AyeDubbleYoo

More positives than negatives I thought, maybe a few games of being introduced from the bench with less pressure on will help his confidence.

I see what you're saying, I don't think we have always played brilliantly, especially not going forward. But then again we've been missing most of our best players for a couple of weeks. Anyway, I think it's a common misconception that you have to be really good to finish 5th or whatever. You just need to be efficient, never give up and keep the scoreboard ticking over. That and have rivals who misfire. Look at the times Liverpool have got into Europe due to an endless string of Gerrard goals.

Very good.

Still don't understand why he seems to actually invite more players to close him down though. Sometimes he has one player hassling him and he actively seems to want another two to come and join in. He's a weird guy. But class.

Good point actually, I was pretty worried when they scored just before half time. McLeish didn't sound happy with them at all.

Is that not a Ferdinand phrase? Yeah, I think so.

The diving is getting out of hand now, disgusting.

At least it doesn't consist of Henderson and Downing, that's something to be thankful for.

Either that or we didn't fully understand his attitude in the first place.

Same, what a strike.

I don't think it matters if they believe that anyway, I doubt ignorance is a defence in tax cases. Otherwise anyone could just not bother finding out that they had to pay tax and get away with it.

He flagged badly towards the end like, he was watching their midfielders run by him regularly. Good game overall though.

Absolutely.

Perch and Prejudice.

I know what you mean Dave, I can't see us spending really big money. If we do get Europe the purse strings might loosen a bit, but I'd more expect to see three signings around £4m or so, to bolster our glaring weaknesses. Although I didn't expect us to go and spend the money on Cisse, so I know fuck all.

Guess Spurs' test will be continuing to hold onto their top players. And they still don't have a good striker that they actually own.

Was he an imaginary player too? Looks like it at the moment actually.

Bent was rank today I thought, never realised how little he offers in general play. Glad Agbonlahor was missing as well mind.

They were bound to get a boost when he came in, the question is whether it's sustainable or temporary. And also whether his appalling transfer techniques will fuck it up. After today, Heskey will be available.

You've never needed to be a world class team to finish fourth or fifth though really.

'The Carroll Money' is an imaginary concept anyway, so I wouldn't worry about it.

Aye, maybe, it's possible I suppose. He's as good as some of the plodders knocking about those type of teams I guess.

How? The person who is playing in his position gets stretched off. He still doesn't come on. The second position he plays gets injured freeing up a slot to come on for Ba/Cisse late in the game but he's still behind Shola and probabaly Lovenkrands. Not that simple though, in both of those situations a professional manager might choose to keep the game tight by bringing on more conservative players. I think he would have come on under normal circumstances, maybe with Cisse on about 65 minutes.

I didn't realise how slight he was either, looked tiny up beside Ba.

We will probably get merked, anything out of this is a bonus.