mrfahaji

Redmond and Sims yesterday, and Mane the season before show how effective players can be when they pick up the ball and immediately run at pace towards the defence. It goes without saying that it makes a world of difference to Redmond's game when he runs at players, but it's also important that he does it quickly. In many games this season he has taken too long to decide what to do with the ball, but if he can play a bit more instinctively that will prove dividends for him I'm sure.

Presumably they won't track whether the tickets are actually used? And maybe it doesn't matter as long as you've paid?

If the club threw money at transfers in the same way I'm throwing money at trying to get a ticket we'd either be at the top of the league or bankrupt.

It doesn't say you are guaranteed a ticket. It only guarantees a ticket for season ticket holders. It probably means that members with five purchases have a realistic chance of getting tickets, given that there won't be a 100% uptake by everyone who qualifies. However there will be some people buying a membership and 'converting' their past purchases, plus many others buying Arsenal & West Ham to boost their priority.

I've had to change my flights as was due to be flying back from a wedding in India on that day (how silly of me not to think about the league cup final when booking all those months ago...) Cost me over £500, and may yet even cost me my future wife as my fiancee is not happy about it! Non-fans can't understand it, but not being able to see the game at all just wasn't an option. Hopefully I'll get a ticket and it'll be even more worthwhile, but I'm in the same bracket as you regarding number of matches.

Phew! Thanks for confirming.

Hopefully, because that criteria also puts me in the 'FIVE' bracket. May still not be enough but a decent chance I'd have thought.

Slightly anxious about this. The '20 eligible games' obviously separates them, but purchase history shows the bundle as one, and it would be typical if they decide to (or the systems inadvertently) treat it as such!

Thanks, just bought West Ham tickets so hopefully (as long as the Europa package counts as three) that will take me to 5 homes. Fingers crossed! I was wondering if the decision not to go to the Emirates was going to bite me but looks like that isn't even a factor.

Sorry but I'm with SKD on this. I may not get a ticket for Wembley, and that will be annoying as I went to ZDS, FA Cup and JPT, the home leg semi final, Milan, had a season ticket holder at the Dell/St Marys for over 10 years and I've just spent over £500 rearranging flights a day earlier as I was due to be flying on the Sunday. BUT if the reason I don't get one is because there are people who have been to more games than me, regardless of their circumstances, I really can't have an issue with it. If, however, I miss out purely on the basis that my webpage didn't load as fast as someone else who has decided that this is one game they suddenly want to be part of, then I will be sick about it.

The only thing I'm wondering is whether they will still tier the members with the new announcement, but based on the number of tickets available, Members with +5 is about the level they think it will get to if everyone takes up the option? So perhaps members +4 will be next, then members +3 etc, but they haven't announced that yet as it may well be sold out. Either way would still be good to know...

Bit annoying that the members bit doesn't continue any further than 'five home games'... I've been to four (including the semi final) and also went to Milan. Would have been to more games but with so many switching to Sundays this season it hasn't been possible! I'd be massively p1ssed off if I didn't get a ticket because a load of people have just signed up for membership and jump the queue ahead of me!

What a performance and result! First half we were fantastic, second half we were getting a bit tired and sitting deeper, but after Sturridge's second miss and then Coutinho's miskick I did start to wonder (somewhat quietly to myself) if it might be our day - notwithstanding that we had squandered a fair few chances ourselves before then! Forster's magnificent paw made up for another nearly-catastrophic error... the whole defence were splendid but Stephens barely put a foot wrong and Yoshida was a superhero playing through pain. Romeu was everywhere, and when he crunched Milner into the advertising, getting up and walking off as if to say "yeah? what about it?" :-) I'm a fan of Tadic but he was anonymous, likewise I'm regularly frustrated by Redmond but he was tremendous first half. Davis had a great first half bar his atrocious finish but gave it away a fair bit second half (though most of the team did...) Sims excellent when he came on, direct, positive but also assured. And what can you say about Shane "only needs 1 chance" Long? WOOOO!

If they wanted people in Liverpool to read it, they should have picked a different newspaper...!

Never mind, just found out it's (probably) Molla Wague, think that and the Gabbiadini rumours have substance, even if nothing comes of it in the end.

Not being able to bring more players in, by the board presumably. Seems odd that the players would see/think this though, so not sure if that bit came from the players or from another source. On a side note, anyone know who else Yoshida's agent represents? I can only find Keisuke Honda.

Just a snippet of inside info on this. The players were disappointed that Fonte left, as he was generally well liked, but at the same time they could see he wasn't his usual self and not really living up to his role as captain. The players (generally) think Puel is a good man but it feels like he has his hands tied a little bit. Although we are looking for a replacement for Jose, the players are all rooting for Yoshida to make a success of his chance, as he is exceptionally popular in the camp - apparently everybody loves Maya!

The day after the game in Milan we drove up to Lake Como and into Lugano in Switzerland. Superb. I know that kind of thing is slightly more expected with European away games though! Funny how memories stick with you, I remember getting some dinner in a Kings Road cafe before a Chelsea league cup game (Jody Morris 120th minute...) when I was a kid, can recall the atmosphere and that feeling of almost being in a foreign & distant land, but if I could revisit that moment now I'm sure it would be a pretty run-of-the-mill place.

I don't think we should play with 2 left backs.

No way he'd leave them to join an inferior team

Without wanting to start a "What have the Romans ever done for us?" thread, it is nice being able to watch every game, even if it is on a dodgy stream... although on the flip side I do like regular Saturday 3pm kick offs throughout the division!

Player injured for two years, but we're going to bank on him a) not getting injured again and b) returning to his form/ability before he was injured. Given that this happened with Rodriguez and has backfired, I'm surprised so many are advocating we go down the same route with Gardos. Plus, before his injury J-Rod was brilliant, Gardos was merely 'decent'.

I haven't agreed with much of your vitriol of late, but this is a good point. For all the supposed 'brilliantly well run club' that purports to be in control of everything, it's hard to believe that we might not have a replacement lined up given Fonte's antics have been going on since the summer. I know it's not easy to get a transfer over the line, particularly mid-season, but we've had 3 weeks to finalise things with nothing to show for it yet.

IF Jose ends up at West Ham then I think it will be a move to save face on his part after hiring an agent known to run roughshot over people to get a big cut of a big payday. Can't help but think Fonte had visions of grandeur at playing for a United or Liverpool, and I wouldn't blame him for that. Going to West Ham in their current position hardly seems worth ditching the club he has become such a big part of. While I am sure he will be glad of the extra money, I doubt that was his primary motivation for leaving, but most certainly the top priority for Mendes. Regarding Sakho, he is an excellent defender, but he does have a tendency to be a little... haphazard in his distribution. I think Liverpool fans have their hearts in their mouths when the ball is at his feet!

Sounded dire but we won while playing a weakened side. That's something at least. I think the presence of Arsenal waiting in the next round just made this game feel like a pointless exercise, but at the same time losing would have been embarrassing.