SKD

Great result with no help from the ref. Usually when theyre poor it's for both sides but his bad decisions went against us.

Glad tis just outted the ref. Absolutely deserves everything he gets on the back of that poor display

Not playing left wing he wouldn't. Thought J Rod was fantastic today, build up play was excellent. A shame he never got a real chance on goal.

Great result, but poor finishing will probably cost us the tie in the end. Appalling officiating, which borderd on cheating imo. We looked dangerous on the counter, which, if we play like that, can only be a positive thing for the second leg. Great first half, but we generally tend to fade in the second. Time to change that!

I hope it's not sit off him like we're doing at the moment

Kind of the point lad ...... If you're going to give an opposition player abuse, may as well try and upset and rattle him rather than just halfheartedly boo every time they get the ball. imo both Lovren and Lallana have a weak mentality and something like this would really affect them.

Horrible club in a horrible city with horrible fans. Them and the blue lot across the park really have a chip on their shoulder and can't help but live in the past. Easily 2 of my most hated clubs, chuck them just behind Pompey.

Potentially tempting fate, but I've never seen us loose a semi final....

Much worse. Expected no less from Lovren (he owed us no loyalty really), but you expect better from someone you brought through the academy, made your captain and made the player they are today. Like every time we play them, I hope someone does a job on the rat. Hope everyone gets behind the team tonight but a 5 minute rendition of "Your babies not yours" (to lallana) and "your wife is a whore" (to Lovren and Lallana) wouldn't go a miss!

Yep, said yesterday 2 London clubs interested (palace and west ham). poor tactics by West Ham this season though. All they are going to do is rub clubs up the wrong way (like Levy did with us a couple of years ago). Unlikely, but I really hope they go down this year!

I've met Les a couple of times, nothing major just has 5 minute chat, always come across as a nice bloke and seemed like had the time to stop and have a chat which can't be said about all footballers or people within the game. He does keep his cards close to his chest and I generally took everything he said with a pinch of salt. I've not heard a bad word against him from people I know who work at the club. It will come as no surprise that this is not the case for Cortese, who, from what I've been told, pretty much ruled by fear.

Hence why Fonte is not the man for the job. All he's done is cause a disruption and throw his toys out the pram, this season. Your point re Lovren.. if you look at his form since Klopp has taken over, he's back to the level he was at when he was with us. Apart from 1 flook season, genenerally every Liverpool player was sh!te under Rogers (would say that says more about the manger than the players). Eder (if i recall correct scored the winner) and Ricardo Carvalho also won the European Championships and they wouldn't get anywhere near our first team. The fact of the matter is every season we have had a top (in Toby & VVD world) class CB partner (international football he's had the same), if he was really as good as some make out, he'd have been snapped up a while ago and certainly wouldn't be looking at a move to palace. Instead everyone has taken his partner.

This, if Fonte hadn't had Lovren, Toby & VVD next to him I very much doubt he'd have been as consistent as he's been. Always the argument that Fonte helped improve these players, but looking at the Form of Lovren & Toby kind of dismisses this. Fantastic servant who, IMO, has found his level.

IMO the best manager / coach we've had. Unbelievable how he improved and turned championship players in to top 6 PL players and he really gave Koeman the spring board to push us on. No discredit to Nigel, but we really wouldn't be where we are now (or last season) if it wasn't for Pochettino. Apparently a really decent bloke as well! I know Les is very fond of him as where all of the staff at the training ground / stadium.

Yep, I feel a tad ungrateful for actually not looking forward to tonight. Not optimistic at all! I suspect if it was a 1 off tie or against Hull, I'd feel a tad more excited

I reckon there was some united interest in the summer and Fonte then said he wanted to leave. Move never materialised but united interest remained (Jensen no EL games so not cup tied). I don't reckon fonte is there main target and more of a fall back option. He could be very disappointed come the end of Jan and palace could be his only option.

Yep agree, personally I reckon he's holding out for united, wouldn't be surprised if he ends up at Everton if no further options arise.. I know it's been touched on here before but a number of players (Fonte, Long & Bertrand) aren't happy with the management (well Eric Black) and they had a bust up with him following the wba game. Not saying this would have made any difference to the fonte situation, but surely the club need to act if senior players don't like the assistant

Not ITK in anyway, and don't claim to be, however I'm sometimes given some snippets (generally nothing major, especially in terms of transfers) from various people I know who know people that work for the club other who know players / players family ect... Apparently 4 English clubs have expressed interest in Jose, 2 London and 2 northern clubs. Info a bit vague however this comes from a source close to Fonte (and not related to the club) and I have no reason to doubt that this isn't true as the person involved has no interest in football or saints. I don't know if this interest means that anyone has approached the club or if its just his agent trying to find him a new club and someone has said they're interested (this would be my guess). My guess would be Palace, Everton, United and possibly West Ham (although we'd have already heard on SSN if it was them).

according to Wikipedia (appreciate this may not be completely accurate) To me he has always looked solid but awkward with the ball at his feet, but in all honesty I've seen very little of him.

Ricardo Carvalho signed for Shanghai SIPG the other day....

Why does a (potentially realistic) prediction mean that he's not behind the team? I think we'll draw 1-1 and then loose 2 or 3-0 at their place, but I'll be supporting and urging the team on for the whole 180 minutes +.

We wouldn't refuse to sell. At worst we'd ask to stay for 1 more year and then sell... hence why we loose our best players year in year out.

is that a then......?

Have a feeling he's going to end up here next season. We'd be the perfect club for him really (in terms of style of play) and a good opportunity for him to use us as a stepping stone (like all of our new players). IMO He'd also be the perfect player for us. Surely Stoke would know if the player has any interest before lodging a bid. Generally thought terms ect would have been discussed through 3rd parties (agents ect..) before fee / bid is agreed? Also, can't imagine moving would be too much of an issue if he was willing to join spurs? As you seems fairly close to the situation and both clubs involved, where do you reckon he'll end up?

Puel setting us up to attack? that'll be the day.