Cronky

The fact that he managed to get the ball and didn't get the man isn't the point at issue. (though I think if Nani hadn't jumped out of the way, he would have got him) He jumped into the tackle with two feet - that's considered dangerous and it's a red.

Picking the ball up 40 yards from goal, and dribbling right through a packed defence to the goal area just isn't supposed to happen at that level. A real goal out of nothing. I didn't think that ITV gave it enough praise, because a lot of spectacular goals result from a player taking advantage of a situation that has developed in a defence. In this case, there was really nothing on for Ben Arfa at all and the chaos he created was all his own making. How do you harness a talent like that for the benefit of the team? You don't want him trying to do that all the time, but it's also an amazing weapon to have in your locker. Hopefully in the next few months, Ben Arfa will develop a role and an understanding with his team mates.

Ironically that is what makes him such a good player. Enrique was criticised for just that yet he's probably Liverpool's best signing under Dalglish. If I felt he was fully in control of the ball when he does that, I wouldn't mind. But he often looks like he's chasing after his previous dodgy touch and it's a relief when he finally releases the ball. But yes, it's good that he's at least looking to try and play the ball forward and in that sense he's an improvement on all our DMs in recent years.

Pienaars barely had a chance to play at tottenham Nzog hasnt been playing in the most attacking side either Wouldnt judge either to harshly, both have ability there. I'd say Hoilett has more all-round talent than both those players. Pienaar's confidence seems to have collapsed since his move to Spurs. That may be a reflection on how well he was managed at Everton, of course. From Blackburn's point of view, it's a bit of a lesson about not letting a player reach the final year of his contract without either cashing in or getting an extension agreed. Now, they either lose a valuable player for nothing at the end of the season, or take the money and harm their chances of staying up. They're in a horrible position.

He's a good pro, but too often he's beaten for pace or strength. I'd rather play Sammy in that position, because at least he can improve. Raylor is already performing at his best.

Despite all their injury problems, they're only 3 points off the lead. Given the players at his disposal, Fergie has worked a miracle to keep them in the hunt. They're very dependent on Rooney, and yesterday he looked a bit out of sorts.

A vintage, all-action performance from him tonight. The man's a machine. Wish he'd stop walking the ball out of defence though.

One of those games where everything goes according to plan. One great feeling. Well done to Cabaye for insisting on taking that free kick instead of Raylor. He really fancied it.

Really adds something to the attack. Positioning a bit dodgy in defence, but that's the sort of thing that will improve with experience and confidence. The talent is obvious. The thing that nags me is - why, if you've got a young, nervy defender who's still learning his trade, do you give him the added problem of playing on the wrong side for a right-footed player?

Shola's treading water now. He's done well with Ba but he looks spent now.

Yorke will say it wasn't a goal because the ball bounced out.

Yorke making a complete fool of himself.

The tactics seem to be paying off so far. I think we'll need another goal though, because they are getting at our back four quite easily.

I didn't head butt him I just placed my forehead against his. If his lawyer had got him off using that defence, I'd want his name and number for emergencies.

City are so deadly in that final third that they don't need to dominate a game to win comfortably. Brilliant header by Yaya Toure for the second. What a player.

Confident-sounding link in the Times - we've been offered the chance to sign Marco Andreolli, CB from Chievo, ex-Italian U21 international. Supposedly can cover at full back as well. Any opinions?

It won't. It's Barton... Joey himself has said that there was contact, and someone will need to explain to me how two heads can come together without one or the other making some kind of forward movement, however slow. He has no chance of being let off this one. The BBC's zoom shot has him bang to rights.

It looked to me like there was definitely contact and Joey was responsible. Johnson didn't seem to over-react either. A butt doesn't have to be particularly forceful to produce an effect. They're trying to turn it into an examination of the officials' behaviour rather than Joey's.

I don't think he's been shite but I'd definitely accept an offer of £25m. That would be twice his actual worth IMO.

I'd be fine about starting Sammy. At least he's not afraid to have a go, and we'd be giving a young player some experience. The talent is there. Recently he's tended to come on as a sub in games where we've been struggling, and we can't judge him on that. Ben Arfa I'd give another chance to in that No10 position.

Just had a look at the Suarez report. If he referred to the player's race in the course of an argument, he's guilty. Those are the standards that operate here. I just think he was operating with a Blatter-esque mentality, in which the victim would try to sort it out on the field, and wouldn't launch a complaint.

Blackburn still have a reasonable chance of staying up. I can't imagine that they'd want to sell any players for financial reasons when the financial consequences of relegation are so huge. Likewise West Ham, in terms of the financial benefits of promotion. At this point, bringing in someone from abroad seems more likely.

It feels to me that we've been playing an orthodox 4-4-2 for most of the season, with two out and out strikers that we try to hit early, two hard-working central midfield players and two wide players who will hopefully provide the strikers with crosses and also help out the full backs a lot to negate the risk of being overrun in midfield. There were indications at the start of the season that Pardew wanted to move to something more sophisticated, but all we've seen is the occasional 4-4-1-1, with Ben Arfa and now Vuckic in that No10 role. However, it's all looked a bit tentative and I'm not sure whether Pardew is not sufficiently committed to the changes, or whether we haven't got the players. Against Liverpool, we seemed to fall between two stools. Ultimately, I thought we were going to see a 4-3-3, but that seems some way away. I think Jonas faces an individual problem because after his good start, opponents are now ready for him. Those long legs of his don't operate too well when he's closed down early and deprived of time and space. He seems to be getting forced further and further back and becoming less and less effective. I'd seriously give him a try at full back, where he has some experience. I reckon he can actually defend at least as well and probably better than Taylor or Simpson so there's no loss there. Full backs often have a bit more space to advance into in attack and that would suit him. He'd certainly be a better attacking threat than our current full backs, who I think are really holding the team back. We could also kill two birds with one stone, because if we move to a 4-3-3, it's important that we have full backs who enjoy getting forward. So we'd end up with something like - Ba Ben Arfa Marveaux/Sammy/Cabaye Guthrie Tiote Cabaye/Abeid/Vuckic Santon Colo Willo Jonas - which in terms of formation is what I think Pardew was aiming for. Either way our current system is looking more and more predictable. We're in a position to experiment because we look safe from relegation and the CL spots are out of our reach. As for Obertan, unless he's prepared to play with a lot more heart, it doesn't matter what system we have. Excuse the long post. Happy New Year.

Tin hat on, but I think there's a case for trying him out at full back, where he's got some experience for Argentina. He's strong and tackles well enough, and can't be worse than Taylor.

Doesn't help. Do people agree with me that speed is important for any second striker? Which is why I'm hoping he will turn into an iniesta type player on the left of a midfield 3 Centre mid definitely looks like his position, either as a playmaker or attacking midfielder. A second striker maybe doesn't have to be blindingly quick, but Vuckic is very slow and struggled to get away from challenges.