From the Bee Hole End podcast…

[ClaretPete001]

If you were to ask 100 football fans to name the top 6 teams...how many do you think would name Sunderland?
Most football fans know what is meant by a top 6 club, you seem to have a view that's different to most.

No bet then?

I'm not betting on a misquote. I said Sunderland are 5th, which is a fact. I was not predicting whether they would eventually end up a top 5 team. I have no idea because they are a new team to the PL.

A top 6 club in the context of this conversation is a club in the top 6. Liverpool, Arsenal, Palace, Spurs and Sunderland with Bournemouth 6th....! And this is the problem with your argument even the so called lesser clubs are doing well including both promoted clubs.

You can't have it both ways. If you are suggesting that Palace, Sunderland and Bournemouth aren't top 6 clubs then where does that leave us? And I don't want to put words in his mouth but that is where Daz Bentley is coming from. As we speak Bournemouth have now gone 4th and Fulham are 8th. If we can't beat Leeds and Wolves who then are the weaker teams?

Can you see the central problem with your point? The more you emphasise the so called top 6 clubs that a hundred people would agree upon the more you have to account for the fact that in reality only Brentford and ourselves are not in the top 12 of the PL.

And the issue is not how bad we are but how strong the PL is - this season...!

[The Shire Claret]

We’ve been torn apart in every away game this season, the system isn’t working. Go and look at that 2nd Man United goal, Sunday league defending, a goalkeeper long punt from kick off, 15 seconds later it’s in our net. All these defensive players on the pitch and we can’t do the basics.

A stark contrast from the solid foundations of last season, thrown it all out of the window for some reason. Let’s instead put square pegs in round holes then wonder why we look so disjointed.

People are quick to say “oh but we’re competitive” whilst losing 3-0 at Spurs and 5-1 at City yet will say the Kompany side were crap and not competitive. The same Kompany side that lost twice at Spurs’ stadium by 1 goal and drew at Old Trafford.

Saying we’ve been torn apart in every away game this season is inaccurate.

The solid foundations last season have not been thrown away … we were the Man City in terms of resource's and squad quality …. Now we are the total opposite In this league

We have been competitive in every game but like last season where quality got us the wins … the quality of the other teams is making us fall short.

I think we will stay up this season but it’ll be getting points off the teams around us

[CoolClaret]

Spurs and Man United were 17th and 15th last season, why are they suddenly now top 6 sides to suit your argument?

Man united are so shite they nearly gifted us a point despite steam rolling us.

(albeit they lost) but United absolutely spanked Arsenal at home this year, beat Chelsea and I think they'll whip Sunderland tomorrow as well - they're a different beast at home.

I have a sneaky suspicion that the Villa game may be the last we see the 5 at the back for a few games - too much pressure having one of our marquee signings sat on the bench and Cullen will not get dropped (been a top performer).

[dougcollins]

A top 6 club in the context of this conversation is a club in the top 6. Liverpool, Arsenal, Palace, Spurs and Sunderland with Bournemouth 6th....! And this is the problem with your argument even the so called lesser clubs are doing well including both promoted clubs.

Bournemouth second tonight.

[KRBFC]

Saying we’ve been torn apart in every away game this season is inaccurate.

The solid foundations last season have not been thrown away … we were the Man City in terms of resource's and squad quality …. Now we are the total opposite In this league

We have been competitive in every game but like last season where quality got us the wins … the quality of the other teams is making us fall short.

I think we will stay up this season but it’ll be getting points off the teams around us

How is it inaccurate? We’ve shipped 13 goals in 3 away games and it should’ve been more, we should’ve been 3 down at half time at Old Trafford.

The solid foundations have been thrown away, we’re now playing some bizarre 5 at the back with square pegs in round holes. The defence looks completely lost.

Look at some of the goals we’ve conceded, school boy defending, proper comedy stuff.

[fidelcastro]

How is it inaccurate? We’ve shipped 13 goals in 3 away games and it should’ve been more, we should’ve been 3 down at half time at Old Trafford.

The solid foundations have been thrown away, we’re now playing some bizarre 5 at the back with square pegs in round holes. The defence looks completely lost.

Look at some of the goals we’ve conceded, school boy defending, proper comedy stuff.

It's actually 11 goals in those three away games, but don't let the facts get in the way!

[RVclaret]

How is it inaccurate? We’ve shipped 13 goals in 3 away games and it should’ve been more, we should’ve been 3 down at half time at Old Trafford.

The solid foundations have been thrown away, we’re now playing some bizarre 5 at the back with square pegs in round holes. The defence looks completely lost.

Look at some of the goals we’ve conceded, school boy defending, proper comedy stuff.

The real irony of your posting on the United game and how the back 5 is so bad & bizarre, is that game we started with a back 4, and as you say got torn apart… it was only after switching to a deeper 5-4-1 out of possession after around 35 min that we looked more solid and grew into the game, particularly second half. We also played more of a 4 against Sunderland until around 65 minutes when we flipped to a 5. Funny how you disappear from this board until there’s a bad result or two. Slagging Ekdal off all pre season and nowhere to be see after his outstanding performances in the 3 home games so far.

[KRBFC]

The real irony of your posting on the United game and how the back 5 is so bad & bizarre, is that game we started with a back 4, and as you say got torn apart… it was only after switching to a deeper 5-4-1 out of possession after around 35 min that we looked more solid and grew into the game, particularly second half. We also played more of a 4 against Sunderland until around 65 minutes when we flipped to a 5. Funny how you disappear from this board until there’s a bad result or two. Slagging Ekdal off all pre season and nowhere to be see after his outstanding performances in the 3 home games so far.

I was here after the Sunderland win and wasn’t here straight after the Man City loss.

I praised Ekdal after the Sunderland game btw and slagged him off after the Spurs game, I think that’s fair. He’s not good enough for the PL and never has been.

[CoolClaret]

I was here after the Sunderland win and wasn’t here straight after the Man City loss.

I praised Ekdal after the Sunderland game btw and slagged him off after the Spurs game, I think that’s fair. He’s not good enough for the PL and never has been.

How about trying to be measured with your opinions directly after games instead of being so extreme in either direction?

[Plissken]

But how else will he get the attention he so craves?