The Fish

That's because they know they haven't a leg to stand on. The worry though is that Diame's use of the ball is pretty selfish, he doesn't create for others, he drives with the ball into a dangerous area whereas Shelvey affects the spread and speed of a game. Agree that it's unlikely we'll see 4-4-2 under Rafa.

I went for 3-0 and when the poll is made public I'll sacrifice the 3 seconds it takes to re-enter it and not throw my toys out of the pram.

Good post and I agree with much of it. I think there's shades of grey with each of them, no one player is 100% good enough for the Premier League. I just fancy that Rafa's Anita will be much better than McClaren's, Carver's or Pardew's. I totally agree we need to add 4-5 players, around that core and maybe add a couple more young prospects.

Yeah, 4 top flight players plus maybe a couple of prospects. Although over the course of 2 windows, I'd be happy to add 6+ players. We sign an attacking midfielder to rotate with Shelvey, a young striker like Tammy Abraham in January, then 4 quality players in the summer?

They are without a doubt, some of the stupidest things I've ever read. One where you steal a previously opened gift? Are you kidding? That's secret santa followed by an arsehole being an arsehole. One where you guess who was your secret santa.. that's what happens after every secret santa, so that's just secret santa. "Conspiracy Santa" Where everybody gets together to buy everybody a present isn't secret santa at all; you know who your santa is... it's everybody else. And he less said about Secret Casino Santa the better. And none of them are giving your boss a picture of yourself as a gift...

Anything more complicated than Candy Crush get the eye-roll treatment. She did enjoy GTA briefly, then some 12yr old Yank decided to keep murdering her over and over and over again. We'll read together, but blowing up aliens or racing cars is a no-go. Except for Mario games, obvs.

Yeah, there's is zero chance of my lass getting into FM17. She can barely tolerate actual football.

Of course I do, but I don't expect this group of players to be capable of much more than safety (even if that safety is secured quickly). We have to be wary of over-reaching and be wary of too many changes in personnel. A few signings in key areas and we should be aiming for 15th ish. Next season aim for 10th. Get up, stay up, see where we are.

should do a blog mate. Yours is a more interesting tale than mine, where basically I took over from Rafa and I'm now evolving into the behemoth that will dominate the English football landscape for generations.

Yeah, there's a narrative appearing that we'll need a total overhaul, but that's just not true. We need to be better than 3 other teams, well I'd say that we're already better than every team in the Championship, so with a few additions over the next two windows should mean we're better than at least 2 of the teams that are up there with us plus at least one of the teams that survives the 15/16 season.

I think we've a core that can do it in the Prem. Darlow, Elliot, Krul Yedlin Mbemba, Lascelles, Clark ---- Anita, Hayden, Shelvey Ritchie, Atsu Mitrovic

Well, there's 2 that I can think of; 1. Doing a Secret Santa and 2. calling something else you do "doing a Secret Santa". For example, I'm just about to go to the loo and "Do a Secret Santa".

Not sure you've fully understood the "secret" part of the tradition.

Happy belateds

Most logical choice, but he's not been great and it'll mean we have to play Perez in the number 10 role.

My worry is how we'll play without Shelvey. He's been integral for much of the season and other players like Ritchie, Diame, Perez and Mitrovic have failed to show their class so far.

Yeah I've not seen loads of him, but he's well regarded and seems to be building on his debut season for Barnsley in 14/15 with a decent showing in 15/16; 3 Goals - 5 assists - 81.5% Pass Success https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2_oPO_aT6s

We've a knack for knackering leftbacks. Bernard, Enrique, Santon, Haidara...

I don't think he's fit enough to start a game.

But we have left wingers? Atsu, Gouffran, Lazaar, and even the likes of Diame, Perez and Ritchie could do a job over there. I'd pick any of them ahead of abig target man striker out of position.

Sure, but it was more like Ameobi's header back to Shearer for his wonder goal v Everton, rather than Cabaye's slide rule pass for Cisse against... Swansea? Edit:- It was Stoke

Might be worth us testing the resolve of Barnsley for Hourihane?

Great, now you're agreeing he should play on the left flank?!

Fuck, I'm terrible at those games too. Games that involve strategy and planning Games that involve actual skill, dexterity and quick reactions