STM

Think he will be dead within a year.

If we get relegated we certainly won't be buying him. However, if we stay up, i think we probably will.

At the end of the day Liverpool fans want to win the league, or at the very least be competing in the Champions League. Regardless of "stability" i can't see that happening anytime soon. Man City will have that fourth CL spot soon and should something go wrong with Arsenal, Spurs (sadly) will be more likely to pounce on it than Liverpool. Liverpool need to realise they are no better off than the likes of Villa anymore... infact i'd argue that even Villa have a better squad.

It's more likely than him dropping Nolan.

Krul Perch Coloccini Williamson Enrique Barton Nolan Tiote Jonas Carroll Ameobi I think he will go 442 but not at the expense of Nolan, so i've took a guess at a possible line up. 2-0

OK i've had time to calm down, my view. Personally i don't think it was a horror challenge but it certainly wasn't a good challenge. No matter how many times i look at it, it wasn't a sending off, even though i think De Jong is a dirty bastard. The ref was atrocious, got two penalty or "pelanty" (if your Chris Waddle) decisions completely wrong. However, according the the commentators it's ok because he is one of the "top refs" in this country. Says all you need to know about the standard of refs. My ratings; Krul- 7 Hardly had a thing to do all game. Perch- 5.5 Looks our weakest link by far, not that he had a terrible game though. Colo- 7.5 Was excellent until he went off, fills me with confidence for the rest of the season. Williamson- 6.5 Was never really troubled and dealt with Adebayor's physique when he came on. Enrique- 7 Looks a much better player when Jonas is with him. Routledge- 5 Off the pace somewhat, seems a confidence player who's lacking confidence. Tiote- 8 MOM Was everywhere, surely one of the best midfielders i've seen at the club in a long time. Barton- 6 Was steady but never really influenced the game much. Jonas -7.5 Had a great game, tore Boateng a new one. Nolan -5 Piss poor as usual. Ameobi- 6 held the ball up well but never had any opportunities to hurt City. Sub- Campbell- 7 Looked solid as a rock, encouraging with Taylor still to return.

If Hughton plays the first team then we can beat them, in fact we will knock the wee bastards off the park. Should be a a cracking cup game with a good atmosphere. I can see a few people wanting to go to this one.

How people long for a 70th minute triple sub though.

Has to be: Krul Perch Williamson Coloccini Enrique Tiote Barton Routledge Ben Arfa Nolan Carroll The only possible change to that would be Routledge for Jonas but i don't think Hughton willl change a winning team (apart from cups). This will be a very tight game and really could go either way but hopefully we will nick it. Heart- 2-0 Head- 2-2

If Ben Arfa starts, it will be on the left.

posting sense as always. Agreed - the fact that Nolan was made Capt raises serious concerns about Hughton's judgment. If he continues to play him and performances remain mediocre, he will pay with his job in the end. Butt started off the previous season as captain didn't he?

I actually think we might see a surprise: Harper Perch Colo Williamson Enrique Tiote Barton Routledge Jonas Nolan Carroll 2-0

. That's what i was told by his grandad.

TBF apparently Smith is told not to go over the half way line by Hughton, so for him to be making any sort of run into the box is a surprise. How are you allowed to be in the dressing room before a match? As i said in another thread, i spoke to Alan Smith's grandad last weekend. He told me this. Obviously we live in a world of wind up's and ITK's but i have no reason not to believe his grandfather.

TBF apparently Smith is told not to go over the half way line by Hughton, so for him to be making any sort of run into the box is a surprise.

Aston Villa being a prime example, most of us desperate for Hughton not to play Smith and Nolan but play 442 instead.

It's about having a squad of players who are up to the job and Ben Afra is the sort of player who will jump the queue because of his unique ability. That doesn't mean other players will be frozen out, more that there will be alot of "resting and "rotating". Once injuries kick in we will see the benefit of having a decent squad of players, all pushing for a first team spot. In the end, the result won't be players like Routledge and Jonas being frozen out of the side but the likes of Ryan Taylor who is already on the fringes.

Was on holiday in Scotland last week, sitting in a hotel with my mate (who was wearing a Newcastle top) when this happened: Old fella (with his wife in the background) comes walking over to us and says in a Yorkshire accent: "Newcastle fans eh... what do you think of Alan Smith?" To which i replied, "He's bloody atrocious." The second the words left my mouth, i knew what was coming.... Old Fella "He's my grandson". Anyway spent an hour with his grand parents having a bit crack about Smith, in the end they bought me and my mate a pint. Thoroughly nice couple like.

Bacon Balls.

I'm fairly certain that he won't be signing for anyone other than us and that Liverpool were probably never interested in him.

Yes but it can all change very quickly.

You will have to try better than that.

I see Wolves as a very similar team to us, they expect the opposition to attack them and hope to nick one at the other end. However, in this case they will be expected to attack us (being the home side), therefore it may work against them. Like i said earlier, if it's 0-0 at half time and a boring game then i'd fancy us to nick it, although i won't be gutted if we come away with a draw.

He's ours and has been since he declared he wanted to come here. Were all just waiting on the formalities, which shouldn't take long. I imagine we should here something by lunchtime tommorow, assuming the Wolves game doesn't get in the way of things being completed (can't imagine it should matter). Yep, looking forward to seeing what he can do.

Consider the cost of everyone else in the dressing room wanting parity with his wages / relative payrise. Exactly. Not to mention the fact that the term 'proven prem quality' isn't applicable here. Hes more proven at PL level than Coloccini and hes our top earner isnt he? Ronaldo completely ignores how bad Colocini was that season Do you work for Sky? No why? Sounds like the sort of sterotypical tripe that Sky would trot out about "lazy foreigners". IMO Coloccini and Enrique were no worse than any of the other wasters in our squad that season, yet some people would have us think otherwise.