Sheaf Saint

I cheekily stuck a tenner on this yesterday, just to ease the pain in the unlikely event it does happen.

I knew that. I was just testing you

Not quite. They will still only be 8 points behind Sunderland (barring a miraculous injury-time comeback in their game at Chelsea.)

Yep. He was a very close second for my MOTM today. Tremendous work rate and very intelligent with his runs from midfield to take defenders away from the other attacking players. Got into some good positions today and could (perhaps should) have scored from the one-on-one he had after being put through by Lambert in the second half.

Yes so can I, because I just put £10 on at 100/1 for us to go down and I never win my bets.

Yep, that was exactly my reading of it. The worst part is, when Federici realised he had lost out he rolled over holding his face, the dirty cheating git.

I'm getting a little tired of this argument now. He put us in trouble a few times at the back today with some really slack passing, and that has got nothing whatsoever to do with adjusting to the Premier League. He was rested last week because he had played for Uruguay in midweek, and today he was up against one of the poorest sides he will face in his career. If he can't pull his finger out and put in a performance then he should make way for somebody who will. No doubt I will get lambasted for scapegoating him etc... I'm just being realistic. When he went off today we looked a much more balanced and composed side, like we often do when he gets subbed. The whole team manages to keep possession much more effectively when he isn't on the pitch. I do not doubt he has talent and I am certain he will occasionally show glimpses of brilliance, but when they are so few and far between in amongst some really poor and lazy play, and his presence is to the detriment of the balance of the whole team, then I don't think it is unfair to question the value of his contribution.

And today as well. We looked much more composed when he went off, as we have done on many occasions this season. Like a few people have already said, I wouldn't be too disappointed to see him leave as long as we can at least break even on what we paid for him. He clearly does have talent but what good is that if he is only going to bother turning it on once in a while?

First half was a bit nervy but we were so dominant in the second half. We look anything but a relegation-threatened side at the moment. J-Rod my MOTM, closely followed by Davis who had a very good game but wasted a glorious chance to put us 2-0 up early in the second half. Great to see AL come on and get a goal, it was an obvious sub because Gaston was so poor today. We look like such a better team when he isn't playing. One more win will see us mathematically safe I reckon. Can't see Villa getting a win away at Stoke today so hopefully the 7-point gap will be maintained. There are far worse teams below us now so only a spectacular collapse in form over the last 6 games will see us down.

Yep. Been the case too many times this season unfortunately.

Guly blazes over an open goal.

Nothing major really. That tackle from Jos was never a penalty. Looking at the replay it does look like that ball didn't go completely over the line as well.

Oh yeas Adam Lallana! 2-0 all over!

Not much. Davis had a good chance after being put through by Rickie but hit it straight at the keeper, and Lambert almost got on the end of a low cross from J-Rod. Other than that, not a great deal to report.

Looks like AL getting ready to come on

Again Ramirez completely missed the ball and nearly put us in trouble. Please MP, get him off!

Oooooh. Lambert so close to getting on the end of that from J-Rod!

http://popstreams.eu/stream3.html

Ooooh. Good chance wasted by Davis!

I'm not scapegoating anybody here but Gaston has been utter gash so far today. Put us in trouble at the back a couple of times with some wayward passing and completely ineffectual up front. That giveaway just now was pathetic from a decent position. Need to get him off and bring on Lallana I reckon.

Holy crap what a miss from Gaston!

Federici the cheating git. Went over holding his face when he realised he had lost out to Jay Rod.

Not a bad effort from Gaston. Better build-up play anyway.

Not a chance. Nothing wrong with that tackle at all.

Oooh. Got away with that!