Bewildered

Unless Poch has a replacement in mind, I'd rather we kept him until the Summer. However, it is understandable if Ramirez wishes to go out on loan to get some playing time ahead of the world cup.

Hopefully Shaw & Fonte are back at the very least. The other question really is whether to persist with Lambert (who was awful yesterday and as the games come thick and fast will get even worse as he tires out), give Gallagher a start (bit of a risk given how important victory is) or Play Rodriguez as the striker and bring Ramirez or JWP into the midfield. Really do need to win this and get a little bit of momentum as the Everton and Chelsea matches will not be pretty if we go into them low on confidence.

Mostly a rehash of the Mail stuff, but there seemed to be an added desperation to make sure that the intended audience believes that if Cortese leaves the club would fall to pieces and that he is not short of offers either. I'm being overly suspicious, I know, but the final few paragraphs gave that particular piece a different tone to the usual love-ins we read now.

Ben Smith ‏@BenSmithBBC 57m There is no way, at this stage, that Mauricio Pochettino will be going to #Spurs - even if there is interest.

Bloke on SSN just now said reports were suggesting Tim Sherwood and Les Ferdinand taking charge until the end of the season with Capello taking over in the Summer after the WC.

Allardyce should worry about lasting until January first.

Signed a contract that lasts until 2017 a couple weeks ago.

Gone down well with at least one player...

Mirror Football ‏@MirrorFootball 9m Stat of the season - if true. RT @danielstorey85: West Ham have had more 0-0s this season than the Bundesliga.

Fonte & Lallana out, Lambert and Hooiveld in. Bizarre

Hopefully it is not someone we absolutely need like Shaw or Lallana

Sofiane Feghouli http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tuttomercatoweb.com%2Feuropa%2Fesclusiva-tmw-valencia-feghouli-vuole-andare-via-ci-pensa-il-southampton-509486

Good performance, we created the better chances and on another day could have won. Gazzaniga - 6 - Was OK, one weird decision second half but wqas generally ok Chambers - 8 - Excellent. Man City got very little down his side and had a good chance to score in the first half that he was unlucky with, best he's played in an attacking sense, seemed more confident in his ability to attack. Lovren - 8 - Very good game, helped keep City at arms length for most of the match. The cheer when he came back on to the pitch after that knock he took shows how important he is to the team. Fonte - 8.5 - Was as good as Lovren, and his tackle and pass started off the play for our goal. Shaw - 7 - Excellent going forwards, caught a few times at the back in the first half though Cork - 8 - Bounced back after a poor Villa performance and showed that he will be an important player for us in the coming weeks JWP - 8.5 - Looked much better in his preferred position, not afraid to get stuck in and showed signs that he could be that player with the killer pass that we sometimes lack. Set pieces were good as usual. Davis - 9 - Was my MotM, classic box to box midfield performance, absolutely everywhere. Lallana - 7 - Some good runs and created a few dangerous situations, but I felt he was one player who perhaps did tire second half. Rodriguez - 7 - Numerous dangerous runs and had a couple of chances he may be disappointed he did not do better with. Osvaldo - 8 - World class goal aside, looks to be coming to terms with the PL. Led from the front and his constant attempts to run behind encouraged the midfield to play it forward quicker. Subs: Lambert - 7 - Held the ball up, played a part in creating a chance for J-Rod. Ramirez - 6 - some decent touches, but not really on long enough to effect the game Reed - Not enough time to judge either way.

