Cronky

I think Chelsea have a problem, because despite winning the FA Cup and the Champions League, this is the weakest team they've had in the Abramovich era. Their league position is the true reflection of their current standing. Yet there is now a lot of pressure on RA to appoint Di Matteo long-term. Trouble is, he achieved his position by gaining the support of the old guard, and they are the ones that need to be replaced. That's often the difficulty of appointing a caretaker.

His early career was based on his quite exceptional pace, and when that faded he didn't have the technical ability to still remain a top player. No mystery really. Joining us was a disaster for both him and the club. What I can't get over is that he said in public two weeks beforehand that he wanted to re-join Liverpool, and would only consider joining us on loan. Yet Freddie persisted and priced Liverpool out of the running so that Owen ended up with little choice. Complete madness.

Nah, I don't think they would unless it was something like £20m. He is a big cog in that team. Couldn't replace him on the cheap, especially Everton. Would need big wages for whoever came in. I wouldn't be surprised if there was some clause in his contract, entitling him to move for a bid of a certain level. I wasn't expecting him to sign a new contract at Everton, and this may have been a condition.

Both managers can point to some achievements, and both carried some risks when it came to the England job. Hodgson looked that bit better suited to the role of international manager, that's all. Despite the Ox-Chamb gaff, I quite liked the way Hodgson presented at the press conference. We got a bit more insight into his thinking than most England managers have been able or prepared to give.

We've not seen a lot of him of late, but my guess would be that his current level would be lower half of the Premiership / top half of the Championship. Perhaps even that's being generous. Given his previous reputation, I don't think he fancies swallowing his pride and doing his bit for that kind of club. Mind you, I don't know who he thought he was fooling, with this idea that remaining on Man U's books even as a reserve meant that he was still a top player.

A factor in Downing’s favour is that I think he’s better and more reliable at tracking back than Johnson or the other rivals for his position. In fact, I seem to remember him filling in at full back during parts of games, or perhaps playing as a wing back, though I may be wrong about that. It’s difficult to imagine Johnson in that role. Downing’s quite a versatile player, and that’s very useful at tournament level.

I don't think Liverpool are far off from being a good side. They can play some decent stuff, but somehow they're not converting their quality into wins. I can remember Dabizas commenting about Dalglish that he was too close to many of the players, and needed to be tougher and more of a disciplinarian. That may be what's gone wrong at Liverpool. I think it's a good opportunity for whoever's the new man.

Wio taking it well, then. Actually, Rio, yes.

Adam Johnson. Daniel Sturridge. Aaron Lennon. Well from what I've seen, all three tend to play down the right. You can make a case for any of those three, but not an overwhelming one. Johnson has barely played this season and there are question marks over his reliability. Sturridge hasn't matured yet as a player. Lennon is very right-footed and relies a lot on pace. Downing has played down the right for Liverpool mostly this season. Bellamy on the left. Not to sure about the bigger picture with Liverpool this season, but for nearly all of his career at club and international level he's been down the left.

Sounds like he's made a tit of himself BUT that was a significant game which showed that Chamberlain can handle a big occasion against continental opposition.

Adam Johnson. Daniel Sturridge. Aaron Lennon. Well from what I've seen, all three tend to play down the right. You can make a case for any of those three, but not an overwhelming one. Johnson has barely played this season and there are question marks over his reliability. Sturridge hasn't matured yet as a player. Lennon is very right-footed and relies a lot on pace.

I don't know whether there's a lot to argue about tbh. I'd have gone for Richards for his ability in attack and at set pieces, but there have always been question marks about his positioning and concentration. Downing isn't as bad as people make out, and it's not as though we're flooded out with options for the left side. I'm pleased he's taken the Ox. Despite his age, he showed in the CL that he can handle that level of football. Henderson is probably on standby for his versatility. And if you asked 100 managers whether they'd take Gerrard, all of them would say yes.

So this ITK has told them there's been a row, but he doesn't know who it's between, what it's about or how serious it is. Or even whether it's serious at all. Scoop.

