S-Clarke

This game will suit us better than Burnley, as we won't be bullied or outdone physically. Two very evenly matched teams in my opinion, try and do things the right way and have some decent quality in 1 or 2 places, but neither have enough depth or quality in critical positions and it shows come the end of the season after any initial promise.

I think it's a bit harsh to single him out particularly, but the game did highlight some of his weaknesses and why the temptation to offer him a new contract needs to be avoided.

I'd have him in there ahead of Elyounoussi, whose ball carrying skills are so inept it's painful to watch. But he's still not great and this debate alone shows why our number 10 positions are in such a mess. Any forwards in our team have no chance, they have to create it all themselves.

Personally I think as a squad we're still bottom half quality wise. We have a few top half players in terms of quality (JWP/KWP/Salisu/Romeu) but not enough, certainly not enough to sustain any good form when those few good players drop off it. The frustrating thing with us is our extremes, whilst we'll probably end up finishing where our squad and quality dictates we should, the extremes of which we have to endure are what frustrates many. We can look like a top 4 team for a couple of months and have everyone dreaming, then out of nowhere and overnight for the next 2 months we're the worst team in the league and have everyone fearing. That probably comes down to the fact that the 'few' good quality players we have cannot sustain it all themselves, they need help from around them - but the quality in and around such as Smallbone, Valery, Stephens, Bednarek, Diallo, Long, Theo, Moussa, Redmond, Lyanco etc is just way, way, way too much of a drop off in terms of quality. This summer we need about 5 or 6 new additions, 4 of those need to be first 11 starters. Certainly a new number 10, certainly a new striker as Broja won't be here, new CB without question, proper competition in CM and someone to replace Romeu and a new GK who suits our style of play in terms of distribution.

He's a good player Romeu, but he's never been too far above 'average' I'd say. For a club looking to push higher I'd still say we'd need better than Romeu as a starter every week if i'm brutally honest. When he is injured or out of form we struggle because we have no one else who can do his role. That needs to be priority number 1, along with number 10's and CB's in the summer. It's going to be a busy window I hope as we have major issues all over.

There are a couple of things to Broja that you're not quite seeing. 1 - Teams aren't stupid. They know his strengths now and they will double up and have cover so he can't burst away like he did, so he has to come up with different aspects to his game. And as a team (notably the number 10's) need to support and provide for him better, a 20 year old kid can't keep making goals himself. 2 - He's young, he's played a lot of games and young players dip more extreme than experienced pro's. I think most people have seen enough to know that the raw attributes are there, but he's struggling because teams know about him know - it's up to him and the team around him to help evolve his game further, which he can do. Armstrong on the other hand has shown that he has nothing apart from a kick and run approach, which will never be enough at this level.

Tired and overplayed, certainly in the view of Livramento. Both are very young players though and young players have extremes of form. Tino needs a good break, a decent pre-season and we should see the exciting player again next year as the talent was obvious to all.

Has Broja personally upset you or something? For someone who has always been level-headed, reasonable and sensible in your views about Ralph, your views and opinions on Broja are truly bizarre and scream of an agenda rather than being based on any factual stuff. There's a lot more wrong than Broja, focusing on him after tonight's game is weird.

Number 10 is more than a nice to have, it's a fundamental must for the summer. At the moment we have to hope Armstrong is fit and in form, then it works. If he's not available or having a poor game then we have nothing. Redmond, Elyounoussi, Moussa, Theo all need to go. Two new wide number 10's with pace who can actually change a game will make a huge difference to us.

It was a mess, all over. I noticed the tweaks here and there, but it was flawed at all stages. Stupid waste of a game. Play the right players in the right shape from the start and it's probably a different outcome.

It sort of goes back to the mentality thing against doesn't it. I thought we'd shrugged that off a bit and got a bit more steel to us, but tonight was as pussy a display as you'll see from a PL team.

