gazza ladra

The Guardian projects Ireland to start. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/apr/22/squad-sheets-blackpool-newcastle-united magari!

I'm sure someone had that as their avatar for years. You're right they did It was lebowski or dudeabides, something like that.

Rubbish points. Extremely harsh on Williamson. Bar his yellow card, he was excellent all game. My first thought as well. Well, maybe not extremely harsh.

Any rational footballer would have left this club at that time. People forget that supporters were bracing for a long spell in that division and serious financial difficulties. We went down at the same time at Middleborough and it was widely speculated that we would be experiencing the same fate. It's a short career, and I don't blame anyone (especially someone with no connection to us) for leaving like that. He's a very good footballer who provides cover at two positions which we lack it. I'd have him here anytime. This.

1. Barton 2. Nolan 3. Coloccini 4. Carroll 5. Tiote

Gotta come to California.

I don't. I hope he's fit and healthy and doesn't score a single goal. Which may happen, after all the holy trinity of Carroll Nolan Barton is what made Carroll what he is, without them I know he'll be shit. The week after the deal I was listening to the Guardian podcast and they were going back and forth about how Carroll would fare at Liverpool. One of them was claiming that you really didn't need anyone who could cross the ball with Carroll-- he made the crosses look good. And I was thinking why Carroll never seemed to do anything for Jonas or Routledge... And of course now that Carroll is gone Jonas is getting his crosses into Best.

Santa Cruz, California

Nah. Joey for me. ' Barton, Carroll, Colo, Nolan, Tiote.

Ronaldinho, Cassano, Joey Barton. Probably all mentioned.

hedging your bets eh?

Guess who is our most valuable striker? Xisco 4.5 Best 4.3 Ameobi 4.2 Lovenkrands 4.2 Ranger 4.1

So, how serious is the injury?

A drubbing will do.

Sorry if I offended anyone with my laugter. Not that I think Simpson is shit. It's just such a bizarre idea that I can't quite wrap my head around it. Yeah, he's that good. Just giddy at the thought of it. And Nixon is right-- he's probably not anywhere near an international call up. Nor is Enrique. Or any other Newcastle defender. No matter how good they might be. When Liverpool pays over the odds---then he'll be good enough.

Victory over Sunderland. Proved that the rumblings about Ashley wanting to replace Chris Hughton were complete bullshit--had to be. We were moving in the right direction and all was right with the world.

Really like to see Wolves stay up. Can't believe I just wrote that. There are so many clubs more deserving of relegation than them.

"United" will claw out a last minute draw against Wolves. And they'll go on for 45 minutes about how that surely was the turning point of the season (for "United") and that we'll all look back on this as the week that "united" won the title.

wellander, Yeah, I see your point Canada Day and all. I couldn't fathom rooting for anyone but the USA. I might feel differently watching US lose to Mexico on July 4th. Of course, we've learned (for the most part) to stop holding US-Mexico games in Los Angeles or Chicago. That way we can hope to have a crowd rooting for the home team.

I've never had any problem with that. Growing up-- if you were were really into football, ahem, soccer-- you probably had family or roots in a football mad-country. It seemed (and seems) perfectly natural (to me) for Portuguese-Americans, Italian-Americans, Brazilian-Americans, Mexican-Americans and whatever to support the country of their forefathers. That's just the way it was for me. I know a lot of people who have the issue of "hyphenated-Americans" and don't like seeing US citizens rooting against the USNATs, but I could never get that worked up about it. Mostly, it seems to be a US-Mexico thing. I know guys who pretend to be really upset about people supporting Ireland or Italy. But their eyes only light up when they can start venting about Mexican-Americans. I'd probably be more aggravated if we hadn't been kicking their asses for 20+ years now. P.S. 2-0

He's 24 and he's on loan.

My son wants to go see a Mexico v Paraguay friendly in Oakland. Oh, what the hell..

So just Gray. Not that other ass as well?

Well, I'd be a hell of a lot happier with Ireland than SWP.