Barry the Badger

Right, well if you read this and think that they are saying Rafael is the difference between the two sides then you are obviously on a different planet to me. I don't think I've ever known anybody to get so worked up about a factual news report. I think you are being ridiculously over-sensitive. BBC reports that Rafael, who plays for the biggest club in the country, suffered a concussion and will miss this weekends game. They also state that he is a key member of their squad, which is true. The b*stards. How dare they.

Thing is... He will probably go there and be bloody brilliant.

Yes, because football clubs NEVER say that a player is not for sale only to sell him a week later. That definitely doesn't happen all the time.

I don't want to do that and read through them all to find it. You said you had read sites that make it sound as though Rafael was the difference between the two sides, I'm asking where you've seen that as I'm interested to read it.

Really? Where?

Manchester United are one of the biggest clubs in the world. Of course they're going to get more media reporting.

It's ok to aknowledge when an official gets a very difficult call correct. I would expect a lot of people would have thought that was offside on first viewing. Just because they're officials and you expect them to get things right, you can still give credit where it's due.

Personally, I do feel that we could improve on KD, perhaps in the summer, but I don't think BB is the answer. Would be happy to be proved wrong though.

Of course if we lose two players we need to replace them. I don't think anybody ever tried to suggest otherwise.

To be honest that just sounds like tapping up, whilst pretending not to.

I think that is a bit of a myth. Courts like to make examples of football fans certainly, but footballers themselves? Any examples of this?

My feeling is that it could be psycological as much as technical. Technically, our team is still more than capable of beating teams without him, but perhaps tactically and psycologically we have come to rely on him?

I'm sorry but it really hasn't. It only buries the debate if you believe that buying more players is the answer to performances like todays.

The team we put out today was easily good enough to beat Tranmere. I'm still not convinced that more players is the answer.

So you think that a physio can see somebody hobbling off a pitch from a distance and immediately know what they've done and how long it will take to heal? Wow! You've seen better physio's than I have.

We are not going to get anywhere here. I think we have a squad which is easily strong enough to do the job. Although I would be delighted if we signed a player or two of course, I'm not going to be too concerned if we don't. You think we are in trouble and have a weak squad. Fair enough. Nobody's going to change their mind so we're just going round in circles.

You are simply assuming that the Liebherrs are prepared to keep pumping money in whilst we are in this division. I am pointing out that they may not be prepared to do so. You're the one who mentioned it.

We've had injuries all season, Lallana, Holmes, Barnard etc etc, and yet here we are in the position that if we win our game in hand we will be second. Surely that is evidence that this squad IS strong enough to cope with all but the worst injury crisis.

and if they aren't prepared to do that?

I do understand the anxiety and the reasons for people wanting us to remove all risk, I just don't think it's realistic. When we were in the Championship under Burley, the parachute payments were running out, and there was a feeling that we HAD to acheive promotion that season or risk a lengthy stay out of the top flight. The club went all out and threw money at it to try and guarentee promotion. Remind me how that ended up?

Business owners in giving somebody a job shocker.

But this is what I don't get. Do you really think we can compete for players better than the ones we've already got?

Never mind

I think you just started badly, too sensationalist. Saying we need reinforcements NOW if we are to make the playoffs is just ridiculous.

I can understand it for something like that, a playoff game, a cup final, last game of the season must win game, even a Pompey derby. They will sell out very quickly. I would be surprised if this sells out before the end of the week.