Chez

That's an interesting theory. I was going to disagree fully, on the basis that you don't tot up niggling fouls before giving a straight red, and most likely he just saw a reckless challenge, but maybe the previous fouls in that game, plus his reputation did go before him a fraction. I thought at the time it was a little unlucky, but equally I could see why Clattenberg went for a red. You just cant throw yourself into tackles any more, which is good and bad. As annoying as it is, at least Wanyama is showing commitment when crossing the white line.

well Pep did nearly join them in 2005 (just the likes of Man City, Man United and Chelsea in front of them in the queue) and that brush with greatness clearly rubbed off on them eleven years later to produce the sort of outstanding tica-taca football that is helping to tear up the division right now.

If their wage bill is 2.5m a year or suchlike they will need that £500,000 to pay the wages between now and when the next batch of season ticket money starts coming in. Good to hear they won't be going into debt to pay those. I mean if they have financial problems with the fans at the helm after they have blamed all the previous dodgy owners for their troubles, they would become the laughing stock of football...oh.

Clashes with cup games and many games called off because of weather. Not just Carlise that has had rain.

Yes, the charter says prices must be the same as home fans in 'comparable accommodation', but where are away fans given better seats than home fans so it's the same thing.

Every single game is on the web. Just how much is too much? Just how big a ticket price, booking fee and now rip off postage are you willing to pay?

Away tickets must be priced at the same amount as the lowest single game home tickets.

The is almost total apathy on here about price rises and general greediness of the football company. In fact if you moan about it or takes a stand you may get laughed at or told you won't be missed etc.

Its a classic tale of hero becoming zero... But when a manager starts crying about negativity just two questions into an interview, you know he's rattled. Martin Hopkins sounds like a nipper finding his feet and just trying to keep the managers words flowing rather than having any sort of agenda. Cook doesn't have the brains to see that though and has made himself look like a chump

the question is how much could they charge before it made you stop buying a ticket? Twenty is plenty?

you little beauty. You just don't know how long I've waited to get the opportunity to drop this seamlessly into the thread. What do you mean. Fred and friends seem to be doing a grand job [video=youtube;zS1-aoUNBbE] 1min:30 in

not sure how to embed a twitter conversation, but the inter club `banter' seems to be escalating

Chelsea managed to break into the top echelon of football with global recognition and the sponsorship deals etc to go with it and their stadium wasn't anywhere near as big as the top clubs. They did it by spending money on players and winning things, not by building a bigger stadium. We don't have the spending power to do that, but doubt the stadium route will get us there either. Not sure I'm all that bothered to be honest.

Leicester will beat Arsenal if current form is anything to go by. Arsenal look suspect against a pressing side. For once wouldn't it be great if the underdog doesn't fade away. The Premiership and its fans need a Leicester win to give us hope...

Brilliant start to the game by us with a high tempo pressing game that once again showed that Arsenal are not all that if you hurry them. Thought we wasted quite a lot of opportunities in the first half. They gave up possession in dangerous areas and we didn't use the ball well. Mane just isn't doing the right things. He is the key. If he can just start to make the right choices and get the right luck we could beat anyone. Unfortunately he hasn't done either of those things for a while. Second half we seemed to go into our shell a little. Romeu got a little tired perhaps, although I thought he had a great game. Not sure the subs helped us at all. Juanmi out of position and god knows how many attackers left our midfield a little exposed. That said we ran hard and fought to the end. Excellent effort. Forster will quite rightly get the plaudits, but the likes of Wanayama, Virgil, Bertrand and Soares all did very well. My only moan would be the lack of effort by Tadic to close men down on a few occasions. Check out how little he does to stop the cross for the Kachelny headed chance. fOx like.

I like that suggestion on POL to simply wait for enough clubs go bust to help shoot them though the leagues. We'll see you in the top flight in 2070 something then.

Doesn't an equaliser that late in the game mean it still counts as an away win?

When we get between the lines we have to do more, mane especially. Other than that I can't fault us.

I like your full post above. But that's a double wammy to the bottom line, which will effect spending on wages. Big call for any Chairman to go down that route...

We are on a decent run, so its easy to feel content with many or most of the current players at the moment, but its important to assess players over a longer term (i.e. the whole season). How many fans would have pointed to the full backs being `excellent' a few weeks ago as Glassman suggests (three posts above)? There are some tough games ahead. Lets see how we feel in a few weeks time. I suspect that after two seasons of upheaval the club will do everything it can to ensure Bertrand, Virgil, Wanyama and Mane are retained even if they get offers. If that is done then they can look at making minor squad adjustments. Ramirez, Pelle and Juanmi perhaps going out and Stek signed. Rodriguez would fill Pele's shoes and that would perhaps leave us looking for a flair player. Maybe Juanmi will still be that guy. It depends on how he feels about the chances offered and how RK feels about his long term outlook.

I wonder where he will land?

The last day of the transfer window seems to have lost its edge. I seem to recall almost no spending was done on the last day of the last window, or it certainly felt like that. Maybe this one will be different. If that continues I can see Sky forcing the Premiership to reduce it down in size to increase its intensity and regain its TV appeal.

Prior to that long ball there was a long period of possession that went nowhere, so Burgess went more direct.

To be fair they looked good first half, but they hardly had a kick in the second. Hope bompey get United away and the financial win that offers. Look what you would ave won...

Curb crawling ****.