Chez

The game a couple of season ago at SMS, Dembele dominated midfield and looked a very good player to me, not sure he has replicated that too often though, otherwise he'd be first choice every week. I actually like Mason and can see why MP selects him, but I'd of thought Demblele has waited long enough on the bench to want a move. Not sure he'd come here though. Wonder what his wages are like too.

How come?

********. Another opportunity to stuff the skate ****s goes begging. Hope we get at least one chance to face them before they make it back to the championship. Still hear them harp on about the 1-4 in our back yard despite the two division gap. Would take just as much pleasure out of beating them now as any other. For all those not wanting a derby game, I simply do not understand you. Best games by far, by miles. Nothing comes close to the atmosphere, excitement and a host of other emotions your simply don't get from a bog standard prem game.

so, do Chelsea then pay Stones the £2m he missed out on?

this seems to me to be the only way. I keep reading on here that we can't compete, because we can't pay £100k a week wages, but why not? We may not be able to pay the £250k a week like united, or £100k a week to all the players, but why not £120k a week to the likes of Morgan, Lallana, Clyne and Shaw? Perhaps if we hadn't wasted god knows how many millions on Osvaldo etc. the money might have been there to do exactly that?

on the extremely limited evidence so far, he isn't very mobile and under hits too many passes which causes play to be slowed down. As a holding midfielder, those two facets of the game seem pretty important to me. I've been spoiled by Morgan though, so perhaps he's better than I think.

Keep a clean sheet and score the odd goal might be the same mantra, but I don't see any similarities in the method, style or performance yesterday when compared with last season. Chalk and cheese.

maybe his previous contract was £75k a wee in the Prem but then reduced (maybe in half) with relegation, so the new contract would increase what he is on now, but still be less than what he got in Prem? I'm just guessing here of course.

I'm not a big fan either. Started brightly but lost his way big style. In his defence he is now played out of position IMO. Why does RK play him on the right? He doesn't seem to ever want to shoot, so having the option to come inside on his favoured left foot seems pointless. Get him back on the left running down the line and getting crosses in. I had to laugh at fans last season saying he was better than Lallana. What a load of ********.

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.