saint-crinny

Right now, Everton are hardly a step up from us. Coupled with Koeman consistently stating that he is here for the three years he signed for, it would a very strange turnaround from him to jump ship to Everton this summer. Stranger things have happened, but i feel he's looking for a bigger next step than Everton and would be prepared to wait for that. Barca being the obvious move and in another year's time, that one could well be available

Very possibly, still want to have that opportunity though! If we do get there, I hope we add some quality to the team - while Martina as an example has actually turned out to be solid enough and i quite like him, if we opt to fill up the squad with more players like him to cover the added games next season, the league form will take a real dip i think. Very difficult balancing act for the club, but hey, we'd all rather be where we are now rather than trying to sign players who would hopefully keep us just above the relegation zone

Maybe you answered your own question there - at that point leading up to Christmas we are playing more games than at any other point of the season. We're still in the league cup for a bit, quite a few internationals as well so lots of additional travelling, leading up to the busy Christmas period. After January, we're normally out of the league cup, not so many internationals and quite often make an early exit from the FA Cup too - leaving us just the league to concentrate on.

Agreed, nothing wrong with Alpine's post - in a season when Leicester have won the Premier League and we have sored the second highest points total behind them in 2016 - you can't help but consider what might have been if we hadnt had that horrendous run of form which really, is out of context with the rest of our season. Unlikely that next year, Chelsea, United, City will all underperform to leave the top four door open for the likes of us, West Ham and obviously Leicester, and with Klopp appearing to get Liverpool going too, you'd expect them to be right in the mix as well. Key is if we can keep the squad together over the summer and add some quality, but we all know that is a huge if

Very odd post - his standing in the game as a manager has never been higher than right now. Even after the game on Monday, pundits were falling over themselves to praise him. He gets his team to play with an edge, most of them don't have any experience of the situation they were in and they lost it (hilariously for us, a very enjoyable watch). Don't see why Poch should be criticised for defending them afterwards though, although from what i saw he didnt particularly get drawn into it and most of his praise was about the'r season's efforts. I'm sure he'll address it in private, but i have no problem with a manager publicly defending their players. Keep it in house, keep the players' respect. Also, his English is fine. A little dis-jointed on the odd occasion but perfectly clear and understandable.

Exactly this, Pearson is the man for a scrap - Villa should have gone for him rather than Garde (although i'm not sure he would have saved them). We need to go with a higher calibre than NP - De Boer would be brilliant

Depay may not have been great season but he is someone who has suffered most for me from LVG negative tactics - he looked great in his first few games. Depay could potentially go on to be a much better player than Mane, as good as i think Mane is. Depay plus cash for Mane would be an unbelievable deal really, i'd probably take a straight swap!

Feel like I want to stick with Clasie for another season as i'm sure he can progress to be better than Romeu. Ultimately hoping this debate is irrelevant because if/when Vic leaves in the summer, it makes me feel a bit ill that we might decide not to replace him

Squad will be stretched by the number of games, he might suit the European games more than in England, he's clearly got some talent or esle he wouldnt be getting a Spanish cap at the moment, a season under his belt with us - if he wants to stay he'll hopefully be more acclamtised to our style, England in general. A few reasons why he might be useful there and as he was a cheap investment, relatively speaking, i'd be happy to give him another year and see what he can do.

If we end up in the Europa, he's probably worth keeping around if he's happy to do that (which it sounds like he possibly isn't) - will be useful especially if we actually make the group stages

Mahrez for Player of the Year and Alli for Young Player for me. Have to say Mahrez pushed close by Payet though, he has been fantastic as well. VVD should certainly be in the team of the year but as others have said, he won't be - no bad thing in my opinion. We know he's a superb player but I'm happy for him not to be getting the rave reviews that we saw for Lovren and then Toby - looked what ended up happening there...

Accepting that Vic is almost a certainty to leave in the summer, how about Bazoer from Ajax? Fits the bill for us really - young, talented international and has the obvious Dutch connection too. Looked pretty good against England last night as well.

VVD, should win this one with ease really. Consistently strong defensively and great on the ball too, chipping in with goals now and again too. The fact that, as I fumed after the Bournemouth game this week, I still thought Virgil had a good game, speaks volumes. He rarely drops his level, even when others are performing woefully

With RK confirming that Austin (as we knew) and Long will both miss this one, I guess we'll certainly see Pelle and almost certainly Mane starting. Would like to see Tadic back in the starting line-up in a switch back to the 4-3-3 formation that we have had success with prior to the collapse earlier in the season. GK: Forster RB: Cedric LB: Bertrand CB: VVD CB: Fonte CM: Romeu CM: Clasie CM: Davis RW: Mane LW: Tadic ST: Pelle Davis playing in advance of Rom and Clasie.

