rubberman

I think it's a real shame. We're not exactly blessed with strength in depth (or even at first choice). It seems Remi wants to use Veretout in the more advanced CM role and Gil hasn't really shown enough out when he has been played out wide. There would be many more names on my list to ship out before we get to Carles, but if moving him on (with Gabby, Zog and Kozak) gets us a more balanced side to play the way Remi wants then I'll go with that.

I expect pretty much dakid's team. Gil on for Veretout when he tires and Adama for Gestede with 30 to go, if we still need a winner. ..and just to annoy Hanoi, 1-0 to Villa.

Taking 8 of us across 3 generations to this for a rare trip to VP and a farewell to the premier league. Really hope it won't be too depressing for the kids - they already get enough grief from their Chelsea and Arsenal supporting mates.

Needs at least 30 mins this weekend. Not 3.

Well, you'll have to have Hutton instead of Richards. Unfortunately.

WIN. Believe. It's time.

Heh. Thanks!

Panto season?

rubberman Chelsea 1-0 Sunderland Everton 2-2 Leicester ManUtd 1-0 Norwich Southampton 1-1 Spurs Stoke 1-1 Palace WestBrom 1-1 Bournemouth Newcastle 1-2 Villa Watford 0-2 Liverpool Swansea 0-1 WestHam Arsenal 2-0 ManCity http://pastebin.com/KbzZYCkP

Having lost arguably 2 of our best performing players in Amavi and Richards has made an already difficult job nigh on impossible. I'm really not about to blame Remi over the last few games and whatever happens over the rest of the season and next , I'd still like to see what he can build here.

I think Rudy's 8 metres brings the team average down a fair bit.

I know I shouldn't, but I can't help beginning to feel excited that this weekend could see a change in our fortunes. I've read the incredibly depressing stats about our record at Newcastle and then there's their recent run. I know there's nothing to back it up. But at this time of the week my hopes start to rise - it's so painful.

From his comments after the game, he wasn't expecting to get anything from Arsenal and is focusing on the next run of games against those around (ha!) us. I assume he was going for a Man City-style point. Given other bottom half teams' results against the 'top' teams that's the first disappointing sign for me. However, I think (hope) we'll see a more aggressive set-up for the next few weeks. Remi knows this is it for our season. Whatever happens though I'd like him to stay and build something. I'll send him some glitter to sprinkle on the turd he's polishing.

Nothing has changed for me after the Arsenal game. Expected nothing, got nothing. Like (a very few) others though I'm not giving up yet. It was always til the end of Jan for us to be finally doomed or have a sniff of survival for me, but we have to start the winning now. I'm pretty sure it won't happen, and seeing the results every other team bar us is managing to pull off is a nail in the coffin each time. But...I still hold the smallest margin of hope, that something will click for this team and a first win could breed the confidence to get a run going. A piece of luck going our way, a cheeky penalty, an own goal, a dodgy decision - any small thing to turn it round. Starting Saturday please.

Expected nothing else. At least we didn't get battered. 4 weeks now to see if we have any balls at all.

Any youtube clips of this kid? Sounds good.

rubberman Norwich 0-3 Everton Palace 2-1 Southampton ManCity 2-1 Swansea Sunderland 1-1 Watford WestHam 1-0 Stoke Bournemouth 0-1 ManUtd Villa 0-3 Arsenal Liverpool 1-0 WestBrom Spurs 2-0 Newcastle Leicester 2-1 Chelsea http://pastebin.com/DzvhuKFF

If Remi's decided Libor doesn't offer what he needs and is prepared to ship him out despite our position that suggests to me he has someone else lined up to come in in Jan. Personally, I think he'd be worth a try, but hey - I'm not paid the big bucks.

So...Amavi: Made a few early mistakes but looked a great signing until he got crocked. Ayew: Took a few games, but looks good. Veretout: took longer, but given enough game time now seems to be coming good. Okore back and had a good game. There is definite, if painfully slow, progress being made. If Jack's kick up the bum has the right effect, who knows - we might be getting somewhere. IF they all start playing well consistently and at the same time....will probably just click in time for the next Arsenal game!

What worries me about going down is that if Randy cuts his losses and sells for cheap, the standard of owner we'll get may very well be far, far worse than we have now. At least selling us as a Premier League club for £150m limits the buyers out there (as we've seen from the limited interest) to those with a decent amount of cash. Opening it up to potential buyers the next tier down scares me.

I think the Championship would be very tough for us to get out of. Like anyone, I would prefer to see us winning than losing every week, but we have to fight to stay up and try to rebuild. To see the likes of Stoke, Watford, Palace and of course Leicester so comfortably way above us is depressing enough, but I really don't want to be looking up at them from the division below while we battle it out with MK Dons.

Anything would be brilliant against Arsenal. The Bournemouth and Newcastle results are bad but don't completely kill us off. For me it's all about the next four weeks and until then I'm remaining slightly hopeful. If (big if) we can beat Norwich and Newcastle, the next four fixtures will make a massive difference. And if we can't beat them, then we're done. Norwich have: Everton, Man U and Spurs + us. 0 points - still on 13 if we win. Bournemouth have: Man U, Baggies, Palace and Arsenal. +2? - 15 Newcastle: Spurs, us, Everton, Baggies. +1? - 14 Sunderland: Watford, Chelsea, Citeh and Liverpool. +1? - 13 We'd be on 12, assuming nothing from Arsenal or West Ham. And it's game on. (Also assuming Baggies keep drawing and the big teams pull their fingers out).

December - 6 more Jan - 6-7 Feb - 6 Mar - 1 Apr - 6-7 May - 3 Final Total - 34-36 and therefore probably need to get something from Arsenal on the last day, fail and go down.

Yeah - Another completely new back 4 combo no doubt contributed to the terrible first half hour. Without injuries I think we'd be looking much more solid now, but that's the game and we're by no means worse off than others. Okore back looks positive, and who knows, but Ilori looks close and might help. I would have taken a point beforehand, but Newcastle and Bournemouth's results make it not enough. If only Westwood had hit the target...

Friday night is cocktail night at the rubberman's. It came from trying to use up various holiday stickies and has ended up with us buying a full cabinet, shaker, glasses etc. Tonight is a winter negroni: Bourbon, Campari and sweet vermouth + dash of vanilla bitters.