madras

A decent CF in the summer and we’d currently be fighting for European football*, infuriating to say the least. *providing Southampton don’t win the FA Cup. We wouldn't like. We'd be comfortable though and not worrying about relegation the way we have recently.

His best game for a long while today even without the goal.

Deserved win and should have been clear by half time, We are a decent centre forward away from being a solid at least mid table team (if they exist anymore).

he will add the 100m tv money to whatever he was holding our for last time. Not so sure. I'd guess that both parties would have an idea of the size of the new package so that would've been factored in to the original price. Personally hoping that as soon as safety is assured (hopefully!, not counting my chickens) then Staveley comes back with that bid without the need for the clause this time as it seemed like Ashley would be prepared to do business if it wasn't for the clause.

When he was first mentioned coming here I was practically wanking over it, telling all my mates how good he was, a frigging genius, which he could be. He started off that way aswell but as time went on, in the ground, I found myself screaming at him more and more, quite often for basics, standing still 30yds out unmarked while we attack down the other side (scored twice I think, Bolton and Villa away from actually moving, could have had a dozen more). Yes he should have played before Raylor et al (check the predicted team threads from around that time, I even lost a pint to Mick over being sure he'd play, which I still owe him actually), but fucking hell, look at how many games Joselu got and theres a fair possibility that his not starting then had as much to do with dressing room stuff. It could be quite telling that we are desperate for a no10, Ben Arfa wouldn't be expensive and Benitez won't touch him.

Not really. Many don't mind a player not tracking back etc if he's good enough when we have the ball, Robert and Ginola fit this. It's always pissed me off when anyone questioned Ben Arfa's work it's his defensive work that's always brought up, his work rate when WE had the ball was the problem as he just didn't give a shit unless the ball was in his immediate vacinity and too often he'd take on and beat 3 players only to run the ball out or leave too tight an angle to get an effective ball in to get away with it. As a fan I loved watching his skill but I can see why not many managers wanted him and why his career has went as it has. But this was highly effective. I disagree and would say if it was as effective as you think his career wouldn't have panned out as it has. You can disagree, but it's still wrong purely because he WAS highly effective. He was by far the most effective player in our squad and the goals, assists, and match winning goals back that up. That good and never got a sniff at the bigger clubs. Wonder why that was ? Blame Pardew all you want and he does shoulder a fair bit, but Ben Arfa wasn't blameless and his career bares that out.

Not really. Many don't mind a player not tracking back etc if he's good enough when we have the ball, Robert and Ginola fit this. It's always pissed me off when anyone questioned Ben Arfa's work it's his defensive work that's always brought up, his work rate when WE had the ball was the problem as he just didn't give a shit unless the ball was in his immediate vacinity and too often he'd take on and beat 3 players only to run the ball out or leave too tight an angle to get an effective ball in to get away with it. As a fan I loved watching his skill but I can see why not many managers wanted him and why his career has went as it has. But this was highly effective. I disagree and would say if it was as effective as you think his career wouldn't have panned out as it has.

Not really. Many don't mind a player not tracking back etc if he's good enough when we have the ball, Robert and Ginola fit this. It's always pissed me off when anyone questioned Ben Arfa's work it's his defensive work that's always brought up, his work rate when WE had the ball was the problem as he just didn't give a shit unless the ball was in his immediate vacinity and too often he'd take on and beat 3 players only to run the ball out or leave too tight an angle to get an effective ball in to get away with it. As a fan I loved watching his skill but I can see why not many managers wanted him and why his career has went as it has.

Kelly V Portsmouth and Walsh V Leicester for the sheer release. I thought Bernard V Chelsea may have had a mention, a bit like Perez's where everyone touched it but against better opposition and the type of goal the media wanks over when other teams score them.

There's a few lads from work going over. Irony being that the lad who goes regular can't get the day off.

Neighbours aye. Might just be my neighbour like.

I'm 50 and fortunate that for the vast majority of my lifetime we've been the better team.

