Neil

Man Utd are, unfortunately, good value.

Carroll barely looks bothered. Shame as there's a real powerful striker in there but he's just not performing.

Hmm, I was hoping there'd at least be a couple of shots on target.

Worst half of football I've watched all season. It's all good and well putting your faith in youngsters, but Villa's youngsters are shit. Can't control the football, look scared to go forward.

Good point, think I'll take the risk too and transfer him out today, can see him losing 0.3/0.4.

Benteke anytime. I know Villa have scored fuck all at home this year but I think he's in really good form and West Ham have been very suspect away from home themselves.

Win to nil @ 9/4 -1 @ 2/1 Win both halves @ 4/1 Can't really argue with that, tbf.

Their price has been on the drift for a few days. Saw them at 4/7 in a couple of places earlier in the week, you can get 5/6 in some places now. Trust me there is minimal danger of us winning, but don't discount a draw. I guess Man City's result might have swung some people's minds - maybe some are thinking Fergie will rest a couple? I'd expect a full-strength squad regardless of the Real match and SAF to tell them to go out there and twat us.

Pique storms forward and scores a 6th.

Funf, Iniesta.

CGI.

At the right price, I would have him at Everton. I'm convinced if he puts the effort in there's a damn good player there. I dunno, I guess that flies in the face of evidence to the contrary but I really think he could be a very good footballer if he put his mind to it. Obviously will bow to the better judgement of those who've seen him more.

The Reading vs Villa match in a few weeks is going to be massive, especially if Villa don't win tomorrow. Reading win it and they will stay up in my opinion, Villa win and and I think they will stay up, if it's a draw then the winner will be whoever is outside of the relegation zone going into the game. QPR and Wigan are down, simple as that. Except it really isn't as simple as that. We all know there are some odd results near the end of the season when teams are scrapping for their lives - not least of all Wigan have shown that to be the case year after year. The Reading v Villa game will be big but just as much for confidence/momentum purposes as for the 3 points. Just because one wins doesn't mean the other can't catch them up quite easily.

Johnson is such an odd one. Perhaps he was overrated when he broke through and stupidly went to Man City but there's obvious talent there. Just can't seem to get any sort of consistency.

Like the wording.

A month or so ago I remember saying Norwich were in danger of getting sucked into the battle and I think that even more so now. Another game they would have thought they'd have a good chance of 3 points, only 1. Granted, Villa and others will have to pick up a fair few points but Delia's lot will be looking very nervously over their shoulders currently.

I just think Sunderland are in a long-term predicament. The players they've bought under Bruce and O'Neill, with the odd exception, have simply been different shades of shit. Mediocre players aren't going to get you anywhere in this league. It seems that for many, many years they've needed some proper creative drive from midfield. They need a Cabaye, they need an Osman, they need someone who can create something from midfield. Until then their main hope is nicking wins here and there (with the very occasional more comprehensive win thrown in there) but when the defence isn't up to scratch, they're screwed. Simply put, they need 3 or 4 very decent players if they're going to turn into a decent contender for the top 7ish. And by very decent, that doesn't mean Craig Gardner or John O'Shea. Couple of defenders, couple of midfielders. On the plus side, I think Fletcher is a good striker for a mid-table side, possibly upper mid table, and Sessegnon and Johnson on their day are very good players IMO. That's a good attacking trio to work off, but where's the support?

I definitely think IP has just pulled a funny there. I thought it was funny.

Thought Jenkinson's been quite good from what I've seen of him (not today obviously ) I'd have probably kept him in the team ahead of Sagna when he came back from injury.

It's down to the ref not wanting to set a precedent for the rest of the match. Yeah that's fair enough. But on the other hand if it's a red card challenge, it should be a red card. Or is it that the referee thinks things will generally get out of control if there's a red card straight away?

I know we have a few who know the rules pretty well on here/referee some games themselves: is there anything in the laws of the game which at all implies a sense of leniency should be used early in the game? Because that might have saved Cattermole, and you see it a few times. Potentially red-worthy challenge but only a yellow given when it's early on.

It was a clear as day red IMO. People would be absolutely fuming if it was the other way round and the opposition player had only got a yellow card.

A rare, great day for me - we'll see how long it takes for me to lose my winnings. 3pms didn't come off, but in-play has been class for me today. Not massive stakes but built up quite a tidy total from today just betting on various singles: Bale to score the next goal in the game earlier @ 7/1 (Ray Winstone takes the credit here) Valencia to win (15 mins to go) @ 7/2 Lazio/Napoli BTTS @ 8/11 Ronaldo to score the 4th goal @ 11/5 - tried to get him to score the 3rd goal, as well as it finishing Real 4-1, but t'internet fucked up. Sevilla to score at least 1 goal (25 mins to go) @ 23/10 And also a Southampton/City BTTS, Bayern double. Pretty much everything I've bet on today has happened and a couple of the bets I didn't manage to get on but thought would come off also happened. Not sure what's happening really.

No heart celebration, would not rate.