Jack

Anyone else think Cortese believes in this project too much just to walk away like this? There's obviously some disagreement, a power struggle, but I'd be surprised if he just washed his hands of the whole thing and moved on. Would be a great shame if he did.

Cortese and some of his banking pals he's got lined up to buy the club and push the Liebherrs out of the way. People who are prepared to match his ambition (and levels of investment required) to finish the job he started. Or is that too far fetched?

- Cork my MOTM, can't understand why he's always the first to get hooked. - Rodriguez poor. Bad first touches, should've played Lambert in. - Lallana excellent - Boruc back gives while back 4 confidence - we were too slow today. MP said patient but far too often we knocked it about at the back, were static in midfield and got closed down and forced into hoofing it long. - at 1-0 we looked nervous and reluctant to get forward with any force. There were plenty of gaps appearing as WBA had to come out - WBA awful. Time wasting from the start. Foster should've been booked in the first half, and Olsson's booking should've been his 2nd - Webb inconsistent. Booked Lovren (rightly IMO) then let similar offences go unpunished. Poor performance, well needed 3 points. Need a better performance at Sunderland

It's not rubbish at all. He showed some glimpses of the obvious talent he's got, but as usual he gave it away cheaply, doesn't know how or when to play a simple pass, he's weak on the ball etc etc. For a big money signing you'd hope for a lot more. This is a thread about Gaston. I'm aware that Lallana and Rodriguez were poor yesterday, but if you want to change the subject, I'm sure even you could agree that they can both be excised a poor game after their efforts this season.

If he learnt to pass the f*cking thing 5 yards when it's the best option he might be in danger of becoming a useful asset. As it is, he's an absolute liability. Let Hazard run right round him for that Oscar chance/booking. I hope he's replaced.

Actually being serious here... - Gaston sold - we splash big bucks on a new keeper - Shaw to Chelsea in the summer - KD retires - Osvaldo hits form - Lallana one of the few positives of poor World Cup - Jack Cork scores - Poch completes TV interview in English

*Like*

All he's done this season is lose possession, fall over, and float attacking free kicks over the bar for a goal kick. We've got players that can do a job much better than him. I'm sure JWP will get the nod.

Why on earth would you want Ramirez to start an away game against a good side? Or at all? He's a complete liability, a passenger and doesn't fit our system. Gazza (unless someone else is fit) Clyne Fonte Lovren Shaw Cork Davis JWP Lallana Rodriguez Osvaldo (Lambert) We'll have to play well to get anything from this. They'll create chances, let's hope they're off target again.

Did well today, but still scares the sh*t out of me every time the ball goes near him.

This. Gazzaniga really shouldn't be anywhere near a team in the top couple of league. He actually doesn't seem to have a grasp on goalkeeping. He doesn't know how or when to leave his line, how to read the game, how to organise men in front of him. KD may be prone to a howler, but at least the men in front of him know what he's going to do. With any luck: Davis Clyne Fonte Lovren Shaw Cork Morgan Lallana Davis Rodriguez Lambert That would have a great chance of a well needed 3 points. Looking forward to getting up there.

Such a shame we didn't beat those c*nts in our last couple of games. Sickening late equalisers. And with them failing to even be in the pot for our cup draws these days, it could be an eternity before we can put that right again.

It's not personal, he's just a **** keeper. I think it was at 1-0, an overplayed through ball that he should've been off his line to collect comfortably, he stayed rooted to his line and left it for Lovren (I think) to scramble out, leading to more city pressure. There were a few balls into the box early on that you'd expect a 6 foot 6 keeper to come and claim, but he didn't and you could see the uncertainty in the whole back 4 in that period. I gave him a 4 because the little he did have to do he did badly. I disagree about him becoming a good keeper. His reading of the game and reactions are too slow. He'll never become a prem no. 1 IMO.

I'm on my phone so can't post a pic of it, but I saw a Dani Osvaldo tweet referring to Lovren as 'Animal'. Our new Killer, reckon it'll stick? Brilliant again today.

