Damian_de

I agree they are a decent side and the formula is working so far, however, I wonder if they have anything but that to offer, and when the rest of the league wises up they'll need it.

Lol at that Bisto thing that's uncanny

To be (probably too) fair it was a shocker from the whole defence, there were 4 or 5 of them vaguely marking the penalty spot and just watched Agbonlahor waltz into the area, but it wasn't happy viewing for Carson Villa are a curious team, they set up to defend and counter even aginst the bottom of the league team even when they're at home. Fair play to them for their league position and form, and it's them that has made the chances today, WBA look clueless once they approach the penalty box. But I wonder if there's anything to this Villa side but a well drilled defence, physical all over the pitch and 2 fast attackers. Can't say I've seen it this season.

Gerrard Lucas Benayoun for me, first 2 really stood out, could have given the 3rd place to pretty much any of the starters really

Masterclass from Alonso today, pulled them all over the place.

Obviously Rafa was on the phone to make sure Sammy could remember the time of the 'pre-planned' subs

if one thing is clear it's that the subs are not pre-planned.

Expect Rafa will be happy with him today, pretty sure sure he played the role he was asked to and did it well. How often do we see one of the 2 central midfielders let off the leash? (Not often).

Me thinks you've been reading the Interweb rather than watching the football.

'Plunged' 33 goals?

£1.5m bribe to each?

Curse of the number 7 shirt eh? To be honest being upset at being subbed and having a face like a smacked a*** don't bother me, but the downward spiral of missed chances early in the season and no improvement in looking like he's gonna fit in do, especially given the price... You can be sure as hell that he wants to be a success, and as sometimes happens the failure to make that happen so far must be doing his head in. As for selling him in January, even if we were to be offered our cash back, that leaves us with basically 2 forwards, one of whom is having 'one of those seasons' with injuries, the other is Kuyt who is clearly first choice at right midfield and impressing there so far. No way is that enough to complete a season, and who would be available midseason? Can't see it happening at all.

But Keane is really the replacement for Crouch. Diego isn't any kind of cover for Torres (and I don't think the Premiership is the league for Diego at all).

Really great interviews as ever, thanks a lot!

thought the same, what's up with that??

Djib is doing quite well for the mackems

I guess the only other thing that might need to be said is that Rafa is easing the players that went to the Olympics back into the team slowly.

It would be nice to kick twitch out of the competition they hold after he robbed us blind the other weekend

Brondby have the Unicef logo on their shirts too, however, it is paid for by another sposnsor, Kasi Group. I don't belive Barca's deal is the same, but it may be, and it shows there's another way we could go. But it basically boils down to the sponsor rather than the club.

Arsenal remind me of us under Roy Evans at the minute.

Nothing to do with stopping us from signing him then. Must have imagined the legal shenanigans.

Yes, Ramón Rodríguez Verdejo. Clearly a million miles more capable than the set up at Spurs when you look at the budget quality they uncovered (Luis Fabiano, Dani Alves etc) and talents like Sergio Ramos coming through the youth team. They have made a fortune selling on their cheap(ish) acquisitions and keep finding good quality replacements. Verdejo put together a squad that won serious silverware. I still think the problem at Spurs with Ramos was some kind of breakdown between the players and management.

I suppose we can't know the extent of the disatisfaction/backstabbing etc in the dressing room but yeah I think he would have kept them up too, and you're also right about the quality of the players bought in - he had much better to work with at Sevilla I think.

I suppose they will consider a £25m payout a worthy price to stay in the league though. I suspect this will turn out to be a good move, in the short term at least.

Let's face it, if he hasn't made it yet he surely never will?