He overthinks, tries to be too clever and out thinks himself and the squad sometimes. Some of his struggles here have been down to the squad, the lack of quality, injuries etc - but tonight was on him. Tactically flawed, you do not play with those defenders against Burnley - even my dog wouldn't have picked Valery today, it was clear he'd be bullied off the pitch. Where was Valery playing at the end? up front, number 10? wide? It was a mess. It was truly horrible to watch. We had Adams on the bench who made us look immediately better when he came on, he's the sort of attacker you need against Burnley - someone who will use power and strength to bully himself, Broja was isolated and frustrated on his own, pretty much as you'd expect when you've got the tippy tappy Elyounossi running around like a headless wally behind you - you've got no chance. There's no denying that we have some dreadful players in key positions, but we had better options on the bench today which would have been far more suitable for a game against Burnley. I've been one of his staunch supporters, but that sort of tactical own goal was awful to see.

Terrible, Terrible, Terrible. Awful. Equally as bad as West Brom last year, if not worse. We looked out of our depth, against Burnley. Burnley have scored the least goals and created less chances than anyone else in the league, yet they could have had 4 or 5 against us. It's horrific and that sort of performance needs a complete root and branch reset because that isn't just 'a bad day', that was fundamentally flawed all the way through it. We know we've got shortcomings and players of very low quality in certain areas, but tactically that was a true horror show. Something for Halloween viewing.

It will probably be Burnleys biggest home win in years. We don't want to be there tonight. Slippers and chocolate is waiting at home for the lads. Prove me wrong lads, but these guys have never really proven me wrong from these sort of positions at places like Burnley.

We said the same last season to be fair. We'll always accumulate enough points to be a nothing team stuck between 11th-14th, but until we had some steal down the spine and better quality in the 10's then we'll never really push above that.

Bullied I'd say. We have a lot of pussies in the side, good when the going is good and they have it their way, but they are absolute wimpy when they are bullied by anyone. That's probably because the only player with any genuine physical presence is Romeu, we need more strength down the spine and that's been obvious for years.

I'm puzzled as to why you've read that post in the opposite of how it was meant.

Absolutley diabolical performance all over. Defence is all over the place. Lyanco is a good squad CB, but shouldn't be a regular. Bednarek ditto. Valery isn't a CB and that's obvious against height and aggression, why you use him in this game is beyond me. Attack is a mess. Armstrong has had an absolute shocker, doesn't look a footballer. Ely runs around but isn't quick enough. Broja very, very poor but equally isolated. Overall that has been a mess, easily as bad as last season at the Hawthorns.

I can see the temptation in offering him a new contract, but part of me still wants to start again with a brand new number 1 next season. I think the club cocked up by giving McCarthy a new contract, they probably realise that now.

I imagine those 15 mins will be used to discuss Man City's win last night, and how tight the title race is. Half time will also be used to discuss that whilst touching on Spurs chances of finishing Top 4.

I think it's very simplistic to say Newcastle's improvement is down to their spending, it's a combination of things but you cannot overlook the job Howe has done I don't think. Apart from Bruno I think most fans looked at their January business not being that bothered. What has happened in recent weeks, if you look at their fans reaction, is the up-turn in form fron their existing players. Fraser, Almiron, Dubravka, Schar, Shelvey, Joelinton etc. Credit where it's due in my opinion.

Seeing Liverpool get so close and then fail would be funny, but I think we'd all be sick by the levels of self pity and woe be me all over the news - as that's all it will be. ''The real winners lost, etc etc etc''. I miss the days of Liverpool being as bad as Man Utd, their pundit fans were a bit more muted then. Man Utd isn't going to be fixed overnight though, Ten Hag is a good manager and has developed a quality Ajax side - but he has to be given time, because changing Man Utd won't happen overnight as they are fundamentally broken with a lack of quality. He won't be given time though, so this loop will continue for many years yet as they've got themselves into such a mess with their squad. It's funny to watch a once great club waddle around like a poorly run B&B.

It's odd, I don't think he was much cop but he never did anything drastically wrong and I can't remember him throwing his toys out. Didn't leave under a cloud and that move allowed us to bring in KWP, can't complain about that.

As has been painfully obvious for weeks, Watford and Norwich all but gone. Watfords usual 1600 managers in a season once again didn't work out for them. Burnley, it depends who they get, but you have to say they're staring into the abyss themselves. Everton are lucky fuckers.

The GK position has become quite a predicament. There is 0 chance Forster stays beyond this season though, I'd imagine that's already done and dusted and we all know he's leaving on a free. McCarthy has been given the new contract, so he was the chosen one. (and cheaper one, you'd have to say). I can see Forster turning up at a Top 6 club as their bench keeper.