Great performance. I predicted a defeat with the injuries in key positions. City weren't right on it, and had good chances to go 2-0 up which they'd normally take, but we played well. Gazza - 4 - Thank **** we defended well and city's shooting was mainly off target, or non existent. He is a liability and doesn't even try to command his area. We were panicky at the back in the first 20 mins with the defence having no confidence in him. Chambers - 8 - Really solid game. Went forward well, good on the ball, and dealt with Aguero and Nasri really well when they came wide. Fonte - 7 - Solid Lovren - 8 - Brilliant as always. Commanding and so good with the ball at his feet. Shaw - 8 - was allowed to get forward lots, brilliant crossing. Defended well as usual. Cork - 7 - Caught in possession a few times, but got about and nicked possession back countless times. Managed Toure well. Davis - 7 - Solid. Worked tirelessly, tidy in possession as always. JWP - 7 - Another solid game. Set pieces good. Lallana - 8 - MOTM. Gave city all sorts of problems. Ran at players, tricks & turns, good crosses, tracked back. Can we clone him? What a season he's having. Rodriguez - 6 - Couple of decent chances. Needs a trick or 2. So many times he runs at pace at panicking defenders, but doesn't know how to beat them and runs into them. Common theme this season. Gives teams something to think about though. Osvaldo - 8 - Best game yet. Dangerous, and what a goal! Long may it continue. Lambert - 6 - Not involved too heavily. Some good touches but no chances. Ramirez - 5 - Came on, wasted an attacking free kick, failed to play the ball early enough on a promising counter attack, full time. Reed - N/A

Gazzaniga is woeful. Doesn't even try to command his area and it's causing havoc, defenders have no faith in him or any idea what he's going to do. We'll lose this by a couple at least.

He's been so much better than Osvaldo this season. Maybe he's not getting many goals because of the system we play, but he's always a handful, gets loads of assists, links play brilliantly. We're a better side with Lambert in it. Especially if we're on the back foot - without him the ball goes up the pitch but never sticks, with him we've got an outlet and a way of regaining possession high up the pitch rather than just clearing and waiting for it to come back. Chelsea game was a prime example of this.

Gazza Clyne Fonte Lovren Shaw Wanyama JWP Davis Lallana Rodriguez Lambert Weaker, but defend well and we can win.

After already playing just about everyone in the bottom half in the first dozen games? Was always going to happen. Still, I think we'll beat Chelsea tomorrow to make the table look unreal rather than just amazing.

I'm (roughly) following the Hal Higden Advanced 1 training plan. Plenty of long runs in the buildup to the marathon - there are three 20 mile runs in that. That plan had a HM race 8 or 9 weeks prior to the Marathon, but I'd already booked Reading prior to deciding on that plan, so moved things around slightly. I still get all the long runs and easier weeks in the right places, and allow a good 3 week taper before the Marathon. I've never heard of those Tulloh plans, I'm halfway through P&D Advanced Marathoning though and there's loads of good stuff in there. The science behind nutrition & hydration is really interesting. I thought I was pretty clued up but have learnt a lot. A couple of people have asked if I should be aiming as high as I am, but I didn't see the sense in starting a training program at a lower level/mileage than I'm already at. I'm running 25+ miles a week as it is, this Hal Higden one starts at 30 and peaks at 50ish. No point in going back to a novice marathon plan.

Nice one Keith. I'm in for Reading, but saw something a few weeks ago saying not to delay as it's filling up quickly. It's 6 weeks before my marathon so will be a better indicator of where I'm at than yesterday was.

Ha, cheers WC. The start was pretty crowded, I think what made the difference was the fact that it was mainly club runners there, and the majority set off at the correct pace for where they were stood at the start. I was right next to the 1:45 marker, and I just stayed with the pack that was around me. It was a bit quick at 7:30 but things opened up after the first mile so I could pick my pace. Much better prep for this than the GSR and it showed. I was a couple of mins quicker than my GSR pace through 10 miles, and was still feeling great so kicked on. I must have done the last 5k in a few secs over 21 mins which is quick for me, I don't even run 7 min miles on tempo runs at the moment. A couple of weeks of ticking over now then my London Marathon training plan starts for real, and I'm looking forward to it. I'm thinking I should join a local running club too, it looks like being involved would be a laugh and good motivation, not that I feel like I need it at the moment!

I'm fairly sure Adam has shown that. And he knows what Rickie is all about. Only if Liverpool fail to win at Everton.

How did you get on Keith? Perfect day for it today, cool and no breeze. Ran 1:40:20 which was nearly 5 mins faster than what I thought I could achieve today, so dead happy with that. As said above, the course is pretty uninspiring, but it's flat and fast, cheap, well organised, and a decent goody bag at the end. All in all it's not a bad way to spend a Sunday morning.