leffe186

If he gets a kick. Thing is, Arsenal can look pretty toothless without Fabregas and Van Persie. If Villa can just keep it tight at the back (and they're capable) then I can see them catching Arsenal on the break or from set pieces. The longer the gamr goes on without an Arsenal goal, the more nervous they'll become.

Christ, Hughton is getting a really shitty ride. I'm amazed he wasn't given a number two within a week, puts a huge amount of pressure on him.

Someone rubbish at home for us. I'm one of those who wishes they didn't post the numbers at all, would much rather keep that bit of mystery.

Agreed. VDV got his for pointing on Saturday.

Doesn't that actually suggest a more balanced outlook? If someone told me that I could guarantee finishing above Arsenal if I accepted a 5-1 loss at the Lane then yeah, I'll take that.

More like, Bassong, Gallas, Kaboul and you still need a CB ?? Anyway, bodywise Spurs are well covered if not overloaded. Their future transfers need to be real quality like VDV or young talents like Gareth Bales, otherwise it will be pointless. Quite. This January will be a strange window. Most people have to sell to buy, even Man City will have to unload some players from their squad. Blackburn may now have a little money to spend, and the talk is of Randy Lerner giving Houiller a wodge, but who else?

That's what I figured. I didn't think we were particularly good yesterday, but the result camouflaged that.

This could be 8, if City fancy it.

Did anyone watch the game yesterday? Were they actually rubbish? I know they lost, but they had 32 shots to 3, and 16 corners to 4. I know their job is to break the oppo down, but it looks like the bus-parking exercise to end all bus-parking exercises.

Couldn't you argue that a poor strike force makes it necessary to play defensively? Not if you actually want to win things. They play defensively and don't score, it won't win them anything. If they want to play that way, they need a clinical striker, which they don't have. I mean, they can continue to play like this, pick up a bucket load of awful low scoring draws and occasional 1-0 victories, but it won't get them in the top 4 and they'll be nowhere near the title. Oh I agree, I just don't think they have a poor strike force. That formation above looks pretty bloody good to me, then they have hard workers like Milner to come in and shore it up and Jo, Balotelli or RSC to play the Adebayor role.

Couldn't you argue that a poor strike force makes it necessary to play defensively? Either way, Mancini certainly has the resources to play more expansively, he just chooses not to. I'd hate them anyway, but that makes it easier.

They're finally getting the injuries they've largely avoided over the last two or three years, and it's exposing the lack of depth in their squad. Yourselves and ourselves have had terrible trouble with injuries over the same time, but it's forced us to build strong squads to cope. The rumour is, they had fewer injuries under MON because they never trained properly. Not sure how that works like. Lack of adequate training makes an athlete more injury prone, surely? If your muscles and bones aren't used to intense exertion injuries are more probable. Yeah, that's exactly my take. I heard a lot of mad things from behind the scenes during MON's tenure though.

They're finally getting the injuries they've largely avoided over the last two or three years, and it's exposing the lack of depth in their squad. Yourselves and ourselves have had terrible trouble with injuries over the same time, but it's forced us to build strong squads to cope. The rumour is, they had fewer injuries under MON because they never trained properly. Not sure how that works like.

You sure? On paper it's televisual Mogadon. Nailed on to be a 3-3 draw then (and that would suit me).

Don't worry, it couldn't be more blatantly made-up.

Been watching the full game over here, and Bolton look impressive. Nice mix of clever players like Lee and Holden with bruisers like Davies and Robinson, harrying all over the pitch when they don't have the ball and good movement with it. Coyle's done a great job. I can see them in Europe, and in this pile-up of a season, if they get luck with injuries they could even challenge for fourth.

Prison tag?

I thought it looked naughty. At first I presumed he just tried to step up to catch him offside, but I've replayed it a couple of times and it just looks deliberate. Second goal was def offside though.

Sorry Stifler, but how on earth was that first one not a penalty? A comedy of errors, then a blatant, stupid and pointless handball.

Watching it for the first time. What on earth was Williamson doing with Elmander? Lucky boy.

No Parker for West Ham? Oh dear. Hope Liverpool fuck it up, but I can't see it.

OR play Blackburn and lose...

Rooney missed a sitter.

Game has become very low-key. Man U need to step it up a bit.

They can't really argue about either tbf.