S-Clarke

Prutton was on par.

You get the impression that some games are just too easy for VVD, he has that 'style' about him. He was way too strong and powerful for the Sparta attack, he gobbled them up and spat them out again over and over again. Really imposing captains performance as well. I like him a lot, one of the best CB's we've ever had - and we've had a fair few good ones! He has all the attributes to be one of the greatest in Europe before long (although that won't be with us, I'm sure!)

Came here with high expectations, probably too high to be honest - he was seen as our ''star'', but he never really lived up to it. Struggled to impose himself in games and flitted in and out. Good player though, just not worth the amount we forked out as it rose the expectations - which probably didn't help our financial position at the time!

Long is the perfect foil for him, I think they'd make a good partnership. I listened to Hoddle's views on Charlie last night, stick him in the box and get the delivery right and he's a goal machine - but stick him on his own as a focal point and he struggles. He needs support around him, and Long's running will provide that.

Is this really 2 pages? Christ alive. I used to have bigger spats than that when I was in the school playground. (year 1)

That was a good evening, very comfortable. Sparta were pretty awful, but they were missing a few of their key men to be honest. I don't think we needed to step out of 3rd gear in the game really, and there were periods where we were a tad slack - but all in all, there wasn't much to moan about. Very impressed with Martina, he provided us more of an outlet down the right than Cedric has so far this season - his crossing was sublime. Martina isn't a 'name' or an exotic player, but he seems a real team guy - knows his job, his limitations and makes us look so much more of a team at the back (although I won't read too much into it, as Sparta didn't offer much) Long need a goal or two, but he's working his arse off. He seems to be the perfect foil for someone like Austin, Long will run the channels, open the space, and Austin will gobble up chance after chance in the 6 yard box. I liked Jay's little cameo as well, it was a tidy little finish. The win was needed and it will give us a boost, I know people will say the Europa League will take it out of players etc - but it can also have the opposite effect, players can gain confidence and take this through to the league (Look at Harry Kane, he never looked back). Winning the first game in the group is important, puts it in our hands. I reckon our toughest game is going to be Ber Sheva, they're an unknown but dangerous quantity.

I have a very uncomfortable feeling of Deja vu right now.

Money is the be all and end all for some. How about we concentrate on coaching players and making them better (which is what we do). And we've signed some top, top level players this summer - let's not rewrite history on that. Be careful what you wish for is pretty relevant for this thread.

Or not.

Badly quoted, my fault. I wasn't having a go at him, i was against the post he quoted.

People re-writing managerial history again then. Let's not make out Koeman was faultless, because he came in for so much crap for not dropping Pelle mid-season last year, when we were a lot more pathetic than we are now (we haven't even been pathetic this season, let's be honest) he was blasted with an incredible amount of stick on here and in the stands around me. He was an amazing manager overall for us - no one will ever take that away from him, but let's not erase history in terms of how he used players.

[h=1]Just want to say thank you for the support and also for every fan that came to the game today!No one more then me feels hard done by and disappointed,you can feel the same but not more then me!When Giroud asks me who gave the penalty away that says it all,if you haven't watched the game and come to criticise please save me that! We will keep our heads up and eager to turn this bad fortune around. Once again I appreciate the love. #wemarchon[/h]

But Jose should have been punished strongly, apparently.

Bertrand has only just come back though, may be be wrong, but I think he's a shoe-in for a change. McCarthy as the GK by the way, he was apparentley given assurances he would play the cup games this year.

Just don't think we can go with a full choice 11 with a league game 3 days away, we'll mix it up. We'll have to.

Would expect a few changes to be honest. Targett, McCarthy, Yoshida, JWP, Austin and co all in. Still a good enough team.

He looked rusty as hell today, he goes on bursts though. I don't think he'll ever be a striker you can rely on to score every week, but he'll be on the money some weeks.

But that's not what this is about. You cannot read anything into the league table at this stage of the season, any dumbass knows that.

You're always going to be up against it against Arsenal though, especially at their place. We were fortunate to get a 0-0 last year, some terrific saves from Fraser kept it at 0-0. I never saw us under the cosh though, Fraser didn't make a save all game from what I can remember.

What's lecturing about that? No idea what your flaming issue is.

Doesn't mean they'll win the league or finish in the top 4. Too early to say where any team will finish.

On another day, what does this mean? It was today, and it wasn't a basketball score because we restricted them and closed them down well. We played the formation well. On another day, we could have got a 1-1 as it wasn't a penalty, on another day I could have won the lottery.

Probably after a lot more than 4 games. Table means zilch right now, everyone knows that.

Yeah, that was corrupt. Something suss about the end of that game. Played well, restricted them to zero chances really. Both similar sides in terms of retaining possession, slowing down the pace etc. It was a 1-1 all day really, but questions need to be asked of the officials after that end. Although you know it won't, you just get yellow carded for it as officials never, ever, ever make mistakes.

You don't half spout some ****.