Beren

Top post. I, too, really enjoyed his encouragement from the dugout and superfluous profanity. Really tickled me for some reason. "Fucking superb, just fucking brilliant. Top fucking work."

If you don't mind me saying, that seems a poor basis for believing we ought to take three points - history/tradition has little to do with the respective stations of the two sides now.

I'm chuffed to bits, we gave them a proper game and arguably had the better of them which was what I was after, for the sake of all those 'you've not played anyone good yet' nobs.

Love the Skysports front page for our game. "Comeback Kings"

Not much more from the commentary I heard. They couldn't stop going on about Modric's poor defending. And last week it was Wolves' poor defending. Next week, I think Wigan are scheduled to defend poorly on their left flank too.

Think it's very telling he came on for Simpson not Raylor. Not sure whether I'd rather have him replace Raylor or Simpson. At least we have Jonas on the left, so this addition might add more balance to our side in terms of quality on the flanks.

Be surprised if he loses his place in the side, rightly or wrongly. Pardew will have to take his man-management skills to a new level if he's going to take out Obertan/Simpson - who both signed here for first-team football, if sources are to be believed. Be interesting to see how it works out.

He played better than I thought he would, tbh. That said, he's not half as good as the media would have you believe IMO.

Hoping we can buck our trend of coming out of the blocks a little slow, and really take it to them from the off.

It was like an instructional video on how to deal with a forward who is a superior athlete.

So commonplace, that it's easy to overlook - but how much class does this guy have. My memorable two moments: 1. Adebayor beats him for pace, as expected, down the line - so he gets all Maldini on him, executes a beautiful hooked slide tacke, and then does him with a skill down the line. 2. Two on two, and I'm not even worried because Colo is up against Kyle Walker. As expected, he completely embarrasses Walker. #Colocinnnnnnnni....

http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/6598/shola2.jpg

I predict JH predicting a loss.

Really interesting Ben Arfa issues to come out of that game. Still too excited to full think through them, but it seems to me that inherent to his contribution and creativity that he'll bring to the side - he'll also lose the ball a lot. I'm fully prepared and happy for that to happen. (And it was a pet peeve of mine when people previously criticised Gutierrez for losing possession - something which has thankfully abated). This does mean that I've really gone off him playing anywhere other than up front, or off the front man. Has to be a far advanced position in the field for me - not midfield or the wing.

Love you too. You are actually one of my favourite posters, too!

Another incredible game. Again, the commentators casting a pejorative light on Gutierrez's skill/pace by going on about Modric - as if Gutierrez doesn't do that against everyone - and for clarification, he does.

Love Ginola.

Tiote Shola Colo and Jonas joint MOTM

I'm so with Mike. I'm going to make about ten more posts like this. Not going to acclimatise to what I've just seen.

I'm almost in tears of disbelief and laughter at just how good Shola was. He had the touch of Zidane, the panache of Messi and the strike of Romario. What a player (for that appearance).

He's an enigma, wrapped in a riddle,wearing a hat, riding a bicycle while eating an apple.

What a fantastic match.

He is the greatest enigma ever to play football. Even the goal aside, what a fucking performance. RIDICULOUS. Greatest entertainer we've ever seen in black and white.

Shola MOTM :lol:

Officially better than Drogba, Ronaldo.