Eggy McMuffin

I think Aguero is better, but I'm starting to think that Studge and Aguero are too similar, so Pato might be the better option. I think both like to play just off the front man, whereas Pato is better at actually being the front man... Although I haven't seen an abundant amount of Pato, that's just how I've seen him.

It's back now Plok.

It seems FC Twente have won the league... unfortunately I've lost my stream as it's now FC Twente.

Not too sure about that, Gerrard has been quite awful... not just in this game, but the whole season... Lampard hasn't been great, but still better than Gerrard. I'd prefer a 4-3-3, with Anelka and Malouda on either wing and Deco, Lampard and Ballack in the centre.

I still think we need to bring Deco, or possibly Joe on for Kalou. Either move them to the tip of the diamond and go for a 4-4-2 diamond... or move Malouda on the wing, with Deco in the centre/Cole and an Elk on the wings. Just give us a bit of an extra spark... Deco would love the space we're being afforded in midfield though.

I missed the Masch one when my stream went down, but I'd assume it's because Ballack has made a couple of fouls similar to it now.

If nothing happens soon, I'd say Deco on for Kalou. We need something to spark everyone into life... and f**king quickly.

I've got a beer on the go... I think this counts as a special occasion where you can drink anything you want. Although having not had breakfast it is a little weird, I must admit. :P

No.... wait, you're Irish, you even need to ask? :P

I haven't been nervous all week, thanks to the distracting stress at work, with my only employee not doing any work at all and me not being allowed to sack her... and her knowing it. Now is a different story, my stomach is in knots, I'm in a state... I'm gonna get some beer in me... probably won't help, but f**k it. COME ON CHELSEA!

Possibly because she's the most likely Republican candidate for the next American elections. She also has a massive following, for having beliefs which are effectively just the policies of the Republican party. She's pro life and pro guns, which to me seems like quite a strange view, but oh well... Anyway, she's very likely to end up running next year... oh and I think she works on Fox news now, too... She does seem made for it.

Anelka might have to get used to going down the pecking order... In fact a few players might have to cope with it. That's the only way we can improve the squad in any meaningful way. Anelka is 31, Drogba is 32. We need to take the pressure off them with a signing. Aguero may be too similar to Studge, so Pato might be more successful, but I still want Aguero anyway. ;) Aguero's first season here, I'd see him moving Anelka down the pecking order, and then in his second season become our main striker, hopefully with Studge good enough to knock either Anelka or Drogba down to 4th in the pecking order, as by then they'll be getting on quite a bit and it'll probably be time for them to leave the squad all together. If we wait for one of Drogba/Anelka to need replacing, we won't have the luxury of giving our new signing a season to get used to the English football, and it's something which can even take 2 or 3 seasons, look at Malouda for an example of that. We need to sign a striker now, or risk having a season of mediocrity down the line... it doesn't matter if it annoys Anelka, the team is more important than his ego... the downside lies in giving Sturridge, and Borini more competition, but I still think it could be worth it for us in the long run, as to be honest I'm not convinced about Borini making it.

I believe they have it closest to whichever side is ahead in the league (thus favourites). Which means it'll be in or around London... whether they'll have a fake one for the mancs to look wistfully at, I'm not sure.

Moos's sig?

Ah, so that explains the urge I had to get in a load of alcohol... good, I thought I was developing a problem!

The bookies closed at 21:30, so couldn't collect my winnings for the first time ever. Anyway, It was a good game, the second leg will be a cracker. Barca going all out will be great to watch.

I put a fiver on Inter, but I lost my stream for about 15 minutes, during which Inter equalised... oh well, come on Jose!

So it WAS you rummaging around down there!

You've never complained about mine. God, I feel like I've become Moi.... Oh and welcome! :P

I dunno, I'd rather have Anelka there. We can always bring Drogba on if we're lacking defensively... especially if we get to be a couple of goals up.

You want Ferreira at centre back and want Drogba just to defend the throw ins? I think Drogba playing would be a really, really bad idea. Or at least starting him would be. We'd end up pumping the ball up to him, and playing a long ball game against Stoke isn't the way to go. Anelka's pace would give them far more problems. Also, surely Zhirkov should be on the wing and Malouda inside? Malouda has shown that he can play in the centre, and Zhirkov has shown he can't.

I'm going to add in something I wrote in another thread a few weeks back.... I'd possibly like to add Rodwell to it, but that's because I'm greedy and think he'll be world class. Something I've been thinking about is our strength in depth if we sign, say Aguero and Silva, my idea of who we need, or at least the type of player we need. I'll show that we could put together 3 teams, in 3 varying formations and see where they stack up against other teams in the league. Drogba Aguero Silva Lampard Essien Mikel Cole Terry Alex Bosingwa Cech Second string in a 4-3-3: Anelka Cole------------------- Stoch Malouda Ballack Belletti Zhirkov Carvalho Mancienne Ivanovich Turnbull Third team, flat 4-4-2: Kalou Sturridge Kakuta Deco Matic Tore Bertrand Van Aanholt Bruma Ferreira Hilario Seriously that is crazy. First team would be good enough to win the league, our second would be fighting for the Champions league, and our third, would at least stay up. No other side could produce that, but honestly that wouldn't be feasible. I think we need to look long and hard at who is surplus to requirements, personally I see Deco, Ballack, Carvalho, Ferreira and possibly Belletti and Kalou needing a thank you and a ticket to mainland Europe. Our first XI wouldn't be affected by any of those players leaving, so lets look at our second and third teams to see what's left. Anelka Cole-------------------Stoch Malouda Kakuta Matic Zhirkov Mancienne Bruma Ivanovich Turnbull Third XI: Borini Sturridge Tore [none] [none] [none] Bertrand Van Aanholt Hutchinson [none] Hilario Right, so it's a bit thinner, but certainly not weak, although personally I'd feel that without Ferreira, Carvalho and Belletti our back line could do with a boost, so as not to rely too much on the kids. Obviously we want to blood them in, but it's a position where it's far more risky to do so. So I reckon keeping hold of one of them, would be best, as signing someone would put the kids too far down in the pecking order for me. That's just two signings, and six departures, yet we'd still have strength, depth and a greatly reduced average age. We could possibly sign another holding mid to cover Mikel, and maybe a young right back. Neither would be all too necessary though as long as Carlo is willing to trust our youngsters. It really, just depends on how deep Roman is willing to dig into his pockets as much as anything, but yeah. I just felt like putting in my view into the mixer. These massive lists of signings just seem pointless to me, we really don't need that many players... our team isn't too bad ya' know.

Yeah, that could be an option, but we'd have to play Ballack as a holding midfielder (assuming Mikel isn't fit) which isn't ideal in my view. Although he could be, I dunno. I would rather risk Ferreira at right back, than Bruma at centre back against Stoke, considering how they play.

Spuds as we all know lack consistency. Three wins in a row is too consistent for them, so they'll lose. They'll roll over and probably lose by a margin which'll affect our goal difference a decent amount. I have no faith in them doing us any favours... at all.

Bring Cole and Essien back... although maybe just have Essien on the bench, don't want to rush him back. Anelka Zhirkov---------------------------Kalou Malouda Lampard Essien Cole Alex Ivanovich Ferreira Cech With a bench along the lines of Hilario, Carvalho Deco, Ballack, Drogba, Cole, and Bruma on it. We'll have some options to change the game should we need to. We'd have our most pacy midfield in to try and overrun them, and a pacy front line too. With the option of bringing on Joe Cole, Deco or Drogba, or even Ballack if we need to change it up a bit. I too am still in a foul mood, but f**k it. Onwards and upwards. It's still in our hands.