Ronaldo

What a useless cunt he is.

Think he'd do really well under Ferguson's coaching actually. Look at how good Carrick looks for them, Cabaye is easily as naturally talented imo. Carrick keeps the ball under pressure.

Sadly with Haidara not fit he's probably the best LB available. What a mess.

He's shambolic 8 or 9 times out of 10, though.

Been expecting that for ages - Cabaye is just the sort of player they need and who will do well there, regardless of what anyone thinks ; he's a class player and I reckon Fergie has wanted him since his goal and performance against them last season at SJP. 20m just the opening shot in this bid, methinks..... He's nowhere near that level, man.

If he isn't gone by July we're in trouble, like. Like some of the cheap and cheerful crap on the pitch he's moreso a symptom than a curse but he needs cutting out.

Can't defend, attack or keep the ball. What a player.

Not a huge amount of effort seems to have gone into that, must say.

Given how well Carrick's played this season I don't see why they'd go near him.

Can we not just judge him on the performance? If he gets it wrong and we drop points then fair enough.

What the manager says to the media and to the players should usually be two different things anyway.

Scum of the earth that lot.

Simpson has been absolutely fine in the last few games.

In general I agree we need an upgrade on him. But even you admit he has been at his best the past few games. He's been very good by his standards the last 3 games but he's still inadequate in any attacking position.

Jonas out wide is still a massive part of the problem. Even on his best day he offers fuck all in terms of creativity and goal threat.

Why does Cabaye need to play a defensive role? If Jonas is on the pitch he should be doing it.

I was on about starting both Jonas and Tiote in midfield at home against a crap side - especially one who sit deep. You just don't fucking do it, under any circumstances.

I doubt Taylor's going to be benched against this lot, like. And again, 2 defensive midfielders against Sunderland at home? Pardew gets ripped apart for his defensive approach by people who then advocate teams like this. I don't get it.

Aye, Ferencvaros and Benfica. Exactly the same. And yeah, I think it's far to say Pardew didn't have quite the same amount of attacking options.

All true, sir.

I will be, yeah.

Ignore him, man. He doesn't have a clue.

NSIS I'd have said Cabaye but while he disappeared over both legs Cisse turned up. Why only consider the two matches with Benfica? How about the likes of Ben Arfa, Mbiwa, Cabaye (indeed) or Krul? If anything I'd say the big clubs will look at Cisse's lack of consistency and steer well clear. Ben Arfa, too injury prone. Mbiwa, hasn't shown enough yet. Cabaye, too many times he has games like against Benfica. Didn't think about Krul, maybe. Cisse is the most likely, Bayern were strongly interested before he came here. Well, if I was the manager of a "top club" I would look at the chances Cisse missed in those two matches you conventiently use to discard Cabaye as a stronger candidate to succeed at a higher level and think his 'erraticness' may have cost us the tie.. Yeah but you have an agenda. He had two excellent all-round games in both legs and was desperately unlucky not to score more than the two he got. What is my agenda? You don't like him. Because he's an erratic instinct goalscorer rather than a shilky Dutch mashter with great allround technical ability you will consistently criticise him. I do like him. He seems a good character, and he brings important qualities to the table, especially for a side like us that isn't exactly overflowing with attacking talent. People who have been saying he needs to be played centrally in 1 4-3-3 have been proven correct, that appears to be his best position, and I can even stomach the stereotypical "give him service and he will score" to an extent. But I also have big worries about him, the main ones being: - he doesn't score enough and neither do our other players to be able to afford to play a 4-3-3 with him as a lone striker for us to challenge for Europe consistently, which is where I want us to be. This season his own chance conversion ratio is nowhere near good enough, and it's cost us many valuable points. - he is purely a converter of chances, not a creator. He seems unable to fashion a chance for himself out of nothing other than by speculative long range efforts, or to create chances for his team mates. - he seems to lack intelligence in certain situations, i.e. staying onside or showing composure by laying it off when somebody else is much better placed, which often breaks down our play. - physically he isn't exactly commanding, meaning for example he is hardly ever a threat from set pieces or gets into a goalscoring position unless he isn't tightly marked. Now I know this goes against popular opinion, but it's the way I see it. We heavily rely on him, because we have no realistic alternatives, and I hardly want him gone or anything, but I do feel he is overrated by many on here.. Good summary. The last point doesn't get aired enough. He doesn't relish a physical challenge. Maybe he's just playing to his strengths, which is seeking gaps between defenders, and it least it means he's hardly ever injured. But situations do arise when you want a striker who will put pressure on his opponent physically. Which is exactly why we need to get one in the summer. Someone to turn aimless rubbish into half-chances for him.

2 defensive midfielders against this lot at home? No thanks. Marv has to play.

He's scored 6 of our last 10 goals. The others coming from Sissoko, Cabaye (2) and Santon.