Chez

The angle the ref has means he can't see the little push by Lovren, and without that element it looks like Long goes down easily. Any other angle and he probably gives it, but he only has one. Go ahead and it's a different game, but you can't blame the ref for the two goals conceded, nor the two great three v two opportunities because we send too many players forward. Far, far too open in the middle. Not sure why we think we can go toe to toe with Liverpool. They are a decent outfit and our five at the back, strangle the opposition seemed a far better choice. That system turned our season, but we seem to have forgotten that. Hopefully we will get an early goal and the game will change...

Liverpool with their tails up is going to be tough, plus Lallana looks like he is playing with confidence, sadly. So it feels a little ominous for a painful afternoon, but then again they stuffed us last time, so perhaps the have had their day and we will upset the odds one more time. Looking forward to it.

Plymouths failings see the skates still only five points off the promotion place, but equally only three points ahead of Wycombe the side just outside the playoff places. Nicely poised.

I wasn't far off cracking it yesterday with the 33-1 shot Bless the Wings (which came third) giving me a great run for my money. So near yet so far. Still, having it e/w kept the shirt on my back. I fancy Garde La Victoirein the first...

Having watched the cause, may I recommend the aftermath in the form of '99 homes', which is about foreclosures and money made by some on the back of people losing their homes. Solid film.

I might be wrong, but I think the Skates currently have a Cat 3 academy. I read online somewhere that the costs to run academies are something along the lines of: Cat1 £2-5m, Cat2 £1-2m, Cat3 £300-500k, Cat4 £200-300k. How accurate that is I'm not sure, but it sounds about right. I also read that clubs get external funding based on their category: Cat1 £775k, Cat2 £480k, Cat3 £210k, Cat4 £100k. Which (if my maths is correct) means they would need to find between £90k and £290k a year to retain cat 3 status. Not huge figures at the bottom end, just £6 each fan (based on 15k) per year, but if they want to make the step up to Cat 2 to match the status of their floodlights...

They didn't give two hoots about the community or moral obligations to support local businesses when they campaigned to get the Tesco plans through the door. £10m a game income apart, I wonder what businesses actually benefit from their existence in Fratton other than the Shepherds Crook, The Rutland, The Brewers Arms and the Milton Arms?

The new investment model section is very interesting. Will fans be required to `invest' again or will they allow outside money or debt? The new floodlights will hopefully help shed some light onto "what the financial requirements of competitive operation at Championship level are and the best funding model and mix of equity/debt?"

I can see why the ref gave the red. Mane has a look at him and from one angle his elbow appears high and Pieters head moves sharply (because of the clash of heads) as though manes elbow has made contact, and he holds his face. At full speed and from the refs angle it looks bad. Obviously with multiple views and angles it's obvious it's just a clash of heads. As for the pen, the ref is unsure, Tadic makes the most of it, and that probably puts the Lino off, who the ref has turned to for help. I'm surprised he didn't give it. From the angle he had it looked at pen, from others less so. Not easy for refs as players cheat, including our own. Thought he had a decent game apart from those two big decisions...or is it not possible to have a good game if you get big decisions wrong?

Very good display. The effort in the first half to close the opposition down was obvious to see. As we tired a few gaps opened up, but when the opportunity arose we hustled and hassled Stoke which made it hard for them to do anything. That the difference between us now and earlier in the season (and Bournemouth). Put under pressure Stoke showed they are still an average side turning ball over time after time. When we got the ball we were much better with it than I have seen from us in a while. The all stuck up front with Pelle, and Longs runs gave us an alternative out ball and a threat. Lots of good performances from the usual suspects, but I thought Martina had a decent game and Davis put in a tremendous shift. Great stuff chaps. Deserved win and a good performance to go with it.

Bet Martin Hopkins from ExpressFM is wondering how on earth he can avoid asking Cook negative questions in the post match interview this week. Look forward to hearing that conversation.

don't get me wrong, I think he can play and at the right price (which counts him out straight away) I'd want him, but haven't we looked a better side when we have moved away from the big, but relatively stationary man up front, in favour of more pace, closing down and hard work? Bony doesn't move, at all, although once in the box he's a proper threat. The Vardey/Okazaki partnership has taken Leicester to a far greater level than the also quite stationary Ulluoa leading the line ever would. West Ham are another with an upshot in form when adding pace rather than height up front.

Chelsea spent £65m, Liverpool £78m, Spurs £46m, United £103m, City £137m and Arsenal £15m. I have no idea if they are particularly big or small figures these days. I guess its not how much, it's more about `on who?'.

What exactly did Ron say? Not disagreeing. Didn't see him come away with a single second ball yesterday. He might be small, but that doesn't mean he can't put himself about a but more. I had hoped for much more. Wonder if he will be given time or will return to Spain?

