Neil

Going for a 2-2 fwiw. Not sure if you're all (well, most) consciously lowering expectations to avoid disappointment, but there doesn't seem to be much expectation on you getting anything. That's a bit of a bizarre assertion to make IMO, you're casting yourselves as a bottom half team with some of the predictions I've seen in here. Injuries or not, you'll have a lot of good players out there to get you a draw or a win. I'm not confident we'll cope well with the apparent expectation for us to just go and pick up a win against the 5th best team last season. Yes, if I had to pick, we're favourites due to home advantage and also Krul & Coloccini being out, but I dunno. There doesn't seem to be much pressure on you and I think you'll improve from the Aston Villa game.

Yes. It was taken out of context but he said we were not the level of Everton and Villa but now the level of the big boys in the league or something to that extent. Pardew's right though, as we never considered you our rivals.

Nah he's great.

You and Sunderland in your home games against Liverpool were the best bits of value for all of last season. You were something like 9/5 I seem to recall, Sunderland were 10/3 in some places - obscene. 12/5 is still pretty good value as far as I'm concerned, would strongly consider the DNB though.

Think it's perfectly plausible that Arsenal will fuck up tbh. Obviously they should win but I think there's an equal chance of them winning 6-0 and drawing 1-1.

Aren't Vasco in shit form? Seem to remember they got humiliated 4-0 at home by a shit team at the weekend.

How good is Ben Arfa at tracking back? Genuine question, as where he plays will be a sign of Pardew's mentality IMO. Stick him on the right and tell him to give Baines a long night, or have someone like Jonas there who "works hard" and will help to track Baines and Pienaar? Because let's be honest, that's our default attacking choice - get it to the left.

Monday. :anguish:

Yet more cringeworthy commentary for the Welbeck penalty appeal btw from the Tactics Truck twat himself. "He's entitled to go down" - piss off Andy.

Talk about typical. Got overly excited in the heat of the moment. Don't get away with those when you're not at Anfield.

See, awful penalty.

Lampard to go to the left, low and miss?

PELLA!

Near enough to losing, I say.

No, Danny, you need to fling your arms out in front of you. Steven has surely told you that in training.

Didn't notice Serbia got a 6th. Fascinating levels of shitness.

Rep of Ireland haven't even played today but I bet they lost at something to make up for it.

Intriguingly bad.

Missed out on quite literally pennies of profits.

For any in-players, Portugal are still 0-0 at home to Azerbaijan, little over an hour gone. They'll surely win. Edit: 1/4, fuck off.

It's always one.

Oh dear NI. Pegged back by Luxembourg.

Bertrand to the rescue.

I see what you're doing. I see.

Wales 5-1 down.