S-Clarke

The word world-class is overused a hell of a lot, but Bale is world-class. He's at the pinnacle of the footballing profession. It's just a shame that due to his nationality a player of his ability is never going to be able to showcase his talents at a world cup.

TBH we're not going to be able to buy a proven premier league striker. We have to make gambles and hope they pay off. Similar to Swansea with Michu a few years back

The lack of impact from Soldado and Erik Lamella. £60m worth of talent to signal a new era for Spurs, but both utter flops. Have always thought Soldado was an utter class act and guaranteed goals, but so far he's £30m wasted. There are rumours that he's being shipped back off to Spain in the summer, with Ath. Madrid keen. The lack of goals and form from Benteke The complete disaster at Man Utd. I think most people assumed they'd struggle a little, but they've been so bad it's untre. Palace's turn around is a good shout, they look like a decent PL outfit now. Liverpool's consistency. Always a good outfit and good value goals wise, but they've got a real winning mentality now and look genuine contenders for the first time in 5 or 6 years. Surprised by Cardiff as I thought they had the better chance to stay up, but they look gone.

Those posts were from 4 years ago.

We did try last year tbf. I don't think he's in our league, but in terms of the ambition to shop at that level...or even try, I think that's gone. To be honest, I don't think he will ever make it at Chelsea. He's not a bad player at all, I can see him moving on to another big club in Europe.

We're no longer shopping in that market, IMO.

Attacking wise they are terrific at the moment, in fact this season. They score from all over and it's one of the most free-flowing Liverpool teams I've seen in recent seasons. Rogers has done a wonderful job with them, developing a way to play and evolving the team. Defensively they aren't great though, Toure is awful and Skertl is hot and cold. So they're beatable in that side of the game, however with the attack they've got we'll need to have our fair share of luck on Saturday to get anything in my opinion.

If we wanted him, we would have signed him in January. He isn't going to leave a club he just joined in January.

Would expect the Swiss and ourselves to get out of that group without much hassle to be honest.

Would expect so, wonder what ever happened with John Williams?

Not really a need for a post like that, it's a very valid suggestion. Rickie has been awful for the majority of the last few months, the suggestion that we looked more mobile with Gallagher on the pitch is a valid one and it's an option that shouldn't be ignored.

I would hope and expect Ralph's involvement to way off of the pitch and no where near coaching. If he steps near the coaching side of it, then we have a major problem on our hands - but I think he'll be more of a voice/leader in the board room side of stuff.

GROUP D Germany, Gibraltar, Georgia, Scotland, Poland

GROUP E England, San Marino, Lithuania, Estonia, Slovenia

You didn't really need to include Lovren or Wanyama in that, both have contributed to us. More so Lovren who is now easily a £20-25m defender, who we got for £8m. Signing of the decade, he's too good for us and he's delivered way more than the outlay suggested he would.

I never thought I'd see the day! But I agree, we do need more movement in that striking position at the moment.

Enjoy and make the most of what what we have is my view on it.

Jesus christ, you can't apologize and start waffling all over again! Just ignore them already.

I think you've hit the nail right there FF. I don't think they will though, will be an interesting summer and in my eyes a bit of a struggle next year.

If you truly believed we were ever in a title race, or actually had a chance to win the league, then you are even more foolish than I thought. We're a mid-table side at best, MP looks like he wants more, but we can't give him that. This isn't a current shambles either, really. Slightly OTT as per. The shambles was last week, this week is just frustrating.

Agreed, I wouldn't say ''out and out'' wingers, but an attacking player who can operate across the front 3 and take players on. Punch wasn't a great player, but we never replaced him and he was an alternative option. Same with Osvaldo. The core 11 is good and strong, but when they have an off day - which can and does happen, we seem to be in a situation where we just have to suck it up as we can't do anything about it.

Eh?

TBF, it did today.

We're a mid-table side, and we've done pretty well to establish ourselves in the top 10. Just quite frustrating that given our comfortable position in the league, we weren't prepared to go all out for a cup. All the dreams of adding new players are a tad pre-mature too IMO, this summer will be all about who we keep, not who we buy.

He's an excellent manager and we've had some great days under him, but you just feel that a parting is coming. The mood of him, his assistances, the lack of any movement in January...it just feels imminent. MP bought the dream that NC sold unrealistically, and when he's found out that we're actually just a solid mid-table team, he's got a bit bored. He'll get a job at a big club and do wonders, because he's a great manager and everyone criticising him will look rightly stupid come a year or 2 down the line. He's stagnated here because the club has hit the ceiling, he's lost the interest as there's no where else for us to go. ..Although a cup would have looked good on his CV...