Tiresias

200 - 1 to Liverpool probably

shola's not going to move on, we just need to convince him to retire asap... bit mean, if only we could have that totenham shola every game

Bleh can't stand him, though yes he is very good.

Keepers Krul Hart Sczcesny Reina Right Backs Kyle Walker, Micah Richards, Sagna, Bosingwa (not sure on him tbh, but was running out of ones I actually like, he's impressed me on occaision) Left Backs Baines, Enrique, Evra, Assou-Kotto Centre backs Colocini, Vidic, Kompany, Samba, Vermalean, Ledley King Centre Midfield Tiote, Cabaye, Yaya Toure, Modric, Silva, Arteta Left Wing Bale, Nasri, Hoilett, Bellamy Right Wing Mata, Nani, Sturridge, Valencia Strikers Aguero, Ba, Van Persie, Balotelli, Hernandez, Dzeko

Maybe we've always wrapped up an expensive deal for that Ajax defender guy, and that'll be most the pot of money gone?

Well I look like an idiot now. No backup striker

When Ba gets injured then, what's the plan?

I'm pondering, considering Ba's continuing brilliance, are we essentially shopping for cover? If the prefered ultimate line up is Ba ahead of Ben Arfa, a new striker is likely to get benched. Now don't get me wrong, I think we absolutely need that striker cover, we're thin up front, but do we want a striker who would work well with Ba or Ben Arfa? Or a lone striker? We'd be kidding ourselves we'd be able to get anyone who'd score as prolifically as Ba.

I hope he starts Carroll, and he who should not be named, but mainly threatens the woodwork we'd be fairly safe.

Lucas is a huge loss for them, without him nobody to do proper defensive duties just behind midfield apart from Spearing, Adam is more attacking despite being in that position. With Adam there can hold possession better there. playing a 4-2-3-1 with Ba Vuckic and Ben Arfa all getting the ball in that area would be effective imo, (and Ba is going to cause problems whatever there)

We've been playing a bit like we want it back, with all the hoofing it up

Krul Simpson Williamson Colo Santon Tiote Cabaye HBA Vuckic Jonas BA If we can defend well enough not sure Liverpool carry too much threat, they seem a bit Arsenally atm, always overelaborating. Cabaye and Tiote can hold them off and hit them on the break.

I thought it was long planned he would succeed Seralex?

Well of course he'd say that. I don't think you have to be nice to be good, but tbh can't really know. Maybe it is what's holding him back.

His distribution has got worse, he's still young and improving so i hope he's working on it more, but doesn't strike me as a keeper with confidence in passing the ball. Odd since in every other way seems bristling with confidence, and justifiably

Ben arfa as false number 9

This. I kinda thought he'd be an alright stopgap till we got in a proper striker...Still think he'll get an injury, but he's absolutely brilliant.

I feel better about our defense and I think Ba is going to score most games, so can see a 1-1.

I hope they haven't decided they aren't good at playing good footy and it's route 1 for the rest of the season...

Need to up our game for this one, beating Bolton 2-0 isn't the most difficult thing in the world, if we play like we did we'll lose.

Very happy for him! Seen the goal now and was a lovely finish. Deserves it, and has been unlucky not to score previously

Me neither. I was 99% certain Alan Smith was in The Handmade Burger Co. today till he opened his mouth ans spoke with a geordie accent. A clever ruse to protect his identity I'm sure

The trouble with their squad I think is lack of a style, it just seems a fairly random assortment of players of varying quality. Do they counter-attack? are they passing or hoofing? Martin O'Neil may go some way towards this, but their lack of quality wide players seems to be letting them down, and they're not especially solid at back. I doubt they'll do much in January, after splurging over the Summer and not achieving much, I doubt a rebuild is in order too much, especially in the more expensive window.

Ben Arfa has to start...but he won't. Really rather concerned about Pardew's attitude towards playing him at this point.