GaryWalsh

I agree that 4th place is going to be no walk in the park but I'm more worried about the Scouse than the Arse. Why should we think that Liverpool might win a second cup? Surely it's surprising enough that they've made one final... they beat Utd in one FA Cup game and some of our fans are thinking they might win it? There's still us, spuds and arsenal in it.

Can't see it happening. As someone said earlier, not this season. Mou won't let anything disrupt their chances of the title this season. Maybe try back in the summer

The pessimist in me says we won't be able to attract him over Barca/Madrid. The opportunist in me says that if he were to end up at Madrid, Angel Di Maria may become somewhat more expendable for them, and a realistic target for us.

Oddly, they don't sound Scouse, or is my ear for an accent that poor?

Junior Hoilett isn't it? I heard from a mate that the Scouse might have him wrapped up. Remains to be seen though. Ruiz just joined Fulham, he's 26 years old so I guess you might get away with calling him young.. Can't see him leaving right now though, like I said he just joined, and for around 10m, they'd want a fair bit more from a rival like us. Gary Cahill - yeah good player, solid, cheap, looks very likely to arrive. Seamus Coleman is a funny one, I can't figure out if he's a Right-winger playing RB or a right-back playing Right-winger, because Moyes uses him in both positions. Anyone know what his natural game is? Seems to get forward competently

I know this isn't really to the point, but Bellamy isn't on your books anymore. Liverpool signed him on a free transfer. More to the point, I think I'm with most fans when I say we want to persist with AVB and give him time to mould the team in his vision. Some of our players are square pegs for round holes at the moment, it'll take time to re-mould them or bring in some round pegs, if you will.

Tbh I wish people would stop claiming "5 points behind United" ... United aren't leading. Sure they've been our main title rival in recent seasons, but if we're starting to use the 2nd placed team (who are 5 points behind the 1st placed team) as our yardstick..... Everyone is still in the FA Cup, therefore its a nonsensical justification of our season. The fact is, we've had a terrible start to the season and its on the players and AVB to turn it around. Apologies to the mods for this is quite off topic - back to Lucas: Liverpool will miss him, breaks up play superbly.

Sell: Kalou - mediocre, never good enough, time to move on. Sell sell sell. Anelka - flog him to PSG for more money than he warrants. They'll probably pay it. He'd likely fancy joining them too. Bosingwa - unreliable defensively, not good enough, might fetch circa £7m. Mikel - rubbish. I'm sorry, but he's poor. Time to go. Might fetch a decent fee, say £10m. Buy: Unfortunately I don't think we can expect to sign a player like Eden Hazard in our current situation. Being wooed by Barca, Real, and City, and has the world at his fingertips, I just feel like he's going to sign for the very best, and (notwithstanding a major turnaround this season) that's just not us at the moment. With that said, these are the players I would say we sign: Gary Cahill - Cheap, could be the answer our backline needs. He's class at last-ditch blocks and plays in a body-on-the-line fashion. In short, he has balls. Shinji Kagawa - young Japanese player from Dortmund, he's a creative spark who's comfortable in possession - silky on the ball - and would operate well in a midfield 3. I watch a fair amount of Bundesliga and he's impressed me. Ezequiel Lavezzi - sometimes the less heralded member of the Cavani-Hamsik-Lavezzi triumvirate, he's a willing runner with bags of skill, plays with that Latin fire, a decent finisher and really pacey. Could combine well with the likes of Mata, Danny and Torres (although probably not all at once!)

The f**k.

Can we really leave Anelka out on the weekend after how good he was when he came on? Tough selection for the gaffer, Sturridge/Anelka/Torres all played well and Mata is clearly undroppable. Good dilemma to have, mind.

Realistic....?

I'd say Carroll more likely, has a shocking record of behavior. Downing quite a model pro from all accounts, likewise Scotty Parker. Surely not A.Young, he seems to have his head right that kid. Any chance of SWP?

Rooney and Ferdinand weren't cheap...

Barring the "7 years his junior" isn't that EXACTLY what Zhirkov is for us??

Luiz, Ramires, Drogba all decent-good. Good save from Cech. The rest were all gash. Carlo better have a plan-B because something's just not working. Frustrating

I think it was a pen, but PETR SAVES!!!!!

F*******CKK!!!! Luiz has been fantastic all night and now THIS COME ON PETR

He's been working his socks off since he came on hasn't he. Bit of a conundrum we have here, need to secure 4th place (so need to play the combination most likely to win us games) but we also need to get Torres some confidence/goals

David Luiz is boss. Seems to win every tackle and is so comfortable on the ball

OOOOHH so good from Drogba! Very close.

If you keep Torres on though you've gotta play one of himself or Drogba out of position on the side, or play a midfielder out of position on the side, or play the diamond... all bad options. Both are far better through the middle. It's up to Carlo to make that work

This. Barring that attempt just now, he's been woeful. I'd have kept Anelka on.

Settle down David! Would have been such an unnecessary penalty to give away

Fulham defending decently well, we need a bit more imagination

What a waste! Why do we take the FK quickly after Schwarzer handles in the box. Those are very hard to stop if you take your time! GRRR