JDY

Just not make the atmosphere so hostile that it negatively affects performance. I felt so embarrassed when they were booing Torres. You can't really get any lower than booing your own player, even if he is terrible. How on earth is that going to help?

You have every right to. But is what you're doing helping at all?

You make it sound like it is everyone in the ground. I go to the Bridge every week and was there tonight, there are a lot of people with common sense who are fed up with the booing and the general negativity at the matches. Unfortunately there are just more morons who think by making the atmosphere as hostile as possible, they will achieve something or it will have a positive effect. Regarding the game, it was a dire performance overall, even when we were two up. Southampton's changes made a difference and as the match went on we lost control in the midfield. As a certain Mr.Hiddink would say, you need to react. We didn't make changes early enough and they punished us. Seen it countless times over the years at the Bridge.

It's not about you though (not in a harsh way), it's about Roman. Over the past two years he's invested in a specific type of player so that we can play the expansive brand of football he craves. The final piece of the jigsaw (for Roman), was Guardiola. It makes zero sense for Jose to return. Does Jose care about style? No, he's a winner. Would Jose come back only to be told what to do again? No. He believed in Pep's philosophy to the point where he was the ONLY option. At the end of the day, Roman put all his eggs in one basket hoping (relying) on Pep coming to us. Those eggs have cracked open and slapped him in the face.

This has royally screwed us over. The club was pinning their hopes in Pep coming to the Bridge. Sigh.

I'd prefer Capoue. The guy is a complete tank and has shown his versatility playing in multiple positions and roles over the past few seasons. He will only get better and better.

Until I see a picture of him holding up a Valencia shirt, rumours are rumours.

The worst thing about the article is if you read the 'best rated' comments people actually believe that the club are treating him disgracefully.

Was at the Bridge when he scored that bicycle kick vs Leeds. Amazing goal. Always used to do his celebration when I played Sunday league

The funny thing is that he gets criticised for what is a common trait of a centre forward - selfishness. But it only gets highlighted with Sturridge because his finishing is bad. Once he improves on this aspect he will be a very good player. Unpredictability is his strength, not his weakness.

Good read. Going to start taking more notice of Laudrup's transfer targets! PS: Does anyone know where you can download full matches?

The lay off to Frank was class. I held my breath today as I thought it was him down clutching his knee! But it was Ramires thankfully. (inb4racist)

Again, can he do it on a warm evening in Barcelona?

Ramires was in the wars today, especially in the first half when Stoke were pressing forward. Think he made 5 tackles in the space of like 15 minutes! Great energy.

Rarely do you see a player that has been so good for a club 'replaced' by anyone. Another player has to step up, adapt, and will bring different qualities. Arsenal didn't replace Henry. United didn't replace Ronaldo. Liverpool didn't replace Alonso. We didn't replace Drogba.

We saw him alright!

I'm basing it on the quotes that came out a while ago from his agent that said under no circumstance will he be offered a new deal. All I'm saying is that if Frank knows this, then he shouldn't be saying to the media that he doesn't know if the club will offer him a contract. All that is doing is putting pressure on the club from the media & making the club look like villains again. I mentioned in my other post that he's probably doing it unintentionally, as he's just desperate to stay.

I agree. This whole situation could've been avoided if Frank didn't play dumb to the media. If he just said something like 'We have planned talks over a new contract at the end of the season' none of this would be happening. But instead the image of the club (not that anyone liked us anyway) is being dragged through the dirt again.

Will we see Eden on a cold day in Stoke?

The situation is an absolute shambles. I respect the clubs decision in letting Frank go, financially you can see the logic behind it & for the rebuilding process under a new (and hopefully long term) management team. But the way the situation is being handled is ridiculous, from both the club and the player (resulting in the leeching media). Someone mentioned his name earlier as an argument for Frank staying with us. But in fact that situation was very similar to this one. That being Raul & Real Madrid. It was made clear that the 'higher ups' in Madrid wanted him to leave, as they were on the dawn of a new era with Mourinho at the helm. Raul accepted the fact that his time was up & unless he wanted to sit on the bench being fourth choice he would have to move. Similar to Frank, he still had something to offer and demonstrated that when at Schalke. No hard feelings or bitterness during the departure, that's how it should be. The only odd thing was that for such a legend at Madrid he was given quite a low key send off. With the Lampard situation, it's been made perfectly clear that the club won't be offering him a new deal. I doubt they will change their mind on it, no matter what he does for the rest of the season. I'm sure Frank knows this to, and this is the point that I don't understand. When Frank is interviewed on his future at the club, he needs to stop acting like he doesn't know if he will be offered a new deal or not. The media have absolutely gone to town on the club because of this and vilified our treatment of a club legend. It's obviously not intentional from Frank, after all, he only wants to stay and it is understandable. But the club have already made their stance, so I honestly think it would be best for Frank to just accept it, and have him or the club announce that he will be leaving at the end of the season. The longer that this drags on, the worse it will be. The last thing anyone wants is Frank to leave on a sour note.

Can't argue with £8-12m

Realistically what club would want Torres if we tried to offload him?

Then say it to the people who bring it up. Why accuse someone of double standards they haven't criticized the likes of Luiz or Mikel if they make a mistake

Correct me if I'm wrong but most of the comments since have been slating him. But I agree about Luiz, and if it was Lampard nothing would be said. Look, they were two bad mistakes. Unfortunately ones that cost us the match. I'm not going to sit here and and keep going on about how bad they were. Just because some choose vent there frustration here doesn't mean everyone should. I'm sure we were all thinking the same thing when both goals were scored.

Sigh.