Segun Oluwaniyi

They are, and the US is better than South Korea as well objectively, but I think that our team matches up well with the Americans style of play. Teams from weaker federations, like US, Japan, Nigeria, etc. are always at a slight disadvantage in the draw because the weakest teams in the tournaments are usually the final qualifiers from their continent. In this case Honduras, Iran, Costa Rica, Algeria. Therefore the easy teams are generally in your pot. The so-called groups of death (according to hype anyway) at the last five tournaments have featured CIV, Ghana, Nigeria, and the US. They wouldn't be if it was Angola or Bahamas.

Rehearsed Draw Group A : Brazil, France, Australia and Italy Group B: Uruguay, Nigeria, United States and Croatia. Group C : Argentina, Russia, Ghana and Costa Rica. Group D: Switzerland, Chile, Japan and Greece Group E : Spain, Ivory Coast, South Korea and England Group F : Colombia, Cameroon, Honduras and the Netherlands Group G : Germany, Ecuador, Iran and Portugal Group H : Belgium, Algeria, Mexico, Bosnia and Herzegovina I definitely wouldn't mind this at all. For some reason, I have a massive feeling that we are going to draw the United States. Better them than Mexico, Japan, or Korea out of that pot, anyway. There is absolutely no chance that Brazil draws a tough group in this, btw. I expect them to get Algeria and Honduras.

He definitely had a go last season. It made for good entertainment, and hurt the goal difference less than the annual Etihad capitulation. Very strange times around Christmas last season. The next match was the "NO MORE GOALS!" debacle at the Emirates.

If Berbatov is scoring goals and not looking arsed in the team, he's praised. If the goals dry up and he's not looking arsed, he gets a lot of critiscism. Been like that throughout his career. Just his style of play and it's never going to change if he's going for the title or in a relegation battle. I distinctly remember a time when he did something other then stand in place, lose the ball, and complain.

It is unfortunate France is no longer in the pot with African sides. They just add to the dangerous and pedigreed sides you would want to avoid in Group 4. Out of group 1, you would obviously want to avoid Brazil, Argentina, Germany, or Spain. Outside of that, it would helpful to avoid US, Mexico, Japan, and Korea from pot 3 because the rest of those teams represent the worst in the tournament (I would include Algeria from pot2 in that as well).

What is this anger about? All the interview says is that he used to do bad things, but has reformed and that he went to an end of season party but left after seeing the environment. You'd think he was burning black and white kits on the Tyne Bridge

In the exception of cases in which there is extreme over/under performance, the league table isn't of much use until the 19th match, when everyone has played everyone. This gives you a fair idea of where the clubs really are in relation to each other.

It is patronising, tbh. Pardew does tend to talk about the supporters the way commentators would talk about the Burkina Faso team at the winter Olympics. "I hope they are enjoying this" We've won a few matches consecutively, it isn't anything worth shouting about. Most clubs placed from 7th to 11th will experience similar runs of form in an average league season.

I still tip Chelsea. With the exception of CL-winning season (when the league situation was really a lost cause) they always seem to get everything together and go on a run of very good results in March, April, and May. I think Mourinho is figuring out, they will fortify with a Lampard/Essien (both of whom are finished, imo) replacement/insurance in January, and have more of a team spirit than the most similar side, Manchester City. Their immediate fixtures are very winnable as well. It would not surprise me in the slightest if they are tied with even above Arsenal by the time they meet on the eve of Christmas. If I had to pick the top four: Chelsea Arsenal Manchester City Liverpool(!) I don't see much changing for Manchester United without major investment in January. Spurs to me look like a team that has changed too many players, and has a squad full of people who are adapting to the league, aren't ready to be consistent yet, or have been overrated/are not very more than average. Liverpool (well Saints as well, probably) are the one team that have impressed and surprised me early in the Premiership. I think they will beat Spurs when they meet in London in a fortnight. I doubt he would sanction that again though, after the Cisse signing essentially failed amidst the same scenario. From what I've seen of Ashely's tenure, if a player we have been tracking becomes cheaper/available or if deals emerge, we'll try to sign the player. We won't force it through, but it opportunities arise, things change.

