coachpotato

Divock is our fourth striker, but surely there’s no debate that we could have a better option. There’s no doubt that there are likely better options out there. There’s no doubt that a club with its stock as high as ours currently is, could and should be looking for a better option if there is the desire to remain at the top, and you’re more likely to attract better players when you’re at the top of your game. I would be very surprised if the club hasn’t been looking to improve in every area, not just at strikers, to bolster the squad, however, that said, we don’t know who if anyone has been considered or approached, or maybe it is felt we already have the answers available or maybe the players we’re looking at are too expensive. We always used to strengthen the squad when we were winning things, as did united, so the precedent has been set, what will be interesting is whether we let players go and then elect not to replace them.

Any half decent striker should be able to score a few goals in our team. Divock is a half decent striker who has, fortunately, scored important goals for us as well, to the point where in many eyes he has built up a fair few credits. Problem is if one of the front three get injured or if they’re misfiring or out of sorts, we don’t have the same level of quality to replace them, and Divock won’t always produce the goals when they’re needed. Given the number of games we play, it should be possible to find a good fourth striker and give them a sufficient number of games to keep them happy, while, hopefully, maintaining a level in the team. It’s called managing.

Having seen how poor we’ve been recently, I bet Lampard really fancied their chances. Then from the first whistle he’d seen first hand how we can play. Obviously that pissed him off and his reaction to Kovacic’s foul was likely more of “oh shit don’t give it away there” knowing also what Trent can do and which he duly did. It should have ended as they all left the pitch, so to keep harping on about it shows he’s learned from his time at Chelsea, and don’t forget City, that everyone that hasn’t got more money than you should just let you have your own way. Unfortunately for Frank, gawd bless ‘im, he’s going to have to learn the hard way that class will always beat cash, and that his understanding of arrogance is way off the mark, what he, his former manager and teammates at Chav central had was arrogance, what he faced at Anfield the other night was a well earned and hard fought for superiority complex.

If he does divide fans then, really, he shouldn’t. Whenever Jordan isn’t in the side, you notice it. Over time he’s proved, I believe beyond doubt, that his presence in our midfield is pivotal to our better performances. Look at how we’ve struggled since his injury recently, our defence has been exposed more and, probably due to some drop off due to having won the league already as well, we’ve conceded the most number of goals per game in that period than we have all season. Jordan would’ve been out there shouting, directing, cajoling and, yes, captaining the team and demanding no drop off in performance even though the league was won. He won’t always be able to command in that way, but he’s got to a point in his career now where he is the most influential captain in the Premier League.

Rudiger has left something in nearly every time he’s made a challenge. Needless to say Marriner hasn’t seen anything wrong with that and hasn’t even had a word.

Having missed the easier ones, Mo will likely score a worldie now.

Oooof! Against the run of play that. Like Giroud though , think he’s decent That needs to be the last gift this season though.

Chelsea more physical in the challenges. Might have to give a bit back here.

Bizzies helicopter.

Top, top fella is Luis. There’s a few like. ”Once you’ve been touched.......” Ooops.

I guess most teams see beating us as the pinnacle of their achievements, whereas City are just another rich team that they don’t give a fuck about losing to?

Sharper since the substitutions except in the one area it matters, in the box.

Samuels club is West Ham. The only way they are going to win anything is to be taken over by owners similarly to City, and pissing over the rules in the same way. The “advantage” they have is they are a London club, with a new (dodgy) ground. No wonder he doesn’t want FFP.

I’ve thought an “NFL” of European Football was always a possibility. A logical progression even. Not that I particularly like the idea. Could be a step nearer with what has happened now. Everything up for grabs maybe.

I’d like to think that UEFA might be smarting from the decision that City got and, in their own corrupt way, might make it as difficult as possible for them to win the Champions League. What I can’t stop thinking is that UEFA’s own incompetence, in not realising the poor timing of the case actually gave CAS an easy decision, was done deliberately and knowingly, and that UEFA themselves were complicit in making it easy for City to get off lightly. I’d like to think the Premier League might also take action against City for the fact that they weren’t cleared of the charges, that they are still guilty of cheating and got off on a technicality with CAS, but that their philandering is still evident. But I guess I shouldn’t hold my breath.

Get that points record in the bag and any other record we can muster. If they get let off Scot free then you can bet there’ll be an unbelievable amount spent by them, and any other club funded similarly, and likely to our detriment. I could see FSG throwing in the towel in the face of that kind of imbalance and possibly selling us to the highest bidder.

Some of our short passing has been absolute gash.

Bobby hasn’t been very good. Hope he gets a goal soon, might buck him up a bit.

Making hard work of this.

Could Mo have squared that to the Ox?

All over the place defensively compared to earlier in the season.

Come on Reds. Back on it hey! CHAMPIONS!

If they don’t gift us any more goals we might not win this after all. Right on it for the first 20 minutes, but since then we’ve been a bit slack, they’re having loads of joy down both flanks, that Lamptey kid looks useful. Neco needs to just be careful with this ref, one more mistake could see him off. Keita has played well, which is something I hope I get to say more often.

Money talks, obviously, so the compromise will be a one year ban and a fine, no one loses, no one wins.