Ronaldo

I've said it 100 times: If Tiote was a Man U player he'd start 8 games a season at most. Well he's no Lee Bowyer that's for sure. Still on with that rubbish?

I've said it 100 times: If Tiote was a Man U player he'd start 8 games a season at most.

I think Cisse's without doubt a top 6 player. Cabaye too, but you need to play in a very certain way for him to be one. As for Tiote, not sure.

What in the fuck, man? Sit back, laugh and be glad it's nowt to do with us.

Viana started 11 games and I think he came off the bench as many times, the same season we finished 3rd also saw us playing 14 games in the Champions League. Which speaks to my point about us having far more quality back then.

Hamilton, Pattison and Carr weren't playing when we finished 3rd so I'll take them out and add Griffin, Hughes and Viana. Two of which were better RBs than Danny Simpson and James Perch. And Viana? You mad?

Suarez against Williamson, man.

Shame, man. Good player when he was fit and motivated.

Andy O'Brien played a few games, I mentioned the first two that came to mind and didn't go into much detail or I could have also mentioned Pattison, McClen, Hamilton, Chopra, Carr, Quinn etc. All managers have to field players who are not first choice. We were on about the side that finished 3rd, Mick. Chopra, Pattison, McClen, Hamilton, Carr and Quinn are names you picked from thin air - or from later or earlier periods. 4th and 3rd really. Even the side that finished 3rd had some dross or average players. For me, this is our strongest squad since then and several of our players would get into Sir Bobby's side if I were picking them. For definite I'd put Ben Arfa in for Solano and Colo in for O'Brien. Krul and Santon also make cases for inclusion.

Did we really? We had a Coventry flop in Bellamy, an unknown Frenchman, an ageing Shearer and Speed, an injury plagued Dyer and the likes of Dabizas in defence. We had a front 6 back then to rival any in the league back then and you know it. They all complimented each other perfectly, too. We did and we do today, but unlike Shearer et al, our lot now do not compliment each other in the same kind of way and again that's down to the manager and the tactics/system/formation etc. he deploys. I agree the manager is getting it wrong. Massively wrong. But our side today is well short of the circa 2003 quality.

Andy O'Brien played a few games, I mentioned the first two that came to mind and didn't go into much detail or I could have also mentioned Pattison, McClen, Hamilton, Chopra, Carr, Quinn etc. All managers have to field players who are not first choice. We were on about the side that finished 3rd, Mick. Chopra, Pattison, McClen, Hamilton, Carr and Quinn are names you picked from thin air - or from later or earlier periods.

Not sure what you mean. I've alway rated Routledge, especially as a squad player and wish we still had him when I see Obertan f***ing up 4-yard passes and Jonas unable to run. Agreed, he would actually be perfect for the 4-4-2 Pardew seems to like and I reckon Pardew would get Perch type performances from him too. Stupid decision to get rid, especially when his replacement is inferior and far more expensive, though he does have time on his side, I guess.

Did we really? We had a Coventry flop in Bellamy, an unknown Frenchman, an ageing Shearer and Speed, an injury plagued Dyer and the likes of Dabizas in defence. We had a front 6 back then to rival any in the league back then and you know it. They all complimented each other perfectly, too.

Bobby had to field some really poor players and I remember him being so hard up he had to field Caldwell when he came back from loan and tried to get LuaLua back. Two pretty extreme examples when the team had passes its peak. We had far more quality back then - through the spine and out wide.

Nobody disputes how good the spine is on paper - although it fails to take into account the compatability of players like Cabaye and Tiote. Our squad players are the problem and have been for a long, long time.

Not sure what you mean. I've alway rated Routledge, especially as a squad player and wish we still had him when I see Obertan f***ing up 4-yard passes and Jonas unable to run.

Of course. What I don't agree with is HTT suggesting we're capable of the heights achieved by Bobby's entertainers. We had so much quality all over the pitch then, man.

Can't argue. I don't get it either.

I agree, and they didn't all have to play today. Taylor instead of Williamson would probably have changed the 2-1 to 2-0. Cisse could have started in place of Shola, Ferguson looks to be better than Jonas on current form, Anita in place of Simpson is a probable upgrade and the same goes for Bigirimana in place of Perch which would have also freed Cabaye up. I agree with that. But people talk about us like we're capable of things we're simply not with that squad of players.

Ben Arfa has played by his own admission some of the best football of his career in 2012.

Name them. Didn't have to. See above.

I do think some posters grossly overrate our players, like. I don't care what anyone says, if I was manager of a club aspiring to be in the top half I wouldn't go near 5 of our starting 11 today.

Reminded me of Nolan's last gasper against Donny.

Cabaye's pointless in that setup.

I didn't see the game but Blackburn away last year?? We looked like 2004 Arsenal compared to that crap today.