More irritating was his assessment of Costa's performance, when he leads on to say about how great it was that the ref overuled the lino flagging for a foul on Cedric, to allow Costa's "tireless running" to set up the equaliser. Even when you know he is an absolute tool, it's impossible not to be wound up by Crooks

Agreed, very much down to how the player reacts to the op and rehab, albeit the club will have the best care and recovery in place. Look at Jay Rod, he's back but doesn't appear to be anywhere close to the level he was at prior to the injury, and is picking up other niggles too. It's a long long road back in some cases - or you have Forster's miraculous return.

For me, Roy has to find a way to get Barkley in the starting line up - he is one of the few raw talents that England has and is having a much more consistent season than in previous years. If that means leaving Rooney on the bench then so be it - with Barkley and Alli in the side, there is real pace and quality when we break up play.

Great, well, next time he does something of note for Boro I'll be sure to jump on here and give him a load of grief because we paid a lot of money for him. The constant criticism of him is really tedious, the move hasn't worked out as they sometimes don't, the transfer fee and wage his agent managed to negotiate wasn't his fault and at the time, I don't think there were many fans who thought it was a bad move or too much money, just an exciting signing and signal of our intent.

OK, fine, well good luck to him then. And if we did need to recall him, what i posted above applies. Helped nab us a point at Anfield for example earlier this season. For me, there's been times when he has been unnecessarily overlooked (Poch clearly didnt fancy him, just didn't fit the MP mould) as well the times when he has clearly under performed when he has had a chance. So i'll wish him well, he hasn't lived up to the expectation at all, but in his first season he did as much as the likes of Lallana in keeping us up and it hasn't worked out from there. i do think he was an important statement signing from us when we were promoted, regardless of how he has panned out - it told everyone we were serious and here to stay, and i think i remember some players comments fromthe few weeks after he signed talking about what a lift his signing had given everyone in believing that we were good enough in the Prem.

Classic Gaston thread this has become. People now digging him out for playing well while out on loan. I see Sam McQueen scored on loan for Southend recently. But it's a terrible standard in that league and as such, he's nowhere near playing for us now that we're a top half prem team. Anyone irritated by that too? Gaston clearly hasn't been a success here, especially for the cost, but has shown he's a very talented player in flashes, but for whatever reason hasn't been able to produce any consistency when he's had his chance in the Prem. When he eventually leaves and goes to say Italian or Spanish football, I would expect him to do well in the slower paced approach. If he plays well on loan, rather than be galling, it is surely a good thing - either raises his profile and makes him appealing to sell in the summer or (not sure if we can recall him?) if we have a major injury crisis all of sudden, he will come back into the squad match sharp. What's the problem?

That was my point really, he barely touched payet but it doesn't matter as it looked nasty. Calltenberg knows exactly where his red card is - in the top pocket so he can flourish it with maximum arrogant impact and everyone can talk about him again. All refs are hateable, but he's top of the class

The only reason for appealing that I can see is because Clattenberg was clearly reaching for a yellow to start with and was very obviously influenced by the reaction of the West Ham players. But that won't be enough - however you look at it, it was wild and a bit out of control, albeit he didnt really catch Payet, so the panel will always side with the ref's decision on this one. Given Vic's previous red cards, and RK's critical reaction towards Vic after the game, I'd say you run the risk of a frivolous appeal, which can result in the ban being extended further. So that is probably why we're not appealing. Besides, as we're safe, RK and co probably view it as an opp to see how we cope without Vic for an extended run, see how Romeu steps in etc, in preparation for Vic's inevitable departure in the summer

In the summer maybe - from our perspective I'd be happy with that (although Vic would still need replacing). Just can't see Arsenal wanting to get rid. He's young, talented, and they'll know his best is yet to come

These Ox reports have got to be rubbish. With the volume of injuries that Arsenal get to their midfield, there's no way they'd even consider it, aside from the fact that he is quality. Plus Koeman's emphatic presser this morning. Doubt he'd be keen either. Still, it's deadline day and nothing appears to be happening so if you're a national newspaper....

This game is like one of those name that 90s footballer quiz all by itself - Beck, Carbonari, Fuertes, Schnoor, Colleter, Soltvedt Some excellent defending by us for the Derby first and second goals! Slick finish from Oakley. Some strike from Marian for the equaliser too