Ash

Superb. I backed Une Artiste but was happy enough seeing her win. To match General Miller is a great effort. I've backed her five years on the trot, absolutely love her. To see her win like she did today was magnificent.

Quevega.

Quelle surprise.

Has some brilliant attributes and some fairly decent ones too. No brain to use them though thus rendering them pretty useless.

Corking ride from Ruby. Hopefully he'll carry that over onto The Fly.

First Cheltenham in years I haven't really had the time to do any real research so it'll be mainly a watching brief this year, apart from piling into these three I reckon: http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02167/barry-geraghty_2167507b.jpg http://news.ladbrokes.com/en-gb/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/QuevegaBig1.jpg http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Sport/Pix/pictures/2012/12/8/1354980887214/Sprinter-Sacre-wins-the-T-008.jpg

Who are they playing?

Did you get lossed on the way to school ? Laughed at this way too much.

I know man, they're so fit.

From one corner today, I counted 7 (at least) players outside of the box. It's far too negative and I cannot understand why Pardew does it. We struggle enough as it is with set pieces but then make it even harder by not having enough players to challenge when a decent ball is put in. Said it for ages but I don't think we have the right personnel in the box from corners either. There was at least one corner today where Yanga-Mbiwa was stood on the halfway line as the ball came in, utterly stupid. Jonas really should be the one to make way and sit when we have a corner, probably along with Tiote who isn't the threat we need on the edge of the box should the ball come out (Arsenal aside).

Comfortably sold more for this game at this stage than any of the other Europa games. Will surely at least pack the lower bowl. Think it's nailed on the upper bowl will need opening which is positive.

Dat Messi finish.

Such a fucking dickhead, man. He can't bare the thought of being wrong so just digs a massive hole and makes himself look a bigger tit than he already is, despite how hard that is.

Shame Betfred didn't leave their 2/1 enhanced double on Quevega and Simonsig on for longer than a day. Must have been hammered.

Arsenal really are horrendous.

I very much doubt they'll have seen him play. IRL, yes. On FM, he knows.

I very much doubt they'll have seen him play.

I don't see how choosing not to play a completely untested kid against a really good European side would be seen as 'bottling it'. There's taking risks and then there's just being illogical. I'm not trying to trump Shola as something he's not, but give him his due - he's got a good record in Europe for us and actually had a good game over in Kharkiv. He scored the winner for a start. Shola should and likely will start in Cisse's absence. EDIT: sorry, just seen you said 'bench', as opposed to 'start'. Don't know if that still stands even though you've realised I said bench and not start but I'll explain anyway. If Shola does start, Campbell has to be on the bench, shouldn't even be questioned for me. We simply cannot go into a game without a striker on the bench. What if Shola gets injured, who do we bring on? Regardless of age, experience or anything like that, because he's a striker he really needs to be on there. The pitch should really suit him too which is why I'd personally like to see him get on at some point. They won't know anything about him and getting in behind tired legs in the final 15mins or so could work well for us.

You'd hope that he'll be on the bench judging by those quotes. Wouldn't surprise me to see Pardew bottle it though and go with one of his 'senior' players instead.

Good question, why do you think? Or is more likely he didn't know then? If he didn't know, why talk about him being doubtful for Swansea, not playing tonight because the pitch won't help back injuries and then say he should be fine for Stoke?

Never leave, Hatem.

Will be very disappointed if Campbell isn't on the bench.

Marty complaining about a refereeing decision once again. Every fucking week with this tramp.