OTF

STOP the PRESSES: Ignorant American is Ignorant.

Not be shite. He's been not shite when played before TBH. Must be a shithouse trainer or something. I'm beyond hoping for Kadar to be included though, patently not going to happen despite him becoming a mainstay in the powerhouse Hungarian national side.

The rest of your post talked about our squad shrinking over the summer, so why is it that you expect it will grow in the following one? Regarding the bedding in of players if the continuing pattern is to buy, develop and sell then we'll never have our whole side bedded in. I'm not suggesting that we'll have a squad that's capable of competing with strong sides both in the Europa and in the League, but if our team can qualify for Europe I'd welcome it with a big smile and open arms. Could we be better prepared for it? Of course we fucking well could, but there's never a guarantee that we'll make it in the following season - anything could happen as we all know. It really doesn't matter if we get knocked out of the Europa in the early stages. It gives us a chance to give some fringe and youth players some valuable experience. If our league position is severely compromised by our Europa league participation then it's a case of poor prioritising by management.

If Chelsea win I'll eat my hat* * If I'm wearing one at the time.

Statistically speaking with three more appearances to his name Routledge can boast one additional assist over Obertan. Both have scored a solitary goal, Routledge has 4 assists Obertan 3. Routledge has 2 yellow cards compared to Obertan's 0, probably because Routledge has a heart.

:lol:

After much deliberation and careful analysis I have reached a verdict: he's shite. At least we know now. Much of a muchness as Routledge, except 4 years younger, bigger and faster with quicker feet. Sounds ok when you read it, but it really isn't - not yet anyway. But still, there's a role for him in the team.

Agree 100% there, they state it as though it's categorically correct and that they know it for sure as though they know the inner fibre of Suarez's being. They completely believe it too. Blind support clearly, enviable in some ways but completely naive in most.

Obertan has still served a purpose throughout the season, you can understand why they wanted to inject some pace into the side. At his age having not played much at Manchester United it was always going to be hard to gauge how well he could play at the top level. Regarding Tiote as other have stated he's perhaps a little one dimensionsal for some of the biggest clubs to come calling. I don't think that's a wise decision on their behalf though as sometimes players like that give true balance to a top side.

As further evidence we've had at least a couple of five year strategies in his time LeazesMag - Do you acknoweldge that we have improved as a side from last season to this one?

No, he won't. do you mean if we use the rest of the Carroll money to strengthen the team without selling any of our major players ? Don't prejudge me, but do you EXPECT the above to happen ? It would be foolish to expect anything under Mike Ashley IMO.

No, he won't.

Just like the Balotelli 'stamp' against Spurs, I don't care what the rest of football thinks, I know I'm right. KSA - squaring up to someone is aggressive but it isn't violent. Can you actually be sent off for merely being aggressive? You get players shouting at each other and being held back by their team mates in matches pretty often, should they be sent off instead of the usual (and more sensible) talking to with the occasional booking? From around 45 seconds: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SK4_E7Cgq5g The fact that it was a pathetic headbutt doesn't make it any less of a headbutt.

Just saw that Jose Enrique is the only premier league goalkeeper to not concede a goal this season. Lee Ryder was saying that he didn't shake any of our players hands after the game... Hope that isn't true.

Everyone here can acknowledge the bad things that the club have done, but is seems that you LeazesMag can't acknowledge any positive moves that are made. Noone wanted Enrique to go, everyone would love him to still be here. I too am of the opinion that they should have been more proactive in using the Carroll money to improve the squad. What I think we have to be realistic about is the way in which Ashley does business - on his terms. He always wants a bargain, or to know undoubtedly that the signing is required. It's not optimal, but Pardew would have to have earnt some respect and therefore influence so hopefully he can get a few vital signings across the line. It's far from black and white (no pining intended) there's plenty of grey out there as well.

I don't follow your logic. If the club are going to reduce the size of our squad why would we suddenly be better equipped for Europe a year from now? The same reasons why you think Europe would be bad for us now will still be there then, and possibly worse. Gaining European qualification will increase revenue, rhetoric from the club would want us to believe that this would translate to additional playing staff. Even if it doesn't it will make it harder to justify any reductions in the current squad size. Two defenders in and I think we'd have a squad size that is capable of adding the Europa to our schedule without seriously affecting us in the league. Time will tell what happens with the playing roster, from there if we qualify, we have to rely on Pardew etc to get the balance right.

Don't know what you were watching LuckyMagoo but even my Liverpool supporting mate admitted it was a headbutt on review. It was the replay that confirmed it without doubt. So utterly moronic from Reina, must really be regretting it.

If I was a Liverpool supporter I would have been absolutely livid about the way that they were shifting the ball around at the back at 2-0 down as though they were protecting a lead. To me it shows that they're in denial about their current position, or are incredibly conceited making out that they don't care. Whichever way it is I hope they struggle to kick the habit, with the exception being the Cup semi-final. Wouldn't mind them being comprehensively belted in the final. There's a degree of the same denial from the supporters making out as though they'be just about already won the FA Cup.

It's a good read. Most of the respondents came across as level headed. The exception probably was in relation to Daglish.

Well said. We've dropped plenty of points this year simply because of shitty defense being played because of injuries. With no European football it's likely that the squad will reduce further and we'll still have the same issues. At least let our points be dropped because we're in Europe

Then what are we playing for? The incremental difference in league prize money is not significant enough to provide motivation. Attempting to qualify for Europe only to pass it up once offered would critically undermine a key motivational aspect to players, manager etc. I understand what you're saying, but it's up to the manager and coaching staff to properly prepare the team and for the depth of the squad to be called upon. I know we don't have a great deal of depth, but there have been a number fo decently promising young players who have been starved of opportunities this season. If nothing else send them out and if you win you've done so without impacting on the first team. If you lose there's not too much lost.

If that was indeed the case then why did they purchase Papiss Cisse for 9M pounds? That turned out to be the most expensive piece of business by an English club in that window, and we were in no danger of being relegated at the time. There's a strong element of cross promotion involved, but apart from the visual eyesore I don't think it has a large bearing on the footballing operations.

I just like that we can have a discussion about why Ben Arfa is doing so well. I don't really care why, so credit to Alan Pardew, credit to the ground staff, credit to the canteen lady, credit to Obertan, credit to all and sundry inclusive of little ol' HBA himself.

It's still better for us if they do, otherwise we need to rely on Tottenham not beating Chelsea. If it's a Tottenham vs Everton FA Cup final then we're stuffed either way. If Everton win they obviously get Europa League qualification, if Tottenham win Everton will still be qualified as a result of Tottenham qualifying for Champions league (assuming they stay ahead of Chelsea on the league table). In that case we'd be SOOL in 6th place. I'd prefer Chelsea beat Tottenham and Everton beat Liverpool then lose to Chelsea in the final, but it's a much easier equation for us if Everton lose as we don't have to worry about any other results including the final.

I don't think that's the case. The prize money isn't particularly grand, but the increased ticket revenue for home games should be a significant amount. Certainly you don't end up behind on being involved. And like I've said it can't harm our European profile which in turn keeps us on the radar. I really wish they'd do away with sticking the Champions League drop outs into the Europa League, I don't think there would be much argument about that from the Champions league qualified teams either. I'm sure they do it to increase the profile of the Europa league but it can be a little counter intuitive if the teams involve don't give two hoots about it regardless of the stature of the club.