Trumpet

I live in America too, at the moment. Don't find your way to Texas

Aye, I always played defense in high school/college teams and despised conceding with a passion. Would take a lot of joy off a team win for me even if it wasn't me responsible for the goal we conceded. Maybe that's why I'm more of a 2-0 guy.

This. Anyone who says 2-0 has got their life fundamentally wrong. Have a feeling Mourinho would agree with me. Ferguson would go for 4-1 though.

If you look at the stats, the best teams in Europe are very good at keeping clean sheets, which shows they DO matter. They separate a very good team, from an excellent team. These are the stats before last week's Arsenal game vs. Villa Arsenal (before tonight) have kept a clean sheet in 45% of their games. Chelsea in 38% City in 38% Roma in 63% Juve 57% Atletico 52% Barca 52% Real 31% Bayern 56% Good offense wins you games, good defense wins you championships. Of course, if you're Man City, with 150M worth of top class attacking talent, then you may be exception to the rule. But Arsenal's form in 2013 and now 2014 and their rise from top 4 strugglers to title challengers, has come directly as the result of their increased ability to keep clean sheets. If you noticed, these days they rarely beat a team with more than 2 goals....yet they keep clean sheets a fuck load more than before.

Controversial ? question, but which score line do you prefer in a league game (In a cup game, the latter is of course better) ? On paper, it should be a no brainer. 4 goals scored, a better GD, and looking at it, 4-1 should be the winner, but am I the only one who much prefers to win a game 2-0 and keep a clean sheet, than 4-1 ? I mean, yea the latter is more entertaining...but 2-0 win is just solid as fuck. The defenders and keeper will be proud and satisfied with their performance, and so will the attackers. There is just a commanding balance about a 2-0 scoreline, that I'd take it over a 4-1 win any day of the week. Was curious to see what you guys think of it? Maybe it's the difference of perceptions due to supporting different teams and styles, but ever since I started watching footy in 1996 I just had a massive boner (well not back then, I was 6) for clean sheets. I love them. Give me a 2-0 win over 4-1 win when the defenders won't feel as happy and upbeat any day of the week. Will appreciate it if Mods can add a poll to this.

The problem isn't starting four offensive player ffs, it's starting Henderson and Gerrard in midfield. Been completely overrun, and also, Cisshoko is one of the worst players I've seen this season. and there we go Aly. Cissokho genuinely makes Konchesky look like prime Maldini. Allen for Gerrard should be the first change in half time. Sakho in crutches would probably still deal better with Benteke long balls than Skrtel/Toure. Fuck this fixture.

Full deserved for Villa. Extremely naive of Rodgers to treat this as a Football Manager game and start 4 offensive players. We'll concede more too. Getting dominated by the worst possession side in the league. Well in

Seems that a bit of firesale may start for Saints. Be interesting to see if Pochettino is still the manager in a couple of weeks.

I know people will point out at BVB's underwhelming domestic season so far, but it was a monumental task that they topped the group of death without Gundogan playing a single game and so many other injuries. Hate seeing them being picked apart. Hope they go on a great CL run again. saw this posted elsewhere. It's a bit like the child labour that's done in fast east to get the materials to the hands of Capitalism in the US, so the "American Dream" can be realized.

Spent close to 25M this summer, and seem to have gone backwards, if anything. Their last 5 games of the season is an absolute nightmare, so they should hit the 40 points in 33 games IMO.

Not sure how Hughton still has a job. Reckon he'll go if they lose to Hull at home this weekend.

Kenwyne Jones to Everton.

Glad Benteke broke his duck tonight rather than next week. Arsenal are very good away from home. Win games in 2nd gear.

Ramos, Alves, Xavi, and Iniesta in FIFAXI2013 team of the year. Absolute joke. Just like the joke it was last year picking 11 La Liga players.

United aren't playing until tomorrow afternoon.

21 points with Mertesacker, Sterling, Suarez, Silva, Cabaye, Remy, and Yaya left to play. Lallana delivered. Have Yaya captain (considering his record against you lot)

That's an awful, awful result for Cardiff

Spurs 1-0 up. Ugh

think Palace have passed more in this game than Pulis' entire Stoke reign. Deserve to be in front, but they'll probably lose to a 86th minute Soldado penalty.

Will start on the bench.

Always thought WBA are one of the shrewdest clubs in the transfer market. Take McAuley for example. They basically got him for peanuts, but he's shown to be a very capable PL defenders. It all went a bit shit after Ashworth left them this summer and they had to panic buy on the deadline day with Anichibe deal, be interesting to see who they'll chase this winter. Were very good against the top 8 teams under Clarke. Fingers crossed the New Manager Bounce lasts only 3 games, and is well over when we visit Hawthorns in beginning of February.

Ramsey out Lallana in until Aaron is fit again. Saints have a decent run of games coming in. Desperately need to make room for Hazard with Chelsea hitting form, but that'd be sacrificing Silva . Not sure if it's worth it.

... Like chelsea only have the 23 or so players out on loan this season, or something. Hoarding players is so obvious when stupid s*** rules like the 'home grown' one are routinely trotted out by the retards in charge. Was "funny" (depressing) last season when they had a few injuries and were whinging about it whilst having more than a squad of players parked elsewhere. It'll only get worse too. On a related note de Bruyne has gone to Wolfsburg £18m Apparently

: "It's always tough to come to Upton Park and get a result. I think we did well to contain them to very few chances. I was hoping for a moment of magic from Hatem in the last 20 minutes to maybe nick it, but I don't think neither me nor Sam can complain about a draw here."

£2.95m/yr for Sam Allardyce. 6 year contract at 100k/week for a known/found out crock in Andy Carroll. Any sort of deal for Joe Cole. Feel sorry for decent WestHam fans, but their owners and Sullivan absolutely deserve this for their utter mismanagement of their resources.