leffe186

We're all right, honestly. We're neither as bad as people (and some media) say, or as good as the media (and some people) say. We're not as good as Spain, but we should be better than San Marino and Montenegro. The problem is, people like Dawson and Parker have actually played pretty well recently. I can understand the call-up from a "rewarding good form" perspective, but I just don't think they should be playing from a "building a squad" perspective. They're not technically good enough to play at the top level unless they are part of a well-drilled team, and I don't think we're that. Are there not younger alternatives available? Maybe not tbh.

Arteta's a useful squad player, and that's no shame. Arsenal have different issues.

According to sky Adebayor is fully fit, and Lennon is having a late test. Both have travelled to Italy. Can't see Inter doing enough to get past them tonight, would love to be wrong! AVB says they're both going, but neither will start. I only expect to see them if we're struggling.

Exactly this, with the added reason that it means no extra derbies for us. Sides like West Ham and QPR seem to raise their game for us.

Spurs. Somehow forgot them. We could still screw it up. Not clear who's going to be playing tonight, but I know Lennon and Ade aren't starting.

Most of them do at some point. It tends to be teams who aren't doing as well as their fans expected. Liverpool are the classic example, although Arsenal have been doing it a lot. It also tends to be teams with local rivals, so Arsenal will put out a combined North London team. I feel like I've seen a lot of combined Liverpool-Spurs teams over the last four or five years though.

I miss those tackles. What a stupid time to do it, too.

Well, if they weren't going to get twatted, this is a more than acceptable alternative.

Toulalan is a lucky boy. He doesn't need to make any of these tackles.

Nah, can't see it. Malaga are looking fairly comfortable at the moment. I know, just a feeling I have. I'd expect Malaga to be looking rather better given that they're up against 10 men. 2-0.

Nah, can't see it. Malaga are looking fairly comfortable at the moment. I know, just a feeling I have. I'd expect Malaga to be looking rather better given that they're up against 10 men.

Still think Porto might get something here.

Another crazy sliding tackle. Really enjoying this.

Hope you had some money on that mate Can't afford it, man - I hope someone else had a punt.

Didn't even make it five minutes into the second half. Lovely red card, worth seeing it for a real old-school foul. Defour just kicked him .

I've only just started watching it, the Bayern - Arsenal game bores me Doesn't look like it's raining to me. Yeah, me neither, but there have been a couple of tackles diving in that looked tasty and I presumed people's footing wasn't great. Guess they were just silly tackles.

I'm only half-watching and it's not a great picture - is it pissing with rain there? Lots of collisions and people sliding in. Great finish that, though.

THey are now.

Malaga v Porto is quite open, with lots and lots of niggly fouls. Fully expect to see a red in the second half.

Would be even cannier if they all got injured, and lost by ten. They won't do that either.

And? Who are they? I hate it when the BBC does this.

IT'S A BLOW FOR THE NATION!! I can barely hold the tears back.

The prime issue is whether Short will keep funding the losses, but FFP is now an issue for them because of the scale of those losses. The UEFA regulations theoretically require these to be €5M, but IIRC allow you to lose €45M over the next two seasons (2013/14 and 2014/15), as long as the owner covers it. Sunderland are already in line to be well over this amount. If they go down they will be in serious trouble.

So frustrating that we didn't finish it off. Ah well. They do have a good run of games now, and all their first team fit, plus no cups to worry about. I'm counting on you guys to shut them up.