Martinus

What guy on talksport? Defoe similar to Suarez? A more accurate comparison would be I am similar to Defoe, not very good!

Reckon he is worried about his England place with the Euro's this summer

So you don't think our transfer policy in the summer was primarily aimed at signing British players? I think it's obvious it was, in terms of key signings that is.

I'm convinced Kenny saw him as his Ripley or Wilcox from his Blackburn days, providing the crosses for Carroll then (Shearer)

But the key signings, or the ones that cost the 'money' were British. 80 Mill on Carroll, Adam, Henderson and Downing, was poor business no hiding from that.

I am all for signing British players if they are the best, these days however they are very few and far between as evidenced by watching England play. I honestly can't think of an obtainable English player I would love us to sign, the dearth of quality is that apparent. What annoys me is seeing players like Downing being signed for nearly 20 Mill when he has always been an average footballer, I said the very same in the summer when we signed him and it has been proven correct. The likes of Defoe and Bent IF they are targets are also average players who are overpriced.

I don't think it matters if the player is British or foreign, more that the player is of better quality and better value, and generally speaking the answers to both of those questions should currently lead us to signing more players from the continent. What has Llorente's record been like this season? Seems to have gone quiet with him this season?

Coincidence that Suarez and Enrique have been our best signings? I feel in today's game better value is found on the continent, and again I know there are exceptions like Bellers, who has been a great buy as well but generally speaking we would be wiser looking abroad for the majority of our signings imo. And yes this is a thinly veiled response to us being linked to Defoe and Bent :-)

I don't think I said anywhere that Kenny doesn't sign foreign players, just that he appears to have a preference to British players.

And the outcome of this was? His successful times as a manager was with Us and Blackburn. Maybe he feels buying British is safer? We definitely had a 'Buy British' policy in the summer.

More of an observation that a criticism. Last time Kenny was managing at the highest level foreign signings were much less common then they are now. Thinking about the summer and some of the players being linked now, does he have a preference to British players?

But imagine Crouch cost 35 million the patience with him would not have lasted. But because he continually played eventually he started scoring. As I say it maybe the case that Carroll never becomes a player for us but he needs a run in the team, playing one game then sitting on the bench is never going to change anything.

Drogba looked an absolute carthorse in his first season at Chelsea and imo proved to be the best stiker on the planet for 4 seasons a absolute beast, unplayable at times. Shearer had done nothing at Southampton that Carroll hasn't for Newcastle.

I have no idea if Carroll will make it with us or not. The signs don't currently look good but surely he needs to be playing every game? Drogba didn't look very good for a long time at Chelsea. I remember everyone laughing when he claimed he was better than Eto'o I think he proved subsequently he was. Shearer had not done much for Southampton either when Kenny signed him for a then record fee. Carroll is young, he has a lot to learn the biggest problem is the fee, for 35 mill people want to see the finished article, a ready made world class player. The only way he will succeed here is if people forget that and assume he cost 10 mill. There was not a lot of critisicm when Crouch took 20 odd games to score, simply because he didn't cost a lot.

Problem is Bellamy aside no one else available could have done much to change things yesterday and by all accounts he is unable to play two games in quick succession. Carroll not starting is baffling its almost like he dosent get picked in the games where the onus is on us to attack almost as if we want him to struggle it's bizarre. Yesterday gave me the feeling of how we are planning on setting up in the cup games agaisnt the Manc clubs. Prioritising over top four?

Think I'd have Henderson over Adam and Downing over Maxi from that team. What about there's? Hart Zabaleta Richards Lescott Clichy Nasri Milner Barry De Jong Silva Aguero Still pretty strong!

Anyone seen Rory Smith's take on it? Seems a lot more balanced than anything else I've read. Having read Paul Hayward s article this morning this is what I don't get. He is basically saying that It is no excuse on Suarez's part to use cultural differences as an explanation as to why he has allegedly used the word 'Negro' The fact he uttered the word is what makes him guilty and the context in which he said it is completely irrelevant. The article then goes on to to say that Terry situation is different as he is yet to be found guilty, despite there being actual video evidence of Terry using racist language, the way I am reading it is that Terry could still escape punishment as the context in what he said does seem to matter! Absolutely shocking hypocrisy and that is the basis of the Rory Smith article http://www.theanfieldwrap.com/2011/12/hypocrisy-the-english-disease/

He's decent, an average player that found his level at Villa. I realise we needed width in the summer and maybe he was the best we could have got in the situation we were in and because of that we may have had to pay over the odds, but over the next few seasons I expect us to continue progressing and to kick on. I will be surprised if Downing is considered a first choice must beyond this season.

Two clear cut chances to win the game. Johnson's one on one and Adam's penalty miss. I know Dirk missed a penalty recently but still think he's the best penalty taker at the club and should have taken it last night.

A prolific centre forward and a fit and on form Gerrard is all that is stopping us from turning games like last night into three points. We have made remarkable progress in a year and I love the camaraderie the squad and manager appear to have. If anything positive has come from the Suarez situation is that it's galvanised everyone together and that can only make us stronger!

Damn it!! Okay then Cavani or Higuain will suffice!

Would be awesome if we got public backing from Latin speaking countries regarding this. Barcelona to loan us Villa for 8 weeks!

That is spot on, he is now considered a racist by everyone outside this club due to the words used in the FA statement (referencing the abuse relating to Evra's skin colour), the length of the ban, as well as the media headlines and the the ex-players who support the decision. They have indirectly called him racist with the hope that everyone will condemn him as a racist which is exactly what has happened. Absolutely disgusting.I was always against a breakaway European super league now I think its the only solution.

They may not have directly accused him of racism but that's how everyone will now perceive him outside of our club, the 8 game ban backs that up, since when has anyone ever been banned for 8 games for abusive language? The FA statement also references the abuse relating to the colour of Evra's skin. Throw into the mix the media's headlines and the ex player's backing the decision, Suarez's reputation will be tarnished forever.

If there is nothing Suarez can do to appeal beyond the FA it's a disgrace. You can't go around branding someone a racist with no evidence, He will be stuck with that tag forever now. I loved our statement, now we have to continue backing Suarez as far as we possibly can. We have to respond to the FA somehow. I would be all for pulling out of the FA cup for example. Absolute disgrace and stitch up.