Trumpet

Picking 5-3-2 for the upcoming match day to maximize the number of players who play 2 games this week: Mannone, Demel, Koscielny, Davies, Coleman, Yaya Toure, Sterling, Suarez, Sturridge all play 2 games. Hazard and Cahill the only one gamers.

Surprised how Arsenal are discounted. I think their win yesterday was massive, and perhaps not given enough praise considering Liverpool's result earlier. Goes without saying, but if they come out of the next 4 games with anything above 8 points, I think they stand a great chance of winning the league. I think 85 points will win it. Interestingly, our most nervy wins sine 2014 have been against relegation fodder like Stoke, Fulham and Cardiff. Whereas the wins against better sides (Everton, Arsenal, Man Utd, Southampton) have been very straightforward and the defense has been a lot better in those games. Next 2 games against Cardiff and Sunderland will probably tell if the last couple of clean sheets was a fluke, or if we have genuinely tightened at the back. Have to be honest, didn't expect Rodgers to totally change the shape of the team at this stage of the season, but the switch to 4-1-2-1-2 diamond has worked wonderfully, made us more compact in the middle and forced the opposition to attack us from the sides with their fullbacks, which when disposed creates a 2 vs 2. situations between Suarez and Sturridge and their centre backs. Will be interesting to see if Rodgers keeps the same formation against likes of Cardiff or Sunderland as well. Anyways, massive 2 weeks coming up: Chelsea-Arsenal Man Utd- City Arsenal- City Liverpool- Spurs I think we'll have a better idea of things after round 32 on March 29th.

Stop it. Fair enough man, excitement got the better of me then. I'm on my 6th pint of the day at 2:15 PM, so probably not the wisest of ideas to post on the forum. Wish you all a great St.Paddy's day ! Great forum with great folks !

^remaining away games are at Cardiff, WestHam, Norwich, and palace, and I fancy is against anyone at home to be honest. This is unreal mate. I remember in July I made a bet with a friend that if we made top4, I'll go to North Korea, never in my wildest dreams I saw the team in this title challenging position at this stage of the season.

I know some found that banner cringe worthy, but the football genius one was hilarious. Specially after it was televised right after fergusons angry face.

I have a flight from malmo to gdansk on morning of May 11th. However, if we can win the title with a win over you lot on last game, I'm defo ditching that ticket and heading to Liverpool. Promise to post a photo with Colo, if it comes to that, please don't ruin our party

St Patricks day pre starts early today. 10am

You have to go man, Urugua v England were one of the first games to be sold out and Netherlands v Chile is probably a group deciding game. Actually think I'll be giving it my best to make it. Already am on verge of getting a weekend job as a private chess tutor, and my birthday is a month before, so maybe parents will be generous. Fuck me, this is shaping up to be a great year. These opportunities don't come along every day after all.

Just got a message from my friend in Sao Paolo (was my neighbour in my semester in Copenhagen), and he invited me to stay over at his place for 2 weeks and free tickets to 3 games: Uruguay vs. England, Netherlands vs. Chile, Belgium vs. Korea. That's unbelievable. Also return tickets from Toronto (where I'll be in first week of June are $919 which aren't too bad, if I hadn't already booked a 3 week vacation in May in Europe. Well fucking hell, I may look for a second job, to make the Brazil trip too. That offer of his is way too good decline.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2578095/Manchester-United-belong-Champions-League-not-Europa-League-ADRIAN-DURHAM.html Didn't see it posted elsewhere, but here we go. Worst article ever written in history of post-Reinassance journalism ?

Europa League will (As usual) be 10 times more entertaining than CL games tonight, and yet will still get slated by some wankers like Adrian Durham. Sevilla-Betis Juve-Fiorentina Porto-Napoli Basel-Salzburg All excellent ties on the show tonight.

Christ, comparing Rooney to Messi is like comparing Darren Bent to Pippo Inzaghi. Having said that, Messi has now been well off it for almost a whole year. Has it all to prove in latter stages of CL/World Cup now.

all those Arsenal drought jokes and memes are about to die.

This is why stats can be misleading man. For example, Suarez was absolutely unreal vs. Arsenal in 5-1. He didn't score though, so in 5 years, it'll be used against him as another big game he didn't score in. Also...Anyone not having Sturridge in their team need their head checked. He has won more points for his team than any other player in the prem and has scored in every single game bar 3. He's also the ultimate big game player. 18 goals and 6 assists in 21 games.

39 points (From 6 players). Went better than expected

It'd be boss if FIFA introduces a rule that a team gets 4 points for a win, if they score 5 goals or more in the game (they win). It'll encourage attacking football, and gets rid of those games when a team goes 2-0 up and then coasts in 3rd gear until the end. Doesn't have to be 5 goal margin, but like a 5-4 victory for example. It'll probably force Mourinho to retire permanently, but who cares. I think it'd be fantastic for the game, we all love.

I think I'm most intrigued by which 4 you wouldn't.... Pulis, Fat Sam, Hughton, and hmm Hughes maybe ?!

Those Dawson diagonal balls to the back post are awful.

It's one of those years that you feel, it's a shame that only 3 teams can go down. It's strange that Norwich could stay up with 34 points. WBA, Palace, Fulham, Cardiff, Norwich, Sunderland. 3 of them will survive. Mad stuff

Unbelievable how much Mel's stock has fallen. From being an outsider for the Madrid job in summer, to becoming a laughing stock in PL in space of a year. Spanish Ian Holloway so far.

Sczcsney, Coleman, Mertesacker, Distin, Azplicueta, Lallana, Hazard, Toure, Ramsey, Suarez, Sturridge. Bench: Howard, Shaw, Aguero, Koscielny, Fernandinho, Gerrard, Jay Rodriguez

Not at all Rooney is massively underrated like, he doesn't tear up trees for England but then no-one does, he's a 20 goal a season striker when played up front. He's of course a great player, but all this managers trying to create a CM or Attacking Mid out of him have stopped him from reaching his true potential. It's pathetic. Whenever Man Utd are losing this season, Moyes immediately switches one of his biggest goal threats (Rooney) to play as the deepest midfield, so far away from opposition goal. This started with Ferguson and was of course reason behind his fall-out. it's just not correct to play a player who never plays as striker for his club, right as striker for national team. No wonder the team looked a lot better as he went off and players played in their natural position that they are used to. Really like Welbeck in Roy's system though, tailor made. A lot better than the Ameobi comparison I made a year ago.

Australia let a 3-0 lead slip vs. Ecuador and lose the game 4-3 Their group in WC with Spain, Netherlands, and Chile will be lulzy.

Poland lost at home to Scotland. Doesn't bode well for their Euro2016 qualifiers group. The team is utterly hopeless without Kuba. New manager in being inept shocker.

To be fair Denmark had nothing to play for. No world cup to look forward to ,and almost a completely domestic squad. It never hurts to have Danish fans around. Agreed about the team though, Olsen really needs to go. He's kept the team decently competitive over the last decade without having an outstanding achievement. He's like Moyes of international football. Most Danes are bored of him. With Laudrup jobless now, I wouldn't rule him out getting the job if Denmark had a poor s tart to the Euro 2016 qualifying campaign.