Shak

Baby woke up crying three minutes into injury time. Just seen the result. Class.

He's started one league game for us and we won 6-0.

This'll turn out to be raising money for the IRA. Tiocfaidh ár Rafá! http://i4.irishmirror.ie/incoming/article7818943.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/Liverpool-v-Newcastle.jpg

What delightful news. I bet he's cried loads today, delighted for the stupid fat cunt.

Cracking half that, great ball retention when Villa pressed us. Shelvey's passing has been great to watch and Yedlin gives us a whole new dimension. Still think we look a bit uninspired in the final third but we've had so much possession that we've eked out some good chances. Hope we don't take our foot off the gas.

Gayle up top alone is fucking stupid. Look forward to another game where we look fucking shite in possession. Hopefully we can nick a goal on the break or from a set piece.

Dave's years on dogging forums finally coming in handy.

It will be that with Diame in for Mitrovic I reckon. I fear you may be right, like I said I'm done with Gayle leading the line alone. It basically assures that we'll be unable to do anything other than try and hit them on the counter.

Sels Yedlin Mbemba Lascelles Dummett Shelvey Hayden Ritchie Gayle Gouffran Mitrovic What I'd go with, amazed as I am to be choosing Gouffran. Really don't want to see Gayle up top on his own, think he could flourish playing off Mitro.

Honestly think we should start Mitrovic or Murphy every game. You can't reasonably expect to consistently get the ball into good positions unless you have either... - A quality attacking midfielder/forward who has the touch, intelligence and range of passing necessary to find space between midfield and attack and receive the ball there, keep it and intelligently distribute it. - A target man who excels at receiving the ball with his back to goal and has the strength to hold in to it until the midfield gets forward to support him. While I'd prefer the former in an ideal world, we don't have such a player in our squad (De Jong actually fit the bill here, but he obviously couldn't be depended on) so I reckon we have to use the other one. You can still win games playing without either, we've showed that this year, but you're basically depending on defending well and pulling a goal out of your arse somehow. Pardewball, in essence. I'd like us to be able to take the game to teams a bit more. Personally think it should always be Mitro/Murphy with Gayle/Perez playing just off whoever we have leading the line. Dunno where that leaves Diame, competing for Shelvey's spot perhaps. Hayden/Colback/Tiote in the mix at holding midfielder. Ritchie, Atsu, Aarons and Gouffran the wide players. Obviously we need a new winger.

He'd have been competing for a spot against Gayle and Perez, he wouldn't have got much game time. I think loaning him out was the best thing for him, the regular football will stand to him later.

Emotions running high, people not thinking clearly. Also, the incessant need to overanalyze everything. To be fair some people have been saying it for ages. Gayle looks more likely to score than Mitro but the team as a whole would probably look better with Mitrovic in there to give us an outlet. It was the same with Cisse last season. I'd honestly have Mitro in the team every game and when he's out I'd really consider starting Murphy. We don't have a true #10 capable of linking midfield to attack so if teams can press us high up the field we're forced to go direct, which when Gayle is on the field is basically giving up possession. I really wish we'd just play two up top.

Perhaps I'm naive but I think Rafa will sort this. We'll get a point at least.

I don't like us playing with Gayle leading the line. Mitro might not be sharp in front of goal but he certainly gives us the option to go direct when needed as his hold up play is excellent. Not that I'm watching this game or anything, just a general feeling.

Really don't think Gayle up top on his own is any good for our general play, there's no outlet if we need to go direct.

Disappointed that we're persisting with Gouffran now that we've got better options.

But why? Hes been poor all season. He hasn't played on the left all season though, perhaps he wants to see him in a position where he'll get more of the ball at his feet. Aye, this basically. He's looked awful as a #10 and with the way Rafa likes his wide men playing on the "wrong" side so they can cut inside on their preferred foot I do think that the left might be where Perez ends up. In terms of ability he's one of our best players, we should be looking to get him playing well again rather than having him sit on the bench while we persist with Gouffran out there.

Hope we see Perez on the left.

I think we'll see lots of rotation in the front four. The back four will be settled enough eventually and I reckon Hayden will start whenever he's fit with Shelvey, Colback and Anita fighting to partner him. Reckon Rafa wants Shelvey there as he's easily the best player of the three, but he seems the type who'll get lazy if he's gauranteed a starting place. Does seem like Rafa will play with two holding midfielders, especially now that we've signed a couple of attack minded full backs. I don't think Diame will be considered as a possible CM for that reason, he'll play as an AM or not at all I'd guess. After that we'll see lots of chopping and changing between Mitro, Gayle, Perez, Diame, Ritchie and Atsu. Lots of ways we can line up any combination of those four. Gayle and Mitro as a front two is something we might see a bit of, or Rafa can go with just one of them leading the line. Ritchie and Atsu can both play either side, I think Ritchie pretty much has the RW spot nailed down though and Atsu will be his backup there while also getting games on the left. The interesting thing for me is how we'll use Gayle and Perez. With a real attacking left fullback now on board I think Perez as a left sided inside forward might be the best option for him. I can see Gayle being played there too. Don't know why but I really think Mitro will start up top whenever he's fit and Gayle will end up playing either just off him or out on the left. Obviously he's shown so far this year that he can play up top alone and score goals but I do think the team would look better with a more typical target man type up there. All in all though I'm happy with us mixing and matching from those six. Murphy I believe is purely a Mitro backup. Gouffran I doubt gets many games either but he's not awful as a backup player. Aarons if he ever gets fit will probably get plenty of appearances of the bench but I doubt he starts many games unless we get badly hit with injuries. Feel good about the squad going forward, looking forward to seeing how Rafa manages it.

I'd have been alright with McMamaman if it meant we got to laugh at Sissoko going to WBA.

I don't think this will happen. If it does I'll be fucking furious. Fuck that abhorrent little cunt, he can fuck off and get fucked.

Good stuff, much needed extra option out wide. Hope we either keep Sissoko or else spend big on another winger to replace him if he goes.

Agreed, Everton fans don't rate him at all. Ireland's CM has been a huge problem for years and this lad has been a mainstay. If he can't look like one of our best players then how good can he be?

20m for James McCarthy? I know transfer fees have gone a bit bonkers recently but fucking hell. Anyway, I'd rather we looked elsewhere. Have never seen the fuss regarding McCarthy.

Happy with that team like.