S-Clarke

Altidore, really? What's he up to these days anyway? Didn't he have that completely forgettable spell with Hull a few years back?

I think we'll genuinely progress next year (if we stay up, obviously...but we're as close as we can be right now!) I see us as one of the most progressive teams in the country right now - right up there with Swansea. I'd look to emulate what they've done this year and I honestly believe it's then only going to go from strength to strength for us. The difference between us and the rest is, IMO, finance. We have the scope to continue adding to our side and also secure our best young players to long-term contracts. I look at squads such as Fulham, West Ham, Stoke, Norwich for e.g. and see an aging squad with no real youthful foundation to it, and I don't think any really have the financial clout to replace all those aging players straight away. They'll probably buy enough to continue muddling along in mid-table, but I think we've got a real opportunity to over take all those sides. The bonus with us is that we already have a nucleus of fantastic young talent, there's no denying that. Cork, Morgan, Clyne, Shaw, Rodriguez, Ward-Prowse - brilliant young players, will only get better and will grow with this club. Sprinkle a little bit of international class in and around them and you have the basis of a fantastic premiership squad. I think we could become as strong as Villa were 4 or 5 years ago, but believe we have the clout to sustain it whereas Villa couldn't and had to start selling. I'm genuinely excited for the future, and I don't think our football club has ever been in such a good position both on and off the field as it is at the moment.

It's alright, something positive has happened tonight, so it's an alpine free zone. Until we lose the next game.

Also, I remember saying at the start of the season that Dwight Tendalli was a poor signing for Swansea. I take that back, and he can have a drink on me after tonight.

I see that as a possibility, but I just don't think Wigan have the required quality to be honest. They're missing so many players now it's untrue.

True, he's a funny player. Came to us with a pretty big fanfare, and his first couple of performances were really promising Then for whatever reason, he just stopped being picked. I don't think he's rubbish, I think he's got alot to his game to be honest. I saw him in the Liverpool U21 game at St Mary's a few months back, and he did stand out as a pretty decent player (although he probably should at that level!) Still hope we persevere with him. Difference with him and Gaston, is that Gaston has had genuine playing time but hasn't really delivered consistently. I don't think anyone can really say Mayuka has had a poor season because he hasn't been given a chance. I think as a fan base, we still don't really know what sort of player we have!

To be fair, at least Wigan have given Kone playing time. It's hard to make any judgement on Mayuka to be honest.

I reckon we're already safe, but there will be a big rubber stamp against our name come Sunday night.

Yep, it's not like this is a non-game for Arsenal. It's a massive one for them. They will quite simply have too much attacking quality for them. I think they may try and hold out for a draw, but anyone on 39 and above is now a PL team next year. I don't think I'm being arrogant either, as that's assuming we don't even pick up another point.

I like Kone and Emmerson Boyce, but that's all. Boyce would be a decent squad player.

Yep, so how they'll be able to keep the score down against Arsenal is beyond me. And to now finish above us, they need to beat them. Not going to happen.

Wigan are gone now. Good riddance is all I can say.

Apparently, there's less to talk about when things are going well. Apparently. That's what Alpine says anyway.

I couldn't bring myself to sit and watch this tonight, so had to go out. What a result. This, IMO, kills Wigan like a stone. They're gone now. This was their last chance. Oh well, they were going to go eventually after their years of hanging on. They just don't have the quality this year. We'll still pick up a few points, but the entire bottom half of the PL has just breathed a huge sigh of relief. Thank you Swansea.

No smoke without fire and all that, this link to Fiorentina has been bubbling for quite a while. Expect it's just a matter of when now.

Swansea have a top half finish to play for. If they let Wigan beat them tonight, their ''excellent'' season starts to look like a pretty bog-standard average one, as they'll then only be 5 points off the drop. Yep, just 5 points.

These posts remind me of last year, and even the year before. West Ham were made out to be this unbeatable winning machine and they would overhaul us for sure, but we pipped them to it and were better than them over the course of the year. Same with Huddersfield and P'boro in L1, it was absoloutley nailed on that they would keep winning and we would lose lots of games. But it didn't happen, we held our nerve against a Huddersfield onslaught - it has to be said, but that run-in took nerves of steel from our players. I think the last 2 seasons and the pressure we've had to endure is a benefit to us this year, I don't think we've got players who hide away in the background - that's why I'm not worried, as I think they'll all come to the forefront when they need to and they'll prove who is best at the end of the day. I think they're a little guilty of complacency in the WBA game, and they probably know it deep down. The Spurs performance was much better and no one hid away, we took a top 4 team and gave them a real game on Saturday. I take positives from that display, as many people were predicting a complete mauling, but actually they didn't deserve to win it. We needed a response to show that we're still alive and aware of the situation, and we got it in my opinion.

He has been complete dross in the last few games, not even involved in an attacking way. Touch is poor, movement is static, he's not holding it up that well. But all strikers - all players - go through spells like this, I think he's done enough for us in the last few years to be awarded a little damp spell, although it's frustrating it's come when it has! But as they say, cream always rises to the top. He'll get an important goal for us in the next 2 games, I can feel it.

2nd from last game of last season rings loudly...! Middlesborogh weren't even a decent team, but I felt we struggled under the pressure in that game. That early goal should have set the tone if we're honest. I think we'll be alright on Sunday, we have a decent record this year against teams in and around us - especially away from home. (Reading, QPR, Villa) etc.

I think we get your point. Bore off.

Nah, he's out for sure. Although he's pretty ****, so not sure if him missing is actually a blessing for Sunderland.

Stoke give a masterclass in how not to play football, every week.

Cattermole, Fletcher, Sessengen, Gardner

Wigan need a win, this is their win or bust game. The pressure may be too much. A draw or defeat and it's curtains for them. IMO.

Wow, that's 90 mins i'll never get back. What a load of dross. No quality on show what so ever. If we can't pickup at least 2 points from the available 6 against those 2 sides, then something is wrong.