The Prophet

'The Arsenal of the Championship'.

I think we'll definetly get on the score sheet like.

To be honest whether we play 4-5-1 or 4-4-2 away from home someone who throws themselves about always comes in handy, hence the Nolan/Guthrie combo not working. So I'm not too fussed about Butt starting.

Whats he done like?

I think it's the fact both full backs look lost when somone runs at them.

Forest Ipswich Colchester Southampton Sevilla Won some money today so it's essentially a free bet too.

It makes sense to start Carroll and Nolan if you ask me, the back four is a bit of a worry like.

So to summarise: There's been unconfirmed speculation of a brawl between Taylor and Carroll at the training ground. Currently the only alleged evidence of this brawl taking place is Taylor spent the night in hospital with a broken jaw. Despite this understandable lack of information the media and 'ITK's have attempted to fill in the gaps leading a couple of fans to swiftly mount there high horses and demand heads should roll. Is that about right?

Crouch always comes across as a top fella.

Well that's a bit gay.

If confirmed surely Carroll could be looking at a spell behind bars?

Anyones opinion changed here? I'm sticking with Lovenkrands, although it's difficult to fault Carroll at the moment. They're both doing a great job.

He reminds me of Ranger a little.

Realisitc winners: Barcelona/ Man United Dark horses: Inter Team I'd like to win: Bordeaux

Over confidence? Our away from has has been average at best. Bristol draw a lot of home games but tend to give the top sides a run for their money. Given the lack of steel in our central midfield I'm going to plump for 1-1.

What impresses me most about Guardiola is the team work he's instilled in the side.

The subjective myth: So there I was raging when I heard of West Brom's latest 'dubious penalty decision', it was a bitter pill to swallow considering their winner at the weekend. I'd already developed an unhealthy dislike of them after our FA Cup encounter, possibly one of the worst refereeing performances this season. I'd accepted that they were a team with far superior running power and skill to our own and were therefore far more likely to induce penalty decision from the referee, but still having heard of this so called stat of six penalties in eight games or what ever the hell it was I was determined to find out how many penalties the bastards had 'earned' this league campaign. The objective truth: So sadly I sat and counted how many penalties both West Brom and Newcastle had scored and conceded from this season (due to not being able to find any stats on missed penalties). You can correct me on these stats but on my count West Brom have been given six penalty decisions in the league this season and five awarded against them. On the other hand we have been awarded and three and conceded one. The reason it seems as though West Brom have had more is because of the two awarded at the Hawthorns in the FA Cup tie combined with the fact that five of the six they have been awarded have come in the second half of the season. Conclusion: I, like some others have let their bitterness of the FA Cup tie amongst other things exaggerate the amount of penalties West Brom have scored from in the league this season. Think about it the stats make sense, we have had a better defence and as a consequence have conceded less penalties while West Brom's more cohesive attack has meant they have induced more than ourselves. Another option is that I've missed counted a large amount of penalties which puts this theory to bed, ah well.

Harsh saying 'Twenty non-shit clubs' when the clubs that are there have earned the right to be in the Premeir League. However in terms of who I'd like to see in the top flight (in no partiular order): Newcastle Sunderland Man United Man City Liverpool Everton Sheffield United Sheffield Wednesday Leeds Forest Derby Aston Villa Wolves Chelsea Fulham Spurs Arsenal West Ham Ipswich Southampton

If anything it's probably been my biggest problem with him. At first we took the 4-5-1 long ball approach. The good news I think he realised this wasn't working and has gone 4-4-2. Now he needs to take a look at it and learn we can't play Guthrie and Nolan in the middle away from home, we need a Smith or a Butt to throw themselves about and stop us getting overrun. I honestly wouldn't mind going back to a 4-5-1 as long as we keep the ball on the deck, the biggest problem before is we'd just launch the ball up to Carroll and it would come straight back at us. The good news is he is learning and trying to adapt.

For me Nolan can do a job playing off the striker he just need to get his fitness sorted, he's a professional for fucks sake. I think I'd more inclined to sell Smith out the two.

How boring. I think it's pretty evident to most fans Hughton has his flaws, but to how pathetic is it that after winning four games on the trot at the first sign he's made an error of judgement we get the same people whining on. It goes without saying Hughton isn't everyone's first choice here, his inadequacies have been done to death. For me that makes it all the more impressive we're sitting cleat top of the league. We'd all prefer a proper manager but that just isn't going to happen at this moment in time, but instead of bitching and moaning about it why not get behind him? I can see his logic in the Butt decision. We getting completely overrun in the middle of the park so he put an extra man in there to try and regain control. Now while I personally don't agree with it, I'm not going to crucify him for it. It makes all the more frustrating those complaining remained relative quiet during our recent four game winning streak. So aye I'd prefer a manger in charge of our team, but given what he has Hughton has done a good job. While I'd be looking for someone to replace him in the summer if no one decent is available I certainly wouldn't sack him for the sake of it. He makes mistakes, we know that but its about time some accepted for all his flaws the man has actually done a f***ing good job to get us where we are right now.

I'd let Butt go on a free, conisder offers for either Smith or Nolan and loan Ranger out. Would anyone extend Pancrate's contract?

I think he'd do alright. So much so I'd consider going: S.Taylor-----Williamson-----Colo-----Enrique

Think getting rid of so many of the current squad in one swoop could be detrimental.

£7 on the first 4, and £2 on the 2nd list of games apart from Brentford-MK also: £3 on Napoli Lyon Lorient Sevilla AEK Same but -AEK + PSG and a Napoli-Fiorantina draw.