Lush Vlad

I don't even mind Barton TBH. He's a nob, but he's mildly amusing and I liked him when he played for us. However I can't agree with others about that website. I think it looks fucking horrendous and the content is dull as dishwater.

I only saw the first half of the Monaco friendly and I was half cut watching on Saturday. But does it seem like we're under instruction to play a shorter game? Barring R.Taylor (and Williamson vs Monaco), we've actually played some nice stuff in the middle. Abeid and Bigi have looked comfortable in possession when they've been on and Colo and Tiote coming back in helps of course. I noticed against Fener, even Elliot was throwing or rolling it out short and we were looking to build a bit more. There were long balls don't get me wrong, but they often seemed aimed or were a nice diagonal out wide. Not the usual hit and hope approach up the middle. If I'm not imagining it, then well played Pards, we've got so many good quality players, it seems a shame to waste them.

I've been trying to ignore the transfer speculation this pre-season. Had enough of getting my hopes up and thought we'd just go about our business like the last couple of seasons. I wasn't really that arsed and thought we'd get 2 or 3 quality first teamers in, without spending much. I have to say, the old transfer window paranoia is setting in though I can see us losing one of the first team and missing out on most of our first choice targets. Even if we do get Debuchy, a CB and a forward. I have to echo Dave's sentiments, it's getting a bit late in the day already. They're not going to be settled or up to speed and there will be a long bedding in period. I just hope we tie up some deals out of the blue like we've managed in previous years. Oh and I hope we don't waste money signing Carroll.

Erm, that's the joke. Well done on spectacularly missing the point

Free £22 bet from VC on the Open. Didn't even check if you could spread it over multiple selections (which I think you can), so put £11 e/w on Garcia @ 33s Also had £1 e/w on Molinari, Rose, Mickelson, Fowler and Poulter. Ranging between 28/1 and 35/1. No idea what I am doing BTW don't really follow golf bar the Ryder Cup

Really wish we were being heavily linked with Hoilett or Moses, or someone of that ilk that could play as a wide forward, but possibly through the middle as well. As it stands, we have Ba and Cisse, with Shola as back up for the central role and fairly limited options to play wide in a 4-3-3. Obertan, Marveaux, Ben Arfa, Jonas, then the young uns/unproven players. Out of all of those listed, HBA is realistically going to be the only regular starter in a front three. Jonas did so well in the middle of a 4-2-3-1 last season and I'm not sure he'd be effective as a wide forward. Obertan has shown fuck all so far. Marveaux will probably miss a lot of games through injury. It then leaves players like Sammy and Amalfitano. Dreading the thought of signing Carroll, back to a 4-4-2, playing it long, not looking after the ball and bypassing quality like HBA, Cabaye, Jonas, Cisse etc.

I really don't want him back. On loan or otherwise.

Only caught the first half, but he looked great I thought. Very impressed by how casual he was on the ball. I thought Abeid did well, but he seemed to panic a lot when under pressure and didn't seem as assured as Bigi. Mainly just played it simple, but even under pressure he would get his passes off and actually played it with a bit of pace to try and keep the tempo up. Made a crunching man and ball tackle as well and got about the pitch well. So far, so good.

Tend to agree. Don't really want Carroll back here, on loan or otherwise. Don't want that style of player or for us to play in a way that suits him. Would rather we forked out money on a wide forward type, that is capable of playing across the front 3. Ba and Cisse will hopefully get more rotation as a central striker this season. Not sure how someone like Carroll fits into all that. Would take him as back up, but that's exactly what his role will be at Liverpool, so what's the point?

On the consistency thing, I'm not fussed. You'll often see top class players have shitters. It's only really players like Messi and Ronaldo that seem to play well almost every week. Inconsistency seems to go with the territory for flair players like HBA. I've seen the likes of Mata and Silva have poor games and look ineffective, does it mean they're not top players? They're high risk, low percentage players, that can be nullified with the right tactics. I also think our own tactics hindered Ben Arfa at times. Would spend so long watching the ball sail over his head and working up and down. That when he did finally get the chance with the ball, he seemed knackered and like he was still feeling his way into the game. Led to him trpipping over the ball, over-running it and not having the legs to glide past players like he normally does. I doubt his lack of pre season, the amount of gametime he missed out on in the first half of the season and him still regaining form after the leg break helped his cause either! I think the only gripe I have with HBA, is the fact he sometimes tries to do too much on his own, even when he's at the top of his game. Skin 3 or 4 players by all means, but in a lot of those highlight reels, the end product/final ball is missing. The fact he's a bit inconsistent with his form doesn't worry me too much TBH.

Ah f***. I have backed Golden Lilac. Need to put a saver on summit else now

Oh and Wilson, it was sunny and hot all day until about 6pm. Result!

Well a terrible day yesterday, saved by £10 e/w on Fiorente at 14s on the Wednesday night. 15p Rule 4 though the robbing bastads!! Ridiculous amounts of alcohol, fine ass women everywhere and I think I tried to pull one of the clients? She's 35 and married. Not sure I've got a job to go back to Monday

Off to Newmarket with work today. Freebie, all in, except my bets, so will end up costing a bomb no doubt Valiant, Gale Force Ten and Mister Music at a big price take my fancy. Only 7 runners now in the latters race though, so not much chance of an e/w. Looks a good day's racing, just hope it stays sunny!

Chariot racing in South Africa anyone?

Get in Nathaniel. Defo should have backed him for the King George before this. Will be about 2/1 now. Thought farhh was gonna get there! In various multiples and done him on the nose with my winnings from Trade Commissioner earlier.

Fuck off frankie

WOW! That was easy

Set to Music on the nose. Great Heavens in one of my multiples.

Weyy. First big single of the day. £20 on the nose. Frankie missed out on my eaxh way, AGAIN! I swear he stops riding if he isn't going to win!

Fuck sake, I'm on Trade Commissioner, Nathaniel and Starscope in various small multiples. Cityscape on the nose for me in the Eclipse. Looks wide open, can't do Farhh at 5/2 so thought I'd take him on. Was going to have £5 e/w on Crackerjack King, but twatting Pricewise ruined the price and the ground will probably be too soft anyway.

Fucking forum bets Fuck you all, I'm going home

Bit of form for Crackerjack King tomorrow, not sure if there is a formline to be had anywhere between the runners in behind and the other Eclipse runners mind. Still can't split Cityscape, Farhh and Nathaniel for that. Might just close my eyes and point

Farhaan non runner, so had me tenner on Afsare instead. Probably dodged a bullet with Farhaan being pulled