Pilko

I think the Everton result shows up the Blackpool result for what it was - one of those days, and Hughton a bit too cautious on the subs. It's pleasing that all those dubbing the Blackpool result as the worst in 20 years or whatever have crawled back into their caves, as people totally over-reacted to it as a result.

That's exactly the impression I got this weekend, he seemed to be really enjoying what he was doing. I also briefly spoke to Phil Brown in the cafe after Fighting Talk and he was dead polite as well, he even got a decent enough reception from the crowd as he allowed jokes about his tan and 'that' team talk.

He tries far too hard. I saw him on two radio shows this weekend and he was hilarious, particularly off-air when he talked to everyone before and after. I reckon he's decent on this but more suited to Fighting Talk. He seems like a top bloke too, signed autographs and talked to everyone for at least 45 minutes either side of the advertised show times. Lots of things I've been to, the host etc won't emerge from their dressing room or whatever until 5 minutes before broadcast.

What I can't understand is Krul signing a new long-term contract and then people expecting Hughton to sign a big-name loan goalie to replace him as soon as he gets a chance to play in the first team. We won't be able to afford the wages of the keepers being mentioned, the likes of Given, for fucks sake. I reckon we'll get a Carlo Nash, Mike Pollitt, Stuart Taylor kind on loan - an older keeper who's third choice, and who may as well sit on a bench for a few months as it's closer to a first team position.

Soderberg may well be a very good keeper but there's no way he's old enough or experienced enough for us to even consider playing him in a Premier League game. We need someone with at least some experience to sit on the bench and provide cover for Krul. Mike Pollitt from Wigan, Carlo Nash from Stoke, someone like that.

Don't be so fucking stupid. There's no way we should be bringing anyone who 'jumped ship' back to the club, particularly those who bottled it in January.

Chokey Totem

It's no gareths, it means they're allowed to have just one

Sunderland :lol: :lol:

Malbranque excellent to win that corner.

To think this guy cost less than Nolan or Smith.

Tiote lost the ball once, after about two minutes. Other than that he didn't misplace a pass or surrender possession that I can remember.

Garth Crooks on final score: "Marriner, the referee, misses the worst penalty you will ever see. It's an absolute stonewaller, takes Nolan's legs, and I don't know how on earth he missed it."

And even he couldn't save them this time.

What a class act this guy looks.

Much better.

:snod:

Karma on Yakubu and Fellaini at the end.

The penalty shout was a fucking joke. Also, Hibbert should have been booked, Fellaini should have been off and Nolan was booked for nothing.

Fellaini is a dirty cunt.

Perch man, just fucking retire.

No, just a tap in. Scrappy, or was it the end of a move? He kneed it in from 6 yards, it was clever but not brilliant or owt.

I have heard this urban legend for several rivalries in world sports (Red Sox scarf in the foundations of new Yankee stadium, Barça scarf in the new Espanyol stadium...), so I doubt it. There's Middlesborough programmes and stuff rolled up and in the Wembley arch. Was a feature on local news about it after it was built.

Ben Arfa is better in the middle as he has the freedom to go either side, if we try to play him wide then we'll not get the best out of him. Makes sense to play him wide left today. Hibbert is the weak link and Ben Arfa could take the piss, whereas shunting Barton there just makes us lopsided. I agree though, I'd like to see him play off Carroll in the future.

We've tioteally dominated this, now we have arfa chance of a win.