AyeDubbleYoo

Certainly isn't. But many of those came in an unbroken stretch up to the end of last season. And about 60 of the 70+ games he has missed were because of that serious injury during the World Cup, and a broken metatarsal. That's just downright unlucky more than anything. Haven't you heard though, these footballers just want to be injured and out of action so they can sit around rather than play the game they love? It's a well known fact.

I can't wait for MOTD tomorrow night! The first one is always lovely.

As an outside bet, Dave Kitson to score for Stoke against Bolton.

I think Cesc might make it, his return date is down as August which sometimes means the Fantasy Foot people aren't sure whether he'll feature. I've left him in anyway.

To be fair to him he has had to act like the leader for the last couple of years due to being paired with utter dross. Maybe he just needs not be the main man for a while and mature a bit. Hope he comes up trumps.

Can we post the fixtures like that by the way? Sorry

Aye, Arsenal to score first, maybe Van Persie if he's playing.

That 44-1 is pretty good, there aren't many pure goalscorers in the league anymore.

If we sign another CB as well as Coloccini it won't be that bad to see Faye go. But if we don't it will be very poor management by the club. The idea that because a player wants to go he should be automatically sold is bollocks IMO... much more should be done to tie players to their contracts and 'encourage' them to stay. Ideal world I know.

Seems like the leg break was more to blame for the 'downward spiral' than the Barton thing.

Berbatov's the spitting image of Monty Burns, I'm telling ya.

Seems a bit harsh this like, he already got sacked... just because he then found work elsewhere doesn't mean he wasn't punished in the first instance. Like you say the legal position would be interesting, I suppose even if Mutu quit football Chelsea could get him in the normal courts for breach of contract - another set of lawyers fees as well.

He looks really relaxed and happy though, bet he can't believe his luck getting a job like this in Europe... relaxed lifestyle, avoid the British press, do a bit of management. Sounds pretty sweet to me.

Too many pundits have got swept up in the tabloid stories of unrest, Keegan being 'under fire'. He's second favourite to get the sack first FFS! Le Tiss is nearer the mark than most of them on this one.

I do maybe pronunce things a little more definitely, clearer and avoid dialect words when I speaking to people who don't have very good English, just think Steve has taken it a little too far!

Canny, I'll be in Newcastle for bank holiday weekend but will be back down by then. Tickets should be easy enough to get right?

I might go to this, only an hour drive from me...

O'Neill has done a solid job of sorting his defence out... when I was picking my fantasy team this season Villa only had about 3 defenders listed! He hasn't signed any world-beaters but at least he now has a functioning back four.

True, the only upsetting thing is the number of people who buy, read and believe the thing.

That article is fucking ridiculous... I'd say sue them except that would only draw more attention to their disgusting little rag.

What we did with that team shows that with the right gameplan and motivation even a team half made up of average players can compete with the best. If you sprinkle a couple of real game-winners in there you will go places. The difference then, and I believe this season, is that we won't go meekly into games against the top 4 just waiting to be spanked and sent home... we'll play our usual game and take it to them. We might still lose most, but we'll do it in the right way. I'm cautiously optomistic about this season, certainly don't predict a pant-soiling flirt with relegation like last season.

Aye, he just get enough of the shit weather, horrible town and average football team...

We won't be selling Faye, it's not going to happen...

I bet they don't