Ba is a great striker. Remy is a great forward. Remy is objectively better at most football skills and brings more to the team, but if you get Ba isolated with a centreback or feed him a good ball in behind, he's likely to get a good shot on target every time. I would say the reason he hasn't succeeded at Chelsea is that they will play against packed defenses most of the time and his game really doesn't lend itself to breaking that down. He won't get to isolate, his runs aren't particularly great at pulling the defenders apart, and he doesn't have the pace, strength, or aerial ability to physically dominate defenders the way Lukaku would have done. Chelsea really should have loaned him back here and kept the Belgian.

If they are introducing automatic CL places for the winner, than the inclusion of CL winners makes much more sense. The tournament seems in something of a transistionary stage, imo. When the pots are increased and the lure of CL qualification sits at the end, the tournament should be more competitive and interesting.

http://antonynbritt.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/may-19-kanu-miss-2004.jpg This was worse than Yakubu's He isn't more than a yard from goal and manages to send a fairly pedestrian ball onto the roof of the net, with no one impeding him.

I rate Yanga-Mbiwa higher at this point and are more concerned with his with his progress and happiness than Colo's. Still, he has been fine the last few matches. Not overly dominant or assured by any means, but only one goals allowed in each and he's helped cut out weak attacking sides and provided a platform for relative comfort.

That's a penalty, it's not soft, Llloris brings him down, as easy as that. It was more Welbeck dragging his foot and making contact with Lloris than anything. Might be a pen, but it's soft Lloris misjudged it and made contact with the striker. It is a penalty every single time.

Victor Enyeamagnet has kept ten consecutive clean sheets. Their defence has obviously done well, but he's been called into question several times, especially against Monaco and stood tall every time. It is relatively late in his career, but he is a fantastic keeper and it is brilliant to see him being able to show it on a big stage week in and out for the first time. I'm not sure if Lille (or anyone) can push PSG, but there is no reason they cannot finish second.

Both he and Williamson completely missed headers in the box, while Sissoko never got back. The right side of the pitch was essentially vacated, tbh.

Playing him a bit more advanced. Don't know why they've insisted with him as a sitting midfielder. The fit is somewhat awkward, imo. I would not consider any of Dembele, Sandro, or Paulinho to be holding players, but none of the three are very creative, It is good that Paulinho has pushed forward and expressed himself, but I still don't think it works.

In some ways, Santon really reminds me of Enrique going forward. He's not the type to get outside the full back and whip the ball, but he is always carrying the ball forward, is a very good passer, and always provides a good outlet. I like to see him add a more direct attacking element to his game because he's more naturally talented technically than most fullbacks, but the boy is very useful as is. I enjoy how rugged he and Debuchy are becoming. Both are doing good work in the air and haven't been afraid to put a foot in.

He's doing very well relative to his past performances in the side and is fulfilling an important role in the system, but he hasn't played exceptionally well or anything. Even when he is on good form like this, Shola still has some glaring limitations and provides very little in the way of goal threat. His performances in the last months or so for club...and country have surprised me, though.

I thought he should have been booked within the first ten minutes. His first foul was a cynical one to prevent a break from Sessegnon. That's is fine though. Cynical fouling to protect the defence is part of the description for his role.

Good result. Average performance. A moment of brilliance won the game. West Brom were starting to take control of the match until Sissoko's bulala. I would however, like to see Yanga-Mbiwa and possibly Ben Arfa return to the team (the former is of more importance, imo). Neither of the centrebacks impressed me at all, and our attacking play was very stale throughout most of the match.

The perfect strike. Pace, curve, everything.

I would like to see a still photo of the buildup to that goal. The positioning is terrible. Santon is standing with his hand up. Colo is on the left flank for no reason. Williamson and Debuchy are occupying the same space. Terrible.

NUFC have been underwhelming, but WBA have not offered too much going forward. I'm not impressed, but the result is good thus far.

Yanga-Mbiwa needs to be prioritised over Coloccini at this point and has done very well of late. Coloccini has also been abused by west Brom more than once. Very strange decision. I wonder if MYM has a slight injury?