Pardew isn't the most gung-ho of managers, and a lot of the time his basic policy has been to concentrate on containing the opposition at first, and then attack as the game goes on. Of course if the opposition scores first, we're in difficulty and we've taken a few beatings as a result. Like on Sunday. Tbh, for most of this season we've looked more like a mid-table team than CL contenders. We've got up there because we've been organised and tactically astute, and got several results in close games or against the run of play. Our modest goal difference, compared to the teams around us, is a reflection of that. Pardew has recognised our limitations, and set us up to get results despite that. It's only very recently that we've looked capable of really outclassing opponents. That's a work in progress. I'm optimistic because if Pardew can get results with the current squad, think what he could achieve with a few upgrades.

Think the leniency shout is considering the ref showed leniency to Tiote literally about 4 times when he could have been sent off, then gave your bench the nod to sub him as if it was a pre-season charity game. Anyway, nothing against you lads but I was delighted with shoving Pardew's words down his throat yesterday. Really can't stand the smarmy fucker and his twattish comments about us going back to some embarrassing stuff he came out with in his West Ham days. Did our team talk on Friday with his "another level" dig. At least from your perspective the result didn't matter for CL in the end anyway. Good support and was surprised a lot seemed to stay to clap our players on their lap of the pitch? Fair play for that like. I wouldn't do it. You used up your leniency card with Heitinga. And pointing the finger at another player's behaviour is no defence at all.

Yak's no better than what we've got. Besides, if we're going to add to our options in attack, we could do with a different type of striker.

There were one or two occasions on Sunday where he tried to take a shot on when he should have released the ball to a team mate. It felt like ending the goal drought had become too important.

I don't think Cahill would have been as keen to grab someone the size of Ba or Shola by the throat. His enthusiasm for beating up the smallest kid in the class was not impressive.

He may finally have gone too far this time. It's hard to see how he'll retain the confidence and support of his team-mates, let alone the management at QPR. I can't imagine that there will then be any clubs of any standing willing to take him on. Threatening to reveal details of someone's private life in retaliation for criticism about your behaviour on the pitch is really low. The bloke just doesn't get it.

Pretty clear he's hoping for some sort of media career after his retirement. TV seems to have a fondness for 'characters' like Robbie Savage, where a lack of anything interesting or original to say has proved no handicap.

Playing the ball through the midfield. We've made some improvements, but need to keep on.

Is that because you forgot Perch? Ah so. I'd give Perch a 7. He's improved for sure, but there were games when Guthrie looked the best player on the pitch. That I did not expect.

If we're limited to three - Krul Santon Douglas Colo Ferguson Cabaye Tiote SomereallygoodfrenchiewhoI'venotheardof Ben Arfa Cisse Hoilett

Krul 9 – Probably our most important player. Peaked early in the season, when he saved us so many points. Simpson 5.5 – the only defender who hasn’t improved. Still not positive enough. S Taylor 7 – his best season to date, and very unlucky it didn’t last. Coloccini 8.5 – Occasionally looked vulnerable, but produced some brilliant interceptions and tackles. Williamson 6.5 – a very dodgy return to the side, but thereafter recovered his old form. A real asset. Santon 7 – hard to mark, because he really struggled at first. Once he developed some confidence, he looked very promising. R Taylor 6 – for effort and adaptability. Could be relied on to do his best, but still looks a squad player. Jonas 7 – hard working and reliable. Ben Arfa 7.5 – like Santon, hard to mark, but in the second half of the season, really moved up a gear. Next season he could be tremendous. Tiote 7.5 – followed on from where he left off last season. Guthrie 7 – a real surprise package. Our most improved player. Cabaye 7.5 – great commitment to the cause. Improved steadily as he got used to the English game. Next season should be even better. Obertan 3 – the season’s big disappointment. Needs to play with more heart. Ba 7 – another difficult player to judge. His goals were invaluable in the first half of the season, but faded badly when he was pushed deeper following Cisse’s arrival. He doesn’t look a happy bunny any more and I think he’ll be off. Cisse 8.5 – apart from his goals, he looked a much better all-round striker than I was expecting. Some amazing strikes and a very important player in our late upturn of form. Shola 7 – far better than he is given credit for, as I say every year. Best 6.5 – better than I was expecting. He makes the best of his ability, but not enough quality for where we want to go.

This for sure. With us - how tough we have been in getting results against the odds at various times. The discipline of the side has been excellent. In the Premiership - Wigan suddenly deciding to play like a top-six side.