cubaricho

Had a good laugh at this today. As many who frequent this thread may know, one of the expansion teams next season in the Portland Timbers which is about a 2 1/2 hour drive south of Seattle where they already have the Sounders. This has been a pretty historic rivalry over the years and I think will really inflame it for the future but today the powers that be at the Timbers organization unveiled their new billboard right down the street (the main street into the Sounders stadium) from the home of the Sounders: http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/3659/timberse.jpg Definitely made me laugh, really excited to be part of this rivalry when I move out to Portland (hopefully) next summer right before the season starts. Already saving up for a season ticket (of which there are only a few remaining).

IF you have Ad-Block on, I think you have to turn it off, that's what I did. Thanks, it's only for the splash page I guess. Man Ranger looks gangsta as fuck.

Still doesn't work for me in Firefox.

Just watched all of them. Can see shades of three previous Newcastle players all wrapped up in one guy. Robert, Dyer and Beardsley. f***ing hell, should never have watched those videos. Just got excited a la Luque x 100 My concern is that we are building him up so much that when he inevitably does not live up to our super high expectations, people will start getting on his back. Even with his ability he will need 5-10 games to get use to new team mates, new country, new tactics...etc. That's it?

Why didn't anyone try and shut him down? It was clear he was going to take a shot for a few seconds before he let loose.

Oh fuck!

What a ball by Gerrard

Pretty silly goal. Keeper's fault.

Free on ESPN360 for anyone who's in the US and the right internet provider.

Agreed. I hope Ben Arfa doesn't walk into the team but starts as a 60ish minute sub for Nolan. Let Nolan work his socks off for an hour and prove that he should be there and then let Ben Arfa show us if he has anything to prove. At the most basic level, it's really Nolan's place to lose. If he keeps scoring goals I don't see Hughton dropping him.

Most definitely a comb over.

Naaa was Alen Vuckic, 20 year old central defender. Was definitely wor Haris.

Great finish by Defoe on that 4th goal.

Any one? Let the wor lass figure it out.

Edgar leveling things up in '07 against Man U @ SJP. Loved the emotion he showed after scoring it.

Thanks for the kind words Pancake.

lol @ Gyan for 13m+

Barton DM? Yeah I don't think we need Barton in any sort of DM role. That'll be Tiote's place. We should play that "diamond" formation or whatever it's called. Tiote Routledge Barton Jonas Ben Arfa Nolan has to be the first to be dropped. Not that I don't think he's important, it's just that Nolan's current place on the pitch seems to be where Ben Arfa is most useful. Hopefully it's gradual.

That has to make Harper smile Yeah, it'll be funny if Shay's on the bench and Harper's on the field when they come to our place. Especially if Harper gives Shay a little wave from the pitch.

Blessing in disguise and all that. The one major aspect of having gone into the Championship and come back out that gets overlooked is that, while it was depressing at first, has brought a real "feel good" factor back to the club. Not only do lots of other club's fans keeping saying it's great to have us back "where we belong" but also for us personally it felt good to have a season where we were winning almost all of our matches - there's a real confidence in the squad and amongst the squad. We also got rid of a lot of the dead weight helping us balance our books and giving us a better chance at the future.

How come? Genuine question I don't think he's the best of players - but he epitimises what we now have at this club. How many times do you hear people say "I'd rather see a team of people who give 200% than can play with 50% but have more ability"? Now is the time when people who believe that can admire Nolan and co, and others are busy jizzing voer Hatem. (That isn't a criticism ftr, obviously the signing of HBA is positive and could take us to the next level). He, and others currently at the club are rumoured to have been the ones to initialise this whole "if you're in-you stay, if you're not f*** off" mentality. Along with that his leadership on the pitch is brilliant, he elads by example - by scoring goals and going in where it hurts. As well as by his mouth which is constantly going. He stays fit for a lot of the season and shows a constant desire to play for us, the fans, and the club itself. He is a breath of fresh air in modern day football, as are many of our players, but Nolan is our sheppard and not one of our sheep, and I thoroughly admire that. Anyhoo, José is my other favourite, simply because he is hard as f*** and our best player with regards to quality. There are not many players who I believe when they say how proud they are and how much they love being at this club, but with these two I genuinely believe it. Totally agree.

The last 20 minutes or so of that Everton/Villa match was some pretty watchable football.

What about something like this? Barton Routledge Jonas Ben Arfa Nolan Carroll Assuming that Tiote doesn't walk right into the squad.

Would go with this, in this formation: Krul S Taylor Williamson Coloccini Enrique Tiote Barton Routledge Jonas Ben Arfa Carroll

Eh the same one where we sign Ben Arfa after beating aston villa 6-0. touche!