Without Morgan, Wanyama, Boruc, Clyne and possibly Fonte I don't see a positive result, but you never know. Would like to see us taking some risks with our attacking options as the defensive possession based tactics won't work against the likes of City as we aren't good enough to monopolise possession against them. If He's available I would not mind seeing Ramirez given a go as the central attacking midfielder with Lallana and Rodriguez either side of him and Osvaldo up top. Gazzaniga Chambers Fonte (If Fit, Hooiveld if not) Lovren Shaw Cork JWP Rodriguez Ramirez Lallana Osvaldo Subs: Cropper, Lambert, Davis, Yoshida, Reed, Gallagher, Targett or Rowe (depends if MP wants FB cover or a winger on the bench)

Poor result and a poor performance. We monopolised possession but it was all too slow and a number of our players looked hesitant with the ball. Gazzaniga - 4 -Poor distribution and his bungled attempt at a save for the second left a lot to be desired Clyne - 6 - Very quiet, perhaps injured from the start. Didn't get forward much. Yoshida - 4 - Shocking defending for the first and pretty much let Delph score the winner. Lovren - 6 - Did OK, clearly plays better with Fonte though. Shaw - 6 - disappointing going forwards, did plenty of it but his passing and crossing was not what it should be. Wanyama - 6 - Did nothing wrong and IMO would never have let Delph shoot for the winner. JWP - 6 - Struggle to see what he did wrong either to warrant the early sub, has more quality on the ball than Davis Davis - 5.5 - lacks the quality of pass to break down defensive sides and it really showed tonight Lallana - 7.5 - Was our best player, tried to drive the team on and create chances. Rodriguez - 6.5 - Good goal, poor 1st half but at least tries to get beyond the last man Lambert - 5.5 - The more I watch him this season, the more I worry that he's not cut out for this style of football. Can't play 1 up front, if the one is not capable of getting in behind. Second half he played up top with Osvaldo, but apart from the moment for the second, they did not click. Subs: Osvaldo - 6 - Scored a goal, had some neat touches, but also had moments where he made the wrong decision and wasted possession, doesn't look like he can play with Lambert. Cork - 5 - Poor, helped the ball move a bit quicker at the start of the second half then faded and offered no real difference. Lost the ball for the second, tried to over elaborate and ended up being brushed off the ball, generally offered lousy protection of the back four. Fonte - 6.5 - Not a right back, but deputised quite well and was probably our best crosser on the night.

Not so much just this game, but This month will definitely show what this squad is really capable of this season.

Full Backs, especially Clyne, need to get forward more second half. So much unexploited space out there.

Good defensively first half, ****e all round second half. Boruc 7 - Some great saves first half, unlucky with the first goal. Big miss if he is unable to play Wednesday or Saturday Clyne 6 - good first half, outmuscled a bit second half. Lovren 6.5 - Very good first half, caught napping for the third Fonte 6 - Struggled to deal with the power of Chelsea's forwards in the second half, was good first half. Shaw 6 - Did OK, lost the ball a bit too easily Wanyama 7 - Good game, only player who looked capable of dealing with Chelsea's physicality second half. Morgan 5.5 - Didn't do a great deal, lacked his usual engery and willingness to get stuck in JWP 5.5 - a couple of decent crosses first half, but his set pieces were uncharacteristically poor, one to forget. Lallana 5.5 - A couple of good runs first half, but not his usual self. didn't look fully fit. Rodrigiez 6 - Tried to drive the team forward on the counter, but often lacked support, lost Terry for their second. Osvaldo 5 - Another poor game, either takes one touch too many or shoots when the pass is on. Doesn't seem like a team player. Subs: Gazzaniga 4 - Only on 30 minutes and still managed to be at fault for a goal, down far too slowly for that third. If he has to play against City next Saturday...god help us. Davis 4.5 - About as badly as he's played for us, offered nothing in either direction. Lambert 5 - Didn't really get much of a chance to impact the game.

Shocking second half, as poor as we've played since the beginning of last season.

Done absolutely naff all today, really poor.

Excellent defensive display so far, need to keep it up second half. Maybe bring Lambert on at some point to help us hold on to the ball further up the pitch.

Yeah, when that came out during the press conference last week, I was more convinced Gaston won't last much longer here. Nothing in that statement suggests MP thinks he has much of a part to play here or even that they like each other.