Cronky

He looks like a great talent, with both pace and good close control. Having said that, I've noticed that he has the usual English impulse to try to go past his man at every opportunity, whereas Arsenal of course have a continental style where they tend to try to pass their way through. It'll be interesting to see how he adjusts. But somewhere, some time, this lad is really going to hit it big.

I'm surprised more people haven't mentioned Adebayor, who I think has been tremendous this season, a real find.

In order, and restricting to centre backs - Terry Gallas Ferdinand Vidic Carvalho Terry may not be the best in possession, but his game is ideally suited to the Premiership. His ability to get on the end of crosses at both ends, and time last ditch tackles, makes him stand out.

Rooney better than Henry? Johnson better than Martins? Yes to both. Rooney I rate very highly as already the most complete striker. He's got skill, pace, strength and a football brain, whereas with all the others, good as they are, you can identify some weakness. Doesn't Henry have all of those plus more? Is Rooney a better goalscorer than Henry? Faster? More consistent? That's why I think people are over rating Rooney. Yeah he's a great talent, but he's still got a bit to go to match the likes of Henry. Well there's not a lot in it. Henry is faster, and technically better, although you couldn't say that pace or skill are problem areas for Rooney. My reservation with Henry is that he's not a physical player who's going to do much tackling back, or win many difficult challenges in the air. You won't see him battling with defenders to get on the end of many chances in the six yard box. He plays to maximise his abilities, and the Arsenal team fit around him. When he plays for France, and he has to fit into another pattern, he doesn't look that comfortable. Rooney, on the other hand, doesn't have a significant weakness that I can see, and can make the most of any situation that arises on the field. So for me, he edges it.

Rooney better than Henry? Johnson better than Martins? I'm looking at this thinking: in order of what? Overall effectiveness, I suppose. Who I'd most like to see play for the Toon. It's all a bit artificial, because they each offer a different package.

Rooney better than Henry? Johnson better than Martins? Yes to both. Rooney I rate very highly as already the most complete striker. He's got skill, pace, strength and a football brain, whereas with all the others, good as they are, you can identify some weakness. Johnson I think is under-rated, and a major reason why Everton are doing well. Martins is dangerous, but is still a bit raw, and needs to improve technically on the ball, and in his reading of the game.

In order - Rooney Drogba Henry Bellamy Kuyt Adebayor Johnson Saha Anelka Martins

A Chelsea style 4-3-3 / 4-5-1 - ..............Given Solano Onyewu Bramble Duff ........Parker...Butt....Emre ............Dyer.....Milner .................Martins Subs - Harper, Taylor, Owen, Shola, Babayaro It's nice that it's actually quite a difficult choice. It might be better to put Taylor at RB and switch Solano to replace either Butt or Parker. And no, I don't think Owen and Martins will make a good combination. They both need to play as the more advanced forward.

I think we're actually capable of winning all five, but football isn't like that of course. I don't think Charlton or Man City have got anything to hurt us with. Sheff U we're now strong enough not to be intimidated by. Boro and Wigan will be close, but they'll struggle to handle the pace of Martins and Dyer. So I say four wins and a draw. All depends on the defence, because we can open the oppostion up. If the back four play like they did in the second half on Saturday, it'll take a good side to beat us.

Well like you I'd question one aspect of Roeder's selection, although you'd have to say the decision came off. He's clearly not confident about Solano defensively, and it may have been better to play him at full back, keep Duff and Milner in their positions, and drop one of Taylor, Onyewu and Bramble. I assume he doesn't want to do that because he's worried about our lack of aerial power. Or maybe he's bottling it, I don't know. Having said that, I can't understand why you're being so negative about the game as a whole. We beat a good side, and though we rode our luck, there were periods when we more than matched them. This is Liverpool we're talking about. Babayaro terrible? I think you saw the performance that you were expecting to see, not the one he actually gave.

This was the one situation that Curbs didn't really want on his return. I have a feeling they still have time and it will go to the wire. Certainly many good players in the side. No question there's some good players there, but I can't see where they're going to get the goals from. I think the effort is there now, but I can't see Harewood and Zamora pulling them out.

It really looked in the interview that Curbishley had lost belief that West Ham can stay up. I don't think that labelling games as 'must win' particularly helps the players either.

Reo-Coker yes please, but we'd need to fork out more than £5 million surely. As for Owen, no-one would be silly enough to match the wages that we're paying him, or the fee that we shelled out.

He definitely looks like a good addition to the squad. Whether he's the kind of dominating centre back that we're really looking for - a successor to Woodgate - not so sure yet. I'd definitely keep the Bramble - Onyewu partnership together for a bit yet. You could see their understanding improving as the Liverpool game went on.

