The9

As the Cheats are proving, Cup wins are forever, no matter what else happens.

I'd have taken 17th at the start and prize money aside I don't see how it matters, but I can't see us NOT winning at least one of the last two games anyway. We only need one point for safety though.

AND Newcastle and Norwich also have to pick up at least 2 points from their final two matches.

Roy Hodgson was on Goals on Sunday just now. Chris Kamara mentioned that they'd had Lambert and Holt on the sofa a couple of weeks back "and they said they think they're being restricted because they came through the lower leagues, and the reason why they're not favoured in terms of playing for England, is there any truth in that whatsoever ?" Hodgson's reply : "No, none whatsoever, they're a certain type of player and, you know, I think with the best will in the world they wouldn't compare themselves to players like Sturridge, Welbeck and Defoe, they're different types. They might compare themselves to Andy Carroll who has been with us, but we're aware of what we're trying to create as a team and much as I think they're good players and have done a fantastic job for their clubs, there's certainly no truth that they're being dismissed in any way because they've not played at top Premiership level all the time. In fact they're a good example if you ask me of us, you know, not being too hung up with "have you played in the Premiership?" - there are players out there who are capable of playing in the Premiership, all they need is the chance. As Gary Neville said, "I got my chance". If you don't give players a chance, then they're never gonna play. If we don't give a chance to some of the younger players to get into the England team and show what they can do, and we just keep going with the players who've been there the last 3 World Cups for example, we'll never know. We'll never know whether they're good enough or not, and the same applies at club level." So... from the horse's mouth, basically implies that Lambert and Holt don't suit England's system, doesn't think they're comparable to Sturridge, Welbeck and Defoe (why exactly isn't clear) and after a load of waffle also suggests they are too old, as there are younger players who might be good enough who'll get a chance - though none were specified. Pretty much everything we suspected, then, and not entirely logical.

Yeah, that's definitely all . I produced a list of about 10 things back in January which could be significantly better, I'm not doing it again.

I have something to say about podiums emitting fire as the teams come out, as well.

Enough people from enough different sources have hinted at it for me to believe it, but it's not confirmed yet. We've had a couple of people say they know someone at adidas with some supporting information, there's someone saying they know the final decision hasn't yet been made for design but it is adidas, another rumour about adidas jointly branding the megastore(s), and one or two others.

I'd say a training top would be a predominantly plain shirt, usually in one of the main club colours which doesn't look like a match shirt due to being too generic and looking like little care had gone into the design, with the brand and the club badge on it (but not necessarily the match day shirt sponsor). E.g. our last black away shirt. No sponsor, plain, with two shades of black and red collar, that's it.

I don't like that at all, far too plain, far too much white, not stripes in any realistic way and not really a broad stripe either - so as such I agree that the white is too wide. Needs a lot more red. Plus, as I keep pointing out, it's last season's template so we won't have that anyway.

That's a "sawtooth" effect, so would be unique to the Timbers. I just couldn't be arsed to faff about removing it from the mock up.

Posted it on the last page - judging by the adidas "prints" they're using this season (see Montreal red home kit and Sporting Kansas "tennis" shirt for example) they could print a sash on any of their templates. I'd rather we left the sash in the past for a bit and wore predominantly stripes for a few seasons.

The fans weren't really singing either (due to the stupid harmonies). Just another nail in the FA Cup coffin, absolutely appalling.

Goals scored is within a couple of goals, Newcastle (43 goals) need to score 3 more than Villa (45) in one more match. Norwich have scored 44. So yeah, any of those 3. A couple of high scoring draws would be interesting.

...for everyone except Villa.

I thought all-ticket matches were compulsory in the Premier League ? I remember Wimbledon at Selhurst having to sell a ticket 2 yards from the turnstile.

Statutory Off Road Notification It's the thing you have to have now if you own a car and want to keep it, but you don't intend to drive it on the public highway. Been the case since 1998.

Been doing it for 2-3 seasons now, and he hinted at there being a reason on Soccer AM last week without actually saying what it was...

To be fair, the Adkins/Pochettino one was a hell of a gamble.

It's on computer then. And we've all got one of those.

The broad stripe is the Portland Timbers home and away style - goes with the big ugly V neck though in the only styles that have been released so far...

It's alright, I think I'd like to see a bit of black in the trim and probably a different style collar. Adidas seem to be mixing up the collar styles across all of their kits and they have plenty of them to choose from. Red or white sleeves ?

Still doesn't mean he can't be criticised for some off-field decisions and the impact on fans.

I thought the "we've never heard of him so he must be unknown" reaction on here was the most interesting thing about the appointment, bit of an island mentality. Like, I don't watch Champions' League much, but I'm not sat here saying Dortmund's kids must be cack just because I hadn't heard of them 2 years ago. That's not specifically referring to you though. At the moment, jury's still out on whether we've got any better. With what we've got at the moment and potentially a few signings you'd hope we'd be looking at top half next season, but there are about 8 other teams in that exact same position.

The Vancouver kit is last year's template so we won't get that, and the Montreal away one's already been posted (and is the same style as Milan 3rd, Ajax away, Sporting Kansas "tennis shirt", and Sounders home also already posted). There are a few different stripe styles around though, as well as the Montreal away, there's the thinner stripes (with pinstripes) of the Milan home, and the Portland Timbers broad stripe. There's also a broad striped Philadelphia Union shirt (home or away) but that's last season's template too.

A few of adidas' latest releases... Marseille "Jeans" third kit : which you might notice has the same template pattern as the new Wolfsburg shirt : Schalke have the big V neck style (of Milan's away kit and Celta Vigo) : Whilst Milan's 3rd kit (with horrible pocket) has the curved sleeved piece : and the same template style as the Ajax away shirt : Nothing new though, all templates that have already been seen.