Nibs

I was reading that at lunchtime today. QPR did give us a few beatings back then - oh how things have changed. Doug was well hard. Hard, but not that good!! Loved him for his commitment and passion, but he could be a bit of a disaster. The penalty in the classic 4-4 with Shef wed. When he nearly single handedly let Man City back in the Full Members Cup Final. And the sending off against Wimbledon when he completely lost the plot!!! Good Old Doug

What I am saying ES, is that IMO, Kalou is not of the standard to start week in week out for a team of our standing. We should not be in the position where we are having to rely on a squad type player. He would not be starting games for Man Utd, Liverpool or Arsenal. That's why I hope we do sign Anelka and Berbatov (although I too will be surprised if we do), so we can compete with our main rivals again and let Kalou develop when he gets his chance but not rely on him week in week out when he isn't good enough yet - nowhere near.

If we were to sign Anelka and Berbatov then I really don't think we will miss Kalou at all. At the moment for me he is a squad player and shouldn't be starting as many games as he has.

Good News. I'm someone that thinks that Lamps should not be a nailed on starter week in week out like he was throughout the Mourinho era. However, there is no doubt his value to the squad and when he is on form he is vital to us. I think it will be hard to get back that real spirit we had a couple of seasons ago when we had JT, Lamps, Cech, Gallas, Duffer and Eidur - unfortunately you lose players and some of that team spirit undoubtedly goes with it. But if we are about to bring in more new comers like Anelka etc, we need the stability of the likes of JT and Lamps and I hope they both stay with us until they finish their careers.

Why choose between the two? Why not take both? If Drogba is leaving we are gonna need two quality players anyway. I would get both of these two in ASAP and offload Pizarro and Sheva.

Don't get me wrong - I kinda agree with some of that. As most know, I'm pretty biased towards Joe, but even I would admit that he isn't doing it for us. When I say that, he is still contributing as much if not more than a lot of players, but I'd expect him to offer us what Fabregas offers the Gooners and Ronaldo offers Man Utd. Most of us know what Joe could be capable of when he is truly on song and I guess that's why he'll get criticised more than the likes of Kalou as perhaps we don't expect too much from them? But yesterday, of the attacking players I thought SWP and Ballack both did okay and were the pick. As I say, I thought Joe was pretty okay in the first half - lot of good movement and some good balls into the box but in the second half he was non existent and was rightly subbed (but it seems he was carrying a knock). Kalou was poor throughout. His touch was bad, he loses too many 50/50 balls and he doesn't appear to have much in the way of a footballing brain. Essien too was not great. Loads of mis-placed passes and just running about a lot does not count for much in my book. And Mikel? At times he looks class and unlike Kalou clearly does have a footballing brain, but he misses a fair number of tackles and was at fault for the build up to the Newcastle goal and I recall a very lazy back pass that could also have cost us big time. So all in all, we have quite a few who need to improve (although three of those will all be off to the ANC soon. Still, if they play like that, they'll be back with us sooner than we first thought).

You have to be joking. I've already said I was disappointed with Joe but in the first half he at least put 3 or 4 decent balls into the box that a good striker would have made count. As I say, aside from the goal Kalou was dreadful (and even that was offside). At times he looks totally out of his depth.

Just got home from the match and I'd pretty much agree with all of that. Thought we did okay first half and could easily have been 3 or 4 up. With a Drogba up front today I think we would have been. Our squad just looks so light weight at present and there really are not many options - especially attacking ones. Fairly bizarre substitutions although I did think Joe was poor second half and Ballack too had faded. Ironic that Kalou should score the winner as he was terrible. There is no way, with that side that we can win anything this season, but hopefully with the likes of Drogba and JT back and a signing or two in the transfer window, we can only improve - and boy we need to.

I've gone for SWP who just gets it over Ballack (who had a very good first half but faded greatly in the second - as did most of our players). Who voted for Kalou? Aside from the goal he was quite frankly woeful. Nowhere near good enough at this level.

