deep blue

Only one way to find out!!

But there's an alternative way of looking at it. If Monga could have been supplied with the ball and started to run at the Man U defence then that could have forced Garnacho to stay back to track him. Monga running at the Man U defence could have had the additional effects of unnerving Man U and giving a fillip to our own players, and of course giving us a chance of snatching the winner. By making a negative sub (McAteer) it simply helped to put us more and more under pressure so that their winner was almost inevitable. Of course, it's a case of ifs & buts, but I'd always go for the more positive option.

I would phrase it slightly differently with Pearson - rather than "experience", I think it was "character" that was an important quality for him. Our Prem-winning side had bags of it.

But surely if, say, they targetted 3 players then shouldn't the increase in prices have meant that they could just drop one of the targets thus making it affordable to still bring in the other 2?

He just might be that good

I don't believe it ever was. Uninformed people panicked unnecessarily about it.

Doesn't matter. The key thing is that he overtakes Michael Owen

If I remember rightly, it was alleged that when Lennon was interviewed at Cov Atkinson asked him what position he played. Of course, it also helped that Lennon and O'Neill shared a common Irish background and were both avid Celtic supporters (well, nobody's perfect ).

About £700.

Anyone know what kind of midfielder Gronbaek is? I think people are wrong concentrating their thoughts on strikers and defenders. I think our priority is a commanding midfielder, one whose aggressive defending capabilities can give a bit more protection to our defence, someone who can fight to turn round possession but can also start up attacks. We don't have a midfielder with those qualities and it shows when other teams take control against us. Even when Ndidi comes back, at Prem level he's limited - a good defensive mid. Soumare looks to be closest in style but he just doesn't show enough alertness and commitment. As a side issue, does anyone think our squad is a little more unfit than others? I've no idea who's in charge of fitness now. The management support team has been in a state of flux over the last few seasons. I think that could be the reason we only seem to compete in patches.

Yes, I think we ran out of steam and let a lot of games slip at the end. Was that the season where we were 3-0 up at HT away to Wolves and lost 4-3 ?

I certainly have very fond memories of that team. So many emotional moments following them. Perhaps in part because you felt that you could identify very strongly with the players and manager, and I've never seen such a bunch of fighters. I think from those aspects they even just eclipse the title-winning team. I also have a strong feeling for how under-rated was Izzet, especially outside of Leicester ... I really struggle to think of any midfielder in the country who was so complete - he could do everything - and I go back 70 years in my interest in football.

... and win the Prem next season

On the other hand, if we don't think he's going to be good enough why are we keeping him and giving him half-hearted encouragement by including him in first team training and occasionally on the bench? Surely that means that he's rated within the club.? It all seems contradictory, just doesn't make sense.

There was a midfielder (who I haven't so far identified) who was loitering a few yards the wrong side of Barkley while the cross came over and wasn't alert enough to the danger in that situation. Had he been then he could have got back in time to close him down. Oops, not so obvious now looking at the still photo. I thought I saw someone close when I first saw the video.

Agreed - for RW we also have Monga in the pipeline. If this OH midfielder is Dutch then you'd think Ruud being here would give us an advantage.

Spurs brought on an 18-year old v Liverpool last night and he scored the winning goal. Our club is far too timid about throwing on young talent.

Was my first thought (but so many Erland, Izzet v Athletico etc etc). Wasn't that at Anfield during the Great Escape season?

Also, the better chance of beating other clubs to his signature.

Most on here will agree that part of the reason we have got ourselves into this mess is because we have offered over-generous contracts to players over the last few years. And now we are in an impossible situation where we desperately need a few quality additions but in order to entice them we will have to offer them big money. Can't see how we get out of this cycle. Possibly the only way is, as has been suggested, is to put our faith into talented youth, accept the likelihood of relegation, but then will be in a better position to start rebuilding the club again in the way we did under Vichai & Pearson. I'm not encouraged by the way we've neglected our academy players, though - many must see no clear upwards path towards the first team; we've already lost Nyoni, Monga may be next.

Great post!

I'm not so sure. If I remember right, Vardy had a groin problem that plagued him for a few seasons; even after an operation it gave him trouble. Haven't heard it mentioned for the last couple of seasons, though, so maybe it's settled down for him.

Thomas played well in the Prem until Rodgers lost interest in the team and several players lost their mojo. I suspect that when he joined Sheff U, almost the worst Prem team ever, his confidence was already low, and it couldn't have been improved in such a disastrous set-up. When he was dropped his replacement fared no better. I feel that there's still a decent player in there if his confidence can be restored and, yes, he's still pretty young. Maybe RVN is the manager who can do it.

Agreed, and some might say we weren't clinical, but I thought we more than matched them ... just didn't get the breaks. If we can play with that commitment from hereon then I think we have a chance of avoiding the drop.

Whatever the view on the performance overall, I don't see how you can be happy watching your team, 3-1 down, just allowing the oppo to play out the last 15 mins without any effort to press, to make a last ditch attempt to get something out of the game. There have been several instances this season of teams scoring 2 late goals; it's not impossible. I watched it in disbelief and actually felt sick seeing such a tepid surrender.