Chez

there wasn't exactly a chance where you would have said to yourself "he should have scored there"

whenever I've seen him he has at least shown the bottle to go at the fullback and get to the byeline. Doesn't always come off, but rather than playing keep ball and playing it safe all the time he tries to make things happen off his own back. I like players like that. Anyone can control the ball, shield it and then pass it backwards, but how many can actually beat a man all ends up? It's the hardest thing to do in football (maybe scoring is harder, but when goals come off player backsides I wonder how true that is). Players that can are like gold dust. As for his England caps, well, how can Roy not pick him? Every time he comes on he scores or looks good. Roy may not be everyone's cup of tea, but players appreciate loyalty and he certainly shows that to his players. You can't constantly pick an entire England squad/team based on current form. Its important, but players that have proved they can do it at the top level in the recent past also need to be selected supported by a few new on form players.

I came to get a few things off my chest. Having done so I now will move on and hope for improvement.

SuperMikey I was told Wijnaldum and Clasie are totally different players yet you seem to want to play Clasie in the same position? There is a lot of talk about Clasie coming back and saving the day, is he that good? I only saw about half an hour of him in the Vitesse game and the game was played around him. When he went off we nosed dived performance wise, but I wouldnt say it was because we missed him specifically. Someone tell me he's Xavi II cos I could do with leaving this board in a positive frame of mind.

What a very good point. I suspect RK is currently beyond criticism, but his team selections have been suspect this season so far.

When was the last time Tadic had a shot?

I like him,but He'd starve on the service we are offering right now.

Capote missed an open goal header from about a metre out, put that away and this would have been right up there with the Sheff United debacle of last season. We were ****e and lucky to score 0 we offered so little going forward. Last season we were running Liverpool ragged at Anfield whilst coming away with nothing. Performances do matter as they point to how things will go when the chances do go in. We didn't turn any corners today.

I could not agree more. The Lallana five year deal way back when was the start of something special and I guess it had to come to an end at some point, but it was so unorganic if you like. I don't have any affinity with the signings now. They are all just using us as stepping stones rather than going with the club on its journey (can't believe I just used that word). I know it has been done to death, but I really think allowing Cork to leave (yes I know some would say he jumped, I say pushed) was a mistake. Exactly the player we need holding the side together (with Fonte) during this turbulent spell. Yes players are better when out of the side, but both Poch and RK were wrong in their opinions about him IMO. He proved Poch wrong, shame he wasnt given the time to prove RK wrong too.

I wonder if there is any chance we can get Tadic playing left side. That's where he started for us last season (remember when he looked a good player?) and where he is by far and away the most effective. Why does RK not see this?

How I miss all those lovely triangles between Morgan, Lallana and Rickie. I started to type out all the players that we have lost from that side, which IMO was better than last seasons, but what's the point.

I don't know how the deals compare, fees and wages etc. and who knows how both players will fare, but RK should have been all over the Dutch leagues best player last season. Maybe he was. It will be interesting to see how the two players pan out for their respective clubs.

Four four two magazine must love your annual letter of complaint.

Newcastle spent £12m on georginio Wijnaldum and we went for the cheaper option on Classie. Long season though, let's see how things stand next May. Maybe Juanmi just needs a little time,to settle in and then might fly...

IMO it is simple. He is the slowest midfielder i have seen for years. The game goes on around him. I am still waiting to see a tackle or an interception. It never happens because he is too slow to get anywhere near opponents. So as a defensive midfielder he offers nothing. He doesn't get up and down the pitch quick enough either, so he can't play that role. The only position left is attacking midfielder but he can't dribble or shoot, has no trick, power or....pace. His lack of pace hurts him offensively as well. He can't break into the space quick,enough, and he is so slow that he is quickly closed down when he receives the ball which means he doesn't have that little time he needs to create. He's too slow. Nothing more nothing less. Everything else about him I like by the way and to cover my arse when he becomes David beckham Mark 2, he is still very young and once he finds his feet for real and the right role and supporting players around him he could still be a cracking little player.

Why is it a shame. Some fans actually want to see us get through.

Walking advert for our academy whilst we are playing well and winning, but become less to shout about when you take the good players out of the side and there is no where to hide. Mind you that can be sad of quite a few of our players now they can no longer hide behind Morgan's athleticism which constantly got everyone out of jail. you look at JWP and Targett and it's clear they are a long way short of being top class. Plenty of time for them to improve and shine, but would a Premiership side buy them now if either were playing in the championship. Not a chance.

You should be. Games are won by fine margins. We have taken three of our best players out, add two more that are injured and a woeful summer transfer window so far and you have a side that falls way short of what is required to win enough games to do well. Things can turn around quickly though. With Bertrand and Clasie back and VVD in we might look a better side. Still need to get Juamni into the side as we are desperately short of magic in the final third.

We were worse in pretty much every position compared to last season. If someone posts #wemarchon I might have to jump across to the assisted dying thread.

It's his one in six games goal scoring ratio they all love about him. Terrible player. So average. Too nice. Waste of £12m.

Amazingly low price, but it's money wasted if none of streams work.

We have taken the cheap option this summer.

He really is and I have to say I am not overly impressed by Romeu or Cedric either. Add Juanmi and martini to the mix and we appear to committed the ultimate sin of bulling out the squad with average players. We did that once before I recall and things didn't end well.

Tadic was poor,for,most of second half of last season yet we can't find an attacking player better than him. I have some serious doubts about our scouting system.

Deeply depressing first half. The quality has been drained from us and all,we have left is the like of Shane Long. Sigh.