ponsaelius

Thibaut Courtois is the 7th most expensive goalkeeper in football history. Surely even Chelsea aren't wasteful enough to buy another one? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goalkeeper_%28association_football%29#Highest_fees

I didn't say that. However if the £10 million spent on Cisse means we get in the Champions league which increases revenue massively, it might encourage a slight rethink. The Coloccini contract like Ronaldo says also hopefully suggests they are willing to sway from their strict policy. The second bit is exactly what I was implying. Spending big for the extra bit of quality CAN be a good thing. Apologies for not making it clearer, I've certainly not been the type of poster on here that advocates spending for spending sake, quite the opposite.

...then hopefully sell them for big money and use the brass to subsidise losses elsewhere, and/or buy cheap replacements again. The hardest thing for me to accept - aside from learning not to become attached to our best players - is that we are able to trade up each time, whilst losing key components of our team. Whilst it's working like this season has then obviously there's no problem, I just can't help but feel that at some point we need to draw a line under it and keep the core together if we're to repeat this season's success or progress even further. Hopefully the new contracts for Coloccini ('too old, wages too high') and the purchase of Cisse ('over 25, far too much to pay') are an indication of this. If we got top four it would be almost completely down to the signing of Cisse in January, as there'd be no way we'd have hit this form otherwise. That might be the nudge they need to realise that spending big can be a good thing because it means speculating to accumulate.

eh?

Can't fucking wait me like. Never been able to experience European away games before.

They've been in a slump since the turn of the year and have just been hit by the biggest possible suckerpunch. I don't understand how the natural reaction to this is to write off our chances because they'll 'have a reaction'. Sorry like, just don't understand the logic at all. We all know 4th is a long shot but that was the case before today anyway.

Not all that. Has some great moments but is inconsistent and a terrible attitude.

Eh!? Surely a win over London rivals would have been the perfect boost for their season, now they've had an absolutely humilating defeat instead. I don't understand this mentality at all. If anything today was brilliant for us.

How many did he score that year? 29 in 32 in the league. 37 in 44 all comps.

Empty seats

Never thought Agbonlahor was all that but he was absolutely chronic today.

It's ridiculous how much Villa are basically us from a few seasons ago.

There's been plenty, like. 'Over the wall' was the first time I've been to that shithole and tops the lot probably. The two injury time goals at Blackburn were unbelievable being in the away end.

English players don't dive though.

It would like. I'd be making him chop it and packaging it up if somebody came in with £15 million for it.

Tucks it in his sock.

Fucking Garth

Evans has been good this season.

http://www.nufcthreatlevel.com/2012/04/places-sholas-been-sometimes-as.html Love this.

Pressure is relentless, too much talent on the pitch for them to not score.

That summer that we sold our two most creative players (Niang, also the best goal scorer in France and Ben Arfa) and spent 18 million on Gignac did start a downward spiral. Tbf, Niang is probably on the way down and it is unlikely that Ben Arfa would ever have fulfilled his potential in France... but spending 18 million on Gignac is unforgiveable.

Should have kept Hatem.

Surprised Ronaldo didn't try to take it.

Keep the faith.