CanadaSaint

There's a difference between sh*tting himself and sh*tting himself. To be fair, Ramirez is willing to go into dangerous situations but his head goes down too easily. There's little sign of the kind of "steel" in his game that I think we'll need next week. On the bench yes, starting line up NFW.

It's a game in which intestinal fortitude will be crucial because they are fighting for their lives. And so, in truth, are we. What, exactly, has Ramirez done to suggest that we can rely on him to contribute in that kind of game? Genuine question Roger. I don't really doubt his talent. It's his balls that worry me.

The rules say that it's hand ball if a player "handles the ball deliberately (except for the goalkeeper within his own penalty area)", but it's been interpreted differently fo some time. That allows tools like Foy and Dowd the licence to be homers and to give a penalty in one case but not another. FIFA needs to get a grip on this because nobody really knows what hand ball is any more.

He might be too lightweight for the Premier League and I'm not sure he really wants to be here any more. Nor am I sure that Pochettino has a lot of faith in him. I'd be surprised if he's here at the start of next season.

For me, Pochettino made a big mistake with his starting line up by leaving Puncheon out. We really missed his pace and his interplay with Clyne, and his absence gave Newcastle the comfort to attack us down that side. In fact, I think that Pochettino was our-coached by Pardew today. He's smart enough to learn, though.

Speaking as one who wasn't that unhappy to see him go, I thought that Mr. Pardew did an excellent job today.

We haven't lost too many lately but one bad result and threads like this will infest the forum for a few days.

Well said. I'm certainly not a Fox fan and I don't think he should be playing, but those two goals were just bad breaks.

I hope you're right but I'm not sure he really wants to be here of that MC really wants him here.

I'm beginning to wonder if he's even an enigma. That implies there's a brilliant side, which I haven't seen yet.

I don't really blame him for either goal - just the breaks, but I agree with you. His positioning is dire and he doesn't have the speed to recover.

I actually don't think it is all over yet.

It makes you wonder if they think he's already decided to go to Newcastle. Only logic I can see.

Three yellows and Tiote's been running around with his studs up all game.

It is these days.

We've got enough on the pitch to win this.

They're beating us at our own game at the moment - high-press, hunting in packs, pace down the flanks. But they can't keep it up and I think we might dominate from about minute 60 on. But we need to get Puncheon and Lallana into it. Foy the POS hasn't given us anything.

There was a lot of discussion a while back about playing a similar style throughout the club. Has anyone (who sees the youngsters play regularly) noticed any change in the way they play since Pochettino took over?

And another: http://goal.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/02/15/pochettino-shows-promise-on-the-englands-south-coast/? Many of the same themes but with a few new (to me, anyway) little nuggets.

This topic is receiving a lot more attention on here than on KUMB. I can't even see mention of it.

There have been a few lately but this one is the best I've seen yet in terms of analytical comments, statistical support and all-round perspective: http://blogs.thescore.com/counterattack/2013/02/15/ruthven-how-pochettino-silenced-his-premier-league-doubters/

I'd say so. MP is probably plotting the "Tire them out early, win the game late" strategy as we speak. It will be interesting to see whether Cabaye and Tiote can compete with our midfield without picking up their customary yellows (which take an edge off their game) or reds (which take them out of it altogether). I've seldom felt more confident about getting a good result up there, but my optimism often goes before a fall.

True. And I wouldn't underestimate his value off the pitch, because he certainly seems to be a/the central figure for a lot of the other players - older and younger.

He's said he really likes the club and the area, and I think he really likes our style of football as well - and his vital part in it. His only chance of playing in Europe with those two is trying to catch up to one of their 'passes'. He's much better off here and he knows it.

Fair comment. I apologize for my part in it.