Baird of the land

Stick with xi that played well first half against Liverpool. Definitely don't start gaston.

Embarrassing 2nd half display. Absolutely awful display, lacking intensity and effort. First half some nice football but not the finishing needed and they got a rather lucky opener. Unless there's a severe kick up the behind we'll crash to a very disappointing mediocre finish.

Back to first XI that played against Hull and hopefully get a response to that atrocious cup display. Push on up the league.

Played ok. In hindsight should have shinned it in rather than trying to stroke it in. I'll blame the coach for his weakened lineup personally.

Really disappointed by potchettino's team selection. We lost up there playing a weakened team in the cup, drew with the first team and yet he for some reason made the decision to go with a weakened team again. There's no game midweek so why? Overall the better team won, sad really as Sunderland aren't anything special and I think our first xi is much better. Maybe it's because I value the fa cup that I find treating it in the same way as the league cup disgraceful. Back to the league and try and catch Man U I guess.

Appointing Meulensteen was a huge mistake in the first place. Far too late to make this change now though imo.

To me i'm leaning on the side of bad news. The whole notion of televising the games and staging them at main grounds seems designed to allow top 4/5 to create what in reality will be B teams like Spanish teams do and insert them above the championship level in a league of their own. Does nothing to provide 1st team opportunities but may act as attractive trap to lure in players.

After reading the article in the Yeovill programme that i assume this quote has been lifted from i got the impression that he might well leave but it would be more to do with him wanting to be playing regularly rather than the club desperately wanting rid of him.

Agree though I'd prefer to call him the Hargreaves of the next World Cup. Will require bravery to leave underperforming names such Wilshere, Lampard, cleverly etc at home. Really hope Hodgson surprises me and shows bravery.

McCarthy would be an excellent addition in my book.

Good news if Cork is entering Hodgson's thoughts.

Reasonable manager IMO. Not best but certainly not worst out there. Personally hope hull stay up.

Excellent result. Sounds like the midfield 3 played top drawer, especially Davis and Cork. That makes up for the slight disappointment of not taking all 3 points saturday. Can't believe we're within touching distance of Man U. Hopefully we can keep the momentum going in the Cup on Saturday.

I'd like to see a couple of changes considering its part of 3 games packed relatively closely together. Opportunity for Wanyama, Chambers & maybe JWP to come in.

Frustrating result, but i suppose 1 more to the total. 2nd goal we conceded was disappointing but they'd probably equally say the same.

The only way i can see a small element of it happening is with the rail seating idea. That would keep a lot of the safety of the all seater notion(allocated seat per person) whilst actually being safer providing the rail to stand against. Still don't see it happening anytime soon because Hillsborough groups will likely oppose even if evidence shows it'll be safer in reality.

Would be an amazing appointment if they could pull it off. If he doesn't go there and Poch is nabbed by Madrid in the summer i'd love us to make a play for him.

The move to remove his back room staff seemed fishy. I doubt laudrup was happy and they've gone for the nuclear option. Really hope saints don't end up in a similar position and we can keep potchettino and build on his initial success.

Given Lambert went down at the start of the 2nd half i'd assume he was still feeling it slightly yesterday.

Still think Gerrard can be an important player for england but he needs a ball winner alongside to free him up to be a threat. Think Wilshere/Henderson alongside Gerrard would be a disaster. If they don't gamble on a newby like cork the next best option would be Barry who has been excellent for Everton this season. Though i'd much prefer a younger option alongside Gerrard personally due to conditions in Brazil.

Thought he was meant to be off to Chelsea. I'd like us to go after Alex Mccarthy of Reading personally.

Definitely Cork and Clyne in for me. Bring Vic back in one of the numerous away games we have following the stoke game.

Cole can't get in the Chelsea side. If it wasn't for his reputation and no of england caps he would have no chance of going to Brazil. Sadly unless he gets injured don't think Shaw will get to go.

I'm very dubious of the value of pass completion statistics. Do they treat a simple 2 yard tap back the same as a through ball. Wanyama today did a number of short passes back to Fonte but had several wayward moments when trying more complex passes.

Been saying Fulham look relegation fodder for a while now. After seeing them in person i saw nothing to change my mind. Scattergun desperation approach to signings doesn't impress me either. Maybe Norwich as they didn't impress me despite them somehow beating us. And maybe Cardiff.