That's pretty much what I woul go for too: cech beletti..tbh..alex...bridge ............mikel ..essien...........ballack ....joey................kalou .............sheva Plenty there in midfield to get forward and support Sheva. I think I would like to see Joe play more central and make runs through the middle like he used to in a kinda Gazza fashion. With Bridgey and beletti both hopefully pushing forward, we don't need too many players out wide. Joe really does need to start doing a bit more. I still have loads of faith in his ability but he needs to dominate games more and not flit in and out like he has been. That was always my frustration with Eidur - so much to offer but too inconsistant. That's where Utd and Arsenal have the advantage over us at the moment - more a less every week at least one of their players will be on top top form - be it Ronaldo / Rooney / Tevez or Fabregas /Van Persie whoever..... None of our best players are really doing it. As for Newcastle, they have looked crap but are the kind of team that will play better against stronger opposition, so I don't think we can write them off just because they looked dire against Wigan and Derby. Once again Avram and the lads are in pretty much a no win situation - expected to win and win well but if we do slip up - doesn't bare thinking about!!

Shed End Forum Favourite. Normally used when describing Obi Mikel. (I don't think Liam rates Mikel!!! - Must admit, although I think he is and has done okay - he hasn't done enough to win me over either - just seems in some peoples eyes he can do no wrong).

Just one of those great games of football that will be remembered for a long long time. At 0-2 most of us would gladly have accepted a draw but it was a roller coaster of emotions and we're all obviously gutted to have throw it away at the end with the game seemingly won. And I really cannot understand the comments of the pro Jose camp who come out with the "Give me 1-0 wins any day". I guess it all comes down to what we want and what we get out of watching football? Sure the trophies are great but if they are achived by grinding out 1-0 after 1-0 who can really be happy with that? The games that stand out will tend to be the games packed with incidents and yesterdays game had all that and some. I'm not convinced Grant is the man to take us forward long term but he has done okay up to now (including a number of 1-0's that so many of you love so much ) but I'm certainly not gonna slate the guy for a 4-4 draw when we are missing our skipper and leader and are without possibly the best striker in the world at the moment.

Must be something about Christmas time and our defence - way too much Christmas pud or something? 4 against Villa, 4 against Southampton (that must be 5-6 years ago now?) and who can forget the 4-2 defeat against Charlton at the Valley a few seasons back? Still cannot believe the Cech clanger for that second goal. That is as bad a goalkeeping mistake as you are ever likely to see - Bartez / Calamity James Territory. If that had been Hilario we would all be calling for the guy to be strung up by the bollox. Lets hope that is Cechs errors all out of the way, as it's starting to cost us big time and with no JT & Carvalho we need him on top form more than ever.

You were saying Just???

Don't f**king belive it - I knew I shouldn't have posted that

Come on - we must hold onto this now - please Can't wait to watch the highlights tonight. I'm going to the Newcastle game - bet that will be a 0-0 bore!!!

Ah, but then he's rubbish at step-overs. Falls on his arse every time apparently.

Looks pretty useful in the YouTube compilation, but is it more or are all the keepers in the clips extremely dodgy. I thought Ajax played in Holland not Scotland?

Essien did well but I've gone for Carvo. Just looks so comfortable on the ball. Starts a lot of good things for us. Great to have him back.

2-0 Goodnight scousers

All got a bit lively there, 1-0 up and then the sending off. Great stuff!!! We're all over them now and with Joe on to add a bit of weight, I'd like to see us go onto win by 3. Come on you BLUES

Fairly enjoyable first half. Shame we look a bit light weight where it matters and Sinclair looks like he's struggling at this level at the moment. Great to see Carvo back - he's looking class. Mikel looks class at times but too often thinks he has longer on the ball than he actually has. Too laid back and he needs a bit more urgency about his game.

Still very mixed on Anelka. Yes he knows all about the premiership and will be available for CL matches and he does seem to have matured a fair bit so I don't think the sulky thing is such an issue now. But at the same time we are liked with Anelka, Man Utd are again being linked with Berbatov and I think he would be a better long term purchase. Actually, if Drogba has already made his mind up that he is not staying past this season, we should sign both now, with a view to off-loading Sheva and Pizarro at some point. Man Utd already got Tevez and I hate the idea of them having Berbatov as well - i'd rather he remained at Spuds.

Bloody Loz. Should have known he was to blame. That's a relief actually as looking back at my comment on page two of this topic, I thought I might get some blame for tempting fate: Please let us get a result and please don't let Gallas pop up with one of trademark goals from a set piece But if Loz is around to carry the can, I'm more than happy

("ethicalstrategy [B) We never lost to Arsenal under Jose and first game up under Avram we lose.[/b]I know many don't agree but it's just there in the back of my mind. I don't recall a Mourinho side ever having to face Arsenal on their own ground without Drogba, Essien, Carvalho and then losing JT. If so, I think the Mourinho side would also have suffered defeat.