Chez

its worth noting that both are not new signings in their first prem season. Perhaps we need to cut some of our new guys a little more slack. its the established players that are failing us. are any new signings in first prem season taking the league by storm? Payet maybe, but we will nevef know if that would have been the full season

theres me thinking that players are on huge contracts that makes them almost impossible to shift and relegation means less income go enable you to swallow any losses. Relegation is not the solution to a clubs ills its the result of them. the only thing that gets cleared out is the bank account, oh and the last bit of quality you might have left. Relegation is not the end of the world, but dont wish for it...

absolutely no doubt who has the largest input on transfers. Its his team, his squad made up of his signings. We may have made 7th last season but its a fine line between winning and los ing games and the loss of one or two players can make enough of a difference to see us falling the wrong side of that line

We have First choice players struggling for form and confidence, but that shouldn't be a problem as the squad is stronger now, apparently, with lots of competition for places... The biggest disappointment about all of this is that we had the best TEAM we have had for years and we wasted it by not trying to win a cup competition. That tiny window before top class players moved on has closed and now it really is all about the league. We have had an amazing five or six years I guess, the question is can we retain our premiership status whilst this new team is being built.

Why didn't we sign a bloody superstar then? With all the money we get in, why have we settled for so much mediocrity.

Spot on. Very tough to turn that kind of ship around. Not sir I have seen the answer on here yet.

Why are so many people choosing now to point out that Wanyama can't pass the football? He is one of the least talented passes of the ball I have ever seen at this level and that was obvious from minute one of his first game. His passing isn't going to improve, not in the short term or the long.

A scouting and acquisition department that allows the signing of Martina is one that lacks power, ability, funding, scope...something important anyway.

I am all for cherry picking the best talent from the championship, but is that where our scouts are looking? The Long and Martina signings makes me question everything about our scouting and acquisition strategy.

We have been spoiled by the talent that has come through the academy over the last five years. Fans should perhaps consider that the larder has been well and truly raided. We won't get a once in a generation full back every other year. We probably wont even get one player good enough for the first team each year. Calls to chuck youngsters in just because they can't do any worse are stupid. They can do worse. They did do worse when a host of youngsters took us down from the championship. We don't need youngsters, what we need is talented players brimming with confidence. I think there might be a case for Reed. The closing down offered by Cork and Morgan has gone. We need to get pressure on opponents and perhaps Reed can bring that back. We need to Earn the right to play. It's far too easy for opponents. We don't do enough without the ball these days.

if we let two more key players go, then we will have to get at least two signings absolutely spot on to `break even'.

could not have put it better myself. Terrible tactical decision by RK and for the second time in three games I find myself wondering what the hell is he doing? This sort of tinkering can shake things up, but equally it can erode confidence in a manager.

Agreed. Isn't he a replica of Pelle?

Can we afford his wages now?

Explain the £60m debt then.

Djuricic looked to be finding his feet, certainly a lot quicker than Juanmi. Agree fully that the number 10'position is one to focus on. Davis does a great job for the team when he is on song, but we really need someone willing to dribble and get in between the lines. Tadic would seem to have the attributes, but he is never played there, so either he or RK doesn't think that will work.

Saw the HCDAJFU thread and was going to be my suggestion. Still don't know why we didn't go for Butland and Redmond when Brum were on their knees. Can you point me to the story

If you are convicted of murder would it not be a good idea for the murders entire wealth be given to the family of victim and maybe also money earned whilst serving a sentence, be that from suing the state or any other ways of accumulating wealth?

really? So if we solid hundred of millions of pounds worth of players, we couldn't then sign lots of free transfers and use those millions to pay the higher wages?

its funny, because of his running style, which is very smooth and dare I say it, effortless, he never looks as though he is ever busting a gut to me. I am not saying for one minute that is not giving it all, but I look at him and just think there is 10% more in there somewhere. I personally think he was a poor signing. People point to it being a little desperate, but what worries me is that the club had tried to sign him a couple of times and had tracked him for a long time. With that being the case I think the scouts involved may have `fallen in love with him' so to speak, because the evidence I saw of him (a number of time live and many more on the TV) at WBA and Hull pointed to a willing (especially in the air) but relatively toothless striker that was anything but clinical and a difference maker.

tell me more, because every time I see him, I think, what a bloody fantastic player he is, and that just makes me think that we will struggle to keep hold next summer.

He is our Jonno quick of the premiership. Bang average player that we over paid for massively. Risky business criticising him on here though as there is bound to be someone that saw him score a screamer at Ipswich, which he seems to do just often enough to prevent fans noticing how average he is. As with all players you don't rate, the question is will the man at the helm replace with better. He won't be sold, so irrelevant, but I'd be more than welcome to offers. There is talent out there.

Virgil isn't a CM and never will be.

Three at the back immediately at half time.

11 Tadics in the side is what we should aim for. With that work rate and quality on the ball CL beckons.