This is my worry about playing a full strength squad, are we in danger of damaging our confidence or momentum for the league campaign?

Open goal, they all count

Who Zeefuik is he?

Tbf, Spurs have a tight wage structure and can't imagine Spanish wages keeping up with PL so at his age maybe it is his last big contract to get as much as possible

Odd move from trippier, why go from la liga winners to a relegation scrap. Can't see Newcastle doing enough to stay up this season so it's a pointless relegation to get on your CV. God I hope they go down

Who are we signing for £82k. In todays market I'd fetch a fee of £82k and I haven't played a game of football since 5 aside 9 years ago.

I would go fringe players for this as well with some good backup on the bench if things aren't going to plan. Not because of fatigue, we've had an easy December but all it takes is a bad challenge on one of our key players to derail the league campaign when imo they don't need to be playing. We've been crying out to see Butterworth, so let him start. Carter would benefit from first team game time and league 1 opposition is a good chance for that. Johnson and Davenport aren't starting in the league but they're players we'd be relying on in the event of injuries and suspensions. Ayala would benefit from some match sharpness as well. It's not like we're fielding the U23s, we need to trust the fringe players against league 1 opposition because if we don't, what does that say about potentially bringing them into the first team when needed in the league? People look down on teams fielding a weekend squad in Cup comps but it's how the likes of TAA and Curtis Jones broke through into the Liverpool first team. It's a good opportunity to see youngsters without derailing the league campaign.

Was just about to say the same. We've had a very easy December mostly playing just once a week.

I'm about 32 weeks behind you, you can be my canary down the mine. If things get rough for you I've got 7 months to fake my death and move to South America

In fairness to the venkys, for all their flaws, they've always been pretty good when it comes to selling players. Squeezing money out of the Phil Jones deal, not having to sell unless we have to etc. I see no reason for that to change when it's vital to keep someone

Get out

The thing with BBD is that he has two values. The value to us, second in the table thanks to his 20 goals so far. Then there's the value to the buying team, if I was a PL club I wouldn't be looking to spend more than £15-20m on a championship striker who has had 6 good months who could very easily not cut it in the prem how many big scorers in the championship have gone on to do not a lot in the PL. The two values are so far apart it means only an imbecile or someone with no footballing interest in the club would sell in January.

It's not beyond the realms of possibility that cavani could have got 8 PL goals if he had the same minutes as him

I look at united squad, especially in attack, and see a lot of pure quality but also stroppyness and ability to sulk. Ronaldo enhances this for me. Was always a Ronaldo fan but he's gone down in my estimations this season. Attitude is a bit sucky.

Playing well from what I've read and with plenty to do as well

Can't win them all but we didn't lose it and we move second. Table looks nice

I echo the opinion on Newcastle fans. A lot in my home town are Newcastle fans and I went to uni in Newcastle so have come across a lot of Newcastle fans in my time and can't stand them. I work with one Newcastle fan who seem a bit less entitled and really knows his stuff and has realistic expectations but he really is the exception. All fingers crossed for a relegation.

Imagine something in Gallagher clicks and he bangs in 20 goals only for him to leave on a free the next summer. Fans would be in uproar.

Shows your age as well 😉

Happy to report that I did not put a foot through the ceiling

Not for me. At the start of the season I'd have said worth a punt on a pay as you play basis but as others have said we've got a settled dressing room and I don't think his attitude will add to that one bit.

They must have heard that half of blackburn now has £10k knocking around

Appreciate its only 20 mins but Derby leading against Stoke. Doing a decent job Rooney, I wouldn't bet against them staying up (but the odds are turd so I'm not betting for it either). If they were Diaz odds I'd have a fiver on them

Reinvested a fiver of my Diaz winnings into rovers to score 85 league goals 18/1

I think so, but after many more hours than I care to admit + some swearing, I'm not sure anymore