leffe186

Draw away to Fulham. They're a really good team, better than us today, a draw's a good result. Modric got a run-out too and he looks mint. Zamora looked canny, Dempsey and Gera played really well, if they can keep away from injuries can see them going on a good run.

Crouch scores an absolute blinder, but the ref forgets he can play advantage. Commentators saying "unfortunate for the ref", no it bloody wasn't, he just failed to do his job.

Not yet, just gone ten here, means I've still got time to wrap my pressies.

Miraculous really, but I'm well chuffed. Just hope that no-one in the squad gets injured before the kick-off.

Allardyce understanding full well but using it as an excuse anyway, more like.

Torres to Man U would be worth it for the reaction.

Bassong played well again lads, FWIW.

Offside, man. Hmmm. Where's our resident ref?

Jordan Henderson looking good again. With a bit of luck he'll be an excellent player.

Terrible, terrible defending. This will end 7-7

They kept trying that offside trap last week too and it was rubbish then. Nosworthy played Heskey onside in comedy fashion for the first.

Definitely, but could say Larsson too.

Agreed, like Pienaar; most people can see how good he is and how much Everton miss him. Michael Dawson Richard Dunne James Collins Benoit Assou-Ekotto David Ngog John O'Shea?

Not surprised with the extra load it's been asked to carry.

Have I missed something? Why are we talking about Watford & Crystal Palace folding?

Went to the Villa-Spurs match. Beye was RB and played well, though Villa were pushed back for most of the game so he didn't have to do much except hold his position and defend. Milner looked good, up and down as usual, but again spent a great deal of the match defending. Bassong also did his job well, he used his pace to cope with Agbonlahor and let those around him do the passing for him.

I know, that group is unbelievable, North Korea don't stand a chance, there is a possibility that they could go down history in as conceading the most goals at the group stages, i Think Brazil and ivory cost will go through I wonder what the record is. El Salvador let in 13 in 1982.

Chile??? Why not Algeria? I just think African sides are likely to embarrass us.

New Zealand, Chile and Slovenia please

Far worse than the World Player of the Year thing, because this time I care.

Worth it for a glimpse of that - surely the greatest miss of all time.

Not sure I follow - do they mean that we're wasting loads of chances?

Don't like Local Hero? Specific music is fine, it's the generic stuff like "Duel of the Fates" (or whatever it's called) I can't stand. Used to love it when Orient came out to Tijuana Taxi - fkn brilliant.

Agreed...but sometimes it bugs me when it's something blatant that they claim is legit. I'm presuming someone's done Alan Green already. I was in England for the first time this season at the weekend and saw the Football League Show (or whatever it's called). You can add a pet hate of whichever divot fails to appreciate that all fans really want to see on TV is as much of the match as possible. The old Football League goals show that ITV used to have on at 3 in the morning was miles better.

Give it time. When they win the CL, it'll be f***ing horrific. Honest question, are Barça fans as obnoxious? I can totally understand that we might be. People of my age grew up when Barça won the league once a decade, but the young'uns are pretty spoiled. In England? Not, really. There must be thousands and thousands of people in Newcastle alone who own a Barca shirt, but for the most part, I just add them to the pile of people who own Brazil shirts: people who appreciate attractive football. I can understand kids idolizing teams like Chelsea, Barca, etc., but their parents should beat it out of them sharpish, tbh. It's a fine line between admiring Messi and being some kind of X-Factor, celeb whore. Totally agree. You support your local club and admire others, that's how it should be. I grew up in North London (mostly), and when I was a kid you were either Spurs, Arsenal or glory-hunting Liverpool. There was one West Ham, no Chelsea, a couple of Orient and only one Man U - I can even name him, Tasos Anastasiou. I dread to think what it would be today. As for Chelsea, I actually have no problem with them now because they are so removed from the club they were when I grew up. I know a couple of fans who stopped supporting them when Abramovich came in, and I can't take any of their new fans seriously at all. Of the Big Four I hate Arsenal, for obvious reasons, and Liverpool because they're who I grew up hating.