Cronky

I think that's a spot on assessment. Yeah, the change of pace and direction is there, but I haven't seen evidence yet of the flat-out pace that he showed initially. Hopefully it'll come.

I've thought of having a crack myself, but the trouble is Nick Hornby brought it off so well that all I felt I'd end up with is an inferior version of his book. Hornby's book manages to be of interest to all fans, and not just Gooners, because he's able to stand back and look at things objectively as well as communicate the passion of the fan. The subsequent attempts at emulating him that I've seen have failed because the author is too wrapped up in all the fantasies and cliches which go with following a particular side. It ends up being of no interest to other supporters, and of limited interest to your own fans because you're only saying what they know already. Hornby also has an interesting personal story to tell about growing up and maturing, and football's role in warping that process. That adds another dimension to the book, and I think it actually makes it accessible to people who don't particularly follow the game.

I've just seen the save again. The ball was actually well behind him when he got it. Incredible reflexes and agility. I actually think at the moment we're a mid-table team who has been put into 4th place by their keeper.

At the moment, we have a simple, fairly direct style which is proving effective. Krul's form has been a huge bonus. I've been hoping that we're going to evolve into a more modern 4-3-3 style, and the ultimate test will be how effective that transition will be. I can't see the current team hanging on to 4th place.

I'd agree, it was brilliant.

I agree with the general consensus on Marveaux. He got into the game right away and showed composure and variety. I can only think that Pardew is concerned about him defensively, but seeing that Obertan isn't any great shakes in that department I don't understand the decision. Ben Arfa showed some nice touches but also some very silly decision-making. Mentally he doesn't look quite there yet. Jonas - man of the match for me. We're starting to take his good performances for granted, but he was great again today.

I wouldn't say entirely reliant, but yeah, he's by far our most reliable threat at the moment.

It just shows you the difference that Krul is making to the side. Last season, we'd be 1-0 down and under a lot of pressure. Wigan look dangerous on the break, but not in other situations. We still look the more likely to score, but may need to add a bit of unpredictability with Benny or Marv in the last 20 minutes.

I assume Smith is there in the event that we're a goal up with 5 minutes to go and under pressure, and we need his experience in front of the back four. I'm not saying it's right. I just think that's the explanation.

Dalglish's Liverpool are showing a pattern of flavour-of-the-month signings. Colo has been getting a lot of positive attention in the press recently, and sure enough, Liverpool get linked.

Didn't Tevez himself say after the game that he refused to play because he wasn't in the right frame of mind? It just sounds like the enquiry - as often happens with enquiries - has got bogged down in irrelevant questions of detail and Tevez's representatives have succeeded in muddying the waters. If they're sensible, they'll back their manager, but I don't think they're sensible.

Under Freddie, we were going deeper and deeper into debt in order to buy and pay players who were supposedly going to produce success. This success would then allow us to pay off the debt. It didn't work for us any more than it worked for Leeds. Ashley has got it right. If you're going to invest with the idea of seeing the fruits of that investment down the line, then invest in the infrastructure of training facilities, scouting, and younger players who will improve. Paying top money for top players may produce some short-term gains on the field, but creates longer-term financial problems.

It's when you lose the ball 10 yards outside your own penalty area with most of your team-mates upfield that it's a real problem. He could have lost us the game at that point. I think he'll also have to get used to a different style of refereeing. Challenges which would probably be called a foul on the Continent are often waived on by English refs. He'll have to be a bit more conservative in deciding when to try and beat a man or hang on to the ball. Not a lot, just a bit.

Until this season, I don't feel he's quite fulfilled the huge promise that he showed when he first joined the club. I don't know if it's some fitness issue that's finally been ironed out, but he's been putting in some really strong and consistent performances. Only trouble is, I'm not sure where he'd operate in the modern three in the centre formation that I'd like to see. He seems very much at his best out wide in a 4-4-2.

It would be almost bearable if his opinions were original or interesting, but they're neither. It's the same kind of blurb that you can hear in a pub or round a dinner table any day of the week. It's only because he's Joey Barton that he's getting any attention. Meantime, he needs to pay attention to the fact that the team that he's supposed to be captaining seems to have their problems. I can't imagine that his team-mates are too enthralled by the daily editions of The Joey Barton Show while all that's happening.

Just been saying that to my Dad. Absolutely ludicrous that he has the cheek to celebrate like fucking Cantona. Jeeez, so now his celebrations are all wrong. Give the guy a break, people.

He seemed too eager to impress today and ended up losing possession a lot. Either that, or he needs to start the process of learning how to deal with the better defending that you get in the Premiership. Having said that, you did see signs of his ability when running with the ball. Hopefully, it'll be better utilised in the near future.

We more than held our own against what is supposed to be one of the top teams, so I think the players will take a lot of encouragement from that. In fact, it's disappointing not to have won, given that our defending was poor for both their goals. I hope that the game will encourage Pardew to be a bit bolder, giving Santon a chance at least. I thought both full backs were poor again today.

He's still our best player, so not taking him feels a bit like cutting our nose off to spite our face. Without him, I'd say we only have a 50-50 chance of emerging from the group stage, assuming average luck with the draw. At the moment, we're a bit lacking in the striker department. Bent, Defoe, Crouch, Zamora, Heskey, Carroll - none have made a strong case. I'm hoping Welbeck emerges this season as the real deal.

Kevin Keegan by Ian Ridley I end up disappointed by most football books, but exceptions are - The Glory Game - Hunter Davies Fever Pitch - Nick Hornby Only A Game - Eamon Dunphy The Football Man - Arthur Hopcraft Hopcraft's book was written in the mid-60s, and I dare say is very difficult to get hold of now. A lot has changed, but he writes so well about the personalities and the issues around the game that it's still of interest. It was hailed at the time as the best book on football ever written and arguably still is.

Why should the other Premier League clubs vote for that? Liverpool and maybe one or two other clubs could threaten a breakaway, but I don't think they'd get enough backing for that either.

Looks like a risk-free signing to me, but we won't be the only interested club. It would be in the player's interests to wait till the end of the season and pick and choose.

And fans accuse players of disloyalty...

If we're doing without Roon the Loon, then I'd go for - Hart Richards Ferdinand Terry Cole Wilshere Barry Gerrard Young Welbeck Downing Downing to go when Rooney is back. Big ? over Ferdinand's fitness, but if fit, I'd start him. Jones is very tempting but I think he may be a season away from acquiring the composure that's needed in that position at international level.

Because he's bitter. After both himself and his stupid agent were deluded enough to believe Arsenal would even consider signing him. Given that he's the captain of a team that's just lost 6-0, maybe he should be paying attention to problems nearer home. I do wonder whether he's got his eye on a career in the media after his retirement. As with the example of Robbie Savage, the TV people seem to be going for a 'personality' who can be a bit 'outspoken', within reason. Talking crap or talking in cliches would not disqualify him.