Neil

Hertha Berlin-Hoffenheim is a typical end-of-season clash..... however the players haven't been told that. They're absolutely kicking lumps out of each other. Think 3 Hertha players were injured in one passage of play earlier.

Correct decision IMO.

I was one of them, and in hindsight I was obviously wrong, but I still think at the time it was a huge gamble for Everton to appoint him. They played some nice football at times, but defensively they were all over the park to the point where he got them relegated (despite winning a cup obviously). Still, fortune favours the brave, and here we are, stuck with the biggest coward of all. I was a sceptic aswell and I wish people would stop acting like it was obviously going to work out brilliantly for Everton. Martinez was somebody who never once in about 5 years got his team to be anything other than relegation battlers. There was rightfully doubts about him Or, the other side of the coin, he managed to keep an otherwise terrible team in the PL for years, while not often resorting to the same negative football typical of relegation fodder. Spot on. I was one of them, and in hindsight I was obviously wrong, but I still think at the time it was a huge gamble for Everton to appoint him. They played some nice football at times, but defensively they were all over the park to the point where he got them relegated (despite winning a cup obviously). Still, fortune favours the brave, and here we are, stuck with the biggest coward of all. I was a sceptic aswell and I wish people would stop acting like it was obviously going to work out brilliantly for Everton. Martinez was somebody who never once in about 5 years got his team to be anything other than relegation battlers. There was rightfully doubts about him Or, the other side of the coin, he managed to keep an otherwise terrible team in the PL for years, while not often resorting to the same negative football typical of relegation fodder. Spot on. Jewell and Bruce had already kept them in the league before Martinez took over And then Martinez did so by playing far better football. And when they got relegated, they picked up that silver tin pot thing at Wembley. I don't think Wigan's football was ever terrible to be perfectly honest, whether under Jewell, Bruce or Martinez. Not saying they previously kicked lumps out of everyone then Martinez turned them into Barcelona, but it was a bloody bold decision to consciously progress their style of play quite markedly, with the pressures of staying up a constant weight on their shoulders. And for the most part it worked and for that he should be commended. It doesn't make him the messiah, nor does it make him a naughty boy, but it does show he has a clear vision in his mind about how he wants his team to progress.

Depends what you value. 12th and playing shit football, 16th and playing very good football. Either way he kept them up while progressing their play, developing as a manager and ultimately when it was too much to keep them up he won them the FA Cup, an extraordinary achievement you seem to be glossing over. I was pleased we got him but no, I didn't assume he'd work out well. But it was clear even in those 3 frustrating draws at the start of the season, he was trying to change something long-term. He has an idea about where he wants us to go and how he intends to do it, and that was evident at Wigan too.

Couldn't resist a couple of quid on some of the Greeks. Got an OFI Crete win/Panthrakikos double chance/Panionios double chance treble.

I was one of them, and in hindsight I was obviously wrong, but I still think at the time it was a huge gamble for Everton to appoint him. They played some nice football at times, but defensively they were all over the park to the point where he got them relegated (despite winning a cup obviously). Still, fortune favours the brave, and here we are, stuck with the biggest coward of all. I was a sceptic aswell and I wish people would stop acting like it was obviously going to work out brilliantly for Everton. Martinez was somebody who never once in about 5 years got his team to be anything other than relegation battlers. There was rightfully doubts about him Or, the other side of the coin, he managed to keep an otherwise terrible team in the PL for years, while not often resorting to the same negative football typical of relegation fodder. Spot on. Jewell and Bruce had already kept them in the league before Martinez took over And then Martinez did so by playing far better football. And when they got relegated, they picked up that silver tin pot thing at Wembley.

:lol: Erm, alright.

Good. Disappointed it was only 3, Arsenal were a shambles and should have been hit for 6 again.

Can see why the odds would be long, but certainly not on that scale.

Elaine Paige in part 4.

He seems seriously challenged by the very notion and general scenario of a football match.

:lol: He's absolutely offit. Villa 1-2 Fulham is apparently an "extraordinary state of affairs"

I dunno, he's so senile and terrible at everything that it's slightly funny.

Imagine him knocking one out in his sheepskin. Y'know what mate? Ideally, I'd rather not.

STOP SAYING BACUNA

:lol: Was going to post exactly the same. Please someone put him down. "Oh and... oh! Yes! But... oh dear! My word!"

Rotherham game looked pretty ridiculous.

We've been fined. Months ago. For a clerical error. Hey, not just me mate the finest minds in football are saying the same. While it would have been easy to apply justice for the league games it would have been a huge embarrassment for them considering he played in a League Cup game too and they're probably hoping you just go down quietly so they can conveniently sweep it under the carpet. In the unlikely event you survive there will be a s*** storm and they may have to act correctly to keep what little integrity the league still has. To be honest if it was another team I'd be waiting for them to be deducted points. The fact is they knew months ago and a journalist has sat on the story til now. It's a farce the whole thing. If the player in question had kept us up ala Tevez and I was the fan of say WBA or Cardiff then fair enough I'd be outraged but the player in question is Ji Dong Won ffs. The twat has actually cost us points this season. You know yourself mate that this is a terrible argument. I'm still amazed - actually, I'm probably not - Sunderland look like getting away with it. What must the long list of clubs, who've been deducted points for fielding ineligible players up and down the leagues, be thinking?

Goal number 13 tonight mate. Need 2 more from a maximum 6 games. As I've said all along, injuries aside I thought he'd do it. He's been disappointing in a number of games but given the current state of affairs I'd be pretty gutted if he couldn't muster 2 more goals. Have some decent looking fixtures.

Just as I was saying, Real Madrid have been terrible. 4-0.

Yeah, brilliant control.

Bravo, what the hell

Even with Norwich's fixtures? I think they're a very good shout to go, tbh. Barring a win next week that is.

I'm sure VI or someone could give further insight, but how bothered are Real Madrid about the league? Obviously they want to win it but the impression I get is they'd far, far rather win the CL if they had to choose. With Barca perhaps not as imperious as they were, I'm starting to think this seriously could be Atletico's year. They've also been utterly terrible in the first half here. Edit: sure enough a fortunate goal gives them the lead.