The_Adder

The most frustrating thing about this whole tale is that he did all that whilst working in the financial constraints of past owners. Imagine what he could have done if he had the backing we currently seem to have now - the Dani Alves signings coming to fruition and how we could have really pushed on.

Pepe Johnson Srktel Coates Jose Henderson Spearing Suarez Maxi Bellamy Carroll Please boss.

This thread should be retitled: "The race for 7th"

Matthew Etherington, Matt Jarvis, Jermaine Pennant. He is in that category. I would never, ever, ever start him if either Bellamy or Maxi was fit, ever.

Bellamy Maxi Downing In that order.

Cant work out why Bellamy hasnt been playing much recently, seemingly with Downing ahead of him.

Deffo agree, an option from the bench is what he should be. If we are going to play 4-3-3 he shouldnt be on the pitch. Zero goal threat in taking up one of the attacking positions - no point whatsoever.

HAS to be, otherwise there is literally no point. He is not an attacking midfielder and he is not a right midfielder. Him and Lucas in the middle, Gerrard ahead of them, Adam as an option from the bench, that should and could work. No idea why we havent been playing Gerrard in the attacking role behind the three where he has been great - it's things like that that have been doing my head in this season, if it had any chance of working I'd happily be proven wrong, but it never, ever does and it so glaringly obvious and so frustrating.

No, cause we did. It was like the end of last season. It is mad to think how much we changed from then, adding the likes of Henderson, Downing and Adam as regulars in the team at the expense of the likes of Maxi when we were playing so well with him last season. He should play every game that Bellamy or Gerrard isnt fit enough to start, top player.

Last season he was falling for a Carlton Cole stepover after letting the ball bounce, this year he looks like he would literally give up his spleen before allowing anyone or anything thing past. Deffo in with a shout, along with Downing obviously.

wow, that was quite some post.

Weirdly Adam is the one I'm worried least about out of those four, that's bad isnt it? Henderson and Downing currenly carry zero goal threat, one league goal between them all season is absolutely shocking. Carroll needs a regular place if we are going to see the best of him, for me he would start every game with Bellamy and Suarez off him and Gerrard (and when he is injured Shelvey) in behind.

He could be the new Ox, or the new Walcott...

Word.

Not at all. I think we should always play Carroll and loads of players around who can also score, I'm not as much as against Kuyt as against Downing. You could start with Carroll up top and Suarez and Kuyt (preferably Bellamy) off him.

How many goals did they score? I'd rather score goals and win games then play so well and lose like we did, Carroll is a threat and does have goals in him. Get him on the pitch with Bellamy and Suarez either side and Gerrard behind - play players who score goals.

Maxi at this stage offeres much more than Henderson or Downing in the wide roles - Henderson is never a wide player anyway. Him in place of Downing on Saturday and you get his excellent link up with Suarez. Saturday's front three baffled me completely on Saturday - no Bellamy either, crazy. Downing has ZERO and I really do mean ZERO goal threat. He's a 4-4-2 player.

Seems really simple to me, play: Suarez, Carroll and Bellamy as the front three with Stevie in behind and watch us rip teams and score goals. With Spearing and Henderson/Adam in CM. Downing on the bench, not nearly enough goal threat. Easy.

What's all this about a kick off with Kenny and the players after the match?

Miss him badly every time he doesnt start.

Poor line up choice with Bellamy, Maxi and Carroll on the bench. Could have really done with a win today and I'm shocked every time Bellamy doesnt start when fit, it makes literally zero sense to me. I'm waiting to see a front three of Bellamy, Carroll and Suarez - could cause real damage.

Diarra going to Fulham for free is an interesting one. He cost Readl £22m and was brilliant for Lyon in the DM role, might have missed a trick there, would have been excellent covered for Lucas.

Hmmmmmm... Cavani or Falcao please - wont get either without Champs League though...

Certainly. I remember people turning their noses up at Sturridge as part of the Torres deal, he has been a better player than both AC and Torres since, weirdly.