Dr Venkman

When Benfica lost 4-1 to Liverpool I got so pissed that no one in my house had dinner, no one, and we all went to bed in our outdoor clothes. When Benfica lost to Braga I felt like shaving my balls. If Benfica doesn't win this year, I guess I will drink 3 ltrs of vodka in a row or something like that.

Yep, he's done really well to come in and perform so solidly. Makes saves when he's required to and is always looking to spring counter attacks.

It's Nicky Butt syndrome man, constantly trying things he's not capable of.

It might seem like nit-picking but I was pretty disappointed to see him given the arm band two games in a row. He's pretty much the last one that should be getting it, what sort of example is he setting exactly?

Sounds like the decision is being made by our medical team in discussions with the French lot too - in hindsight might have been better to do the operation back in December, but then I've no idea if that has other associated risks so I'm basically just guessing like everyone else! It's always best to go without surgery if you can avoid it isn't it?

Indeed.

Elliot Debuchy Taylor MYM Santon Tiote Sissoko Campbell Marveuax Gouffran Cisse PACE

Off to Tenerife for some warm weather training apparently, hoping to be on the bench for the spam hampers.

If HBA's fitness guys/our physio's said he was fit, and HBA said he was fit, then there's no blame to be apportioned anywhere. I'll tell you what though, fuck all this talk of selling him. Anyone thinking like that is completely lost to the money side of the game and hasn't got the love for it anymore. It's Hatem Ben Arfa for fucks sake, you don't sell him unless you've got absolutely no choice.

Early contender!

I expected muscle injuries after he came back from the break, surprised it took that long for a big one tbh. Offer him a new contract now.

There's only 1 stadium of light friend ! And you guys are finnaly going to see it Indeed.

Hello Benfica fans I have to take this opportunity to ask what you think about a team in the UK stealing the name of your stadium?

Yep, great draw.

Got a feeling we're gonna notice Debuchy and Gouffran missing quite a bit more as the competition goes on.

Tend to agree with this, but I don't think he's been excellent here.

Would have happily sacrificed this for a win tonight. Hopefully we're starting to build a bit of momentum now though, few changes and we'll be ok. Point would be good.

Really happy that he's forced his way into Pardew's thinking now, we knew he could do it.

Think he played well out wide?

He's the best of the January signings in terms of efficiency,

Yeah, you're the only one who have noticed that You misunderstood what he's saying.

Don't disagree.

Aye exactly that.

It's a cup competition, if we keep winning that's all that matters. We simply don't play good football very often though, there's no point denying it. I wouldn't mind if the football was route 1 if we created openings and opportunities, we generally don't.

We were all over them right from the start of the second half tbf. I think we were improved but we still didn't look like scoring and they still looked the better team in possession, moving through us pretty quickly. Once they went to ten their threat on the break wasn't there as much and they couldn't press us as well. It changed the game but I still didn't feel like we capitalised on it as we could have. Credit for the win, i do think we were a bit lucky though. Did you miss Taylor's chance like? No.