Epic Swindle

I thought Maxi was a shining light yesterday. Stevie was busy and had a good game too. Maxi Gerrard Kyrigos

Bellamy didn't want to go anywhere, he was just a saleable asset, and Crouch wanted more playing time, which seemed fair given that Voronin was ahead of him in the pecking order. Two excellent squad players that we're frozen out and replaced with inferior players. It's not about money, again it comes back to Rafa's methods. I think Ballague mentioned it recently that he needs a high turnover of players to suit his ever changing demands.

I'm not sure. I think we had to win today and keep the pressure on to have a chance. We're relying on too many teams to falter and after today the others can go into their remaining games knowing they can lose a couple and still finish ahead of us. We all know it's over, it's just that type of season, but while there's still hope we'll continue to suffer.

If City win their next game it's all over. We're not good enough and haven't been all season, so how we're suddenly going to win 5 on the bounce is a mystery.

How is buying Keane for 20 million and selling him within 6 months, selling Riise for a pittance and buying the worst left back in Italy for 8 million and selling your most system effective midfielder and replacing him with a 20 million quid crock wheeling and dealing? It's not, it's just poor managment and throwing money away. I bet the likes of Everton and Stoke would love that luxury.

He always talks about one game at a time but is constantly making selection decisions with next game in mind. There was nothing wrong with the Torres sub in isolation, he looked jaded and out of sorts, it's just indicative of his methods. We're at a stage of the season where winning is all that matters yet he won't stray from his scientific approach, even in the face of common sense.

Exactly. I imagine the majority of fans would be far happier with just a more consistant brand of positive football and not the same basic mistakes and baffling decisions made over and over after 6 seasons. I don't see anything wrong with having massive expectations anyway, it's just who we are and why he was attracted to the job in the first place. Otherwise we should just accept our decline now.

He certainly should have won it last season.

Some game at Goodison. Ended 2-2.

Seriously? That's ridiculous. He can rest tomorrow.

I'm not. I've had my doubts for a while and it always comes back to his approach. I think he also failed in some regard last season, which was his biggest chance so far. The results at the half way point left us with too much to ground to make up. Wenger had 3 league titles in the bank to be given that much patience.

The mancs have been winning titles for 20 seasons by swatting away weaker sides, home and away. Of course they'll have the odd off day but with us it's the norm. While I wouldn't want any of those managers you were refering to, I doubt their records would be any worse in that regard with our current squad at their disposal.

Rafa's wages would be a start. Do you think he manages us for free?

I don't think he can mate. Struggling for 5th in his 6th season, it's time for a change. It's not about money, it's his approach. People mock other managers but I doubt any of them would struggle like Rafa does against weaker sides.

I don't really understand this argument. If Rafa was world class why does he continually struggle against weaker sides whose managers have spent far less than he has?

We were always going to create chances late on chasing the win, and I'm sure even an out of sorts Torres would have buried at least one of them. If he was genuinely injured then fair enough but I think Rafa made it with Thursday in mind, which is scandalous really.

It was a bad, bad call. Torres would have buried those chances, injured or not. Rafa is too clever for his own good.

This can't go on. We all understand the financial limitations but a change and fresh approach is needed.

Yep, that was always the worry. Everyone talking about others dropping points and forgetting how poor we are. This can't go on. We desperately need a change and fresh approach.

Very.

Always has been. I think Rafa puts so much planning into each game that struggles with two objectives.

Mido misses.

Peno for the ammers. Webb is so dramatic.

Part of me thinks he does it to prove a point, when he should be thinking about winning the game. An out of sorts Torres is still far more likely to get a goal than Ngog.

I'm not bothered what the media think. The case against Jose seems to be how he handles himself in the media, which shouldn't be the main critera for choosing managers.