S-Clarke

If that is the approach, we will be relegated. Ings has to be replaced, it would be suicide if he wasn't. He's not had a great year this year, but still - without his goals which have either got us points or wins (Brighton/Burnley/Villa/Liverpool etc) we'd be adrift in the bottom 3.

A normal person would have said. ''I don't agree with your claim that he's not a captain. A captain for me is x, y z, and I think he has those attributes'. All you did was attack the views of people who didn't feel he was a good captain. You didn't offer your own opinion as to what you feel a good captain is, you just keep asking others the question which wasn't actually adding to the debate. Your responses and questions are more often than not designed to antagonise people. Back to the actual debate, I personally feel leadership is one area he struggles. I don't think you want captains to scream and shout per say, but what you want to see from a captain is someone who stands up and you notice them in the bad times - they lead by example through their ability and don't hide away into a box if the team is struggling etc. That's my only criticism of JWP, like a lot of this squad, when the going gets tough they shrink away into their own little bubbles and you don't really notice them. I don't think that's amazing leadership.

This was actually a decent debate until MLG got involved. Derailed it.

You need to get laid.

That hasn't happened though. Read the posts and the context around them rather than jumping up and down to try and troll.

He sometimes doesn't look like he's doing a great deal in general play, but his distance covered and general running around the pitch is impressive to say the least - we've got no one who comes close. His energy levels and fitness are just on another planet. You're never going to get Xavi or Inestia like playmaking from JWP, but you will get someone who can operate in that pivot/number 6 they call it and recycle the ball with accuracy and maintain a tempo. He barely gives it away nowadays, even in tight situations he's got the ability on the ball to control and move it at pace. His whole game has come on a level and a lot of what he does 'in play' can sometimes go unnoticed I feel.

Come on, those comments at the time were just bordering on mentalist. It's like conspiracy theories 101. It was ludicrous what I was reading the night he got sent off. I hope that event doesn't underline his time here, as like others I think he's got something about him.

I've never classed Ronaldo as a great free kick taker, it was just another element to his amazing list of things he can do - but it wasn't his main ability. The ones he has scored have been extraordinary in technique, but he hasn't scored as many as people think. The ones he has just stand out. It strikes me that there are certain posters on this thread who binned JWP out a few years ago, decided he was no good and we should sell him for £10m to Watford. They obviously cannot come to admit they may have been wrong in their judgements and reassess their opinion, no chance. So they'll stand by steadfast in their original opinion from a few years ago when he was flitting in and out, not consistent enough and not imposing on games. He's not the same player anymore though. It's ok to admit that you may have been wrong a few years ago, no one is going to crucify you for it. In the last 18 months to 2 years he has gone up levels in both consistency and influence on the pitch. I struggled to understand JWP's role a few years ago, we had managers such as Puel, Pellegrino and Hughes who just had no idea what to do with him either. Ralph has come in and has understood what he can bring and JWP has taken this onboard and has moved his game up so many levels, I don't think anyone can disagree with that. It's getting to a stage now where I think 'big clubs' will be looking at him as a big transfer.

It was Louis Carey on the touchline again today. Another of the clubs unspoken mysteries is the coaching setup of the u18's atm.

It was pretty aimless all told. Very, very little technical ability on show. All rushed and panicked due to poor touches of the ball. Burton looked a little bit more refined with their passing. We did have a couple of chances, but as per our performance the finishing lacked quality and was just panicked.

We lost to Burton albion. FT. This group is hopeless.

I've watched a good portion of that. The standard from us is beyond dross. Burton Albion, yes, Burton Albion, have been better on the ball than us. Everything is poor. We can't pass, can't clear, can't make runs. We just look rushed into everything because we make a shit touch. I have no idea what we have.

They can talk directly to club number 1, but talking directly to the media creates more of a pantomime. That pantomime creates more interest, more clubs having a sniff, that therefore creates more opportunities for the agent to make money. This isn't just how football works, it's how life works. If I have a product I want to offer someone, I don't just go directly to company x. I flaunt it throughout as many business avenues as I can, therefore drumming up multiple avenues for my product. I could even make up a story that Microsoft are interested to make my product seem even more attractive. It's business sense. Football is a lot more murky in that sense, but it happens in the same context. The same way as clubs use the media to appease fans or manipulate fan feeling.

He'd cost us upward of £35m I reckon. We will replace Ings on the cheap as a best case scenario. The most likely scenario is that the club propaganda moves into over drive and starts talking up Redmond as the perfect foil for Adams, and how Adams has developed etc etc. Then we won't need to spend a penny.

There's clearly something in it, whether it's agent talk or genuine 'feelers', there's something going on. We all need to accept he's gone, and I hope the club are planning night and day for his replacement.

If there's a game where we can revenge the 9-0, from either side, this is it. Weird draw in that sense.

Nothing other than a political purchase. Sadly KL saw the money and just ran with it. The fact the league changed their fit and proper tests in the wake of his takeover, and that if he tried now would fail the test, says it all for me. I'll also never buy that LD Sports had nothing to do with Gao.

He's on loan there I think? I don't think he's much cop, and he's 30 I think - wouldn't rate him as any more than a squad player. Would add a bit of decent depth I guess, then we could loan out D'lundulu.

Old news! Fairly sure the FA Cup Winner gets Europa League proper. It's basically a budget European competition, no TV coverage and facing the dearth of European quality and very little financial reward. You get all the lesser benefits such as travel to Timbuctoo and congested fixture list. The reward is games against minnows and the chance of playing in the Europa League next year.

I think for a striker like Adams, around 10 goals a season and 5-6 assists is a fair return. He's on course for that. He's no superstar, but he's a good support forward.

Lol. Now that's an example of piss poor scouting! 40m pissed up in the air on him. He doesn't even move or look like a footballer. They've been done on that one, and the £27m they spent on Almiron is equally shit. (at least he moves, but he's pretty shit - apart from when he faces us). I know the Georgies complain about a lack of funds, but they've had shit loads more to spend than we've had over the last few years. £25m spent on Wilson alone last summer, and they didn't even have to sell anyone to fund it.

Confidence in the main I reckon. He started the game in the same vein (passing backwards/putting us into trouble) - but as soon as he did something positive, and we got a reward for it, his entire demeanour pepped up and he seemed to have a new sense of life. I'm not sure if that's because Bournemouth opened up a little bit more or not, so there was more space, but he certainly looked better when the going was 'good'.

''Larger than ever'' - He's not fat. It's a very lazy remark to make. He's not fat, he's not over weight and he's certainly not unfit. Mourinho was also shown up to be a dinosaur for throwing him under the bus as well. Why does that bloke always have to have an internal nemesis who he derides and pulls apart during his time at clubs? (It's Ali at the moment)

He's probably limited in terms of what he can do financally. These coaches will be in contract I'd have thought, I doubt we can afford a load of sackings and new recruits.

That was a disgrace from Newcastle. They didn't even try. Didn't even run. Didn't put in any tackles. They just didn't want to be out there. Looks to be between Newcastle and Fulham to me.