Tiresias

Can happen. If it was depression, it can be incredibly difficult to talk about, and to spot.

Reading all the rage at Pardew at the start of this thread feels funny now! Still think it was handled with all the grace and respect that could be expected of Ashley, but still, people were wishing any other manager on us but Pardew hehe

on another board there was a bit of a rumour that there was some tabloid scandal about to be published. Hope that's just speculation and not true, which is what I suspect.

Their emphasis tends to be on just speed of attacks, they'll launch an attack and it'll be in the net ludicrously fast, seem to just be trying not to allow defences to get organised to soak up pressure. Theoretically a team could park the bus better if they never opened up but it's not like every player they have isn't good enough to find a way through. Think giving Khedira an advanced role is a good tweak to his Pepe idea last season, playing a destructive player high up pitch to disrupt attacks starting at back is smart, but Pepe was too reckless and too far out of position, Khedira seemed better suited, and suspect that'll be the plan against Barca. It'll be interesting to see if this plan works, and makes its way to international level, Khedira playing there for Germany against Spain could well be the tactical ploy of the Euros, indeed though with less players in common Germany and Spain are mirroring the Barca Real battle at the moment oddly.

It is apparently just the major news outlets wont run it yet to give his family some space etc. BBC News 24 are running with it and say his family have confirmed it. Really? Seems a bit soon, maybe family said it was ok now to say

There's been a complete change in Germany since Enke's suicide, coaches are allowed time off for depression etc and such. Hate that it takes suicide to get these things done, as someone who suffers it intermittently, it's something really difficult to explain, get sick of people saying 'just need to pull yourself together' sort of stuff.

People who commit suicide often aren't 'obviously' going to Awful awful news

The problem with Rooney is he's incredibly mentally weak, probably as a result of being pampers and told he's the best in the world by everyone all the time, takes everything going his way for granted, when he's happy and playing he's brilliant but he just gets too distracted and blames everyone else etc. It's the kind of attitude problem people thought Ben Arfa might have, wonder if his long injury spell will mean he's not going to take everything for granted anymore etc, he seems to have a much better attitude on the pitch than everyone thought (much less aloof than anticipated)

Exactly, purely on money basis, which is the only thing that'd probably convince him, you make a team to get us further up table, makes more money for us, don't tinker with it for short term cash and then watch us do worse.

Everyone kind of assumed Real being ahead was a blip, but is it just me, or are Real a better team than 'thebestteamever' this year. Starting to wonder if everyone rather underestimated Mourinho last season, that he was combative etc etc but hadn't got everying clicking...wonder if Guadiola has somehow tweaked away some of the magic that propelled them to last season. Too soon to tell, and of course the true test is the derby (remember people thought they were evenly matched last season then Messi demolished Real completely), and how well they stomp through Europe. As a lover of Barca's style I think Real get overly maligned, they're really no more ugly corporate than Barca are really, and they are absolutely blindingly quick, but somehow if they quash all before they'll not get all the 'unplayable' 'best team ever' articles.

regardless of how well taken the penalty, I meant just flukey to having been given it.

I was very impressed by Sturridge on the wing against Leverkusen, even though the game went sour his passing was excellent for someone I had thought a striker till there. We don't want to set out just to defend against Chelsea though, unlike the manchester clubs, their defence is poor at the moment and can see ben Arfa making fun out of Luiz.

You sometimes have to consider managers doing these things more for the morale of the team than for the press, but have to think he contributes more to the players thinking they should act like total tits on the pitch. It was effectively a 0-0 with two flukey goals.

has to move aside for Santon with no Jonas covering him. Now's the time I'm afraid, you've done good Ryan but it was going to come to an end sometime

Can we lodge a complaint to FA for violent conduct? Would be nice to see him given a suspension, but as I understand it that only happens if ref didn't see it...dunno?

So glad he doesn't go for Wenger 'i didn't see it' approach to very lucky ref decisions. Top marks.

If this is the case, screw his feelings Santon has to come on

Been busy with family stuff, getting increasingly anxious, found 0-0 sounds good so far. Keep it up!

Jonas or Saylor Don't really care too much

I'm getting more concerned than amused at this point really

I know what you mean, but doubt Pardew will want to tinker with the back line ahead of a big game.

Considering...that's not bad odds for Pardew being sacked, we all know what Ashley is like, may stick some money on...or would that be bad?

It'll be raylor

Maybe they judged he's likely to be injury prone in the short term future but could toughen up later, hence the long contract