Saint_Tony

Yes Cole diving header in injury time ruled out. If I remember correctly, Crouch equalised and then had a great chance to put us in front.

Are they? Not been following last few days. We must nearly be back at full strength though?

We need to get back on track, but this is going to be a tough game. Pulis has done his usual job of turning around a poor side into one that's difficult to play against. Going to have to go for 1-1 (Berahino 17, Elia, 82).

They didn't win tonight though, first team they've faced who are half decent. The point I'm trying to make is too many English sides are obsessed with league games to try and requalify for CL or EL, yet don't try their hardest to win once they get in the competition. Everton have been poor in the league, but I admire Martinez for playing full strength sides in the Europa.

Ok fair enough, but theyve done it for every other european game

The stupid thing is so many clubs like Spurs and Liverpool are obsessed by Europe. They field weakened teams in the Europa to try and qualify for the Champions League, a competition they have no chance of winning. It all seems so ****ing pointless. We've seen how far behind the English teams are in recent days. I just hope if we qualify for the Europa league that we try to win it, even if our league form suffers.

Yes, I wouldn't consider the others as top players in their positions, would you?

Yep, for me him and Morgan are two of the best DMs in Europe; they're irreplaceable

Don't think we can keep claiming to be the better team in games, 1 goal in 4 games is simply not good enough. There's nothing to calm down about, we were never really going to last the pace, not with our squad. It's been a great season, whatever happens. We just have to keep plugging away and try and get a Europa spot, we deserve it. I'd happily finish mid-table next season and have a decent run in Europe. We're not miles off being able to compete for a CL spot, but it will be another rebuilding job in the summer when there will be a few departures.

Just not been good enough in recent weeks. Massively disappointing after the Arsenal and Man Utd games. On recent form, we will lose more games. The margin for error is too small now, we've overperformed so far, and now we are getting found out. No disaster really, we're just not at the same level as a few of the other sides around us.

Never understood what he offers. Not good enough for this league, sadly. Just because he's another academy product, he seems to get talked up.

We're in a real fight just to get a Europa spot now. Ref was awful, but we never looked like putting the ball in the net. Our lack of striking options is now starting to show. Looks like 7th is the best we can hope for, a real disappointment after our great start.

Strange line ups from both sides. Game changers on the bench though

Too right, if there was ever a time to make a statement that we aren't going away then it's today. If Morgan and Big Vic win the midfield battle I think we'll win. Pelle's time will come today

Yes, a win today will be a massive result.

Not if we lose

Let's wait until we get 3 points, then this becomes a good result

Let's not make this game about Liverpool and Lallana and co, let's get behind our own team and make sure we win

Feel this is more of a must not lose than a must win. It's vital we keep a decent gap between ourselves and Liverpool. I know they've improved but I haven't been overly impressed by them. Hopefully a decent rest will work for the likes of Pelle and Tadic. This could be the game that reignites their seasons.

The pressure is all on them I'd say, they will still be expecting fourth. I ****ing hope we put their good run to an end though!

We're more ready than a lot of teams. **** it, let's give the Europa a crack next season, even if our league form suffers for it. Otherwise what's the point?

Surely though we're better off taking points off our rivals to maintain a gap? I'd much rather beat Spurs and Liverpool and lose at West Brom and Leicester for example (ideally I'd like us to win all of them).

I think they'd be off either way, they can double their $$$$$$ elsewhere. A lot of people seem to forget fourth doesn't guarantee CL football anyway, there would be a tricky qualifier to get through.

Yes, assuming it would mean finishing above Spurs and Liverpool. Strange poll, surely 5th is tbe best we can realistically hope for?

Our darkest hour, did we lose the game? Obviously it's looking like we're going to come up short, we've got good depth in most areas but having only one out and out striker is going to cost us. I'm not blaming anyone, we signed Long, and maybe the club thought J Rod might have been back sooner. Pelle needs a break, I'd think about using Mane up top for the Liverpool game. Might be worth going all out to get Benteke in the summer, then we wouldn't be too far off having a squad that can challenge again.