Cronky

..seems to be the point where opinion divides. I thought it was significant how poorly he performed when played out wide. For sure that's not his best position, but he couldn't run with the ball, and he couldn't keep it when put under pressure near the touchline. His poor touch on the ball really got exposed. As a striker he concentrates on finding space between defenders and hitting the ball early when it comes through to him. It's a bit hit and miss, but when he's on target he has the advantage of an early strike. That's fine as far as it goes, but is that enough for a club of our ambition to be building the team around for the future? I don't think so.

He's a striker, his main job is to score goals, not run in channels or win balls in the air for other people. I don't know if you watch internationl football but there are plenty of successfulk teams operating without the old fashioned English centre forward type. I don't think we're talking necessarily about an old fashioned English centre forward, but a lone striker needs to be something of an all-rounder, because he does have to link play as well as get on the end of chances. A specialist finisher is limited in that position.

If a player on the fringe of the first team had bitten an opponent for the second time, Liverpool would be making a great show of giving him the boot to protect the world wide reputation of the club. There would be none of this crap about helping him with his problems and keeping him in the Liverpool family. Most clubs would try to keep Suarez, so I don't blame them for that. It's all this BS about caring for the player that sticks in my craw.

... is food for thought.

Got to admit, I was looking forward to seeing Gouffy have a go down the centre. So mixed feelings. Over to you, Wullie.

I'm not sure that Benny is fit enough to start, but otherwise that looks decent.

Cisse isn't the bravest of players at the best of times. I'm not sure we should play him if he's going to be protecting a rib injury.

Tbh, a bit of a mob mentality has developed over this issue, and it's a bit discouraging.

I'd say Lukaku will go for nothing less than £30m. Benteke probably around £20m if Villa stay up. I don't know about £30m for Lukaku, but £20m for Benteke would be worth it. He would make such a difference to the way we can play. Defenders fear him, they don't go charging in. Assuming we stay up, I would much rather we paid big money for one player than spread the budget on a number of players who wouldn't be a significant improvement on what we have.

Gouffy as main striker then. We might just be better off, let's see.

I'm not sure that Weimann would be much of an improvement on Cisse and Gouffran. Is Benteke out of the question? He's probably destined for the CL, but he'd be perfect for us. Maybe if Benteke goes to Chelsea, Lukaku would become available. I'd go for that.

My point was that if a player plays twice a week, all things being equal, he's not going to be as fit coming into the next game as an opponent who has had a week's rest. Hence managers, when they can, rotate their players to keep them fresh. Some posters were dismissing the 'tiredness' claim on the grounds that these were professional athletes who could be expected to play twice a week. I was simply pointing out that it's widely recognised that potential for tiredness is a factor that the best managers have to take into account. I wasn't saying that we had rotated any more or less than any other team.

Someone needs to get on to Fergie and tell him that his players are fit enough to play twice a week and his rotation policy is a waste of time. Think how many titles he'd have won if he'd just played his best eleven every game.

Good question. And the way in which he answers it would be as significant as what he says. Beneath the apparent openness, he's a bit of a closed book.

Well said. We have problems besides Pardew's tactics/motivational skills/coaching but any attempt to discuss that just gets drowned out.

The commentator had it right, he didnt think and snatched at it rather than having the extra second to take it round Foster. Suppose it could be over confidence but he should have done better Does Cisse have the ability to take it round a keeper in that situation? I'd envisage the ball running away from him. He's inclined to hit the ball early, which to be fair is often the best option. But with him, I often feel it's his only option.

It was a good call, for sure, though I wouldn't agree with everything. We do need to move away from the long ball style, though since the new lads came in in January, there's been signs that Pardew is at least trying to move in that direction. I'm not sure that we've quite got the squad in place to do that yet, which is partly why I'd give the guy another season. The point that the caller made about 'only' half the team playing against Benfica is a bit irritating. That's a significant number. You only need 1 or 2 players to be below par to make a difference to the overall performance.

I'm satisfied with the point, I guess because my expectations aren't as high as others'. The balance doesn't look right in midfield - we only had one player in Cabaye with good technique on the ball - but our problems in playing the ball through the midfield aren't new. Likewise I'm not convinced by our options - or should I say option - up front. West Brom aren't a bad side and we were away from home. Sissoko, perhaps understandably, looks like he's trying to do too much on his own at times.

Not seen the game, but I'd have definitely taken a draw beforehand. We were away from home against a team above us in the league, and after last week, it was vital we didn't lose.

Didn't want to vote for Suarez, but I had to. He's been brilliant.

I hope he's not playing on Saturday. I can't see our CBs coping with his strength.

Interesting that opinion has varied so widely on here. There's been some good individual performances, but it should be an even contest. I think Wilshere has been outstanding since his comeback from injury.

I think that's right. He hasn't suddenly turned into Ibrahimovic, and he's not the only possible target.

What the fuck do you expect when the blokes 6'4", a great header of the ball and his physicality scares the shit out of defenders. Worth £10m all day long imo, but he'd have to take a pay cut to come back here. Yeah, but I think there's a limit to how good a player he can become and therefore what level of football he can play. He's not good enough for Liverpool but good enough for West Ham and us at the present moment. The question is - is he good enough for where we're aiming? He'd be a useful member of any squad, but I wouldn't want to build our team around him.

I saw a bit of him tonight and he still looks over-reliant on the physical side. He actually defends well, and would probably have been a half-decent centre back. I wonder if he's missed his calling.