Olallana

Haha someone there saying we have only 8 wins.... 8 wins and 39 points.....that makes it 15 draws and only 3 losses then out of the other games that we´ve played...

Apparently nothing that makes you remember it.......but everyone I´ve asked still know that it was 2003 we finished 8th.... But of course it´s disappointing to lose the cup final last week, can agree with that....

1. Maybe he cares so much about the cup that he prefers staying with the players? Or is it THAT important who from the manager staff that spends time with Alex Boring Crook (Goring Cook) and Simon Peach?

You say Sanogo (with 4 previous games) is a better player than Giroud if both are 100% fit and ready for the game? Or was he a better choice for the day due to different reasons? I´m just talking about team selection, not how the teams/leagues compare to each other.

But people dont have to ask Pochettino about it, in that case it´s just pure disrespect of tournament/fans? Seems a bit unfair to treat people that different...

But did he do it because he disrespects the tournament and/or the fans?

I´m a bit curious if people on here that are so fuming thinks that Arsene Wenger doesn´t take CL seriously because he played Sanogo instead of Giroud. Or is it because sometimes manager select players for other reasons than who is usually the best choice...?

Sunderland probably has 18-20 players that are quite similar in quality but also quite average, that is why they are 18th in the league at the moment but when they rotate they dont lose as much quality compared to their "first XI". They will also have less signs of fatigue due to the amount of players in the squad. We have probably 13-14 players of similar quality in the squad but a higher quality and then 6-8 players that aren´t the same quality. That´s why we are 8th and are looking very good when all players are fit and have no fatigue or injury problems. No team will ever be able to field the "best XI" game in and game out. The sooner people understand that the better. We have players on contracts that we just cant get rid of because their promotion bonuses has given them a fairly good salary that is much larger than they can get in the championship (which is their playing quality). Give it another one or two years and these players will be out of the squad and replace by better players which gives us a stronger squad which gives us a better possibility to rotate without losing quality and therefor also have a good possibility of a decent cup run.

IMO that´s on the low side but it´s always about opinions. But these days all european clubs knows how much money english clubs have through the TV deals so while those figures might be close for let´s say a spanish or italian team I think its an extra 20% at least on every transfor for english clubs. Could see it in a lot of transfers last summer. The same on transfers for the best championship players, the asking price for Ings, Rhodes etc is ridicolous and I dont see Burnley selling Ings for under £10m. I agree it would be some dream signings but I just cant see they go that cheaply......

Ter Stegen, Chamberlain and Papadopoulos is some £50-55m together at least to get those clubs selling them since at least Ter Stegen and Papadopoulos has attracted interest from the biggest clubs in Europe.

£70-75m out and £20 coming in. (figures out my estimations, dont know the exact contract situations for those players) Cant see that happen.

Just a cheeky little comment about a pundit. Only you seemed to have a problem with it, and you often comment when others posters here comments Lawros predictions... Friend with him as you seem so often defend him on this forum?

Not sure where I said it was a problem....maybe you can point me in the right direction?

Not at all. It´s me that is stating the obvious, not him.

Just stating the obvious, like saying that 49% win percentage is very good for football teams.

For me Villa is down in the bottom 3, only plays long counterattacks. Has minimal possession percentage in most games. Norwich not much better imo. Obviously West Ham is in the bottom 1. Fulham quite dull but I think they at least try to use the midfield.

Mark Lawrenson thinks Liverpool are the best on the eye to watch, who would´ve guessed...

So no 500k bonus for 8th then? Blimey...

Oh did I miss something, they DID lose? Or was it like I said...?

No they had a player that got a great opportunity to score - and did unlike som of ours.

And the team that is playing their best available XI is losing, can´t happen can it?

Probably yes, just a bit of irony how other teams (especially one slovakian defender) can grip and hold opponents in the box while Fonte was penalised against Arsenal.

With Clattenburg we cant have bodygripping Fonte in our box. Time for Hooiveld again

Probably the fans I guess? The club isn´t run for the fans these days, like back when Mr Lowe was here...

And same people stated earlier this season that Cortese would never accept 8th and that he would sack the manager for it but now suddenly 8th is apparently the level for bonuses....