blueisthecolour85

I'm still convinced that Carlo is the best manager for the job at the moment as without investment no-one else will be able to do much better. Too many of our star players getting on a bit - we haven't spent enough on refrshing the swuad over the past few seasons. Even when we were winning the league we should have been looking at the next generation (bit like the Aussie cricket team!) now we are paying the price.

Will we have £100million to spend though? Cos the way Roman has been in recent months suggest he isn't going to be digging deep into his pockets anytime soon - very worrying!!

Easier said than done! Possible in football manager maybe, but we can't just cherry pick the world's best players anymore. Carlo is going to have to be clever with his signings - provided he stays in his job.

Rafa is still living off that lucky 05 Champs League win, he can do know wrong. True Roy has made some mistakes and bought some dodgy players but Rafa started the downturn. I hope he does come back and when it all goes t*ts up they may finally realise that he isn't that good a manager.

It's hard to tell which youngsters will make it our not, often they look amazing in the reserves but then all-of-a-sudden can't cope in the Prem. A patient approach is needed as they need time to get used to the pace of the game. I agree though hat s far the most promising ones seems to be Kakuta and McEachran, though we need to give them time and not get on their backs if they have a bad game.

Sacking Carlo would be a massive mistake IMO, he is claerly a great manager but other factors have been at play this season that have contributed to our poor form. If Roman isn't going to sanction a wild spending spree then we are going to have to do things the old fashioned way - i.e slowly building a team over a few years, bringing young players through etc... We have everything in place to do that. It may mean a few lean years but it would be far more satisfying when we do win something again.

Rafa was doomed as soon as he started making demands, just because his side had beaten a team from Congo. He has taken the European champions to 7th in Serie A in the space of six months and he thinks he should be the one issuing ultimatums?! The man's arrogance knows no bounds

Play-offs to decide champions in football is never really a good idea but something nees to be done to try and level out Scottish football. It is slowly dieing and interest is never going to increase if the same two teams swap trophies every year. I don't agree that Rangers and Celtic should join the English league either but if they did they should start right from the very bottom like everyone else.

Agreed, all that fuss would have been for nothing!! It is great news though, he has slowly been integrated into the first-team this year. I reckon by the start of next season he will be a regular.

To be honest I can see him staying and signing a new deal. It is amazing how a few extra million quid will change someone's mind. I think kia joorabchian has too much involvement + I think he has forced this on Tevez in some sort of ego trip with Garry Cook. If he does stay then coming so soon after the Rooney saga it is a dangerous precident and anotehr example of how players hold all the power nowadays - which is definitely a bad thing

Considering who we could have got we can't complain with that draw. Yes they will be tough as they are relatively unkown + plus will be up for it as it is their first Champs Legaue campaign in a while. But if we play to our best we are good enough to get through.

Ha ha! His transformation is complete!!!!

Charlton fans were monaing a few years ago that Cirbishley had taken them as far as he could - looked what happened there! The new owners are being naive and taking Blackburn's place in the PL for granted. They are a small club and if they think even £50 milllion of investment will get them into the top four then they are deluded - City spent three times that last season and only made 5th. I can understand why they don't like Allardyce's stlye of play but it was at least effective and ok in the short-term until they find a replacement. By saying they may take a few months is laughable - they may regret the decision to ge rid if they are in the Ch'ship this time next year.

Roma or Lyon for me, København are new to the competition and will be well up for it. We are definitely cpapable of winning it but like any cup I would like the eaiest route possible to the latter stages so we can save our best performances until then.

Well said!! The only problem with today's journalism is that there is so much rubbish spouted on the TV and in the press that the public don't know what is true or what is complete bullsh*t anymore, especially in football journalism. Therefore many layman will not see the difference between guys like Jennings and your run-of-the-mill News Of The World journo making up transfer stories from his desk. Lets face it, Journailsts aren't very popular people but this is their chance to improve their image. The first to sneak into FIFA and crack the whole sordid consipracy open will be deemed a national hero!!

It is up there with one of the most mystifiying decisions I have ever seen in football. Even if it was a decent name brought in the disruption and anger among the players and supporters caused by Hughton's dismissal has already put them under pressure. In the past the fans have been accused of forcing managers out and being knee jerk in their reactions. On this occasion though they knew Hughton was the right man and have been screwed over once more by Ashley. If they end up going down there is only one man to blame

I agree, Roman's grand plan for letting us go on our meery way without his help just doesn't seem to be working. I don't think it would take that much but the longer he leaves it (and the closer Terry et al get to retirement) the worse things will get.

Wa-hey!!!

The fact November is out of the way is a relief!! A clean slate for everyone! The return of Essien and Terry is massive for us. I reckon we will get a welcome win to get our season back on track.

If FIFA were determined to open up new markets by giving the WC to new nations regardless of any apparent weaknesses with their bids then we should have dropped out, or at least been encouraged to drop out, a long time ago. We were never going to win even if we had got our house in order. The splits between the FA and the PL, the lack of leadership, critcism of FIFA, rule breaking and journos sticking their noses into FIFA's dirty little secrets just gave them ample excuses not to choose us.

The two best bids in terms of infrastructure and length of time since they last hosted the WC (if ever) is England in 2018 and Oz in 2022. I can't believe that the US is a front runner consdiering they only hosted it in 94, same with Spain/Portugal. Qatar and Russia are forught with practical issues - the heat and/or transport. But as previously said these issues aren't a priority when your handed a brown envelope stuffed with cash..

Allardyce loves Man United so he was always going to roll over for them.

It cant be long before he is back though, just a week or so. Terry coming back will be a boost as our defence looks flimsy without him. Arteta is suspended for them which is good, plus I don' think they are playing very well at the moment. It could be a good time to play them - unless they raise their game of course!!

I'll be watching, they are usually great games and I like the re-scheduling to Monday night. Interesting to see how Mourinho 'the translator' fares against his old side - will he run on the pitch if Real win like he did with Inter last season? And if so will Barca turn the sprinklers on again??!!!

Like any tie against lower league opposition you have to takw the game seriously as for them it is their biggest game of the season and will be well up for ti. I agree that our recent injuries may mean we can't afford to rest people, especially as it is coming straight after the busy Christmas period. Can't complain with a home draw though....