Cronky

No problem at all with your asking. Life would be so much the poorer without my weekly diet of sarcastic abuse.

was never terribly convinced by the Berahino deal being possible, probably being used by the agent to try and get Spurs/Chelsea/Whoever to bid. Yep. The simplest explanation and probably the correct one.

Berahino's talent is obvious but he seems to act like he's already made it as a top player. That puts me off a bit and if we only sign one more player I'd rather it was Townsend.

I don't really see how we need him other than off the bench? And why would we over-pay for someone to sit on our bench? I mean I'm all for depth, but Townsend at £14m is absolutely ridiculous. Rather give Thauvin a chance and put that money into improving at LB and getting someone like Berahino. We aren't going to sign a new left back though. And personally I think it would help Dummett if Townsend were to be playing down that side ahead of him. Our squad lacks a pacey, direct, out and out winger. Aarons and arguably Thauvin could become that player, but they are sure as hell not ready to be counted on from what we've seen and read so far. Who do we have vying for the Left Wing spot at the moment? Perez (a central player), Gini (Better in the centre), Thauvin and Aarons. None of those options are good enough for me, and I'm talking about having a proper impact this season, not for the long term future. Yeah. Too often this season, Dummett's not had good options in front of him when he's on the ball, and he's ended up punting a diagonal ball across to a striker, cutting out the midfield. It's all very well for people to say he should be more enterprising, but if he's isolated and loses it, then we're in trouble. He has punted it 99% of the time when he's had someone next to him to pass it as well. Dummett is just not talented enough as a footballer so don't really think you can blame anyone else for his absolute inability to pass a decent ball or make a cross. Townsend won't really help him at all offensively, he'll still struggle because he's just not good enough at that aspect of the game. Only himself could improve that. It's not as simple as that. It was noticeable on Saturday that, with the team attacking with more confidence as a whole, Dummett felt able to get forward more often and to good effect. Townsend will be an additional help in that process of removing the shackles. Dummett's okay. It's tough for a young defender to find their feet in the Premiership, and I think there's more to come from him.

I don't really see how we need him other than off the bench? And why would we over-pay for someone to sit on our bench? I mean I'm all for depth, but Townsend at £14m is absolutely ridiculous. Rather give Thauvin a chance and put that money into improving at LB and getting someone like Berahino. We aren't going to sign a new left back though. And personally I think it would help Dummett if Townsend were to be playing down that side ahead of him. Our squad lacks a pacey, direct, out and out winger. Aarons and arguably Thauvin could become that player, but they are sure as hell not ready to be counted on from what we've seen and read so far. Who do we have vying for the Left Wing spot at the moment? Perez (a central player), Gini (Better in the centre), Thauvin and Aarons. None of those options are good enough for me, and I'm talking about having a proper impact this season, not for the long term future. Yeah. Too often this season, Dummett's not had good options in front of him when he's on the ball, and he's ended up punting a diagonal ball across to a striker, cutting out the midfield. It's all very well for people to say he should be more enterprising, but if he's isolated and loses it, then we're in trouble. I wouldn't want Townsend to hog the touchline, and he wouldn't be the only possible solution, but Gini as a wide player has always looked an awkward compromise.

I can't see the Berahino signing coming off. If he thinks that Spurs are interested, he'll hold out for them. If Townsend signs, I'd like to see him used in a freer role rather than stuck out on the wing. I think he and Ayoze would work well together. It looks like we're after someone who can lead the line, and act as back-up or replacement for Mitro. Despite his physique, Ayoze didn't do all that badly in that role, but we could do with someone bigger. Remy would fit the bill if he's minded to come (which I doubt)

NUFC fucking up has developed as a long-running saga which provides entertainment for the media and fans of other clubs. Shelvey getting a ban after excelling on his debut would fit the script.

Indeed, was looking for that on the replay. No contact with the face at all... But of course that's the first thing Valencia went for. It didn't look that serious, but what Shelvey needs to realise is that he's now playing for a higher-profile club. The media wouldn't be paying any attention to that incident if he was still at Swansea, but our trials and tribulations make news, and they will try to blow things up.

That's the first time for ages that I've felt that we actually outclassed the opposition. We were more than one goal better than them. Our confidence seemed to take a major boost from the performance in midweek and the arrival of Shelvey. Players were bombing forward in the anticipation of receiving the ball, and Shelvey delivered. Mitrovic's physical conditioning seems to be improving all the time. He looks a lot trimmer.

