Lanus

I couldn't agree more about your approach there. I think Spurs will be very confident .. I mean they are just after ending that 17 year run of not winning away to arsenal (on a 2 goal come back).. I think spurs are going to throw the kitchen sink at us and the only way to come out of it is to throw 2 kitchen sinks back at them. wahey, I almost did a rafa

He'd probably put us back into serious contention of winning the league within 2 seasons if he came here right now.

Yep, this is one of the reasons I'm focusing on us out-attacking them really rather than containing them. I wouldn't be amazed to see a game like the first newcastle one years back.. I am of course talking about the 4-3. I do think Mereiles is a damn good player.. I just hope that whoever plays (whether it's Lucas or Poulsen), that they have an absolute blinder of a game.

I would gladly take the 'win at all costs' approach until the end of the season. I want CL football and I don't give a damn how we get it. We need to keep our players and also, sign another star or 2... Let us win next years CL in style then

ooooooooooooooooo! Against West Ham who have now utterly given up.

Well said... I hate to admit it but I agree... altohugh sometimes I'd be heard to be saying "Bring Rafa back"... He really did get a raw deal here once the owners took over... True enough but Mourinho just never loses at home... bloody ever.

They are both top class manager with totally contrasting aproaches to management but I still think Mourinho is the better of the 2... however I think there is some time to really prove that as Mourinho has been in the more comfortable chairs for the time being... a season or 2 at Inter will tell a lot.

Absolutely.. However with Johnson scoring in the last game I am hoping from a big game from him.. Spurs will be really up for this so I imagine there will be room for Johnson to really get in around them. If we do well though I see Kuyt being a big part of it as he's so good at picking out a player running in when we have a little bit of space to play with. Also agree with someone else about Aurelio. Torres might not be too upset if he can also get a few decent crosses in (which you know he can do on his day.) It is Spurs away and that is going to be more than a stumbling block, however if Cole can start for us, I think this will be a good game for him also. It's our defence that I'm worried about really.

I do think that Mourinho has class... A lot of his tongue in cheek attitude seems to play poorly with the rpess but he's got to be the most popular manager when it comes to his own players (from what they say etc)... But talking about Mourinho is pointless as he is a class above us at the moment.. Like it or not, that's the truth. Would you take Rafa back?

EXACTLY

I didn't see the west ham game myself but i saw some of the highlights.. Poulson nearly scored at one stage,... I assume that's the only thing he did all game?

Ya I agree with this. Maybe changing the manager isn't the solution for now then... For me , our performances in both games after the great win against Chelsea was down to determination rather than ability etc... Wigan for exmaple were first to so many of the 50/50%... If you don't change the manager then what about bringing in a new number 2. Someone with a bit of passion about them. The only person i can think of now is Roy Keane but I doubt he'd make the move.. I know he isn't well thought of on here but Gerrard looks up to him big time.

No thanks? Money isn't everything... If you think Mourinho isn't a brilliant manager then...

The grass is always greener etc.... I know many of the true fans remained behind Rafa until the end but... let's be honest, there were plenty calling for his head when I myself believe that things started to go downhill when Hicks took over and it has remained that way until Rafa bit the bullet.... We are in a bad bad situation this season really.. If the owners don't want to call time on Hodgsons career so soon (which I'd normally totally agree with) then the likes of Torres, Reina and maybe even Gerrard may decide to move on cause they've been putting up with a general decline over the last 2 years or so.. So what do you do? You generally don't give money to a manager to spend in the quick fix window if you plan to sack him... But a good signing in january would show the players some ambition and maybe liven things up... I dunno

Well ya but Mourinho had a fantastic understanding of the English game.

I know this is from a while back but I do think we need a change of manager alright. However, you must consider the options we have (I was against firing Rafa mainly for this reason)... I don't think there is anyone immediately available to us whop will certainly do a better job. I would say that if we do end up sacking Hodgson then a caretaker manager must be brought in. Kenny is of course the main one... but I wonder if Gerrard might be able to do it for a few months as a player manager? Lots are thinking absolutely not... but Kenny himself was a player manager... Just a thought so please no flaming.

he was living in Spain at the time of course.

keane's prefered position is as a support striker.

no. no . no

we should start a Barry thread, in fairness.

hahaha brilliant.

He's already a Red.

seemed like the right thing to do.

are the telegraph at all credible? they have a have an article on cole to us anyway. as for chelsea signing kaka and robinho being stronger than us on paper.. ya they would be but remember that Cole is a proven top class player in the premiership. Kaka is god and Robinho is slightly over rated but ya, the prospect of them both going to chelsea is frightening... however, let's concentrate on us improving and leave them to do what they can. better than them getting both those players and cole going to milan! anyway here is the article. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/...--Football.html

That's it! how f***ign hell, I'm almost pitching a tent here just looking at that lineup.