Chez

I'd say yes. You effectively flinch and bring you arms into protect your body. Lets look at it the other way, say Mane shot again straight at Simpson's chest and he moved his arms outwards, backwards or upwards (whatever way you want to describe opposite to what he did) wouldn't have that have been a totally unnatural movement?

I agree with this. Players make many more mistakes in games than refs, but managers never admit it was perhaps those that caused the team to lose. They also don't admit that they have made mistakes. It's just the refs that are to blame for defeats. The fact is you win some, you lose some. We have been on the right side of plenty of decisions in the last few years. There is no need to start crying now.

Didn't think either were pens. Mane should have taken his chance. Have to wonder if the five at the back killed us for the goal. Instead of Virgil being in the box he was out wide trying to prevent the cross. I guess that it might not have mattered, but I don't like seeing big CB having to go out to the flanks.

There are certainly drugs that aid faster recovery.

Are you suggesting the whole squad might be using PEDs?

Is any sport or team clean? They are all at it. The testing is inadequate, there is a complete lack of desire from governing bodies to catch cheats and the drugs are now so good they are becoming almost impossible to spot. Even when athletes are identified, or the evidence is damning, if they don't come from China or Russia we refuse to accept they could be wrong doers.

Players not in the side are going to be unhappy, but I doubt they are unhappy due to the manager being demanding. Personally I think Mane was lucky not to have been dropped earlier. RK gave him plenty of time to find his form, but eventually he had to drop him. I can imagine being dropped for being late will have caused some friction. With regards to Tadic and JWP, Koeman is a little erratic in his selection policy, which would effect confidence. In short, this article seems very plausible, but also pretty normal. When we start reading about friction between manager and board, then we might need to worry.

Uber seems to cut the throats of existing taxi firms. People are desperate for work so there is no shortage of interest, but it appears that drivers that sign up end up earning low wages. It's going to grow and grow. Customers get a marginally cheaper ride, so why wouldn't they use it? The people that really benefit are the ones that invested in Uber. A few get rich the rest get poorer. That seems to be the way of the world these days.

Not sure he is the best role model for later career improved performance.

Seeing as £700,000 has been shaved off the cva through early repayments do we now need to recalculate the 4p in the pound final settlement?

when he played for us his marauded down the right wing as part of a four man midfield. I don't think he ever played that role at Arsenal. IMO Wenger hasn't used him in the right way. IMO he was and maybe still is the perfect player for that position. Pace and skills to beat defenders, engine to get up and down and an actual football brain to enable him to know when to go/stay, when to pass/beat a man. Instead he was played as a winger or a centre midfielder, which isn't a problem for him, but have made him less effective. I'd take him back immediately, but I suspect he will get offers from one of the big clubs just like Wayne Bridge did when Chelsea allowed him to leave.

Not sure he was that quiet today. He caused problems and created a lot of space for others...but today so not the day to talk about those that left us...

I agree. For those that aren't fans just watch the effort he makes to track Chan and get a last gasp toe to the Lallana though ball, that would have been a certain goa. Then having stopped them going 3 up not long after his hassling and tackle led directly to our first goal. He's such a dependable player.

Poetry in motion tra la la la la... ...loved watching Koemen troll Klopp by running down the touchline to celebrate with players, although tentatively as he had his shoes on and didn't want to slip ass over tit.

The angle the ref has means he can't see the little push by Lovren, and without that element it looks like Long goes down easily. Any other angle and he probably gives it, but he only has one. Go ahead and it's a different game, but you can't blame the ref for the two goals conceded, nor the two great three v two opportunities because we send too many players forward. Far, far too open in the middle. Not sure why we think we can go toe to toe with Liverpool. They are a decent outfit and our five at the back, strangle the opposition seemed a far better choice. That system turned our season, but we seem to have forgotten that. Hopefully we will get an early goal and the game will change...

Liverpool with their tails up is going to be tough, plus Lallana looks like he is playing with confidence, sadly. So it feels a little ominous for a painful afternoon, but then again they stuffed us last time, so perhaps the have had their day and we will upset the odds one more time. Looking forward to it.

Plymouths failings see the skates still only five points off the promotion place, but equally only three points ahead of Wycombe the side just outside the playoff places. Nicely poised.

I wasn't far off cracking it yesterday with the 33-1 shot Bless the Wings (which came third) giving me a great run for my money. So near yet so far. Still, having it e/w kept the shirt on my back. I fancy Garde La Victoirein the first...

Having watched the cause, may I recommend the aftermath in the form of '99 homes', which is about foreclosures and money made by some on the back of people losing their homes. Solid film.

I might be wrong, but I think the Skates currently have a Cat 3 academy. I read online somewhere that the costs to run academies are something along the lines of: Cat1 £2-5m, Cat2 £1-2m, Cat3 £300-500k, Cat4 £200-300k. How accurate that is I'm not sure, but it sounds about right. I also read that clubs get external funding based on their category: Cat1 £775k, Cat2 £480k, Cat3 £210k, Cat4 £100k. Which (if my maths is correct) means they would need to find between £90k and £290k a year to retain cat 3 status. Not huge figures at the bottom end, just £6 each fan (based on 15k) per year, but if they want to make the step up to Cat 2 to match the status of their floodlights...

They didn't give two hoots about the community or moral obligations to support local businesses when they campaigned to get the Tesco plans through the door. £10m a game income apart, I wonder what businesses actually benefit from their existence in Fratton other than the Shepherds Crook, The Rutland, The Brewers Arms and the Milton Arms?

The new investment model section is very interesting. Will fans be required to `invest' again or will they allow outside money or debt? The new floodlights will hopefully help shed some light onto "what the financial requirements of competitive operation at Championship level are and the best funding model and mix of equity/debt?"

I can see why the ref gave the red. Mane has a look at him and from one angle his elbow appears high and Pieters head moves sharply (because of the clash of heads) as though manes elbow has made contact, and he holds his face. At full speed and from the refs angle it looks bad. Obviously with multiple views and angles it's obvious it's just a clash of heads. As for the pen, the ref is unsure, Tadic makes the most of it, and that probably puts the Lino off, who the ref has turned to for help. I'm surprised he didn't give it. From the angle he had it looked at pen, from others less so. Not easy for refs as players cheat, including our own. Thought he had a decent game apart from those two big decisions...or is it not possible to have a good game if you get big decisions wrong?

Very good display. The effort in the first half to close the opposition down was obvious to see. As we tired a few gaps opened up, but when the opportunity arose we hustled and hassled Stoke which made it hard for them to do anything. That the difference between us now and earlier in the season (and Bournemouth). Put under pressure Stoke showed they are still an average side turning ball over time after time. When we got the ball we were much better with it than I have seen from us in a while. The all stuck up front with Pelle, and Longs runs gave us an alternative out ball and a threat. Lots of good performances from the usual suspects, but I thought Martina had a decent game and Davis put in a tremendous shift. Great stuff chaps. Deserved win and a good performance to go with it.

Bet Martin Hopkins from ExpressFM is wondering how on earth he can avoid asking Cook negative questions in the post match interview this week. Look forward to hearing that conversation.