Chez

Tadic and Forster for sure. Both are having terrible seasons. Not sure that is Puels fault. He gave Tadic the earth, but he hasn't delivered. Not having Pelle to nod in his crosses or Mane stretching teams hasn't helped him. The long and short of it is that Wanyama was better than Classie, Mane was better than Redmond and Pelle was better than JRod. Add in the need to rotate because of the UEFA games and we are where we are.

there may well have been, but his point was quite clear. If you sell a player for £8m and bring one in for £14m then you have not added to the clubs bank balance, never mind Kat's.

what an excellent post.

I keep saying posts he plays off the right side and he is not a striker. Is that correct? Will he therefore be challenging Redmond, Tadic, Sims and Boufal rather than Austin, Long and Jrod?

and we looked a progressive outfit when that change was made. Getting Classie off helped though. I'm not sure Bertrand works as a CB in a back four. We are a tiny side already. I would fear for us at every set piece. One thing to consider is that Bertrand never really looks 'happy' in that formation. He is one of ur Crown Jewels and we should be careful not to **** him off. I dare say he still has England aspirations and playing him as a CB hinders his chances of being selected, despite the fact he does a great job in that formation and England would improve if they played it too. Targett is too slow to ever be a top clas fullback IMO, but as you say he is still developing. Right now he is not the answer. I much prefer McQueen.

Let me step in before Target becomes some sort of saviour. He, in my very humble opinion, is not anywhere near premiership standard and very much weakens the side, not strengthens it. Playing Bertrand at CB in a three with McQueen at wing back works for me, especially against the very top sides, but boy will you have fans on here moaning about negative tactics.

Everyone keeps pointing to Puels negative tactics (personally I think we play in exactly the same way as we did under RK only now we don't have a big man up front that we can go long to and we have lessor players) and I am not saying that they are not important, but ever thought that some of our failings are down to the lack of player quality and performance? We have strikers that have been ineffective, wide men that haven't done nearly enough, a relatively lightweight centre midfield, a back four that has constant injuries and an underperforming keeper. Not everything is down to Puel. A change of tactic won't make Forster come off his line. It won't stop Bertrand getting niggle injuries, it won't turn Classie into Wanyama or Redmond into Mane. I am totally undecided on Puel, but I am convinced that some of the players at his disposal are simply not good enough.

Painful, but still exhilarating.

is that accurate?

Was Pelle an Italian international before he signed for us?

Yoshida, Stephens and Gardos. We have enough bodies to 'survive', its the quality that might be the issue. The Gardos signing now really comes into focus. Putting the injuries to one side he hasn't impressed, but perhaps the club have more faith in him than the fans. Stephens has done pretty well, so the club clearly think he can be trusted to hold the fort. Is Sahko that much better? If you look at last nights game, in general the CBs did OK. Questions can be asked about the second goal, but I'd point to the lack of a Morgan to chase down the breakaway from a defensive midfield position. Weak as **** down the middle leaves CBs exposed.

Not much love on here. Pretty much all season posters on here have requested a new striker. Hope he hits the ground running as patience seems to be running thin.

I was unimpressed when he first got in the side, but have tried to be patient with him. 18 months down the line I still see a player that is carried rather than one that dictates play. Too slow, too small and too weak. Despite what people say he doesn't put in a real shift for me. He jogs about, but doesnt really work hard enough or run fast enough to get close enough to opponents to force errors and he is often found caught the wrong side of play and is unable to get goal side. On the ball his touch is good enough for this level and he can play square passes all day, but ask him to play the ball forward and he turns over possession almost as much as Hojbjerg. Romeu does so much in games that Classie get away with it.

Poor first half, much better in the second. Overall thought we deserved a point at the very least. Dreadful second goal conceded when we were in control of the game. Where the **** was the defence? Thought we responded well after that goal and a little unlucky not to grab an equaliser as we ran them ragged as they sat back. Thought Boufal was outstanding and looks every bit a star, although it did look a dive to me. I know it fits my opinion on him, but as soon as Classie went off we improved tenfold. He was a total non entity in the game as a whole and squandered possession time after time (pretty much with every forward pass). Complete waste of a shirt.

Lets hope so. Looking beyond tonight the new reserve keeper and hopefully striker should strengthen that side nicely. Bring VVD back into the equation and obviously it looks better. For me we then just need someone to come in during the summer to play alongside Romeu.

which I dare say we would have had all season if it were not for the European games and then the recent mass of games. I doubt we will rotate much at all from here on in.

next Saturday or last?

Good point. Must have been more a `twist' than a `knock' then.

do they progress if they hang around in that side?

not in line up tonight. Injured?

No JRod in line up tonight. Is he injured? I saw he was hobbling a bit at Anfield, but thought he'd be back for this game.

It will be that little skate that undoes us.

Boufal back, but JWP injured so Classie keeps his place. I've given the latter some stick this week on here. Hopefully that means he will have a stormer. COYR

Good point. We have lots of central midfielders, but not sure any are worthy of a place in a DM role. Let's hope Romeu can stay fit and then come the summer we need an squad rebalancing.

they still have championship level **** like Ward on their books. If he is earning more than me then they are being robbed.