Neil

Nope, iirc. You're live on Wednesday, and Birmingham v Rochdale on Thursday. And no, I don't have a clue why.

I agree. For Champs League, I think Manure and Chelsea are locks, Arsenal would be a huge surprise for them not to make it, Man Shitty and Spuds for the last spot. If Spurs qualify for the CL this season I think the extra games will really start to take their toll on the squad, particularly at CH. They're going to be playing every 3 or 4 days and they're going to pick up injuries and suspensions too. Can see them slipping out of it a bit unless the droopy-eyed prick signs another couple of players. I think they'll finish about 6th. That's true. I still think they are the only team that has a chance to break the top 4 of Manure, Chelsea, Arsenal and Man Shitty, the rest of this league is just not up to their standards. I'd go along with that. I think the top 4 will be away and clear by March and the likes of Spurs, Everton, Liverpool and Villa will be scrambling around in a little league of their own. The other 12 clubs will be trying to make sure they stay in the division. Think City will finish 2nd unless ManU sign someone massive in the next days. Chelsea M City Man U Arsenal Spurs Everton Liverpool Think Everton need to pick things up a lot to finish that high tbh, the two games I've seen from them, they've looked toothless and distinctly average. They always seem to start off slowly though, so you may be right. Think they need a couple of big signings though. Disagree (though I was bound to really). We don't need any signings, we need our squad to stay fit throughout the season (which it is atm). And although I'd agree with you about being toothless against Blackburn, we were much better on Saturday and will play half as well and win comfortably this season - and Wolves will play twice as well and lose this season. Just wasn't our day. Doesn't help we have Villa - desperate to prove a point - and Man Utd in our next 2 games, admittedly. We'll come good, and I honestly think it would be stupid to write us off for a while yet.

If he has the ball centre left about 15 yards out, he's great. Any other of the infinite situations a player finds himself in then, he's crap. Edit: I should point out the ball must be on his left side.

Right philosophy or not, Wigan were a pretty dirty side last year. Can't forget when they came to Goodison and did nothing but kick lumps out of us (7 yellow cards I believe), and scored with their only shot on target. So pleased we won it in the last minute with a penalty.

Ah, the forgotten man. Seemed to do pretty well at Everton, not a bad shout. No. Just, no.

Come on then, make me laugh.

Is this Nolan or Cahill?

I'll be happy with that I won't,it'll be an awful feeling. Absolutely catastrophic, really.

So, err, this team you're playing... who are they? 0-168,000

And Smith has a good engine, etc etc. Have an awful feeling you'll get a point at Goodison in a few weeks.

Well with Lovenkrands, you always have pace on the counter.

Start the same defence (barring injuries/fitness) and experiment otherwise.

Eh? Since when was your game based on counter-attacking? Genuine question.

I'm sorry mate but Villa's catastrophic defending can't be ignored today. I think that incident where the ball was going out and it bounced off the corner flag back to Enrique summed up things. But that doesn't take away from the fact you were excellent, looked far more up for it and fully deserved a comfortable win. I just hope you can repeat the level of commitment you showed today for the rest of the season.

8 hours on and I'm still unsure what to make of this game. As said earlier, I don't think the Premier League will witness a more inept defensive performance this season but hey, full credit for taking advantage of it and the confidence this brings must be huge. You've got a smashing chance of getting, say, 7 points after 4 games and I assume anyone would have absolutely taken that when the fixtures were published. Superb stuff.

Disagree with Jonas - didn't think he had a particularly great game as such, albeit it was decent and a few good runs. I can imagine he's a frustrating player to watch at times, doesn't look like he knows where he's going sometimes. That said, puts in a great shift.

Thought he was absolutely superb today. Great strike for his goal, though Friedel should have saved it.

Hughton seems sensible enough to make sure the overriding message after the game was to keep their feet on the floor. The result and performance speaks for itself. And yeah, I'd put your house on Villa beating us next week.

I'm not sure what to make of it. I've rarely seen a more disastrous defensive performance but you played well enough to take full advantage of it. Huge for the confidence it will give everyone let alone the 3 points.

What the fuck?

I found a solution to my inevitable drift forward. Start up front.

FCB : Valdes, Alves, Pique, Abidal, Maxwell, Busquets, Xavi, Keita, Messi, Bojan, Pedro, Niel Worlds most impish forward line. Cheers, Mark. Cheers.

In shock circumstances, me.

I don't not believe you.