LRD

Good riddance.

Looks concrete to me like. We'll see. There's other reasoning for me to believe that he knows what he's talking about and knows people within the club... but he's already backtracked and said "expect something to be announced by early next week". Wish Rafa would just make up his mind. First he walked, and now he is backtracking. Sack this fat arse I say.

Cheers, Mike. My initial enthusiasm for this season has taken a nosedive.

http://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/galleries/x701/150901.jpg

And here lies the problem in fact I would say every signing we have made so far IS a squad player at best. Compound that with the fact that other players who are squad players a best also and it's easy to see the major problems we have. That's what happens when you continue to sign the 4th or 5th choice players on the manager's wish list. Indeed, it sometimes feels like we're in danger of having a full squad and no first team. Come to think of it, which players would we be happy to think of as automatic first team players in the EPL? Personally, I'd say Riviere obviously; Shelvey definitely (when he's not been sectioned/suspended); Lejeune and Merino possibly (it's too early to tell); and Ritchie, Clark, Yedlin, and Mbemba maybe (although in truth I'd prefer that the quality of our first team saw them become squad players ideally). Unless I'm forgetting someone, I see the rest of our squad as cover ... unfortunately, it's "cover" for the players that we don't actually have, or even look like getting in the foreseeable future. Happy days! Riviere seriously?

I said it in the match thread. But for me, this relates back to Rafa saying that Gayle doesn't trust his own hamstrings anymore. He's scared to give 100% incase he pulls up. Where's that from?

He could have bought Colback into the squad, you silly.

Exactly why Ashley always wins despite not backing the manager with what he deserves.

Probably our best option as Gayle clearly lacks match fitness. Do like his movement and ability to strike a ball.

Inspires much confidence in the defence and team.

All the money in the world and the PL can't get proper refs.

Might as well add a statute then.

This.

Yup, everyone got that wrong.

Aye, hope he makes the best of this opportunity and gives his sole for us.

Aye. No Colback :frantic: :frantic: :frantic: Strange. Thought Hanley and Gamez would at least be options.

No defenders on the bench?

Or it could be Manquillo Clark Lascelles Mbemba...

Clark at LB, Merino starts.

Messi.

Don't think so as long as he doesn't play any minutes. Happens in quite a few matches from memory.

Takes forever to update. FPL Draft is even worse. Counts Pogba's goal but Lukaku is still at 2 pts.

His previous contract ran until 2020 so I think Liverpool would say no if he asked for a two-year contract in 2017.

Everything in the past 10 years will give you your answers.

Off to London for the Tiote tribute at the African footballer awards.