Nigel=God-Poyet=Sod

Shane Lowry from Millwall. Supposedly lining up a £1.5M bid.

Haha great joke. Merry Christmas!

I thought he was good today, but not his best game. Thought Cork was the shining light today, worked his socks off.

You sound like David Brent from the Office.

Wes Morgan is actually a really good defender, certainly at championship. Will perhaps be a bit sluggish in the PL and a bit too old? Could do alot worse if it is him we're linked with.

I can understand Nigel doing this strategy last season and when we were in League one because Lallana was always one of the best players in those divisions. Now, it doesn't really matter to the opposition because they are better players and you can't really imagine the likes of Sir Alex and Wenger being kept up all night wondering whether Lallana will play or not. In the end I suppose it just gets everyone very frustrated.

Kagawa was brilliant for Dortmund, can see why United bought him. Hasn't started well, but I reckon he will come good for them.

Downing was a great youngster at Boro and deservedly got a move to Villa, where he did excellent with Young on the other side. Unfortunately, like always happens with English players, managers do what they can to sign them and pay over the odds which always has a negative effect. There is immediate pressure on the player to perform and the team to do well. Daglish at Liverpool is the perfect example. He signed 3 talented players in Henderson, Carroll and Downing, playing really well for their clubs, for ridiculous sums of money which unfortunately has damaged their careers. They aren't bad players. The managers and chairman who pay the stupid money are. He would be a decent addition IMO.

No that's not the answer. Would be a ridiculous move.

Don't really see the fuss about Curtis Davies. Birmingham aren't exactly solid at the back are they? I know everybody says it but think we can do better.

Davis Clyne Fonte Yoshida Shaw Puncheon Cork Schneiderlin Ramirez Rodriguez Lambert Subs: Boruc, Hooiveld, Mayuka, JWP, Guly, Fox & S.Davis

I don't think anyone can argue that Fox hasn't got a great left foot and is capable of putting in some terrific crosses, but he isn't the quickest and despite the fact he is a defender, he can't defend. Wouldn't be against the idea if it happens though. Still hoping that Lala is back sooner rather than later.

He was the stand out player for Anderlecht in pre season. Think he would be an immense signing but I would have thought bigger clubs would be fishing around him. CB must be the priority and seeing as though this is about him, Carlos Sanchez is one to definately miss out. Not good enough.

Live on ESPN if anyone wants to watch. Number 6 for the Reds.

That Shotton sending off for Stoke was laughable, neither yellow cards, neither fouls. Some really bizarre refereeing in these games. Saying that, I thought Moss did ok yesterday. There was some dodgy decisions but overall he did pretty well.

He's just a quality honest professional. I love the bones of him. Oops..... I'm sounding like Nigel.

Very good post actually. I agree about your point on ex professionals, that would certainly help.

I understand it may have been unfair of me to label all referees with the same tag, but no one can deny that the overall standard in our sport is very poor. You can defend them all you want but the reality is they should be the best people for the job, who get the majority of decisions correct. We shouldn't have this 'without referees there would be no sport' nonsense, because in that case I could do the job but are Definately not qualified. It may be a tough job, but if a manager can't do theirs, they get sacked, and it's the same in other jobs. Referees are only praised by their governing body and managers and players are punished but never them. That is perhaps what causes me to label them as arrogant and those who love attention. I take your opinions on board, that's what a forum is for.

Because they crave authority.

First team Premier League football with a slight wage cut, or a place on the bench in the Ukrainian league? I know money talks but surely this guy would come given the chance. It's just me throwing a name out there anyway.

I'll throw this name out there: Dmytro Chygrynskiy. Who? Centre back playing in his second spell for Shakhtar who doesn't make their first team but was bought by Barcelona from Shakhtar a couple of years ago before being sold back. Think it was a pretty healthy sum, possibly around £20M, but has gone off the radar a bit. 26 years old, could be a good little signing for us.

Poor game, flat performance by Saints. However, if we are going to play like that, at least it's not against a side at the bottom. Great result between QPR and Villa. If Reading lose then it will effectively be as you were, with us only a win away from safety. Chins up, could have been much worse.

Clattenburg is an arrogant and such an awful referee. I remember him reffing our game against Leyton Orient away in League One 2 seasons ago. He was shocking then, he is shocking now but so are most referees unfortunately.

A win tomorrow would see us pull away from Reading and Sunderland, considering they are playing so poorly, will be in deep trouble. O'Neill will probably get sacked soon as will McDermott I think because neither have the argument that they were 'playing well' and not getting results. We have always created chances. They haven't. Tonight has given me lots of confidence about us staying up.

Rickie had ice on his leg after the game, Nige said. Looked like a knock to his foot but he carried on for a bit after and looked a bit disappointed to come off (always a good sign). I think he'll be fine.