Forster - got very lucky with a looping cross shot he just squeezed over the bar. Incredibly heavy footed. Thought he could have helped the defence by coming off his line a coupe of times. Seems reluctant to do that. No blame for goal. Bertand - kind of a shame he has been moved out to left back as looked so good in the middle, but played well, especially in the first half when he was our best attacking player. Fonte - had a poor game even before the red card. He looked sluggish in the first half, he rescued his own poor touch that could have seen Borini in. A little unlucky with the play leading to the red, Martina didn't help him and then he was a little Slow to react. VVD - surges forward are great and defensively looked sound. Great finish. Fontes lack of pace can be his undoing as he tries to do two jobs. Martina - for someone that hasn't played much, he settled in well. First touch decent and pretty solid. Pressed forward. Thought he was slightly at fault for Fonte red, but no where near as bad as people make out. Not sure he offers quite enough class going forward though. Classie - game went on around him a little. Sunderland hardly have much in that part of the pitch but he didn't dominate. We need more from a CM. Romeu - he reminds me of Jimmy case, but much fitter. Gets and gives and runs up and down all day. Best player on the park for me. Davies - I like him and I know what he offers, but what he doesn't offer is that little bit threat in the final third and today showed that up a lot. Finds space brilliantly, but he didn't cause Sunderland any problems Tadic - check out the Rodwell volley chance and how he fails to track his man. Thats what he does badly. What he does well is keep the ball and create good chances. None of that today. Mane - still miles off where he was at his best earlier in the season. Doesn't seem to know what his role is. Can't get the all under control and give the ball away too often. We seriously lack flair players. Pelle - all round game much better, and he bright players into the game and was involved in our best attacking moments, but we need him to find that goal scoring touch. When the weather gets warmer... Juanmi - no impact, again. Joshua - had to to do better to stop the goal, although tricky as was in the bid so couldn't throw himself into a tackle. Others could have done more to prevent the goal but earlier season mistakes mean he will be lambasted.

Yet again Juanmi comes on and fails to impress. I know it's tough to get up to speed in games, but He's so lightweight, easily brushed off the ball and just doesn't grab the game in any way at all. Remind me how much we spent on him? He's young and foreign players need time to settle, but bloody hell he is going to have become a totally different player next season if he is going to succeed here.

Not often we come back at the death to save a game, so I suppose we should cherish that. We deserved a draw, but nothing more than that. Where did that form and confidence disappear to? I guess that's what mid table sides do, win a few, lose a few.

Could not agree more. The price to attend has gone up as the reasons to do so have diminished. I guess the only counter is that should the team go down, the games are no longer available to watch on the web. That means you dont have to struggle with the decision to spend £50 for a home game including travel (or a whole lot more for an away game) or stream it for nothing. No one is going to increase prices this summer, so I'm not sure there will be a great change in renewals.

You would be banking on a lot of disaffected fans returning. If the price is right many will be tempted, but once you've 'kicked' the habit the #wemarchon marketing bull**** doesn't pull at the heartstrings anymore.

Christ, who the hell is happy to lose loyal fans of 20, 30 or 40 years because there is a more affluent fan willing to replace them (whilst we are currently riding high)?

maybe they need to get back to the cafe

I like Mane a lot. I enjoy almost everything in his game apart from him going to ground far too easily. He is always going to be a little hit and miss. He plays at a hundred miles and hour and that means the ball will be mis-controlled on a regular basis because it is just behind him and/or he will take the wrong option when a slower player would perhaps make sure. He will also spray shots wide because he's happy to take anything on, not just wait for the ball to sit perfectly. The flip side is that he inserts energy and pace into the attack. He is a genuine threat when playing in the right areas. He's very much like another personal favourite Henri Camara. Lightening, but perhaps at a price. However, there is no denying that absolutely nothing has come off for him for many months now. Not a flick, trick or pass. Add to that his first touch has let him down, decision making has been poor, he has been offside a lot and given the ball away too many times (so much so he has had to be subbed and dropped). Personally I don't put it down to wanting to leave or not trying or anything simple like that. It's just not happening. No more no less. In terms of United. I agree, he doesn't feel like their type of player. He's just a little too erratic with a touch that is not quite good enough, often enough. I'm sure the'd like to add his dynamism, pace and threat, but I think they'd want someone that doesn't miscontrol so often. United have signed the odd African player: Quniton Fortune, Eric Djemba-Djemba, Manucho and Mame Biram Diouf shake out of a google search, but not exactly inspiring.

I've been impressed at Cedric's crossing when he has had to use his left foot. Having that option makes him very effective.

they have spent more on agents because they have signed quite a lot of players over the last 24 months and some of them may have required their agent to be paid a fee directly (not out of their pocket) to join. Jake Jervis, Ryan Taylor, Nicky Shorey, Wes Fogden, Ben Chorley, Danny Hollands, Paul Jones, Craig Westcarr, Nigel Atangana, James Dunne, Michael Poke, Paul Robinson, Peter Brezovan, Matt Tubbs, Kyle Bennett, Kal Naismith, Enda Stevens, Gary Roberts, Adam Barton, Adam McGurk, Christian Burgess,Michael Doyle, Ben Tollitt, Gareth Evans and Romuald Boco have all signed since January 2014.

On the one hand I'd of liked to have seen him go on to become the world top defensive midfielder as you can take a certain amount of pride in his development, but on the other I'm more than happy to see any player leave us for better things fail. Once they have left they are dead to me. They are our enemy. Once they retire they then become saints again. Could he ever come back? It's rare. But the shift in money mean maybe it could happen. Or do all failed United players have to go to Everton or Sunderland?