[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

I'm not sure about this new-fangled "winning matches" fad. This wasn't how we used to do things back in the day. Whatever happened to racing into a 6-0 lead after ten minutes only to slowly concede half a dozen goals over the next eighty, with the last one coming a quarter of an hour into stoppage time? All this winning will never catch on, I tell thee.

"Tonight, Matthew, I'm going to be a world-class Scottish midfielder. Yes, actually there IS such a thing."

Eight points by the end of September is about the par I'd set for an adequate start to the season, so after a tough start, it was great to see us hit that mark and do it in some style. But now, of course, we have to try and build on it during a tricky October. Liverpool and Man Utd are both going through transitional wobbles of their own, which raises a few hopes that we might be able to get a result or two with confidence on our side, but of course, they both remain tough fixtures. I expect us to aim for the kind of cautious but clinical performance at Anfield that we turned in at White Hart Lane, with mostly the same personnel on the team sheet. The absent Wisdom will be replaced by either Gamboa or Baird; like most people, I'd like to see Gamboa given the nod, but suspect that Irvine may go with the experienced option.

If we can nick a point in either of the next two and grab a win against Palace, then that will represent a very good month's work for Irvine and the team.

[silverbaggie]

Just listening to a couple of pundits following Liverpool's defeat in Basle.

They reckon that Brendan Rogers has taken them as far as he can and that he will be out by the end of the season.

Was having a right go at Balotelli for lack of effort. Not a good replacement for Suarez he said. At least our players shouldn't get bitten.

The pundit actually said that he was really worried about the next game against us.

Oh how the worm has turned.

[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

Big Brendan will want a huge reaction from his players this weekend to take the pressure off him. It'll come down to whether he still commands enough respect and authority in that dressing room to get the reaction.

[pieandabovril]

I think this will be the game where Lescott shows us what a fantastic signing he has been.Leading the backfour against a barrage of Liverpool attacks,and helping the Team keep another clean sheet.Not going,but really looking forward to seeing the outcome of this one!

[BaggieMan]

Given our recent record against Liverpool and their current poor form, we could get something out of this fixture albeit we were stuffed there last season by Luis Chewarez.

[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

I find myself wondering if Balotelli's going to end up being a bit of a flop for them. They've bought him to fill the Suarez gap, but it's not quite happening yet, is it? Will the drought turn to frustration, and the frustration to tantrums?

(Watch this comment come back to haunt me this weekend...)

[wba_1996]

99% sure this will be the team:

Foster
Gamboa - Dawson - Lescott - Pocognoli
Gardner - Morrison
Dorrans - Sessegnon - Brunt
Berahino

Certainly not our "best XI", but 10 of them are undroppable after the Burnley performance/result and AI has already said that Gamboa will start in Wisdom's absence.

[drewks]

Don't think you'll be far away there, 1996.
With a bench full of the talent that we have, the onus will really be on the starting XI to produce the goods



Again

[Tom_Wba]

99% sure this will be the team:

Foster
Gamboa - Dawson - Lescott - Pocognoli
Gardner - Morrison
Dorrans - Sessegnon - Brunt
Berahino

Certainly not our "best XI", but 10 of them are undroppable after the Burnley performance/result and AI has already said that Gamboa will start in Wisdom's absence.

Yep that is Saturdays team for sure!

[drewks]

(Removed) - alleged Roy Hodgson statement may be fake.

...surely Roy wouldn't be foolish/naive/insensitive/FEKIN IDIOTIC enough to say that?!
If he DID, that's disrespectful and disgraceful