Beren

Ba doesn't want #9 and we wouldn't give him a five year contract. Class interview that was.

So much speculation. I'm as healthily skeptical as the next guy, but they're not bad business people. They're hard-nosed bastards, in fact They don't seem the compromising type (cf Carroll's fee, Nolan's contract, Barton's contract etc) Really struggle to believe they'll have bought Demba with a view for such a marginal return on their investment. If signing-on-fees and agents' fees really do tot up to £5m, as suggested, then we'd get very little out of this. I think they've probably negotiated any release clause off the table (except perhaps a relegation-based one to get him off the wagebook if we sink) in return for a better goal-bonus clause or sommat. Makes more sense to me, and makes me feel better.

On what basis? Would have to be a fairly big troll for EVERYONE to be getting it wrong tbf. That's how the press work though isn't it, one person says something and the rest all start reporting as fact whether it's correct or not. And bingo was her name-o.

On what basis?

Sub £7m release clause my ass

Whoever it is, Pardew will need to make sure our team is fired up before sending them out. Big test IMO.

Ooh, I hope Man Utd and Liverpool go out. Shut it you

Good draw this. Two of: Everton Fulham Man UTd Liverpool are out.

Ugh. Gus Poyet and the cup.

Sunderland will be away at Stoke.

Who did we draw in the rehearsal?

McClean looks shit-hot.

Tiote and Ba back for fourth round?

Haha. You still confident of a second half of the season surge for seventh (or thereabouts)?

I joke a lot of the time but we've had some absolute shockers this season. Even a Tim Howard goal couldn't hide the fact our game vs Bolton was offensive to anyone who follows football in any capacity. That match had some moments of quality (albeit not from the team you wanted), the Stoke match at Goodison by contrast was just soul-crushing. True, I remember you saying you watched it. Imagine cheering on the side who were the WORSE side in that game. Actually, just to give some comparison, we played comfortably better vs Stoke than we did against Bolton. Solid. It's been a magical season, Beren. Magical. If it's any console, I feel worse for Brummie! Although Villa have picked up of late, thankfully (for his sake!).

I joke a lot of the time but we've had some absolute shockers this season. Even a Tim Howard goal couldn't hide the fact our game vs Bolton was offensive to anyone who follows football in any capacity. That match had some moments of quality (albeit not from the team you wanted), the Stoke match at Goodison by contrast was just soul-crushing.

Posh keeper looks like Martinez's son.

Real banana skin for Sunderland, this. They don't look like getting stuck into challenges, they're bottling the 50-50s etc.

Tomlin looks tidy with the ball.

Posh look impressive.

Can't believe this thread is up to 84 pages already. Actually, yes, yes I can.

Scholes wasn't at fault for the second goal IMO. The player who took the throw-in didn't come to meet the ball. It was a decent enough knockback, the other player was just really slow to react.

Ferguson What a cock.

We knocked the holders and our biggest rivals out of the biggest domestic cup. Celebration surely. Oh yeah, it's good - but it's no 6-1, and they were down to 10 early on, and they clawed back 2. It's a good result though, for sure. Mancini destroyed Fergie with his tactics in the second half it has to be said. Still can't be anything other than happy that we're through.

We knocked the holders and our biggest rivals out of the biggest domestic cup. Celebration surely. Oh yeah, it's good - but it's no 6-1, and they were down to 10 early on, and they clawed back 2. It's a good result though, for sure.