CHOULO19

Dunno, I didn't watch the match. But I'm not at all surprised that your whole argument is based on a single incident..

Can't agree with you there, mate. I think Mikel is better suited for the 4-3-3 but that does not mean he can't play in the current set up. The proof? Our best performances this season when we've dominated teams like Arsenal, Tottenham, Utd..etc and played truly great football was with Mikel playing in the pivot. When he has been played along side Ramires, with Mata and Hazard ahead of them, we've looked like we could beat anyone.

This neither the time nor the place to discuss this, but I always thought Kalou was a good squad player, which is exactly what he was for us all those years. Ferreira has become an important figure at the club, but when was the last season he played more than 5 matches? I'm not talking about duration at the club but about being a regular player at the top level. Bottom line is, Mikel has been a regular starter for one of the best of the most successful teams in Europe in the last 4-5 seasons under some of the best managers in the world. If he was as bad as some make him out to be then: 1) How come we have been so successful with him regularly in our lineup? 2) And why was he never replaced when we all know we had the financial power to go for almost any player in the world? I'm just saying that the likes of Mourinho, Carlo, Hiddink..etc must have seen something in his game that his critics are missing.

Funny thing, the guys at the saints forum thought that Shaw got battered by Moses in the first half and that Bertrand was of our better performers. Not saying I agree as I did not watch the match, just giving you a different perspective.

Blue Army deserves a shout out this month.

Is there a rule somewhere that we have to play teams when they're in their best form of the season?!

Sign him up!

Even worse we practically let him go for free as part of the Luiz deal. He'd literally walk into our starting XI now...Hopefully we've learned from that and will treat Ruben differently.

Was an unused sub as Boro lost another match.

He played 68 mins in a 2-2 draw with Brighton.

Meh, not too bothered that Marin didn't work out. I still think he was worth the bet for 7m, there was always a chance he won't work out.

You're completely right. And same goes for every Chelsea manager for the last 7-8 seasons. In fact, those managers were not hired by Roman, they were hired by Mikel so they would play him despite every one knowing he's completely shit..

Nop, still here. I didn't watch the match so I can't comment on his performance. But seeing as we conceded two and only managed to have 4 shots on target against Southampton, I'm guessing we had bigger problems than Mikel today. You can go on bashing Mikel all you want, which I'm sure you'll do, but fact is he will still be there on Monday starting against utd as will he still be in the starting lineup next season.

I couldn't watch the match and after seeing the result, I'm kinda glad about that. I won't read through this thread, I'm sure it's all doom and gloom. Best to forget this game and concentrate on Monday, now.

I wish you hadn't made that comparison! Hopefully Boga has the right attitude to make it here.

Has a scrappy 1-0 written all over it. Hope it goes our way though..

Mata is decent, but only from the right side!

I'm bored. It's either this or going back to studying for my Power Electronics exam

Cattermole belongs in the 80s. You just can't play football any more the way he does. John O'Shea would probably be playing the Championship if he didn't have utd on his CV. Larson might get in the starting XI because he's probably one of the best set piece takers in the league.

Fine let's scratch "solid". Which of these player would make the West Ham XI for example? Imo, none.

Was actually referring to the fact that Brambel has yet again scored an own goal, not that utd got a goal they don't deserve.

What solid players? The only decent players they have are Fletcher and probably Mingolet. Gardner and Bardsley are average. Everyone else probably won't make the starting line-up of any other PL team.

Brambel own goal. Surprise, surprise..

They have a very expensive squad. That doesn't make it solid.

LOL at utd being dominated by Sunderland early on!