Dyeyzzon

No one is demanding a top 4 finish. I just think that you should have a "realistic dream" and I think, as you says, that it is to finish top 4. too have a battle of 5-7 just because that may be the likely outcome feels quite lame too me. Well fine. If we look at that from last season, we set up the Battle for 7th because that was our "realistic dream", so this season, our dream of top 4 would not be a bad shout. If "Battle for 4th" inspires more confidence for you, then I can see where you're coming from.

I think it just would not surprise many if we finish above Liverpool, Tottenham and Arsenal these days, hence the "Battle for 4th" move is understandable. But realistically, the aim should be at least a repeat of last season, which I would welcome with open arms if we are to have extra games in Europe with a rather small squad. Also worth mentioning that we had a "Battle for 7th" thread running for the whole length of last season, but soon we eventually saw our chance at 4th, before ultimately settling for 5th. The thread title is irrelevant, it's the final league position that matters.

I was over the moon to see Ben Arfa stepping up to take the penalty because it’s a pressure situation and I doubt Ben Arfa would ever consider missing one so he’s already half way to scoring. I doubt any of our players has more self-confidence than Ben Arfa. Aye. When someone steps up to take a penalty, there just seems to be a "he's gonna miss" or "he's gonna score" aura about every taker. An on-form Ba would have such aura about him, but Hatem seems to be one who I really cannot see missing a penalty. The fact that he volunteered to take it ahead of Ba alone pretty much confirmed the success for me.

Am I missing something here? Do you think muslims don't eat for the whole of ramadan?

"The Battle for 5th" now.

What an experience to get your European debut at that age. Marvellous. Not surprised, we have some history of rewarding promising young talent at 17 anyway... Well done to the lad if true.

That first pic got me boiling yesterday iirc.

How one good season changes everything. 2 years ago I think we were having "you're better than perch" chants for Simpson. The thing is perch actually made a proper effort to learn from those past errors to fight his way to become one of our most well-liked players, as well as being a vital player when we are short in defense or midfield. Simpson though seemed to rest on the fact tht he still holds the "first team right back" title, and has not really shown anything eye-catching since those days. He really is just still the same player since the championship days, and with our standards these days simply cannot afford a Player Of his level starting week in week out. With that, I think the best way to hope for improvements is to sink him down the pecking order and put him in the spot where perch was in once, but sadly he doesn't seem to want that.

Solid when available.

Such a warrior this guy. I remember when he went off all strapped up and stretchered in the Chelsea game last season, only to want to come back on a few minutes later.

Cracking start

Anyway, Krul, Tav, Wilo, Perch (if Colo can play at Chelsea), Raylor, Marv (if fit), Bigi, Gosling, Anita, Ferguson, Cisse. I'd go for a ground out 1-0 to us.

A thread on a European game involving us.

http://l2.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/6xafDHsTHqa1Rj7wC7uVYQ--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Y2g9MzYwO2NyPTE7Y3c9NjQwO2R4PTA7ZHk9MDtmaT11bGNyb3A7aD0zNTU7cT04NTt3PTYzMA--/http://media.zenfs.com/en_GB/Sports/Eurosport/877436-14764987-640-360.jpg He enjoyed that.

Got some pace this fella. What we need in the centre if we don't plan to put Gutierrez there.

This is what annoys me really. He's our best creative outlet, yet he's still slightly shackled doing the job of someone who is supposed to be doing it for him. Really wish we could get Debuchy or Santon on the right to supplement Hatem's runs while getting a more solid defensive unit.

People were advocating selling him at HT I know right. All he needed was a goal.

Post match jubilation. A tad too much, no? Hard to care.

Hatem. Matchwinner, 90 minute player, God.

A win.

One slip at the first 5, but hardly had much to do tbh.

Taylor the commander

Donachie

..."DEMBA BA!" "Yeeaaaah!" ..."GABRIEL OBERTAN." "Oh."

He'll score one to complete a HatemBaDemba hat trick.