UpweySaint

Well Bergkamp is available for the vacant position. HCDAJFU? Hell of a playing pedigree, schooled in the 'Ajax' way, decent coaching experience and knowledge of the league.

These puns could get tiresome but don't stop till you get enough ... In all seriousness, always fancied Craven Cottage, hopefully we get plenty of tickets or the neutral section may well be an option!

This, want to see it again but NBC haven't shown the tackle again just the goal half dozen times. Oh well, wonder if we can find anything in reply

I like Fabianski if Swansea go down. I would prefer Fraser found his best form again though.

For me it was the way he carried the all out from the back and had an air of authority with the ball in front of him. He is clearly a top class player and would look even better in a 'top' side ... just hope to christ it's for big bucks and anyone but the scouse mob. The guy is still a bit of a knob though, Maya has been our most consistent CB for some time (who'd have ever thought that?!?) and I feel that Stephens lost his place through no real fault of his own.

Unless it is set up as a 3-4-3 with a bit of fluidity? Not saying it would work particularly, for the record I honestly don't see us stopping Utd however we set up! All three of Gabbi, Long, and Tadic can manage wide or central though would not fancy seeing Tadic playing through the middle of the three unless as a 'false nine' or similar.

Say what you like but I miss the bald fella, sorry Kenzie ... I do take the point. Black in and things aren't right, but surely, without any supporting evidence, it is a bit of a jump to conclude our inability to score is his fault? More likely a combination of things. Recruitment, form, morale, tactics, team cohesion, external factors, turnover of managers and players ... I just don't buy that Black could be solely responsible for our woes in front of goal.

Bloody hard watch that! Few things, nobody came out with much credit on our end but it would be wrong to try and blame the loss on individuals. Though I do fancy VVD may have made those clearances a little more convincingly. Watford had a game plan and executed well. They deserve credit. They were dire under Mazzari but Silva has got them playing better football as most expected he would. Decent enough fans too. The big concern for me was that, rather like under Puel, I cannot fathom what our plan is. I think it is far too soon to be getting knives out for the manager and he does need time to really influence our style of play. I hope that with more time and a boost of confidence the good football may come back. Our squad isn't dross. I do rather miss the days of Poch when we knew how we would play (even if the idea was he had no plan B, I would kill for a plan A these days!).

Based on what? I could also say our decline has coincided with Kenzie Benali doing the match day intro ... coincidence, I think not! Black may be a shocking coach but you have no proof other than purely circumstantial links. I would suggest our problems are more than just one coach.

To be fair Pelle used to whine more than anyone but sometimes it's good to see somebody giving team mates a bit of grief when the service isn't right. If Tadic can bring his best form consistently he can be the biggest, stroppiest, sulking git and we will all love him anyway. Boufal doesn't moan but does have a good shoulder shrug and the odd petulant kick out when thinks don't come off. I think in Boufal, Redmond, Gabbi, Tadic, Prowse (to an extent), Austin and Long we have a decent set of varied attacking options but we just need them to click. If that comes from intense competition to places or consistent time together on the pitch/training field then hopefully Mope can get more from them as the season goes on. Arguably some of our best attacking play came when Poch had our front four playing together taking up any number of positions and knowing almost automatically which runs to look for.

It depends if the missus has that second glass of wine most likely!

