AyeDubbleYoo

The best thing we can do is forget Alan Shearer as a possibility for manager. He's obviously more interested in the media than in management, or he would have started at a smaller club already. Failing that, we should give him the job ASAP to get it over with and move on.

Was just about to post what Skirge did there. The idea of loans is fine, but not to clubs in the same division. Seems like that was allowed as a sticking plaster to sooth people who were complaining about the transfer window coming in. Allowing premier league teams like Man Utd/Arsenal to loan players within the league just encourages them to buy up too many players, and also prevents players at the 'loanee' club from getting a game. I wonder whether there should be an age restriction on loan players as well, maybe it should only be for U23s or something?

Seems a very level-headed lad, and he knows what is required for the rest of the season.

Saylor, Raylor, Duff and Enrique would probably leave out of that team, and possibly Guthrie as well.

True, but in Reading's case particularly it was the squad that had brought them up in the first place. So they were already prepared for championship football. It'll come down to whether or not Ashley is prepared to take the gamble on us coming straight back up. If he is, which I suspect will be the case, he's bound to ensure those who are good and actually would be prepared to stay will be kept. I would hope. I hope so too, probably will be a very small number of names on that 'prepared to stay' list though, and those might well be the ones who can't find a premiership club to move to.

You're right, but it does suggest that we have the ability to actually play well. Hopefully we can do it another few times before the end of the season.

There aren't many decent chances left for us to pick up points, goes without saying that Hull is one of the best ones. We must beat them.

True, but in Reading's case particularly it was the squad that had brought them up in the first place. So they were already prepared for championship football.

Partly true, but we didn't wait for Man Utd to attack last night. We took the game to them right from the off, that was one of the best things about it. Obviously Martins and Lovenkrands are dangerous on the break, but it was more than just that.

We were 100% right to sell Parker when we did IMO. Just because we now need an energetic holding player doesn't change that.

There are a lot of errors in that original list who would stay and go IMO. You would see an exodus of anyone who is any good. Even the likes of Stephen Taylor is highly rated in England and would probably be signed by someone around Villa level. Bassong would definitely be sold, as would Martins and Enrique. Players like Smith, Geremi and Cacapa on your list of players to leave would in fact be the players we would end up relying on.

I honestly don't see what pundits and football experts see in Butt at the moment. His legs have gone, he vary rarely tackles anyone, and his ability to pass the ball to the opposition is second to none. Maybe he has some mystical football expertise that normal fans can't see?

Immense player, but can be a whinging bastard when things start to go against him.

You have just confirmed what I said - he is NOT effective in this side, whereas some players with slightly less ability on the ball would be...are you suggesting that we can change half the side to accommodate Guttierez, because I think Mr Cashley might disagree with you... Back in 66, Joe Harvey sacrificed such a player(Alan Suddick) so he could buy three others...the changes in the side kept us up, even though NONE of the 3 new guys had Suddick's talent..... No, I'm saying that despite his apparent 'lack of end product' he is actually a great asset to the team. With our geriatric midfield we need someone who puts in the work of 2 players like Jonas does. He's not the cherry on top at all is what I mean - he's one of the few players who actually contributes something worthwhile.

I think we've actually been missing Duff in a weird way, if only because it led to the nightmare of player a left-footed striker at right midfield.

The state of our central midfield is criminal, but to be fair to the club it would be decent with Nolan, Barton and Guthrie.

They should have gone for a more traditional hold-up player I reckon. Not that Berbatov isn't good, Man Utd aren't exactly struggling!

He's not a luxury player at all, surely he's the opposite? He works hard going forward and in defense, yes he doesn't set up that many goals but he's only had Shola to aim for in a lot of his matches! He'll be better in a better team, but the same goes for a lot of players. We just need to weed out the absolute shit to have a decent side.

Really getting to rate Enrique at the moment, considering how bad our results have been that's an achievement in itself. The fact he didn't throw the toys out of the pram and ask to leave when a succession of managers were dropping him shows he has a bit of steel about him as well.

Agreed, fingers crossed we keep it up. The great thing is that all we have to say to the players from now on is "remember what it was like against Man Utd" and they will be able to recall a quality performance. Hopefully that will be the boost they need to perform in the winnable games we've got left.

Man Utd have the perfect football team/squad... it is much more than the sum of its parts. Park is one of those players (like O'Shea, Fletcher et al) who doesn't look like much but works hard and does the tidy work well, allowing his more dangerous teammates to hurt the opposition. In the Keegan glory days we had a number of players like that. To look at some of our players you wouldn't think they were much, but fast counterattacking football isn't about genius, it's about simplicity, efficiency, fitness and decisiveness. Always been a fan of Park.

Regardless of the other games we can hold our heads high tonight. If we carry that attitude and performance into the rest of the games we will be OK.

Why the fuck is Chris Waddle always such a whinging bastard? Bloody hell Chris, we need somebody to cheer for us man!

Howay the lads!

That would be more than enough for me, any points would be an insane bonus.