deep blue

... 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.

My pet theory, probably complete rubbish, is that you should seize the moment with youngsters and thrust them in at the moment when they're on the up and full of confidence, continue the momentum in their development. On the other hand, if you miss that opportunity and the youngster gets frustrated by it, starts to see no forward path, and loses that momentum then they'll soon reach a point where they start to go stale and their development will start to tail off. If there's any truth to that theory then our recent managers have failed badly and hindered the long-term progress of the club. I certainly feel that Wormleighton should have been given more encouragement. 2 years ago he was looking very good; just think how much better we could have been faring this season with a solid right back. I do wonder whether there would have been a better chance of keeping hold of Nyoni if he could have been more optimistic of being pushed forward here in the way that Liverpool have done. Keeping my eyes closely on the Monga situation now.

I think the midfielder is the most crucial. Get someone, preferably box-to-box, but even just a DM, who has energy and toughness, who can protect our defence better than at present, and that could paper over the cracks in our defenders. I'm assuming finances and the difficulties of the winter window, not to mention our unattractive position at the moment, will limit the number & quality of purchases we can make. But if we could manage a few, clearly we are short of a quality RB, CB and forward too. It's a shame we haven't felt able to give our youth more of a showing. If either of Alves, Cartwright, Evans, even Monga, and any others I'm unaware of, could step up that would help and would be forward-looking to next season too (especially if we end up Championship), but I guess that's too much to hope for.

Apologies. The "Will" didn't register

What about Alvez?

That's what I fear ... they'll come out right up for it and we'll be half asleep.

Muzzy, Pearson, Fuchs; possibly Steve Walsh the transfer guru, Shakespeare, Arthur Rowley.

My worst scenario is seeing Liverpool being 3 or 4 goals up at halftime and bringing on Trey Nyoni to score a 2nd half hattrick to really rub it in. Not looking forward to this game at all. I will be "obliged" to watch it in the company of my Liverpool-supporting, and obviously gloating, son-in-law and 2 grandsons. What an end to my Christmas

People over-worry about FFP. Losing 6 points is nothing compared to the gain you can make with a decent signing.

Everyone on here seems to have missed that we have Cartwright on the bench. He's the obvious replacement for Choudhury or Skipp. Only problem - is it too much of an ask of an academy youngster in such a high intensity game and against such an experienced midfield?

Also, if we need reinforcements in any area of the team we are covered on the bench for all positions. Were Alves to be included over Cartwright then we would have no cover for DM.

You should join our forum permanently. You're sounding just like a Leicester fan in your appreciation of your team, especially during our dark days under Cooper.

Sensational pass.