RedHarvest

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That's encouraging. Few more articles in this tone and the masses will start to turn on Roy - and judging by his increasingly defensive and bullish utterances he knows it too.

Seems the press may be turning on him slightly. This is the Star - albeit the Irish version, featuring your classic manager-under-pressure pic: http://www.dailystar.co.uk/football/view/167529/Roy-Hodgson-s-rage/

no it fecking isn't

Interesting that bollix passes the filter, whereas b******s does not. I'll be peppering all my subsequent posts with bollix (as usual)

Agree with this. Having watched the interview all the signs point to NESV weighing up the sack Roy/caretaker manager option negatively against midtable finish/new manager in summer after a proper period of research. All their answers were a diplomatic nod to that position imo. I also think they must surely have a tipping point and a plan B strategy in terms of league position where Roys position becomes untenable - what that is I'd love to know. That's the unpalatable fact we have to deal with and all this wishful thinking and spleen venting will continue to be our forum reality.

Sadly true Arsenal were never going to score. Arshavin's been s**** all season, they played way too narrow, Fabregas wasn't fit - it was all too predictable. as an aside I actually think Wilshere is going to be a top player, he was the only good thing about Arsenal tonight - positive, skillful, determined.

never would've happened if his name was Allerdiccio....or something Really?...it's cheered me right up

He's alright, can see him beavering away on the right side of our defence. Then we should sign C lit Dempsey, play him up front, with Stevie Gee in the hole

Aurelio Babel Shelvey

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It's actually difficult for us to assess both Aurelio and Dossena as neither ever had a decent run of games - Aurelio cos he's made of glass and the Doss just seemed to fail the Rafa test. Both (esp Aurelio) seemed half decent going forward and linking with LM but both were suspect defensively. In fairness to the players the defensive aspect particularly needs games to hone and fit in. Then Insua got plenty of games, enough for anyone to see he was naive defensively and plain not good enough despite having potential - no way should he have been first choice. Then, god help us all - came the Hodge and PFK. I actually thought at the time that a seasoned PL stalwart well known to the manager would be a small step up in the LB position and provide a little experience and solidity........... .....now I'd have ginger t*** JAR back there in a heartbeat FFS

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it's so depressing, we've downgraded at LB three times since Riise.....that's Riise, one-peg-liability-beans on head t*** Riise! Failure of both Rafa and the Hodge

Im reading this as a positive sign - the first step in appointing a new manager. Makes sense NESV would identify him as kingmaker given his successful previous in appointing Wenger.

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I hope im wrong about that too, but with the condition that it doesn't prevent NESV from properly identifying and securing the right successor. But, taking your worst case scenario (outside relegation) : We finish mid table, win no cups, Torres, Reina and Gerrard leave. Hodge still goes in the summer. New man comes in with substantial spending power bolstered by what we get for our bailed stars, we start from scratch. How's that the apocalypse?

I dont see it as cut and dried as that. We'd need to be back in the relegation places to force their hand. That could happen and Hodge may be forced out but I believe that would be forcing their hand and possibly detrimental to getting the right successor. All just conjecture of course. But I really think if we drift around mid table Hodge isnt going anywhere til summer.

Everything points to NESV keeping their powder dry til the summer, so we'll have to suffer the Hodge til then. IMO the apocalyptic scenarios about what'll happen to us if he isn't fired straight away/yesterday wont come to pass. I reckon NESV have already accounted for a mid table finish/no cup success scenario and are preparing to replace Roy in that timeframe. This renders all our bellyaching about the old chap pointless and/or cathartic. That's what I'd like to see, especially at home.

Be interesting to see how this pans out. I'm on the Carra is good side of the fence - what he lacks (massively) in pace and hoofiness he makes up for in organisation and "battle rage". I guess we'll have the argument settled somewhat in the next month.

Meireles Skrtel Lucas

Hear hear! ...and can I just add: we'll batter the c****

I dont believe his or Reinas toeing the party line in the papers, it's just a political reality. I also dont believe your cynical assessment. Not saying he wont move in Jan, but I doubt it and I dont think he's holding back. He's having a s*** season at a club who are having a s*** season with a s*** manager.

He was our most consistent player today, my MOM. And definitely overdue a goal.

Harsh .Torres' form is just the symptom. The actual disease is the lack of players to effect a proper attacking and matchwinning philosophy at the club. He's clearly and understandably demoralised and we all know the reason why.