Geordie_once_removed

Perhaps said already. But this decision really does highlight even more, if that was possible, the ridiculousness of Qatar hosting the World Cup on its own.

Too much focus on selecting players deemed versatile has ironically enough left the squad looking very unbalanced.

Sturridge on a loan until the summer with an option to buy would suit all parties nicely. Even if a takeover happens I can see Rafa preferring this sort of thing to paying over the odds for players who might not be top of his list as those players aren't available mid season.

I think it's as good an appointment as they could have hoped fo. My impression was that he was unfairly sacked at Fulham (weren't they lower mid table?), who they appointed Sanchez who 'saved' them from relegation and then spent shit loads buying the NI team. Sanchez was promptly sacked about 10 games into the next season. At Wales Coleman seems to have done well enough.

I'm a bit confused by the continued Elliot criticisms. He has obvious weaknesses, kicked distribution, but he's in good form and making key saves each game that go largely unremarked on by the majority in this board. His defence of Pardew. I find Pardew completely odious and hold him in similar contempt to his compatriots in cuntdom Souness and Kinnear. But to play devil's advocate, could Elliot have just been doing something we say modern footballers don't do enough and have been being professional by supporting a current manager when asked his views by an 'outsider'.

I'm a bit confused by the continued Elliot criticisms. He has obvious weaknesses, kicked distribution, but he's in good form and making key saves each game that go largely unremarked on by the majority in this board.

For me the most exciting aspect of the game was seeing Shelvey and Merino playing together. There is so much potential in that partnership. Merino is good at quietly breaking up play but can also pick a pass. This means teams can't just sit on Shelvey and stifle our midfield creativity, they have to close Merino down too. This allows Shelvey more time to do what he does best and pick out the killer ball, his assist for the goal was a great example of this.

Of all our dead wood he's the worst. If he's even on the bench next season, short of a serious injury crisis, that be a major concern.

Bumbling around like a drunk Shola.

For Everton he would have been a poor signing, due to his attitude and the fact that it would be expected that he starts every week. But for Spurs I think it is decent business, even if they have paid 10 million or so over the odds. He's at a Champion's League club so his ego is satisfied and you might see him try more. Also as his status within the squad at Spurs will be lower he's not expected to start every game, this will suit him again in terms of motivation.

Our best performance this season. The positive close passing we showed was a big part of this and Hayden in particular impressed. Still look very vulnerable at set pieces and when balls are played into the box.

He looked decent. He offered something in attack and helped prevent Dummet being exposed too much, for a good example of this watch what he does when they were pressing our back four around 25 minutes in. He showed positional intelligence when he dropped back to pick up a shoddy Dummet pass out of defense (he was moving to do this before Dummet passed) and did well to pass it quickly on to Hayden who played it forward nicely.

Perhaps he's coming more on a rotation basis. Rafa might see Lacelles and Mbemba as mostly first choice but he wants Hanley as he might be more suited to certain teams with more direct and physical forwards.

For me Sissoko wouldn't be a huge loss to the team. He blows more cold than hot and no one seems sure of his best position and as a result his inclusion often unbalances the whole side.

It's all about Düsseldorf. Get out while you still can!

Ever since we got Wonga as a sponsor I actually want our kits to be ugly as sin as it makes me not owning one easier. My birthday is in September so it always used to be an easy present for me, I've got every kit from 1995/6 until they abruptly stop with the Wonga sponsorship.

Anyone else feel a bit like this? Still very happy though.

I'd be in favour of this and not particularly for him as a player but more as someone who we could train up as a coach. Always comes across as intelligent on and off the pitch.

I was thinking the exact same thing. Waiting until the last day also has the advantage of pushing up the price a bit.

I bet he has 'Rise of the Foot Soldier 2' on Bluray pre-order from Amazon.

Why isn't that helping like? He might have a little knock. The type that could turn into a longer term problem if he's involved tonight. Perhaps he should have said "Thauvin's had a massive knock, he'll be lucky to walk again" and then when he's back next week the 'Soft Frog' brigade will instantly fall in love with him. I meant that the language used could easily be seen as condescending.

McLaren hardly helps his cause with the line "he's got a little knock so he's out" surely only going to fuel the 'Soft Frog' brigade.

Not the oddest reason to support them. My brother supports them because back in the 90s we used to watch Football Italia and he thought they were an Italian team playing in England.

How do you even get jowls as big as the guy in the centre?

I had an epiphany last week and realised why he has to go. The biggest issue with our team is that too many players don't want to be here. They've been sold the club as essentially a glorified shop window and so they show no fight and desire in games and generally have a very apathetic attitude to the club. McClaren will never be able to motivate these players as they know that he doesn't want to be here either, don't forget he knocked us back twice and only came when he didn't have a job and we were the only club after him.