toontenacity

laughable isn't it It's just painful now. Er we're losing?

Love him.

Going to be excellent next season, don't have any issues with him whatsoever.

Would take any of the top five in a heartbeat.

What a hero this guy will be if he can come in and sort this shower of shit out on Saturday. Wouldn't begrudge him a move in the summer if he can save us in the next three games

Not good enough for us apparently although I bet he wins a lot more trophies than we do over the next decade. Is that the general consensus on here? He won the French league with an unspectacular Bordeaux side and then took a national team in disarray on a 20 game unbeaten run. I would love him personally, is it realistic?

Sure it's been mentioned, but what's the deal with Laurent Blanc? Out of a job isn't he? Any chance he'd be interested?

Why will any player want to stay for this shitnnext season?

Their positioning is atrocious, which given their limitations as footballers is indefensible

Poor guy. Irrespective of how he plays (and I thought he was good today), Pardew takes him off because he has no tactical nous and instead seemingly believes 4-4-2 is in fact a better way to regain a hold of the game...

Other results pretty much couldn't have gone worse

How does this change enable us to regain a foothold on the ball in midfield?

Wanted Benitez, but that would mean waiting 5 more games...

Any idea how to contact Derek Llambias?

Debuch?

I sat through that whole match worrying Cabaye, Sissoko etc. will be exhausted on Sunday. Somebody please comfort me and tell me they will be okay?!

Shocking that those kinds of people still exist.. I stopped reading after one of them quoted General Lee

Anyone seen that new film Trance? Pretty certain he is the player in the video clip that is repeated all the time. Fascinating, I know

Excited about our attack, worried about our defence: Simpson, Perch, elliot and Haidara all unproven at this level, and with no true defensive midfielder in front of them...

Surely Anita more suited to this kind of match?

The Times ran an article saying he intends to invest the money in the club rather than in another business venture! In the business section by the way

Had a quick look and to be fair most of them are reasonable, say we just about deserved the victory. Some were even touting us for top 7 next year, and that few would beat us at SJP now with our new pace and power.

More confident knowing Puncheon and to a lesser extent Ramirez aren't starting. Puncheon's pace could have caused difficulties IMO

I also think its partly us Geordies hating Liverpool. The fact is he captained a ridiculously average side to Champions League success- whereas Lampard won it with an expensively assembled ensemble- and has consistently been the star performer for a weak Liverpool team. His performances in the season Liverpool finished 2nd were unreal, and it's not coincidence that's he's the only midfielder in recent years to connect with Torres. Even recently he instantly built up a relationship with Suarez, which demonstrates his tactical nous and awareness and rebuts the poster above who called him a tactical idiot or whatever. As for his coverage in the media, I repeat I don't think he is favoured any more highly than Giggs, Scholes, Lampard, Cole Rooney. The media in fact often refer to his decline- you rarely read an article about him that doesn't question how many years left he has, and how he no longer makes as many forays forward. They've also recently mentioned how Wilshere is gradually replacing him as England's main midfielder. IMO some are mistaking respect and admiration for undue praise. Regardless, I don't buy the claim that he's poor now anyway. Top assist scorer in the PL, with 7 goals to boot, suggest he's very much still talented. Those stats would get him into any team right now. He's only 32 ffs, an iffy start to the season shouldn't be mistaken for a sudden dramatic decline.

Most assists in the PL this season (9) and 7 league goals- that's not too bad for someone who's "not that good anymore". This whilst playing in a team that's hardly tearing up any trees, and when he is in transition himself trying to learn to play a more withdrawn midfield role. His passing is still sensational, and is capable of his trade mark shots (see Man City). Agree he is loved by the media, but no more than Giggs, Lampard etc. Surely it's fair that he's earned respect among journalists given his achievements?