Townsend has that kind of explosive pace and energy which is missing from our attack at the moment. We've got flat-out pace which is apparent when we're in a position to catch teams on the break, but in other situations we look a bit flat and predictable. Townsend is worth the gamble, because he could make all the difference.

With the arrival of Saivet, Shelvey and it seems Townsend as well, one or two midfield players will get pushed down the pecking order, even if they don't leave. There is a decision to be made with Sissoko, because although he can open things up for us (particularly on the break), a lot of moves break down when he gets the ball. Our midfield are not fluent in possession, and although Sissoko isn't the only culprit when it comes to losing the ball, he's the chief one. It makes it difficult for players to move forward with confidence if they're worried we might lose the ball and then they'll be out of position. We're at our most dangerous on the break, but that's of limited use when we struggle to score the first goal because we can't break teams down. The balance in the midfield needs to be tipped towards a unit with more skill on the ball. I'd want to keep Sissoko because of his obvious strengths, but not necessarily as an automatic first team choice. I'd like to see how a new look midfield functions without him.

I don't think players have a responsibility to avoid handball at all costs though. Well yeah, this is a grey area, and generally speaking defenders tend to get judged too harshly on this. Too many pens get given in this kind of situation. But Mbemba was deliberately spreading himself, and that tips the scales IMO.

It looked like Mbemba knew he was in trouble and was trying to make himself big. His sole intention may not have been to handle the ball, but there was a clear risk of that happening. On another day, he might have got away with it, but a pen was a fair decision. The worse call was Colback being denied a pen. It was the sort of challenge that would be a free kick anywhere but in the area. The defender took hold of him and that affected his balance when he was trying to shoot.

Agreed.

I know you're joking, but it may well help his self esteem. There may be a player in there yet. You'll need a JCB to find it.

That's a worry. We need an anchor man and it looks like Shelvey is some way from the perfect fit. My fear is that he would improve our midfield but not by as much as is needed.

Anita, I reckon. I'm still puzzled that Swansea would sell him to a fellow relegation struggler.

Crap idea, because so many decisions in football are matters of subjective opinion, rather than fact. You only have to look at how many times the pundits in the TV studios disagree or are uncertain about decisions, after numerous replays on the same incident. This'll cause more arguments, not fewer.

I agree with the likes of Bony and Remy, but I can also understand the likes of Sinclair being unable to resist the opportunity. No-one wants to spend their career thinking of what might have been. But looking at the even younger age range, ie at Chelsea and Man City's youth systems, it baffles me a bit that they're able to recruit a lot of talented young teenagers. If I was advising a young player, I'd tell them not to touch those clubs with a barge pole. No matter how good the coaching, nobody is making it through the ranks there.

I can't see the point in buying an injured player. We're in trouble and we need legs on the pitch right now.

Well I certainly wouldn't turn my nose up at him. His career has come to a standstill, but he's shown he can be effective at this level. He's better than what we've got for sure.

Give over. There were clear reasons for thinking that Chelsea's players were grossly under-achieving and a clear reason why that was happening.

I'm scared.

A fair bit of what feels like hate at times though , but it's lively, funny and interesting and I take the rough with the smooth. Happy New Year, peeps.

There are weaknesses in the squad as individuals and in how they blend as a unit. But McClaren has had only one transfer window and half a season, and he inherited a sinking ship that was lucky to avoid relegation. The natural reaction when a team is doing badly is to call for the manager's head, but there's plenty of reasons to think that any other manager (who we could reasonably attract) would struggle as well. It looks to me that in midfield McClaren is just selecting his best individuals and hoping that they click enough times in a game to win matches. In theory he should be looking for a better blend, but there's a lack of quality and availability in the wide positions that make that difficult. Obertan and Gouffran aren't good enough, and Obi is injured anyway. Cabella didn't settle. Thauvin might make the grade but will need time that McClaren can't afford. Aarons has been injured. So he pushes Wijnaldum out wide, despite the fact that his best work is done through the centre and he never looks likely to make the by-line. Sissoko can look effective going forward when the play is stretched, but doesn't contribute much in other areas. It's not a pretty sight, but what's the alternative? A fit De Jong might allow him to put Ayoze out wider, but that's hardly ideal. We just have to hope that the January window gives McClaren another option or two.