Lush Vlad

"They deserve to be champions (10 games before the end of the season)" or wankers like Sky asking "If *insert club here* win their remaining fixtures, do they deserve to be champions?" If, after the season has finished, you're top of the league. Barring some pretty exceptional circumstances, then yes you deserve to be champions. Isn't that the whole point of a league system FFS?

LeeHam McGinn You don't see how he applies himself in training or how he is in the team I think it's more to do with that 10 mins · Like Another brainwashed by Pards? Sounds like another one of his 'applies himself in training' FFS! Pards quotes all round. "I don't know what he's like in training and neither do you. But it's more to do with that obviously...." Righto.

quite a bit of fans? Professional? I know you shouldn't laugh at apparent racism. But I don't believe him TBH. He got abuse because he was shit, didn't try, took the piss and was quite a bit of extremely unprofessional.

We scored a perfectly good goal in a semi final recently. Keeper took a long kick from our own half. Pardew style funnily enough it got caught in the wind and the keeper misjudged it. Our player was going for a header and at most, made slight contact with his arm whilst jumping for the ball. Both had eyes on the ball, barely even a coming together, both just jumping in the same vicinity. Looked as if the ref had given the goal. All of their players were having a pop at the keeper and walking back for kick off. Ref gave a foul. Would have made it 3-1 going into HT. We lost 3-2 AET. I play at an absolute jimmy league level and the protection keepers get appears to be right from the top, down to amateur leagues.

Keepers getting a stupid amount of protection from refs. They can come out using their hands so have an advantage and effectively have a greater chance of reaching the ball. Can clatter into you with their knees or punch you in the face going for the ball and nowt is done. But if you dare challenge for a ball with a keeper then it's more than likely a foul.

seems fair. Can't argue with any of that

Gosling and Anita in a midfield 2. Or Tiote and Anita? Either way. It's shit.

I voted 6-10 goals. Even that is looking highly unlikely. Fucking hell. How has this guy got so bad!

Pardew's 'back to basics' appears to be play no creative players in midfield. With a midget not suited to playing in a flat 4 and a battering ram who isn't good enough on the ball to play with just one other CM. So basically, no DM and a sprinter at centre mid. Then a lad on one wing who is knackered after a half and a striker, who before his injury, was massively out of form. Throw in a good old fashioned front pairing, with the target man type and a goal scorer (that's Cisse by the way ) Then proceed to hoof it forwards to nobody in particular and hope someone conjures up a bit of magic. Basics.

You can say that for nearly all of them. We should sell them all, I wish they'd all fuck off. Or we could you know, sack the c*** who's fault it is and fire Pardew out of a cannon into a brick wall.

If I was him I'd try to make some sort of argument that missing one game is enough. What and re-write the FA rule book? Missing something here? Violent Conduct is a 3 game ban is it not? As ridiculous/soft as the decision was. What are they going to downgrade it too? They've done it before with several players? 3 games is standard, if an appeal comes in it's up to them to decide what they feel is right? Didn't Joey get 12 games for violent conduct? I mean violent conduct isn't necesarrily 3games enforced, can be more or less. Or am I wrong? Assuming it's a minimum same as serious foul play? Gets upped for exceptional circumstances. ie Barton committing about 2-3 red card offences in the space of 2 minutes and after already receiving a red that season. Which adds a game on (I think). I don't even know any more. The FA seem to deliberately make their rules vague and massively open to interpretation.

If I was him I'd try to make some sort of argument that missing one game is enough. What and re-write the FA rule book? Missing something here? Violent Conduct is a 3 game ban is it not? As ridiculous/soft as the decision was. What are they going to downgrade it too? Mild fisticuffs head jousting

If I was him I'd try to make some sort of argument that missing one game is enough. What and re-write the FA rule book? Missing something here? Violent Conduct is a 3 game ban is it not? As ridiculous/soft as the decision was. What are they going to downgrade it too?

Gouffran struggling. De Jong 'unlikely' to start. No word on Cisse. Shola to start then?!?!

If I was him I'd try to make some sort of argument that missing one game is enough. What and re-write the FA rule book?

Probably, but we all know it should be Hatem - De Jong - Remy. Shame Hatem never could grow into that ACM role for us. Him in front of Tiote and Sissoko would be class (on paper) I don't think he has it in him in the PL, myself. He needs space to run in to, he'll end up just running in to trouble more central imo. He'd be hounded out from minute 1. Right hand side, cutting in. That's where he needs to play for us every game. This is exactly it. i agree. I also agree. Plus playing Hatem in a midfield 3 behind 3 strikers, would be like playing FIFA 98 back in the day and going 4-2-4.

"I'm pleased we've managed to sign Luke Young from QPR. He's a great fullback."

Was talking about the bottom one just the other day. Great point. If it's a pass or a heavy touch, usually because the player is anticipating the challenge. It's always a foul. If you've had a shot 'no sorry, you had your chance and fucked it. Goal kick.'

Ehm, Stoke under Pulis? Yeah I may have forgot about them and overexagerated slightly. It was annoying either way. Grey area to me. If the pass is played and both players are running for the ball. How does the defensive player have possession? You'll often see the defender step across, obviously without talking a touch and then just cut off any attempt by the attacking player to reach the ball. You're obstructing the player from reaching the ball and you have no intention of playing it. If you're stood in the middle of the park and you actually have possession, holding a player off Tiote style. Then it's totally different surely?

How much time is wasted over throw ins and stoppages in play in general. This was something I noticed last night. I have never seen a team take so long to throw the fucking ball man. They didn't seem to have any ball boys. Potter over to the touch line, pick the ball up, look about for a bit, steal about 10 yards, then throw it. This went on all game. I'd be surprised if the ball was in play for more than about 20 minutes a half. Elaborating on the above. But players taking the throw about 5-10 yards away from where it went out. It rarely gets pulled up on and makes a big difference if you're on the front foot trying to box a team in. Again, regarding my first point. You'll often see someone down injured and getting treatment for at least a couple of minutes. 3-4 subs. The ref deciding he's going to give players a 1 minute lecture for a foul. All the fucking about when the ball goes out of play or there is a set piece. "There will be an additional 3 minutes of added time" Obstruction. Why are players allowed to shield the ball and block a player off when it's going off for a goal kick? If you did that anywhere else on the pitch. I'm pretty sure you'd get pinged for it.

He might actually get 20 minutes off the bench tonight. Get in.

Did you not hear the "Great ball Mike" from Pardew after one of his many aimless hoofs up to Shola

Still livid I didn't go to Bruges or Bordeaux. Away games in the Championship is one the best things I've ever done. I'd imagine Europe adds another dimension. Spoke to a Bordeaux fan the other day, Swede who's moved down there. Said our fans looked to enjoy ourselves more than any other team that's come there despite losing 3-0. Also said Gouffran was progressing well when we took him and is the most honest player you'll find and that Obertan should not play professionally. They were shocked when Manchester Utd came for him. Lost 2-0 didn't we? Sorry to be a pedant Brugge fans said similar though. They said when Birmingham was there. There was quite a bit of damage to property and cars etc and a bit of bother. Don't get me wrong, I saw some fans being right twats on the walk. But most the Brugge fans I spoke to seemed to say the majority of us were friendly and liked to enjoy ourselves. They couldn't believe how much our fans drunk

Ah the memories. The little courtyard with the 3 bars together and the massive skyscraper of plastic pint glasses

This post is hilarious and depressing in equal measure