Nate

Appoint Redknapp or Hughes and that's Tottenham and Man City, along with the top four, out of sight for the forseeable future. As unlikely as it may seem, everything including the wording of the statement, the timing of the decision, even Oliver's little exclusive, points to someone of Mourinho's calibre having already agreed to take the job.

Fucking ridiculous. If Shearer gets the job it will be an utter embarrassment.

blueyes.gif He was comfortably the best player on the pitch when we played them in the Carling Cup, i'm suprised he hasn't had more opportunities before Denilson and Gilberto since then.

Given Harper (squad) Beye Faye Enrique Taylor (squad) Caçapa (squad) Duff Barton N'Zogbia Emre (squad) Milner (squad) Owen Viduka (squad) Martins (squad) So, that's a top quality centre forward, central midfielder and centre half required for a first team capable of competing with Portsmouth, Everton, Blackburn etc. I think people are overrating them if they think we need much more than that.

For fuck's sake.

Smith is not only scared to get the ball, he is now ignoring it completely.

He'd frustrate the hell out of them. They're used to the silky running of Agbonlahor & Young, then little Oba bobbles along. I was going to say, i think he'd completely ruin Villa's system. The counter-attack is as much about dribbling, quick passing and awareness as it is pace. Martins is such an average footballer he struggles to be effective outside of a standard 4-4-2. I'd accept £13m.

Beye Brown Caçapa Enrique Faye ?

How will that work?

1) Premiership Winners Manchester United 2) FA Cup Winners Manchester City 3) Carling Cup Winners Arsenal 4) UEFA Champions League Winners Liverpool 5) UEFA Cup Winners Athletico Madrid 6) Euro 2008 Winners Italy 7) Teams Promoted to Premiership from Championship West Brom, Watford, Crystal Palace 8) Teams Relegated from Premiership to Championship Derby, Sunderland, Middlesbrough

Are we going to bump this thread everytime we don't win? In reality, given the state of the club when Allardyce arrived, this season was never going to be pretty and one of transition. Mort has clearly recognised that and is now planning for the summer with Sam, who will be judged on our performance next season. The only thing he actually got wrong this evening were the substitutions and at the time most people in the match thread agreed with them. We are not going to be in a relegation battle.

Again, with Duff and Martins (however poor his general play was) went any pace in our attack. N'Zogbia has been very quiet since being moved up. By the way, this has to be the most bias commentary i've ever listened to. To be fair, that clearly wasn't the game plan in the opening half an hour.

Did we score? Have I missed something? No, but booing after a performance like the one we produced against Liverpool is embarrassing enough, nevermind when we've been the better team.

'Supporters' booing after that first half performance need to be culled.

Somebody tell Milner you don't have to beat the same defender more than once.

Don't you think playing Beye against the fastest left-winger in the league might be a good idea?

So because she smiled whilst having her photo taken with two different people she's supposed to be happy with Barton sticking his head in her chest?

Given Beye Taylor Caçapa Enrique Duff Faye Emre N'Zogbia Martins Viduka Faye and Beye are actually very well suited to playing Elano and Petrov, respectively. I'd also like to see Martins running at Dunne, and Viduka dragging Richards out of position, linking up the play.

Everton 1-2 Arsenal. Eduardo again.

I thought Beye, Caçapa and N'Zogbia were all good. Faye in particular though, was excellent - strong in the tackle, powerful in the air and has a more ambitious passing range than Butt or Smith in that role - i'm just not sure wether Taylor is good enough at the back for him to play there permanently.

Are they not playing with goalkeepers at WHL?

Bossing Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.. love it.