Nah not really. My sister lives next door to an Indian family and theres regularly a knock at the door and one of the kids'll be there (heck, they're in their 20's now) with a tray full saying "mam made too much". Come to think of it my neighbour often makes us cakes and she always gets a couple of bowls when I make soup. Yeah my neighbours are Indian and there's often a knock on the door and some delights being delivered. Usually left over food from temple or some gathering or party. Always insanely good. Aye I remember stuff like that very similar. Wor lass will go to some African function and any left over food gets divided up between them to hand out to neighbours or friends. Naturally when it comes home I get first dabs. They don’t tell you that about Indians and Africans in Brexit by the way... Hang on thats not peculiar to Africans and Indians. I've had many a bait provided by left overs from Birthdays/Weddings/Funerals etc.

They'll cling to it for it's literally all they have.

Nah, we were neighbours for about 4 years and we got on well and would always talk in the mornings or whatever. They were elderly with their son and his wfe and kids living there, two houses into one. I was single, constant takeaways I think they rook pity on me. It wasn't every week of course, but easily once a month. It’s custom mind in some Indian/Muslim/African communities to give food to others/neighbours. It's a basic in most religions I think and just generally being a nice person.

Nah not really. My sister lives next door to an Indian family and theres regularly a knock at the door and one of the kids'll be there (heck, they're in their 20's now) with a tray full saying "mam made too much". Come to think of it my neighbour often makes us cakes and she always gets a couple of bowls when I make soup.

No one think he's changed his tactics (not just formations) this season ? From the frigid teams that played at Brighton and Huddersfield and the rigidity for too long home to Watford we've went after teams, since about (I'm guessing here) the West Ham away game we've been a different team, much more pro active (obviously more defensive for the man city and liverpool games)

could it be Algeria just called him up as he is their biggest name, big focal point in their dressing room type thing. No intention on playing and possibly wanting to check his fitness given our record ?

So why would it be better or more authentic in the US ? ASlso which ingrediants are rare over here necessary in Indian cooking ? Shit man we've had the banana for nigh on a millenia now.

You've probably not had many in the UK either, since most 'Indian' food here is Bangladeshi and Pakistani restaurants who have anglicized dishes for British tastes and to more obtainable ingredients. Indeed it is essentially a British food in itself, and a success story of immigration. Exactly the kind of thing I'm referring to when it comes to the variety and types of food in the US. If they Anglicize it for over here wouldn't they Americanize it for over there ?

Holy shit. Ha ha ha ha ha ha! Any link for this?! go to RTG and check any of the last few Derby threads.

I think if they do go down they will struggle in that league. First home game will see 10k if that and in the lower leagues you need momentum. A double relegation will be hard to suddenly snap out of. I don’t even think the team they have now would get out of that league. There are some good teams, solid, experienced teams and they will become a scalp for many. Darker days loom for them Would love to agree with you but you only have to look at the teams at the top of L1 this year to understand that there is a significant drop off from the Champo. The bottom three from last year's champo make up 3 of the top 4 spots this year and all have won 20 plus games including Rotherham who were as bad, if not worse than the Mackems are this year. They'll bounce straight back up, most likely but I expect them to be more of a Leeds than a Wolves in terms of making that next leap to back to the PL. Theres a poster on RTG called Grumpy Old Man who appears to work in the financial sector. He was one of the first to state which way they were headed and has been level headed about their position. Always said administration was unlikely this season andshowed his workings out. Reckons they'll still have enough to be a small financial bully at that level.

It bugs me. Another thing that bugs me, Matt LeBlanc said the thing he doesn't like about the UK is the food. What's he eating or not getting here that he can get in the USA? Is this a serious post? Variety and choice of food in America is far greater than here, due to the much greater cultural diversity and the easier access to ingredients. Its quite possibly the opposite. In the same way many Brits don't like foreign food he just hankers after the basic stuff he's used to. Like the Brit going to Spain and wanting egg chips and beans.

Holy s***. Fucking hell. Absolute meltdown. Not only does he stereotype Scousers as criminals/thieves, but he uses every perpetuated stereotype of Newcastle United fans on RTG. Superb. Thing is it was wheeled out every derby etc and has became a kind of prayer for them. Ha!

Holy shit. Holy exactly. It's like a religion to them, blind to everything that doesn't fit the dogma.