Probably falling somewhere between most on here. So frustrating we didn't take an early chance, it would have been a very different game and we may have won resoundingly if Swansea were forced to come forward more. Reminded me at times of the Watford opener last season with Gomes getting about ten last warnings for time wasting on his gk's from start to finish. We lost tempo and Swansea tightened up after the hour mark and a 0-0 seemed rather inevitable. They settled for a point, can't knock them for it, Abraham does look very good for such a young lad. Also worth noting ref had a shocker. Bottled the Tadic decision completely and seemed willing to card our players at the first chance yet Ayew and Fernandez racked up the fouls yet remained out of the book. Positives: Bertrand looks back to his old self and our overlapping full backs are a real plus, Stephens looked fairly assured for the most part, odd blip, decent bringing the ball out which can open space up, Romeu is romeu - how he got a yellow for winning a header is beyond me, We pressed much higher rather than falling back on losing the ball - it leaves us vulnerable at times but we won the ball back a good few times, much rather see us playing on the front foot, Prowse and Tadic had decent games, We created a fair few chances, weren't afraid to shoot and controlled the ball well. Negatives: Result of course, shades of last season not taking chances and then worrying teams will pinch one - we could do with a good start to shift some of last season's negativity and, with the fixtures we have, we should pick up points, Lack of ideas towards the end ... but first game back, hopefully MP can find more from what we have, Gabbi - really rate him but does not look sharp and confident, sure it will come back though. Either way actually going to the WHAM game and hope they come with a bit more intent which will in turn allow us space to play.

Puts the board in better light. Can't imagine the board didn't explain the style of football they wanted to see on interviewing him.

Rather much this though I would like an unofficial caveat that we will not be entertaining bids from Liverpool due to illegal approaches. If somebody else stumps up the right money then get shot of course but, until then, we pay his substantial wages on a contract he was only too happy to sign a matter of months ago and to continue to pocket while recovering from injury with the help and support of the club.

Bertrand cb and Targett/Mcqueen lb perhaps?

Henri Camara, only scored a few goals in the season we went down but liked seeing him play and thought he was a decent loan signing at a time not a lot went right for us.

He gave Diego Costa as good as he got which is always nice to see, shows character and that he wont be bullied. Really did grow in stature as he settled into the side.

Actually he is meant to be very close friends with Nathan Redmond. Just finished reading Michael Calvin's latest book and he makes mention of this as well of praising the character of both. Not strictly relevant but as an aside Prowsie has been interviewed for the book and our club come out rather well in terms of how we treat and develop young talent. Chalobah would add a bit of dynamism from our midfield and would appear to have a lot of potential. If the right deal can be put in place this would be excellent. Lewis Baker is another on the Chelsea fringe worth keeping an eye for though imagine they may be reluctant to part permanently with either without a silly offer.

De Boer I would be happy to give a fair crack. Did well at Ajax and Inter were a bit of a basket case when he took over - hard to say exactly how good he is. Good reputation for youth and comes with a playing pedigree which can't hurt. Pellegrino, not sure I would be excited, record stands fairly well all things considered. Don't know enough about him but trust the board - sort of - if Puel is their worst hire we really aren't doing too badly. Dyche I would be very happy with but shocked to see him rock up. Burnley play decent football at times and he has come through as a respected coach. Good experience of the league, well liked by his players, good with the media etc. Not too many others amongst the names doing the rounds I would be too keen on (assuming we think Tuchel is a no!). Would love Howe but just don't see that happening. Jokanovic could make sense, Fulham played some good football and did well. Whichever direction we go in it would be good to be things sorted so we are up and running for next season (aware a lot of what happens at sfc happens coach or no coach!).

Skybet appear to be too ... have mauricio pelle'o instead of manuel pelle'i top of the betting for palace ...

rene weiler current anderlecht manager not too far down the betting, must admit had to look him up! Though they did play some good football in Europe this season and is Swiss

Dyche, Howe, Clement, Rowett, Heckingbottom, Brenda ... none of them?

http://www.eplsite.org/stream12.html

Deckchairs at the ready ... largely since EFL cup final out season has sort of just fizzled out. We are rarely terrible and occasionally decent but just seem to be bumbling through the rest of the season. Everything just seems to have lost a bit of sharpness and urgency with the odd first touch seeming to take our play from promising to frustrating. Do hope this is a end of season blip on account of sod all to really compete for rather than a permanent decline in our quality of play.

Quite possibly but, if he believe the Fulham based opinion, he will leave for the right club. Can only assume that means real pathway to first team. Should we lose Bertrand we could have him actively competing with McQueen and/or Targett. Though he does seem more like a Baines replacement at Everton and they seem to be trying to reel in young English talent.