Twitcher

I wouldn't know, but you'd think we could have strengthened somehow. I lot of posts I've read recently talk about how strapped for cash we are. I had no idea we were so poor as a club. I acknowledge we've built the training facility but even so. At least it saves us all talking about signings pre-seaon. Clearly need to work with what we've got.

Why just Edouard? The question was a striker.

Agree with you but....do you think it was the correct decision not to sign a striker in January?

Chelsea v Man U - what do we want?

Not sure what you're basing that on; any evidence that's the case?

Fair enough, but let's not have any speculation on pre-season signings then, because nothing changes between January and July.

If we had the funds!?!. What have we done with it all?

Edouard should have happened January. Brendan determined we had enough strikers. People having a pop at Vardy; he's playing whilst he's injured clearly.

If Arsenal have done sod all, we've done........what's a phrase for considerably less than sod all?

£12.3m is nothing these days. What's that at best; a squad player?

Weren't Ndidi's feet outside the box on the pen, or doesn't that matter. I don't know the rule? His arms clearly in the box.

Shakhtar probably not a good example; but in some of the bigger leagues Lyon, Villarreal, Dortmund...... Maybe the best example is the team that was first mentioned; Spurs. I think there's a younger generation that have grown up and see the CL as the holy grail. Don't get me wrong when it was a knock-out European Cup it was the ultimate, but winning it, not just qualifying to be in it. I'd have an FA Cup any day versus qualifying for the CL and going out in the group stage, or the round after. Realistically we aren't likely to win it, and as Spurs et al are testament to, the money from it isn't life changing.

Plus all the other sides that compete in CL regularly across Europe and don't become big clubs. There's a list as long as your arm that will mean they'll always be a Shakhtar Donetsk and never a Barcelona regardless of how often they qualify. This notion that we'll become giants by sacrificing the Europa League and FA Cup by getting in the CL; not for me. Enjoy some trophies if you can. The wealth of your owners together with the sheer size of the club; gates, merchandise etc. will determine that. CL will help but it isn't the golden ticket.

Ah just looking at the draw it hurts. Not because it's Rangers, and that would have been an interesting tie, just merely the fact there doesn't look many left now as you look at the draw, and it would have been so nice to still be involved. Never mind. Onwards and upwards and all that.

I've calmed down. I've reflected on it and I still think if you look at nothing else, leaving Barnes out was a mistake. We'd lost a third of our creativity with Maddison out. You can't afford to lose two thirds and only play Tielemans. I'm a big fan of Albrighton. I've banged the drum for him on here, but they must have breathed a sigh of relief. What is it that Nasser Hussain says in the cricket; put yourself in the mind of the batsman, and operate the bowler they'd least like to face at that point in time.

You could certainly make a case for putting me in the overreaction camp with my comments on the other thread, but I'm not suggesting it's been a bad season, or the wheels have come off. I agree such comments are ridiculous. I've just temporarily lost the point of it all. A weakened side in Europe, so we can concentrate on the league and qualify for Europe so we can...... Apparently it's all about the money not trophies. Anyhow I've popped one of my purple tablets under my tongue and I'm off to bed. I'm sure it will all make sense in the morning.

Hopefully you've answered it there, but I wouldn't rule out BR making some changes.

Re. your last line; full strength or weakened side, with an eye on the league games either side.........? For me Man U. will spank a weakened side.

I don't think Champions League gives you that. It all helps yes, but the money from that won't make the difference. It's down to what your owners have got.

That and the Barnes foul at the end. SMACK!

Won't shoot you, but clarify doing well in the FA Cup. Is that going out to Man U. fielding a weakened side?

Yes very sad.

Got exactly what we deserved. I may have mentioned this before but incase anyone missed it; PLAY YOUR STRONGEST 11!! No I tell you what, don't. Let's play a weakened team in the cup against Man. U. as well, so we can concentrate on the league and getting into Europe, where we can.........play a weakened 11. What's the end game; shouldn't it be cups? Madness. Edit: Worrying that we never looked like scoring.

The new Steve Walsh.

Shout out to Vards for his contribution today. Need to remember games like this when the stats. freaks are quick to point out he's not scored for x games. His challenge with their two centre halves created the chance for Barnes to knock it to Maddison for the first. His shot that created the chance for Barnes for the second. Job done.