Neil

Subs: Robles, Heitinga, Jelavic, Kone, Deulofeu, Naismith, Stones

Howard, Baines, Distin, Jagielka ©, Coleman, Mirallas, McCarthy, Barry, Osman, Barkley, Lukaku.

Naismith dropped, shame. Lukaku starts.

Interesting post, Sewelly. Realistically, can you actually see it improving as you alluded to in your last paragraph, in the next 5 years or so?

Paddy doing money back on the usual markets if the game ends in a draw. Could be worth going there if you're looking at FGS and the such. Sorry, but Ben Arfa anytime @ 9/2 with Skybet is far too big. He's your best player, already chipped in with a couple this season and this is likely to be an open game, so I'd be very surprised if he didn't get a chance or 2. Not that he particularly needs a chance as such, the talented wanker.

So, Roma ripping the shit out of the league so far. 17 scored, 1 conceded, 18/18 points. Napoli and Juve naturally close-by, and Inter have performed admirably so far. Fiorentina and Lazio looking like potential CL contenders, probably moreso the former. AC Milan have been atrocious. Next weekend's games. Juve v AC Milan Lazio v Fiorentina Inter v Roma

Just hold on a minute while I pop on my Newcastle +1 bet.

In other news, just to show how big a pinch of salt you need to take with league positions currently, a win for you tonight puts on-the-brink-of-crisis Newcastle above started-the-season-really-well Everton.

Am I right in thinking that Thomas Myhre is still sidelined with diabetes? Yeah, he's fucked. Steve Simonsen's at a Pulp gig too. Alex Nyarko lined up as emergency keeper.

Interesting decision. Curious to see how he deals with Nick Barmby cutting inside.

Kanchelskis passed fit for us.

Well, well, well. Just checked my bwin account - the home of the Higuain and Hamsik wincasts I was banging on about for ages last week. Just wanted to check I didn't have an extra tenner or something in there. And what do I find? My full stakes from last week have been refunded as they've cancelled the bets. Confirms that they made a massive pig's ear of the odds. They must have cancelled the bet shortly after the game began, mustn't have wanted to risk it. If either of those bets had won though, there'd be absolute hell on. But as they didn't... cheers bwin.

And rightly so. They're awful.

You say that mate but might be worth taking advantage of whatever their sign-up offers are. Barkley is just the sort of player who could make you some money in this market. I assume it'll go off whoever Sky give it to. Barkley has some compelling rhetoric to go with him - young player really impressing as he establishes himself in the first-team, been getting a lot of praise. It may be that he doesn't have to be the best player on the pitch as such, but merely impress with some good runs, an assist or whatever.

Can get 10/1 with Boylesports and Ladbrokes. Only other bookies doing the MOTM market - according to Oddschecker anyway - is Betvictor (6/1).

He mentioned he was pretty much done with the book recently, will get that ordered.

Looking back as well at their results so far, they were gifted 3 points at Elche due to one of the worst penalty decisions in years, should really have lost at Villarreal given how much they were 2nd best, and IIRC they only just scraped past Betis on the opening day? Can see why there are already murmurs about Ancelotti, at least in the sometimes psycho Spanish press.

What, in particular, are the rags pointing at? The specific way they're playing? Team selection? Even if he completely fails with RM, I'll find it very, very hard not to still consider Ancelotti a great manager.

Pretty sure 1878 was here well before me, mind. Always enjoy reading his posts, although I guess I'm bound to.

What's been the reaction in Spain, VI? Is it more a condemnation of Real, or more of a "wow, Atletico might be the real deal"?

And let's not forget Nolan completely knacking Anichebe. Fun game, this.

Nothing that I'm absolutely compelled to bet on tonight. In terms of value, a few prices that look a bit too big though: Ben Arfa anytime @ 9/2 Barkley MOTM @ 10/1 Ben Arfa MOTM @ 12/1 Still think 3/1 is too big for the draw. Us to win by 1 goal looks decent @ 27/10.

This is my point. You've got the players to do exactly that. I'm expecting an open game and I think that might help you. Don't get me wrong, we're favourites to win, but to call this a 'home banker' is an exaggeration of our standing and massive understatement of the quality in your team. We have the potential to score 4 or 5. We also have the potential to look like we won't score in a month of Sundays.

Sticking with the score draw prediction. Think the likes of Ben Arfa will find space to work in and cause us problems. What I'm uneasy with is the notion this is a game we're expected to win. I don't like us being expected to win - we don't tend to do well when that's the case - and not to mention this is nowhere near what you'd call a 'home banker'. We haven't had a convincing win this season so far. We battered West Brom and drew, and to a lesser extent were the better team in the Cardiff and Norwich games but, again, didn't make that tell. Worked our arses off vs Chelsea and they had an off day, and you could easily say we relied on Baines' brilliance last week. We've played some very good stuff so far and I'm pleased with how we've started, but not had a result to directly match how well we've played, it's been weird. I think the pressure will be off you to an extent as - whether you think it's unfair/disrespectful or not - we're expected to beat you tonight. There *should* be plenty of decent football on show, which, now I've said it, is probably the catalyst for a dire 0-0.

It's like the ramblings of a Liverpool fan. I get it. They've had a good start to the season - certainly better than usual. Combined with other teams struggling, they're naturally getting carried away and you seem to be getting carried away with them. They'll challenge the top 4, I'll certainly give them that - which is what they should be aiming for anyway.