Tom28

Gazza Chambers Fonte Lovren Shaw JWP Cork Davis Lallana Rodriguez Osvaldo Subs: Cropper, Hooiveld, Yoshida, Ramirez, Reed, Gallagher, Lambert I've always been a huge Lambert fan, but he's been badly off form over the last few games. Osvaldo hasn't been much better but at least he's looking like he will get on the ball. Lambert was a passenger in that Villa game. Fancy Davis to pop up with a goal again against City.

Sorry, how do you work out that Gazzaniga was at fault at all for any of those goals last night?! Only someone with an agenda against him could suggest that. The first and third goals he had absolutely no chance with. The second I can maybe accept one might argue he could have come for the cross but to be fair, the ball should a) never have been crossed in the first place and b) Yoshida can't lose his man 7 yards out.

You've managed to squeeze so much nonsense into one post I can't work out if you're a retard or a genius.

Have you ever tried to play against 8 at the back? Teams like united and arsenal and Liverpool can break those teams down because they have world class attacking players. We don't. Tonight was always going to be a struggle as it will be against mid and lower table teams at home all season. They will park the bus. The disappointing thing tonight was we actually managed to fight our way thru and score twice, but defensively we let ourselves down.

He was ok. Steady. He was what I expect from him. Neat and tidy but never really going to influence a game.

MP's translator said something like Boruc and Schneiderlin aren't available and there are some others that will be unavailable due to injury too. I would expect to see more changes besides Schneiderlin and Boruc being replaced.

I think the original post is a decent summary. To have played four out of 13 games away to Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and Man Utd is an incredibly tough set of fixtures and we should be really pleased with where we are in the table. That run doesn't get easier for a while though. In fact, between now and January 1st, we play Spurs, Man City, Chelsea all at home, and Everton and Newcastle away, out of 7 games. That's an incredibly tough run. If we are still above Spurs and Man Utd then, and within touching distance of the top four, it would be unbelievable. Looking forward, I'm less concerned about Gazzaniga in goal than most on here; I love Boruc but there's no denying he has cost us points in recent weeks. Funnily enough, most on here seem concerned about Boruc's shot stopping ability being lost. I'm more concerned that we've lost his distribution. Before everyone jumps on my back about that, I'm well aware that Boruc's kicking can be woeful but he does have the confidence/arrogance to play out from the back. I just hope Gazza has that same confidence and doesn't resort to clearing the ball up-field and breaking up the game plan. As for shot stopping, everyone remembers the Snodgrass free kick last season but I actually thought Gazza was a decent shot stopper. He seemed to suffer with concentration lapses more than anything so hopefully he's improved in that department. I'm more concerned about losing Schneiderlin; hopefully his injury will turn out to be a minor one. I know we have Cork to come in, or JWP, or Davis. But Schneiderlin to me is more than just one player in a team of 11; he's one of our linchpins in the squad, and I get the sense that the players around him look up to him and feed off his enthusiasm and work rate. The OP touched on something I agree with; our toothless front play. Only Sunderland have scored fewer goals than us going back to last season (can't remember the exact date but I think it was Robbie Savage on BBC Sport who provided that stat). I know we've become a lot tighter at the back but the goals have dried up. There's no denying that. We've only scored 3 times in a game 3 times since the turn of the year in the Premier League. I don't know what the answer is but I trust that MP does. I don't necessarily agree that we need new players; I think Lambert is quality and will get goals if we create the chances, and I think Osvaldo will come good. He started yesterdays game really brightly in my opinion but he did fade out the game quite dramatically to the point where he became a liability. Unless we plan on bringing in a top-notch world class centre forward in January which, let's face it, is not going to happen, then I'd far rather we maintain the continuity and look to make minor adjustments to create more chances. I think we'll go into January in 9th place and I would quite happily take that. It'll place us back under the radar and out of the spotlight to pick our form back up again in the new year when our fixtures ease off a little. I don't think the top four is beyond the realms of possibility, but in the same breath, I don't think 12th place is beyond the realms of possibility either (Swansea, West Brom, and Villa all look decent teams that could push on above us). If we enter January in 9th, anything is possible and it'll make for an exciting second half of the season. Finally, with regard to signings, I think we need 1 new player in January; an attacking player to fill Gaston's spot (who I think will be loaned out). No idea who it would be but again I would trust that Saints will get it right.

