Wardy

I couldn't give a toss whether he smiles or not as long as he's doing a good job of managing the club. There are definitely players in the squad we wouldn't miss so I can see the owners having an issue with that. The squad is so big I can't see how we will be able to bring any young players through either.

Saw a bit of the press conference on the news and he didn't look happy it has to be said, from the face on him it looked like he'd come straight out of a conference call about Mascherano after hearing something he didn't want to into the press conference. If he's been told he has to sell to buy Mascherano I can't see a problem with it. How many central midfield players do we need? I think he could have afforded to let him go in the summer - I'd have bitten Juve's hand off for what they offered if that's true. Riise and Carson are obviously surplus to requirements as well so why not sell but I'd only consider selling Crouch if we're bringing another striker in or we go out of the Champions League.

I dunno most of the Mancs and Gooners I know reckon he's shoite. I'd be amazed if we got £6 Million.

What do people reckon a reasonable fee for Riise is? I reckon we'd be lucky to get £4 Million myself.

Dunno I can see Momo starting this one - away from home on a big pitch is the type of games he likes to bring him in for.

I'd start him - get it in the bag early and take him off then rather than huff and puff with Riise for 60 minutes plus and bring Kewell on when we're desperate for a goal. 4-3-3/4-5-1.

International Breaks bore me, they should be made illegal. Team for Newcastle: ..................Reina Arbeloa Carragher Agger Aurelio ..........Mascherano Sissoko Babel...........Gerrard..........Kewell ...................Torres That's getting close to our best eleven, put Xabi in for Momo and Yossi in for Babel and I reckon that's up there with any other first eleven in the league.

So on the basis of that they're all round better players?

I'd disagree on the grounds that Kuyt couldn't trap a bag of cement.

At what sport would that be because it's not football, certainly not Kuyt on current form? Personally I'd rather have Crouch in the side than either of those two.

I'd blow the lot on Mascherano me.

Kompany had a good start to his first season in Germany and then got a serious injury which he's only just come back from and is now apparently playing well again. I wouldn't say one injury makes him injury prone!

It's a moot point anyway, I don't think Rafa believes in the concept of a best eleven. In what Universe wouldn't you want Gerrrard, Alonso and Mascherano at the club anyway? All three of them could play in the middle in 4-3-3/4-5-1 and Gerrard can play on the right or in the middle of a 4-4-2. Personally I'd take the money for Momo and run because Lucas looks like he's got the ability to make the step up.

If Hargreaves was £20 Million and Carrick £18 Million then £17 Million is a snip for Mascherano. He's only 23 and will improve, sign him up.

I wouldn't risk starting him against Fulham, we need him back properly fit this time.

I'd just prefer the one striker in that formation and it's Torres when fit.

Agree to a point but as much as I like Crouch I don't think he gets in our best eleven in that formation. If fit and firing: ................Reina Finnan Carragher Agger Arbeloa .........Mascherano Alonso ...Benayoun Gerrard Kewell ................Torres

In that case Crouch should play, in what situation wouldn't you want crosses coming into the box and players running forward from midfield?

Kuyt is a passenger at the moment and in recent games we've had too many of those at times. Continuing to play him in the form he's in at the moment could ruin him.

Ballhocks.

That could have been Kuyt playing too deep!

Gerrards form has definitely improved the last couple of games and I've got no problem with him playing in that position. The point on Kuyt is valid though, Crouch was the obvious choice from the available players in that formation. I'm dying to know what he's done to piss him off. I couldn't understand the Riise decision either, he's shunned him for most of the season in favour of Arbeloa so why play him against Blackburn when he's up against decent wingers. I'd have started with Momo personally but if it's clear he's having a mare there's an obvious substitute in Lucas. In the past he's rarely made the same mistake twice but this season bucks the trend and it's getting a little worrying. The injuries haven't helped, any side would miss those three but we could and should have done a bit better with what we were left with. The selections and substitutions recently are questionable to say the least but calling for his head at this stage of the season is ludicrous.

He's not getting it right often enough though at the moment. Considering the amount of possesion we had against Blackburn we did little with it. We just seem to be waiting for someone to f*** our moves up and it's generally Kuyt, Riise and Momo who are responsible but the manager persists in playing them when they're woefully out of form.

No but the manager has a duty to get things right, don't get me wrong I'm behind him 100% for as long as he's in the job but he is not beyond criticism. RE Pako, that's my opinion and I'm entitled to it. It seems too much of a coincidence that Rafa seems to have lost his sanity with certain situations since Pako left.

I can understand peoples frustrations completely, we're good enough to challenge but the way it's going we'll have pissed it away by Christmas if we haven't already. The only positive from yesterday is Arsenal and the Mancs drew. The selections are nonsensical, Riise is a liability and he knows it. He's allowed whatever is going on between him and Crouch to become personal and that's a mistake. Why Benayoun and Babel were subbed and Momo and Kuyt remained on the pitch yesterday only he knows because I can't find a reasonable explanation anywhere else. He's his own worst enemy and I think we are missing Paco, he needs a number two who's prepared to challenge his thinking.