Let's not fight. We've beaten a good side. It's the sort of result that the players can really take some confidence from. As others have said, the defence was transformed in the second half. They were a lot more aggressive. It felt like they were committing themselves as individuals more, relying on the fact that their team mates were covering for them. In the first half, it looked like they didn't trust one another enough. We looked the better for Babayaro in there. He's not the greatest, but he's better than a teenage centre back.

His general play. His control, technique, linkup, passing, vision, dribbling, etc, on a consistent basis. Its often poor. Similar to Milner. Good player when hes producing something, but general play can be poor, eg in comparison to the likes of Nobby, Dyer etc. Too many players like this and the team will get nowhere near top 4 imo. Disagree totally. His control, technique and vision are brilliant. His weakness is a lack of pace, but as others have said, linking him with a quick striker could work well. Given that we've already got Oba, I'd sacrifice Owen for him.

The game is changing. We either adapt to the times or get left behind. Sorry - continue to get left behind. Simple as that really.

Normally, the word England means the country, but in this context, it refers to 11 players. One is singular, the other plural. 'England were' feels much more comfortable to me. (Must remember to get a life some time)

1. At the start of the season what where your expectations, and are things going as you expected? I think my prediction was 6th, if we kept Shola fit. Given that the injury situation has been absolutely dire, things have gone a bit better than I would have expected. 2. Who's been your best performer this season? Dyer. He's a completely different player since his injury crisis, as you'd have seen by a much more mature display in an England shirt. 3. And your worst/most disappointing? N'Zogbia (now injured) has been very disappointing. Duff hasn't settled yet. As for worst, we've had to pitch in a lot of youngsters, and Pattison has floundered the most. 4. You had a quiet January transfer window, if you where the manager, who would you have tried to sign? There wasn't any money, so the question's a bit academic. A dominating centre back and a left back are the priorities but who was available? 5. What are your best and worst memories of our previous meetings? Worst - 1-4 in Gullit's first match in charge. I've never quite forgiven Owen for rubbing his hands in that smug way after he scored. Best - 3-0 in the Keegan era. That signalled we'd arrived. 6. Do you have any favourite/best chants (and perhaps any that require an explanation)? Pass. 7. What’s the banter like between Newcastle and Liverpool fans at St James, would you say that the 2 sets of fans get on? Pass. I don't get to home games. 8. In the summer, Liverpool and Newcastle are told to swap 3 first team regulars, who would you send to Liverpool, and who would you like from us? Babayaro, Carr, Ramage to you. Gerrard, Bellamy and Carragher from you. 9. Liverpool have become the lastest club to gain new owners, Newcastle have been mentioned as well as a likely candiate for a takeover. How do you feel about these take-overs by foreign owners, and would you like to see it happen at Newcastle? Yes. Shepherd is a poor Chairman, meddling and out of his depth. I don't care where any new owners come from. 10. Care to predict Mr Roeder’s starting line up for the game? Harper - Solano, Onyewu, Bramble, Taylor - Milner, Butt, Parker, Duff - Dyer, Martins. 11. And finally, let’s have your score predictions for the game: Ummmm.... you're on good form, but we'll be up for this. A draw. Interesting questions, thanks.

I chose Rooney, because I think a player who can be effective in that free role between the advanced striker and the midfield can make a huge difference. And I don't think there's anyone better than Rooney in the role. I cite in evidence how reliant we were on Beardsley and Bellamy. Also the boost that Dyer's return gave to us.

The important factor is there's now a gap between the 10th and the 11th clubs of about £40 million. Effectively, there's two divisions, and we're now in the same division as West Ham etc. A few years ago, we were competing with the top ten clubs. They've now shot well away from us, while others have caught up. In any other line of business, the Board would be under enormous pressure to resign.

What he says. It's way too early to give up on Duff, when the team as a whole is struggling for a pattern. He's not getting the ball in much time or space, and is trying too hard to make something happen in situations when it's not really on.

Crouch has his faults, but at the moment are there better options for the advanced striker position? Defoe? Bent? I also agreed with Lawrenson that he was getting penalised unfairly tonight. Rooney is a withdrawn striker and it's a waste to play him further forward. Basically tonight Dyer showed that he's a more than capable understudy to Rooney in that role. There were a few times when the ball just didn't fall right for us in the box, and we were a bit unlucky to lose. I'm a bit worried about McLaren's judgement though. With all the pressure on England managers, there's a bit of a tendency for them to pick players who the pundits and the press are shouting for at the moment, but who aren't really international class. Normally that effects the manager after a while in the job, but it seems to have happened early with McLaren. Against Croatia, it was Parker. Tonight, it was Barry in midfield. If he's worth a place at all at the level, it's got to be in defence. Does he really have to pick him to find that out?

If Shevchenko is struggling to adjust to the Premiership with Chelsea, he's not going to do any better with us. No deal.

Dyer's doing well. He's been given his normal club role, and that suits him. SWP - great talent. No brains. The obvious problem is there's no-one wide on the left.