Why do people keep putting Gaston in their 'mock lineups'?! Where have you been all season? Wake up!!!!!!!! He didn't make the squad at Chelsea; what on earth makes you think he's now going to start against Villa? If your reply is simply that this would be your team, again, on what possible basis can you justify Ramirez playing ahead of Lambert, JWP and Davis based on form this season? It's time we all moved on from thinking Ramirez is in MP's plans; he clearly isn't.

I thought Osvaldo started today's game quite brightly but faded badly. I would be surprised if Boruc and Schneiderlin were a available for Wednesday so I would start the game like this: Gazzaniga; Clyne Fonte Lovren Shaw; Wanyama Cork; JWP Davis JRod Lambert Subs: Cropper, Chambers, Hooiveld, Reed, Lallana, Osvaldo, Gallagher Only reason for Lallana is that he apparently didn't train much this week, is carrying a knock, and I thought that showed today. He's automatic first choice when fit but I don't think our way of playing can sustain players not at 100%. With him on the bench you have the impact sub.

I think it's pretty straight-forward to explain this. Cork played a big part in getting us promoted and then again last season in keeping us up. He's been a top player for us, and the fans warmed to him in two very good seasons as a starter. Ramirez on the other hand was bought in for a high fee once we had been promoted, he hasn't been on the same journey, and he hasn't performed.

I think he's unfortunate, but I think we're very fortunate. We have really good depth at that position. Better depth than any other position on the field. Coming back to the OP, I don't see Cork and Davis as natural competitors in the system we play. Cork very much provides a replacement option for the two CM's in front of the back four, and possibly as a right-back or centre back if we became really desperate. Davis can play in that two CM position as well, but we've mostly seen him deployed in a more advanced role (i.e. as one of the three). Personally, with a fully fit squad, I'd expect to see both on the bench, and if we have aims to stay near the top, then not only do we need to keep Cork and Davis, but we need to add players with their level of ability in other positions to provide squad depth across the pitch.

Lallana had been ill during the week. Wasn't quite 100%; was never going to last the whole game. Coughs/colds going through the squad (anyone who watched the MoPo press conference will know he had it too). I have one right now as it happens; trying to play the high pressing game the way I feel right now would be horrendous!!

He's on 4 yellows I think. If he picked up a fifth against Chelsea it wouldn't be the end of the world if he missed the Villa game. We'd want him in there up against Yaya Toure though the game after that.

Wanyama has been immense. Just have to keep this to 1-0 for the time being. I think we could get a goal from a set piece.

Anyone got any news on Lallana? I've watched the build up video, no sight of him at all. If we don't have Lallana tomorrow that would be a real blow. Steven Davis could come in and do the pressing that Lallana does, but he doesn't offer the same ability on the ball to be able to keep possession and create chances (I don't have evidence to support that statement, but my impression is that Lallana offers more creativity than Davis).

Same team for me as for Hull.

Lambert has 15 mins to secure his place in the WC squad. If he scores, he'll go. Simple as that I think.

Kyle Walker is so so bad. How Clyne didn't get a call up is beyond fathomable to me.

Daily Telegraph's football correspondent Henry Winter: England in training: Hart; Walker, Smalling, Jagielka, Cole; Townsend, Gerrard, Cleverley, Lallana; Rooney; Sturridge. Sturridge has just gone off injured, replaced by Barkley. Suggests AL will start. I would think Lambert would get a game from the bench if fit, replacing Rooney. I can't see Rooney playing 2 x 90 minute games.

I hope he goes. He's probably the in-form right back in the Premier League at the moment.

I like being angry.

Do you know the difference between a fact and an opinion?

Do you know what a fact is?

I see you edited one of your earlier posts after I had replied to it. The pre-edited version made you look less moronic (just).

I have answered your points. With reason and logic. Clearly you lack both reason and logic; two things that someone who is retarded might also lack. Hence my question.