Jase

Think is the implications of finishing outside the Top 4 is worse than firing AVB. Would Roman actually take that risk. I'm not sure.

We all thought he's probably going to score against Portsmouth but it didn't happen. Can't see anything changing for this weekend as well.

Somewhat just for fun, would like to a back 5(including GK) of Englishmen. --------Turnbull-------- Sam-Cahill-Terry-Ryan

Abject performance from the players and AVB's post match comments with BBC about how he has not prepared too well for Everton was just shocking and pathetic! So much for what he said before that about not underestimating Everton given our poor record at Goodison. Also, has anyone notice how we've been losing those 50-50 challenges on the ball or even dare to go make a challenge lately? In the last few years, we've been a dominant, physical and capable of overpowering any team out there. Now, we look like a bunch of sissies when going into challenges!

Would take him back any time, any day and any week of the year. Shouldn't have been sacked or left in the first place.

Just a thought but does anyone think that AVB is maybe just a flash in the pan? Yes, he did very well with Porto last season and won the treble with them but you get managers who achieved a lot in their first full season in charge of a club and then go floundering in the next. Not saying this on hindsight but I was never 100% supportive of his appointment mainly because he's still young and pretty much inexperience. Would have preferred him to stayed at Porto, seeing how he deals with the expectation level and the Champions League, against the top teams and top managers. Right now, he just leaves more questions than answers every week.

Effectivity went downhill since then? Really? I guess you must have such a short term memory that you forgot his goals, assists and contribution to the team when we won the FA Cup under Hiddink and the double under Ancelotti.

Not this again. Think the last time people wrote him off, he end up scoring a hat-trick and some vital goals for us along the way. I agree with people that he probably shouldn't be a starter anymore but he's definitely not past it. He can still play a role for us.

According to AVB in his PC, he should be back for next week against Birmingham. Hope it's true. We need him against Napoli! I blame Luiz for that!

Did I say they beat Juventus? I would probably be happier to go in as underdog judging by how things have went this season. We have always seem to performed better when our backs are against the wall and people don't expect much from us in the game. In non-numerical terms, I was merely pointing out that our form is pretty similar at the moment and even you mentioned it in the post I quoted earlier. On the EPL vs Serie A subject, I find it harsh and even somewhat crazy to say Napoli might be relegated if they played in the EPL. No doubt the EPL is way more competitive than the Serie A but with the quality in their squad, I'm sure they would be sitting comfortably somewhere in midtable or higher if they were playing in the Premier League at this moment.

Problem is they are like Liverpool. They raise themselves for the big games but couldn't against the lesser sides. They have beaten Udinese, Milan & Inter while also drawing with Milan, Juventus and Lazio and all of those teams are in the current Top 5 of Serie A. Against the bottom 5 clubs, they have only beaten Lecce and Cesena while drawing against the likes of Bologna, Siena and Novara. Just to add, our in recent run of form is pretty similar to them: Chelsea's Last 11 Matches in all competitions: P11 W4 D6 L1 F15 A11 CS4 Napoli's Last 11 Matches in all competitions: P11 W4 D4 L3 F19 A13 CS3 Chelsea's Last 9 Premier League Games: P9 W2 D6 L1 F11 A11 CS2 Napoli's Last 9 Serie A Games: P9 W2 D5 L2 F15 A11 CS2 Furthermore, with the 3rd and final Champions League spot looking a distance away for Napoli in Serie A, they may actually look to concentrate on progressing in the Champions League.

They and the media are just as pathetic and deluded as ever! Have no idea what was said in that show but judging from the charge of United there, they are absolutely spot on AND I would think they were not as deluded as the media, pundits and fans here in England. It's not like United had to put in some sort monstrous effort to get the 3 goals. They may have bossed possession, knocking the ball around but all their shots were from distance despite being on target and Cech was pretty comfortable at dealing with them. Those 2 f***ing penalties came from rather two wayward attacks!! @Steve: Wow! Those images are amazing! Where did you get that from?

Would pick Essien. He did exceptionally well in his first start after coming back from injury. Put in some good challenges, making vital blocks and interceptions throughout the game.

That image just looks so wrong!

No surprises coming from goal.com there. He was solid, did nothing wrong and could have won us the game. That 5.5 rating probably come from that Welbeck non-penalty incident in that 1st half in which the media have brainwashed the entire nation to believe it should have been penalty for United then.

Thought he did well last night in debut. Did what needs to be done defensively and made some vital interceptions throughout the game. Would have been great if his that spectacular shot entered net and for one moment, I actually thought it was going in! Hopefully, we'll get to see more of him this season and become better for us!

Really feel sorry for Mata TBH. He has scored some real wonderful goals this season(vs Arsenal, Fulham & United) but we always end up talking about the performances, results, referee's decisions and among others and hardly anything about his goal.

Only a win here would make me feel happy after what happened yesterday. However, it's not exactly a fixture that I'm always looking forward to given how dull and cagey these games can be. Also, as some have pointed out, we don't have a good record at Goodison in the league in recent years. We have won 2, drew 1 and lost 2 in our last 5 visits there but the last win came on 18/4/2008 in the 1-0 victory when Avram Grant was in charge! Essien scored a good goal from distance IIRC. That 2 defeats have came in our last 2 trips. To make matters worse, our last last 8 Premier League games make grim reading. Won just ONCE, drew FIVE and lost TWICE. That sole win came in this season's reverse fixture however. Mike Jones was the referee in that home game and he will be again in this one. We have won ALL five games that he's been in charge of us. Hoping that continues this Saturday.

And yet, we're still sitting 4th. Just goes to show how crap we, Newcastle, Arsenal and Liverpool have all been.

Nope. It's Mike Jones and Phil Dowd is the referee for United vs Liverpool. Cue controversies at Old Trafford this Saturday.

Still feeling extremely gutted, disgusted and aggrieved as I still could not believe what happened yesterday. It was pure sickening when that joke of Howard Webb gave the second penalty. To give one non-penalty in a game is bad enough but to give two?! Farcical and to think this referee officiated the World Cup. An absolute disgrace!