suewhistle

OI! You're a moderator, no unbecoming CBFry like posts from you, ferrchrisakes.;-)

So you're assuming you know the real reason? If he had to go to hospital it would suggest that a few extra days' recovery might be a good thing? We don't know, and that we includes you.

Spoken like a true academic..

I'm trying to think of reasons to be positive at the moment: 1) The sun is finally out. 2) No more clashes with Thursday night training and Sunday afternoon games. 3) Potentially saved myself a lot of money on going to a game abroad. 4) Players to come back from injury and getting to full fitness. That includes Tadic with his virus(?) who did at least make a difference when he came on last night. 5) I'm cooking slow-cooked shoulder of lamb and entertaining tonight. 6) There's a home game on Sunday (is this a positive?). 7) The sun is still out. I could be like Alpine. Hey, I've just cheered myself up! :-)

Thanks for your analysis. I think at the moment we're missing both footballing intelligence and, possibly more importantly, confidence. The team certainly haven't gelled and aren't performing to the level we know they can.

I see bananaman had the same thought!;-)

He's trying to let us get him at the cheaper out-of-the-Champions price..

His head is obviously not there..

Can I suggest that they do their training on the civil service ground at Chilcomb, on the downs above Winchester. Very well drained pitches on the chalk there. Mind you, I suspect the CS club would want paying in advance so that might be an obstacle...

The fans didn't seem very happy on 5live, mind you, nor did the Liverpool fan I heard!

In the first leg one of their players went down with cramp - or it may have been simple timewasting... - but we can hope that we are fitter. Get Long to make a nuisance of himself first half and then bring on Mane against tiring legs. I wasn't giving the u-21 game my full attention today, but when I noticed Juanmi his passing and control was very good. He came off at HT I think, so it might just have been a tune-up game.

Those sorts you don't mind so much as they're self-aware enough to realise it, and it's always good to support your local team. As the main board shows, a poor start and we've got our own fairweather fans too!

Against 'Boro, on at the moment on Youtube. currently 1-1, Boro just equalised.

It could be something fairly minor, but the fact that it's been mentioned is hopefully a good sign. If it's something like glandular fever he could be out a bit depending on how bad it is.

When he was on the touchline on the ground he then got fouled again: you could see his whole shoulder move with the impact - the sort that makes the spectator go 'ooof' in sympathy. He was obviously targeted, and I'm not surprised our bench were angry.

The9's points seem perfectly reasonable, especially when everything is scientific as it is these days. I can assure you that even in my team almost at the bottom of the football pyramid the older player has a different warm-up routine to the kids.;-)

Thanks, mentally filed away to bring out if I ever get any grief living over here in a PO post code...

Joking aside, stay in the market and stay in your house. In other countries rental gives good security - 4 year contracts and the like, but in the UK you'll be insecure with all the implications others have pointed out. It's all very well saying you'll be stuck for 7 years, but the alternative _could_ (might not if lucky) be a fortune spent on house moves, deposits and general disruption. Have a look at the Money Saving Expert website which has loads of ideas for money saving and additional income ideas. If you could get (e.g. part-time job) or save £40 a week that's a couple of grand a year against debt/emergency reserve/living expenses/frivolities..

Yeah, but you'll be living in a rented ramshackle hovel.

Even The Grauniad have caught up with this, so Manchester Utd's media team must be busy..

Good summary Eric, it all adds up doesn't it? I'm going and will try and save a bit by going by car instead of train (not so good at that time of night) and only costing in the petrol. I'll save around a tenner on beers but that will go back in the budget for later rounds (we hope!). I'm not sure many people can afford to go to all the potential extra games.

How many tickets will we get for the final?;-)

Think I'm going to cut that phrase so pasting it will save me some typing next pre-season..

I don't normally use it, but LOL!

Whatever happens I'll be waiting for The9's update, quick decision as whether I want to go (is it close/easy to get to/will we go further and get a better or more interesting team etc.). Then I may join the rest of you with the easyjet/Ryanair/BA/Eurostar/ferry websites open in different tabs trying to book travel. Then worry about the ticket! I'm just going to wait until after Thursday (Tranmere, Watford...shudders)..