Cronky

Well played damn you That statement is 79% true tbf. But misleading. Looking backwards, you could say that most winning teams have also had most of the possession of the ball. It doesn't then follow that if you concentrate on keeping possession of the ball, you boost your chances of winning to the same extent. Lies, damned lies and statistics.

I think there has been a significant change of form. How significant, we'll find out, but I don't think we're going to revert to early season form. I thought we played really well for the first half hour against QPR. The Taylor injury caused us to lose focus a bit - understandably - but I always felt we looked the more likely side to win. Everyone's saying how crap QPR are, but before the game they were supposed to be a team running into a bit of form. Previously, we have looked poor when it comes to trying to work the ball in tight spaces, particularly near the touchline, but we're now starting to look far more capable and confident in that aspect. No-one was expecting Dummett to shine at centre back, or Perez to emerge so soon as a capable striker at this level. Sammy is now making a better all-round contribution, and the team is now built around Sissoko, rather than him fitting around everyone else. I also think we look a more fluent side without Tiote. I'm not saying we're going to finish 5th, but I think the progress is real.

The run is bound to end, but this team is improving. The young players like Sammy, Perez, Dummett, Haidara and Abeid are gaining confidence and experience. Abandon hope, people.

He seems to be releasing the ball early more often. It's always tempting for a young player who is good at beating his opponent, to try doing it all the time. He's getting over that.

Yeah, that'll be it.

Sissoko, Sammy and Perez all did well today. Until Cisse made a mess of that chance, I'd forgotten he was on the pitch.

We played well for half an hour, and still look the better side. I fear the worst for Ryan T.

I don't fancy our makeshift defence against Zamora and Austin.

I thought he looked promising against Stoke, but nowhere near ready for the first team.

A very strange decision, considering Mackay is still under investigation. I do think Whelan is very attention-seeking, and whether, at least subconsciously, that's clouded his judgement here.

It's not a matter of a couple of hours, it would be at the end of the weekend. If we beat QPR, Swansea lose at Man City, West Ham lose at Everton and Arsenal and Man U draw, we're 4th. A possibility and not a probability, and of course it wouldn't mean we're the 4th best team. But there will be a fuss all over the media, and the amount of knicker-twisting on here will be of gale-force proportions.

You lot may have more pain coming your way. If we beat QPR, it wouldn't take an outlandish set of other results for us to end up 4th at the end of the weekend.

Yeah. Scotland used to rely on players who'd developed their skills through their childhood by hours and hours of street and park football, in a time when there were few other distractions or sources of entertainment. Now that the development of players has to take place in more organised settings, they're falling short of the standard needed for the top.

In sporting terms, the sons and grandsons of Commonwealth immigrants have boosted England, but not Scotland. I'm not saying that's the only reason that the gulf between the two sides has grown over the years, but it is a factor.

I've seen a few Scotland - England games, but there was a real gulf in class out there tonight. We simply had better players. This is a good England side, and they're improving all the time.

I don't think anyone can say that Ben Arfa wasn't given a chance to prove himself. He had several starts, in all sorts of different positions. Pardew did try to find the right team structure to enable him to flourish. The debate is about what conclusion you draw from those performances, and even that is complicated with a disciplinary issue, which was the spark that turned a problem into a crisis, and we don't have full information about that. The issue which his supporters don't always face up to is that there has been a similar pattern at his previous clubs. He's admitted himself that he has a deep-rooted problem with authority, and personally I don't think he finds it easy to handle success. The minute things seem to start going well, he finds a way of screwing up. He needs a psychiatrist, not a coach.

I was optimistic at first, but it doesn't look like he's got quite enough to force himself into the first team picture at this level. Besides, I think Armstrong and Campbell are in competition for the same role, and Armstrong has more.

Lots of people, it seems.

I like this side. England teams aren't usually any good at passing the ball through a defence, but we produced some good, creative play at times. Welbeck was excellent throughout.

Useful squad player who can fill in on various roles, but I wouldn't want him as a regular starter. He has an almost baffling ability with long-range free kicks that I can only suppose is the product of many hours of dedicated practice. He's not particularly skilful in other aspects of the game.

Looks quite intelligent IMO, good first touch and passes it quickly, plays good one two's and generally makes the right decisions with the ball. Agree with this, I thought he looked good. We just need to get him somewhere where her can play everyday. I don't care if its league two. I thought Campbell was excellent, needs games though so needs to go on loan to someone in the championship. Vuckic is an excellent footballer but just doesn't seem to be clinical enough and again needs to get out on loan at a decent level. Whether he'll ever make it is another matter though as he just doesn't seem to have that killer instinct nasty streak in front of goal. Yeah, Vuckic is very frustrating to watch. He showed plenty of effort out there, but doesn't always use his brain.

I thought Liam Gibson looked a talent. Only 17 as well. Bigi looked like he belonged at a higher level. I hope he gets his career moving again. Roberts looked good, but as others have said, he made one or two selfish decisions.

FIFA now looks completely disfunctional, and it can only get worse. UEFA should withdraw and invite other countries to join a new organisation.

i wish you didnt exist I know

I thought the article was confused and rambling. I don't think anyone was disputing the supporters' right to express the opinion that Pardew should be sacked. What is in dispute is whether that opinion was a) wise and b) helpful to the team in the manner in which it was expressed. Edwards seems to mix the two up. The idea that the upturn in form is because of the protest is a novel one, and one that Edwards is rather forcing himself to believe, I suspect. These kind of protests heap pressure on a team, and often lead to a downward spiral. PS - And the idea that it is more difficult to complain or protest in today's society is rubbish.