Neil

Oh noes!!!!!

Walking down Northumberland Street and yes, there it is, a lion just sauntering out of HMV. Pardew's enjoying a steak bake, but it's the last steak bake he'll enjoy as Neesy charges into a bemused Alan and well, the rest is history.

Time for a bit of bias from myself, but Barkley was the best player on the pitch on Saturday. More impressive than Baines, Fellaini, Pienaar, Mirallas, or any Norwich player. Superb composure on the ball, played like a seasoned pro and a f***ing class goal. Yeah, a few errors but they came through a drive and ambition to make things happen, and something he'll - at this rate - pick up very fast. Delighted he looks like he's finally getting a consistent chance. Something he didn't get under Moyes. Wasn't he only playing becasue Gibsion was injured? Or is he now first choice pick? That remains to be seen, but he surely impressed him immensely. This however led to Fellaini playing deeper, as TCD mentioned, which hampered us greatly. So there are some bits to fit in the jigsaw yet. But individually he looked a class above nearly everyone on the pitch. Not bad for 19.

Time for a bit of bias from myself, but Barkley was the best player on the pitch on Saturday. More impressive than Baines, Fellaini, Pienaar, Mirallas, or any Norwich player. Superb composure on the ball, played like a seasoned pro and a fucking class goal. Yeah, a few errors but they came through a drive and ambition to make things happen, and something he'll - at this rate - pick up very fast. Delighted he looks like he's finally getting a consistent chance. Something he didn't get under Moyes.

On the other hand, you've got trips to the Emirates and Stamford Bridge out the way in the first week of the season and you've got a minimum of 3 points from those fixtures.

Probably mate, aye. Got Milan to win 2-1 in my mind for some reason. Bet all the monies.

Can't ignore AC Milan @ 17/10 tbh. Lyon, AC Milan, Zenit @ 9/1 looks pretty good to me.

Wait, so it appears I was in the vicinity of Mr. Fugazi in Gotham! This is big news. ....hang on. You got changed since?

What do people fancy tonight? Not keen on putting much on the games, pretty unpredictable. Very tempted by a draw double in the Lyon and PSV games, draws are bastards to bet on though.

I told you to swap Maynard for RVP but noooo... I think I'm going for a proper clear out tbh, other than Shaw and Mig every single one of the fuckers has let me down. Get in, a week 1 wildcard.

I had him on the bench Don't expect too many clean sheets, mind. Beren: it's hard to hide, I really don't. Clearly some jealousy from myself that I couldn't find a team I was happy with which included him. So very expensive.

I guess so. Would be funny if he got injured (nothing too violent, just the world's worst cold which kept him out for a while - he doesn't like colds, you see), just to see the panic with some people about what to do. Come to think of it, it's not unlikely that this week will be my best gameweek of the entire season, barring a double gameweek for a number of players.

Not just saying this after his first game, but Coleman was always a steal. Starting player for us, going to be involved in plenty of attacks. Defender. 5m. Simple choice.

The way I see it is if you can aim for 2000 over the season, you've a good chance of winning medium-sized leagues. i.e. somewhere between 8-20 people. So going off that, 55-60 is a great average to aim for. Very hard to keep up, mind. I always have too many weekends where nothing happens to keep up such an average. Had some low, low scores last year, despite winning a couple of friends' leagues. I think I got under 20 one weekend. I wish Van Persie was banned from this game. I get it, he's mint, and fair play to those who've thought about the rest of their team. Can't lie though, it annoys me when I see some muppets I know not giving 2 shits about the rest of their team and having RVP bail them out every week.

I think it should be clear that people are fuming like. I'm not saying they're not. I hope for your sake you've got a couple of decent players lined up if/when Cabaye trots off.

I could give the whole "let's see where you are in a couple of games" spiel, but I'd be fuming myself if my team did some of the stuff you did last night, I can't lie. It was only one game against one of the best teams in the league who were desperate to impress, yes, but there's only so much that can be used as a reason for the result and performance.

80 points with Hazard © to play. If only Shaw was my 1st sub and not 2nd, I'd have very possibly been on for 100. Oh well. I'm fully expecting 30 points next GW.

Sinclair would be a realistic, good buy, I'd have thought? Not the same position as Cabaye, I know, but would surely give some very useful creativity.

Was gonna mention that. PSV v Milan as a qualifier just doesn't sound right.

Should be match of the night. Reckon Sociedad can get to the group stage? Would be class if they did. Mind, Lyon have looked very sharp indeed in their first 2 games.

That completes a nice treble, though would have been even better if id gone -1.

It's like Bruce's Price is Right. If Hull's transfer talks don't involve this then it's a massive opportunity missed.

Indeed he should be.