Neil

Ben Arfa took a horrible touch out of play for a goal kick and he's getting lauded? He's a quality player but come on.

Motson's getting angrier in his old age. "Oh I have to take issue with this." I take issue with your continuing existence, John.

Interesting effort.

REPUBLICAN SCUM! I have a bet on you to win the whole thing. This means you're not winning it.

I don't want to see anyone lose money and especially those sorts of sums, but consistently going with a team (and a manager) you like - despite them not being that reliable this year, and losing you money on previous occasions - is sheer madness, and you frankly had it coming to you. For your own sake, David - take the heart out of betting, it will not end well otherwise. You've said a few times you're going to "stop" or "have a break", then you've come back in, maybe won a couple of times, then lost a load betting on Real / Man Utd / Newcastle / against Bayern. It's a recurring cycle and the warning signs are screaming at you.

Unlucky jotenko et al - I have Benfica @ 10/1 (from before the Bordeaux game). You're winning fuck all.

"No, College Dropout..." http://images.football365.com/12/10/800x600/Bayern-Munich-v-Hoffenheim-Franck-Ribery-cele_2840558.jpg "...I expect you to realise that Arjen is not on a different level to me...." "...and then I expect you to die."

I'm far from Ribery's biggest fan but that's a ludicrous statement.

I think generally you wouldn't consider it a horrible challenge, it wasn't exactly like he stamped on him or raked his foot down his leg. But if the ref sees his foot go off the ground like that then you can definitely see why it's given. One of those: if the guilty man is your own player then you'll naturally claim it's ridiculously harsh.

Generally Bayern 3/1, DNB 2/1, double chance evens.

Bizarre match tonight. 1-0 or 2-0 and the game's alive. Even 3-0 and you'd give Barca a very small chance, but it's surely already game over. Never really seen this Barca team in this sort of position.

Not sure how to interpret tonight. Simply can't see Bayern collapsing which makes predicting a score and general outcome very hard. Can see maybe at one point Barca perhaps having a sniff, say going 2-0 up, but Bayern get a goal. If Bayern score first then what'll happen? Barca aren't scoring 6. There'll be goals either way, surely.

Did't go for this in the end thankfully, went for Real > 1.5 goals for my pre match bet. In-play bet didnt come off anyway, had Ronaldo next scorer near the start of the 2nd half @ 4/1 which I thought was decent value.

The 0.5 goals is there mate. 1/80 though. I'm thinking BTTS with my pre-match bet. It's far from safe but considering over 1.5 goals is 1/10 there, 4/9 for BTTS seems far better value for not as much risk relatively. Probably shooting myself in the foot, mind.

In fairness, I'm not sure they'll know what Europe is. Probably got a little confused.

Reckon I'll go for Madrid over 2.5 goals in-play. Apologies.

Spot on. Let's see where they are this time next year, if he's even there that is. They've had 2 great results based on pretty much everything going right for them on the day, 2 under-performing opposition teams and a new sense of urgency (playing for a manager they give 2 hoots about). He may do well, yep, but there's every chance he'll struggle next year when the pressure actually mounts - when passion and hoping the other team isn't on form just won't suffice.

So basically what some have done in the past, including myself, is to put the £50 pre-match bet on something which is a certainty (or near enough a certainty in betting terms), e.g. > 0.5 goals, so you get that £50 back (with a very small profit); meaning that you can't lose money (if your in-play bet loses your balance will be £100 + a tiny profit, if it wins then happy days).

Interesting new banner.

God damn it, have Lukaku as first sub. Benteke tonight helped out massively, though.

Was saying yesterday that the last minute own goal could have pretty much sealed Wigan's fate, but it's easy to forget they have a game in hand - against Swansea at home IIRC. Win that and it's all fun and games.

He has and i don't like to praise him even if you wanted to go like for like as in position wise..... Cazorla, Michu and Fellaini have all been comfortably better than Hazard Trust me when I tell you Fellaini has not been comfortably better than Hazard. The bloke sometimes struggles to control a ball and pass it 10 yards. His passing always looks like a weakness for somebody who has stylised himself as a central midfielder or attacking midfielder. Yup. He's underwhelming with the ball at his feet mate, and that's being very kind. Well, certainly underwhelming for someone who is valued so highly. He's a damn good player and I know exactly what he brings to us but if we get a big offer for him in the summer then I'd be tempted to cash in. Because let's be honest, that's the only way we're going to have some money to spend. A million miles from ideal but a necessary evil and all things considered, the right offer would be too good to turn down. Plus IMO I don't think he'll want to stay much longer.

An obvious one here, but Man Utd fans. Hancock earlier had the usual smattering of them. Barely said a word during the game, weren't even paying attention for parts of it but of course were giving it everything when Van Persie scored. It was also clear they didn't spend that much time following the ins and outs of "their" club given some of their conversations (didn't have a clue who their remaining fixtures were, "Rafael would do really well for the Spanish national side, dunno why he hasn't been called up", and so on). Bunch of odious little turbocunts.

He has and i don't like to praise him even if you wanted to go like for like as in position wise..... Cazorla, Michu and Fellaini have all been comfortably better than Hazard Trust me when I tell you Fellaini has not been comfortably better than Hazard. The bloke sometimes struggles to control a ball and pass it 10 yards.

Can't argue with the main award too much. Been the best player to watch this season and generally very effective. He's 24 in a couple of months, though. In today's game, I don't count a 23 year old as being young. More and more players are getting good at an earlier stage of their career (increasingly developed facilities and opportunities for youngsters) so I really don't see him as being a young player. Think him winning it devalues the young player award tbh.