team loses will go down this season.

What annoys me the most is that the Chelsea "supporters" who streamed out with 10 minutes remaining will have a great weekend to look forward to while we get ours spoiled by another gutless display. No justice.

Give it a couple of hours. Rational eyes will see it. You've got no chance at the moment. Referee cost us this game with an honourable mention to poor finishing. It's 3-0. Do we play first goal wins or something? You know exactly what I mean. Before the penalty that never was, Blackburn didn't look like they stood a chance. The goal brought them to life, our heads dropped, and it's been downhill ever since. The penalty changed the game. The heads aren't supposed to drop! It shouldn't be taken for granted that professional footballers just give up when a bad referee costs them a goal. Players are human. Of course it takes the wind out of your sails. No amount of professionalism or earning £50k a week will change that. Chelsea managed it today, so did Villa, so did Man U. It isn't the salary, it isn't the technical ability, it is called character.

I'm surprised to see Kev shooting from the bunker. I would expect him to pack it in and go home if the ball isn't in the fairway for him.

Give it a couple of hours. Rational eyes will see it. You've got no chance at the moment. Referee cost us this game with an honourable mention to poor finishing. It's 3-0. Do we play first goal wins or something? You know exactly what I mean. Before the penalty that never was, Blackburn didn't look like they stood a chance. The goal brought them to life, our heads dropped, and it's been downhill ever since. The penalty changed the game. The heads aren't supposed to drop! It shouldn't be taken for granted that professional footballers just give up when a bad referee costs them a goal.

Can we not apply to get it extended until the end of the season? No, set an example. 6 month suspension at a minimum. Lifetime ban would be preferable, think of the children.

A suspension for Butt is almost like a consolation goal really. If only his achilles snaps on his way down the tunnel and he might be convinced to retire.

He needs to go, before it is too late. This man will take us down.

The penalty didn't lose this game, the second goal lost this game. Normal teams who get fucked by a bad decision regroup and press for an equalizer. We bend over and allow a bad team to have their way. That shows no character in the squad, and that is the biggest problem we have.

What does being the better team have to do with it? The season doesn't finish today. Our performance has been reasonable and we're going to pick up more points between now and the end of the season than the s**** we've been playing against today. If not for a dodgy penalty decision we'd still be on top now and pushing for a win. We don't deserve to be 2-0 down, but these are the sort of results that send you down. Not the games when you get completely outclassed like Liverpool at home, but the times when you don't make the opportunities count. I'm not saying anything is certain, but I really do wonder if there is enough ability and character in this team to turn it around.

This is just mental weakness. We concede, and these guys collapse like children. And it is down to management.

What does being the better team have to do with it?

I hate this team.

I think this group of players and the idiot in charge could very easily take us down. But I agree, this result doesn't change anything.

The players need to develop ability. And testicles.

Just all of the European Championships. Had time off during a nice summer to watch 90% it, great football, deserved champion. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

You have to wonder whether the outcome of this season is just fate.

We've been the better side.

I think I'd have better things to say about Carroll's performance in the first half if he didn't have such a stupid haircut. Colo & Bassong will need to work on dealing with Bellamy's pace in the second half, but we've been by far the better side and have played some very impressive stuff.

I can't wait to see the pictures of this. Good luck lads, I think my money is on Team Blue.

James Beattie, that has to be a joke. A bad one. It would take real effort to make that sort of mistake. That would go beyond mere managerial/administrative incompetence and border on deliberate sabotage of the club. Why aren't we being linked with central midfielders? Has no one noticed that Nicky Butt is about 47 years old? Does he have to wear a sign that says "PAST IT" for someone in charge to notice?