Epic Swindle

I'd love it, love it if we got 4th.

Moyes-Mancini having a set to.

Semi final of the FA Cup too. If we can get a run going and put the pressure on you never know.

Spurs have got Pompey at home on Saturday, t***s.

2-0 Blueslime.

Thought they were only 5 points behind. The GD is worth an extra point too.

Everton potentially only 2 points behind after tonight with a healthy looking run in. That would be the nightmare to end all nightmares.

Haha, see a post up. Absolute classic that. Dubya would be proud of that one.

"It's that cliche, Kevin (pause), that it's a good side that's performed badly tonight, but if a good side can perform badly and win they're not that bad a side"

There was a David Phillips who used to play for Norwich and Man City. Not sure how he's got that gig, if it is him.

So that's his name. One smug get. Who is he like.

Great goal Zamora. I really enjoy watching Fulham under Hodgson, good little side.

I can't see the mancs shelling out in the summer or even coming close to matching whatever he's demanding at Chelsea. If it's not resolved (I don't think he's in Ancelotti's plans, hence the hold up) then he has to choose an offer from another club, one probably a lot lower than he expected.

I'd put in him in the top class bracket, certainly before his latest injury. Clever player, can take people on and open up tight defences. Without huge investment I think he represents lesser risk than spending 7 or 8 million + wages on a young up and coming player from abroad, especially as Rafa's succesful buys in that price range tend to be defenders.

I'll take a draw. I don't want Everton breathing down our necks. Can't see anything other than a City win anyway.

I'd probably rather spend whatever's available on his wages than sign a middle of the road player in the mid range price bracket. He's only 28 and a proven performer in our league at the top level. The injuries are a worry, though I can't remember his record before this latest one.

Exactly. The idea that there's a Murdoch lead conspiracy is bordering on Evertonian style paranoia. Like them, our underachievment is down to a lack of vision and leadership at board level and we're still playing catch up.

I'm not even sure we need a CB. Skrtel hasn't become a bad player overnight and will improve with regular games. Carra can fill the squad role with the Greek. Riera's gone obviously, so I'd be looking to replace him, though Jovanic can play on the left as well as upfront. If Aurelio continues to waste away we'll need an experienced LB to aid Insua's progress, and spend whatever else is available on a creative player. I'd be on the phone to Joe Coles'a agent. We also have the likes of Pacheco ready to step up. We'd all like to be able to spend freely on the best players available but I don't think this squad needs massive changes, just retuning a bit, with hopefully a more adventurous approach.

That Duran kid is class. Very composed in posession and gets about the pitch.

Hard to disagree with much of that to be honest. She knows less than nothing about our financial situation though.

The ownership need sorting out but it's become an easy get out for some basic bad managment, poor results and top players on big bucks not giving a s***. The mancs' being in an even more perilous financial situation than us doesn't seem to have hampered their season, even after they lost the best player in the game, and we pushed them all the way only 12 months ago.

I think if we had the funds to bring in top quality I'd have no problem moving all those players on, and more. But in our current situation if we just saw more positive team selections which get the best out Aqualini, Babel, Benayoun and Maxi, then the likes of Kuyt, Lucas, etc, become good squad players. Riera is gone anyway, so replace him, stop perservering with square pegs in round holes and we'll flourish. But there's always the nagging doubt that he'll just revert to type.

If Benitez does get another season there's no point making mass changes and going through another transitional period. He'd be better off keeping everyone bar the fringe deadwood and just adding one or two to what is already a strong squad. Aqualini and Johnson should be fully integrated, the striker is already in the bag and we could do with another centre back or wide player. It's the approach that really needs freshening up more than any personel.

It's not his in nature to implement a more attacking game. Even with better players we'd still be tinged with fear. Look at his use of Aqualini and how we isolate a lethal striker like Torres. I don't hold that against him, it's just his way, but that mindset will never prove succesful in our league. He proved that to himself at the back of end of last season, yet here we are.

Maybe they just want to play for Liverpool. We're quite a big club.