Chez

or at home on the interweb. Also, with the atmosphere at games almost completely sucked out of the English game, watching it live is far less appealing than it used to be. My argument always used to be that the atmosphere of a live game is everything, but with all-seating and so many rules and regulations sanitising the whole affair and ridiculous ticket prices, it has had a major impact on the number of `blokes' going to games, who, let's be honest, tend to have a few beers and then help create much of the atmosphere at games. The middle class family fans may fill seats, but they haven't filled the atmosphere void. With no atmosphere, all that is left is the actual football game, which as we all know is often crap. Too many of those crap games and the £40-50 a pop ticket price starts to look steep and people will stop coming. I'd argue that many already have, although the stats say otherwise. I struggle to get my head round the `growing attendance figures', but then again the counting of season ticket holders whether they turn up or not suggests the figures are worthless. Personally I wonder how football is going to survive as a spectator sport in England long term if the prices continue to increase. We seriously need to take a leaf out of Germany's book on ticket prices and safe standing to bring back the atmosphere at games otherwise grounds are going to be half empty almost everywhere. Pretty soon the Premierships `best league in the world' tag is going to be questioned. Empty grounds look bad.

Goodfellas immediately came to mind When we were kids, the compares used to visit each other. There was this man. He would never talk. He'd just sit there all night. They would say to him, "What's the matter? Don't you say anything?" He says, "What am I going to say, that my wife two-times me?" So she says, "Shut up! You're always talking!"

ticket prices went up yet again, access to live games on illegal streams increased, access to games on BT Sports...

they looked pretty good when dismantling Sunderland, something we failed to do.

If he scores the goals to get them promoted back into the Prem I wonder if Adkins will sign him?

did he go to lots of games in his youth (what am I saying, he is still in his youth) home and especially away? I think without those kind of experiences your draw to a club isn't anywhere near as strong.

If we want to challenge at the top end of the table then we need to keep his quality. If you could guarantee that his replacement would be pretty much as good then no problem, but finding that player and getting him is a different matter.

It's difficult to know what might have happened if we hadn't got successive promotions, but we'd of lost the likes of Morgan, Lallana and Shaw for sure and perhaps instead of moaning about under-performing multi million pound signings there would be moans about under-performing million pound players or maybe lack of spending altogether. There is no use getting all nostalgic about Championship football. It was great when we were winning, but when we were woeful I often had whole rows of seats to choose from. If it was still £20 a ticket then I'd be as happy, but paying £40+ a pop for a ticket really takes the shine off being in the top flight. Beating the big clubs last season was great, but overall I found the top flight far less exciting than the Championship. Overall though football is losing its attraction as every years passes for me. Over the years I have I loved going to the away games especially, but the cost is getting stupid. To be honest going to new grounds and hopefully at some point witnessing a once in a lifetime come back from 3-0 down to win 4-3 is all that interests me.

Wouldn't it be great if several of the big 4 or 5 had bad seasons and we ended up with a couple of new teams filling the top slots?

not much for rankings, but Qatar are currently 108 in FIFA's own and 11th in their region. Obviously they can rise between now and 2022, but I'd of thought having a half decent side would be a prerequisite for taking the tournament? No issue with it being in the Winter. It will make a nice change for our season to run to a different calendar. Wonder what effect it might have on summer sports like Cricket?

£25m to United in the star today http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/339818/EXCLUSIVE-Manchester-United-s-plot-for-25m-Luke-Shaw

hard to assess him in that game as there were so many great performances from Swansea that caught the eye instead. He seemed to play pretty deep, but didn't get hold of the game in any way. They (Swansea) are a hell of a team considering the money spent. I really enjoy watching them play - all that possession, but with fast no nonsense forward passing when they get the chance to break.

I love the tannoy fella, having no scoreboard, the walk alone, the noise and atmosphere, no stupid half time ****, no goal music, no raring the crowd up before the game starts by a **** with a mic, the feel of the place. I'm interested to know what your ground/match day experience selection be?

he offers nothing at right midfield IMO. At WBA he was totally ineffective and should have been subbed at half time. Set pieces are important, but his aren't all that great. Certainly not good enough to justify a place in the starting line up. Right midfield has been a position that we have failed to fill since Chamberlain left. Puncheon made it his own for a while, but if Ramirez is not going to be played there we should have signed a replacement for Puncheon in the summer. We look short there. JWP is certainly not the answer.

stop lurking, your post describes the current situation extremely well.

I went to the 2003 game. Was a season that was. I really don't want to think of all the other matchs at Anfield. Nothing but pain there. I really don't like Liverpool. Hansen (caught on his heels) quite literally catching a ball above his head to stop Wallace running on to a chipped pass left a lasting memory on a small lad, but I have to say it's the best match day experience of any ground in England IMO. Lots of tradition and a noticeable lack of americanised gimicks. Shame about the match day prices these days.

I don't think you are allowed to ask for players with pace on here. You'll be reminded that Jonno Quick wasn't very good and he after all was the quickest of the quick so if he can't succeed no one can. I think you are spot on though. Three of the four attackers have no pace at all and Rodriguez has pace but lacks a little guile. It's early I know, but the Osvaldo Ricky partnership doesn't look like it's made in heaven to me.

I like him a lot. He didn't have a good first half on Sunday, but you can see he has ability on the ball and great strength. At WBA he was immense. The one thing I would say is that he likes to play himself into trouble (often by taking a lot of time and drawing the opponent in) and then use his strength to get out of it. Other players would perhaps just be a little quicker and not need to use their strength. It works for him, but I think that style might actually make him look a slightly better player than he really is. Passing wise he is OK (again he didn't pass well on Sunday, but I don't think that is indicative of his general ability), but when there is space in front of him he seems slightly reluctant to run into it. Also his passing is a little square and backwards. Nothing wrong with keeping possession, but at times it seems to be his first thought. At the moment he seems to be overshadowing Morgan, who hardly seems to be getting any ball. The balance might not be quite right and overall having two deep lying midfielders isn't working quite right with not enough options for the defenders when they have the ball. The two central midfielders don't offer themselves, which looks to be a tactic. There needs to be a slight adjustment to get the bets out of both CM.

very good point. Keeping van Persie etc quiet will be a tougher task no doubt

Like the pairing with Fonte too. Hopefully they can both sustain this early season form and give us time to find the right blend and balance in front of them. It's important the two fullbacks stay fit as well. Keeping the same back five for most of the season can only be a good thing.

he had a terrific game yesterday. My MOTM.

me too, and with seven subs wouldn't Cork be better suited to the middle and Ramirez to the wide position anyway? Has some sort of home grown, under 21 rule come in when I wasn't looking or is Cork injured? He was my choice for player of the season last year. I just can't get my head round how far he has fallen down the pecking order. Having not watched pre-season games can anyone tell if he was **** or has he been injured? he might not be the answer, he may not even be first choice, but not on the bench? Crazy.

Spot on. The lad is a decent prospect, but I have no idea how he gets in the side at this moment in time ahead of Cork, Davis, Lallana or Ramirez (depending on the formation). The one thing for sure is the more games he gets, the better he will get and the less I will feel the way I do right now.

just what the side with 5 goals in 9 games needs, another central midfielder.

that is your opinion. Mine differs completely (not the Puncheon part as I backed him when he was but a boy in dark trousers).