Neil

Ah yes the old "best fans in the world" line that's actually only mentioned by the media and fans of other clubs about us. We never say it but they keep harping on about it. I'd take it as a compliment. It isn't self-named but it's quite clear the media, twats they may be who insist it's some sort of tag you gave yourselves, know that you actually do have an excellent and committed fan base.

Legend.

Maybe not, but iirc Sky were rather fond of him.

He can't understand you, man. Try again. ARE YOU.... YOU... HATEM.... HATEM BEN, ARFAAA?

This. Perhaps Wearside could inform us to the average Sunderland fans opinion on those comments br Bruce, if that had been the other way around i don't think there would have been many Newcastle fans happy with those comments. I remember those comments, felt quite embarrassed for Sunderland. First of all, a couple of weeks after the derby, saying something like "well, I'm not counting down the days or anything, but in 65 days we need to get our revenge", and then shortly after that, openly saying you were their benchmark. Oh, let's not forget his pièce de résistance: criticising Newcastle for, er, celebrating a 5-1 thrashing of your local rivals.

You've cloned Tiote? ........

He didn't do much, if anything at all, wrong today, looking at it from the outside. This doesn't mean I'd be dancing through hoops that he's the manager but he did his job well for this match so for all the criticism he gets, credit where credit's due.

It's hypothetical. And IMO it's an interesting gauge of how a player is doing by speculating how much they would command in the current market; no harm done.

Selling him would be moronic, he's one of the few but expanding number of players that we should be building a side around. Indeed. I can see your spine being Coloccini, Tiote and Carroll for a good few years assuming nothing drastic happens; with Enrique and Barton providing ample quality too.

I assume you mean, if there was no way of keeping him top clubs would have to pay big money. I think he's key to your progress over the next couple of years. Selling him would be quite disastrous at this moment in time, IMO.

Thought he was your comfortably your best player today. What a bargain.

How long have you been drunk?

Seriously, I dunno what they're playing at.

Humiliating result for Barca.

Indeed. West Ham > Wigan.

2-2.

Carroll better not play, as Elmohamady is due to come in. And if he does, then he better score 8.

My guess is he's being shoved in a late injury for shits and giggles, but at least is a sign he may well not be out for a month as has been speculated. Or, he might be dead. Who knows?

Oh he's a limited player, no amount of goals will change that. As long as teams are stupid enough to keep giving him space, and after 6 years they still do it, he'll keep scoring. The frequency of his contributions has surprised me, yes.

Oh, you didn't. ....come back Tim.

True. Anything less than 3 points from the 6 on offer and I'd be concerned. 6 = excellent 4 = fairly good 3 = acceptable 2 = worrying 0-1 = very worrying is how I see it.

Yes, but Sewelly, you are Football Manager so there's no surprise there.

As much as it pains me to say it, I think it's silly to not appreciate how close the table is at the moment. We have to make sure we finish higher by getting our fingers out our arses; not assume we'll magically rise up the table. Fwiw, despite what's gone on so far, I still think we'll finish in the top 8.

The fact the table is still so closely spread is still giving me hope, but it's depressing how much we've failed this year. Everyone's pretty much in the same boat at the moment, from about 6th down. West Ham, Wigan, Fulham, Wolves, Birmingham and Blackburn are the ones in the most trouble IMO. Also, because I'm feeling a tad pedantic - you've said you think you'll finish 6th bottom yet then name 6 teams you think will be in bigger trouble than yourselves?