Stuy_O

We could sign players whenever we want and without any degree of difficulty, Kinnear or not. Ashley simply chooses not to if he feels it's not vital. The spending spree in Jan was done in a crack, strange how we never heard of any 'bid being prepared' or 'targets being assessed' when the threat of relegation was in Ashley's radar. The players were recruited almost instantly then. I still say that had we not been struggling last season we would not have brought any players in come January, excluding maybe Debuchy. I'm even dubious as to wether we'd have chased up our interest in Sissoko and MYM the following summer like Pardew says we would. If he can prevent any expenditure on players, Ashley will.

Roma are signing Nainggolan from Cagliari. On the surface looks a great signing, they're packing that midfield.

Be nothing short of disgraceful if we dont sign anyone.

To play him on the wing occasionally, like they do with Kagawa? A rather simplistic summary.

Not what we need though. We've got good players who can occupy the position behind the striker. Rooney is better than Ozil IMO and we've got Januzaj and Kagawa there as well. Would have been a waste to spend 42.5m on him, as good as he is. True but Kagawa has barely featured and Rooney is in and out through fitness. Also maybe a little risky but Ozil could play a little deeper. Cleverly is such a risk free player and does nothing to worry the opposition. Plus a signing like that stamps some authority and lifts a club and it's players. Granted Arsenal paid some premium for him but still think he'd have been class for you'z.

They shoulda signed Ozil.

Hernandez needed to come on far earlier to support Januzaj... who seemed to be the only one clued up imo. Really don't want to say out for that 2nd leg, mackems playing with some freedom in that cup and Old Trafford will be charged with tension.

He was bricking it incase you conceded a third defo. I was baffled by his changes. All very well and good for other clubs but not really the Man Utd philosophy we're used to.

Moyes doesn't seem to be responding to the pressure at all well. Put Chicarito on with 5 mins to go and never even used Kagawa. Substitutions + times that look sorta obvious imo.

Have a feeling we may actually get him as I think Cabaye is off this month. Sign of how it is when you're only confident of a player coming as he's a replacement (although different sort of player).

The delegation prepares a bid. Oh the excitement!

Wouldn't say there expectation are decreasing. Their match report on the Albion game pretty much says we should go all out for the FA cup. However Niall Mackenzie wrote that report.

If he's blaming the lack of squad depth on saturdays defeat then yeh I would disagree also. If he's making that as a general statement though I'd probably agree with him.

Should have kept silent. If he knows something a daft little twitter warning isnt doing him any favours.

Seems odd to me why Laurens has even mentioned it, given it's so rare a player enforces it. His tweet basically warns us to sell him before losing out.

Im confused if this is something unique to his contract or can all players do it? Edit: He says all deals have it.

He can pay off the remaining two years of his contract once 3 have expired? First time i'v heard this ever mentioned. Doesn't sound like something Ashley would approve of.

Aye hopefully at least getting Remy suggests a little willingness to do the right thing. Seen absolutely non of that lately.

The Cisse deal and the 9million that went on him was a one off. I think everyone was massively surprised when we got him and lots has /hasnt happened since then.

Not if we're not immediately threatened with relegation. Thats the only scenario that will force Ashley to buy.

This is pretty much how I feel. Our execution of the counter game was p*ss poor however. The chances we did make were squandered but the majority of our possession resulted in the wrong decision being made. Perhaps allowing Swansea so much space/time for their own gameplan was the wrong idea but in all honesty they never scored (nor looked like scoring) from that kind of set up. Agree with this. We lack any sort of bottle if we go a goal down and it always worries me. We were bang average tonight but we should have had a pen and they were certainly not worthy of 3 goals. Frustrating as hell.

Decent player Long imo, right menace on the pitch and gets on defenders nerves. We could do far worse whilst JFK is at the controls.

Not sure if i'v got my facts correct here but Ronaldo won two trophies in 2012 compared to Messi's one yet Messi still won the Ballon d'Or? Sorta makes the trophies argument slightly void imo. No doubt in my mind Ronaldo should get it. He's miles ahead of Ribery and is currently the best player in the world.

I was canny surprised some wrote them off so quickly after the first leg. I know they have their issues but their squad is still loaded with quality players and it was hardly the most impossible of tasks. Was thinking about backing them but bottled it at the last minute.

Played class tonight apparently.