Wurzel

Fulham came close as well, L2>L1 with Man City same season but took an extra year to reach the PL. They went up both times as champions though (with 101 points both times)

Are draws becoming less frequent? Current last 5 match form table (i.e 50 games) only has 8 teams with a draw (i.e 4 drawn games), with no team having more than 1 in their last 5.

That's my point though. Why assume you've missed something (when you already had a clear enough view to wave play on) just because the linesman flags? Why not consider you might have got it right and the linesman saw it wrong. It would need a verbal "comparing of notes" to make the decision I could accept it if the ref hadn't seen it/had a clear view and was looking towards his assistant for help but that wasn't the case. He just seemed happy to accept the over-rule and stop us in mid-attack. Easy to think too happy to do so, although to be fair, if he wanted to show them any bias he could well have given a penalty against Yoshida. It wasn't one but a lot of refs might have fallen for that one. In my view - and be interested to hear a ref's view point - he should have waited another few seconds, the situation was there was either going to be a goal, corner or goal kick within seconds at which stage he could immediately clearly point to his linesman and go and discuss it, or we lose possession and Liverpool then have the advantage anyway.

When I saw him whistle I assumed VVD must have stayed down with a head injury, and was angry he couldn't have waited a couple more seconds as we were in a dangerous position. Couldn't believe it was for a free kick to them. He'd clearly waved an advantage, even if the linesman indicated free kick the other way why change his mind without a discussion? (or are lino/refs miked up to each other nowadays?) Has to smile at Charlie Austin's first (and only?) contribution - deliberately "accidentally" barging into VVD's chest as he went to position himself in their area for a free kick. To be fair VVD just laughed it off, some players would have gone down screaming to the ref.

That makes sense stood in the Itchen, as you are able to face the opposition, in the Northam you can hardly see the away fans unless you're at the end of a row nearest the segregation. It's noticeable that if away fans want to taunt the home fans 90% of them do so towards the Itchen for the same reason, they can see them and hear them. I've watched from most parts of the ground over the years and the acoustics are weird but if you are in the Chapel end on the Itchen side the away fans seem much louder than they ever do in the Northam (as they are directly facing you). By that very nature, if "the Northam" congregated in that corner the away fans would hear them more than they do now. It would probably make for an increase in "banter" noise, just less pathetic eyeballing across the safety net.

I won't shoot you down. that's always been my argument. How does, for example "black bastard" differ from ginger ****, fat ******, lanky git etc. The abuse is because he is an opposition player, picking on an individual characteristic identifies the player it's aimed at. If the suggestion was that the player is a bastard because he is black, then yes that is racist, but in a football context that is hardly ever the case, if at all. Having said that, if the opposition had a fat, lanky, ginger black player it would be interesting to see how his insults were singled out or if he got 4 times as many as his team mates. As for monkey chants, thrown bananas etc, that's a totally different kettle of fish and has no place in football, or indeed society in general.

A good 5 days. In the bottom half of the table 7 teams got no points at all ( including 3 who played twice). Even Palace who were one of the teams that managed to win one lose one so we gained a game in hand on them. Bearing in mind the start we had just staying up will be a huge relief, but on current form - both ours and others - I'd be disappointed now to finish anything below 12th. There's optimism for you.

Loving this bit To me that says as much about Hughes as it does about RH. Was the previous lack of sprints and less ground covered purely tactics, or did an element of "can't be arsed" creep in through disillusionment with MH's tactics? I can't think of one player who is not looking a better player on the pitch (and some who weren't on the pitch at all) now than they did 6 months ago. That doesn't come from tactics alone .

Most kits are just boring. Plain, striped or the occasional contrast sleeve. I know this new Watford kit announced yesterday was an April Fools prank but I'd love to see teams start mixing up the designs a bit with kits that really stand out. Their genuine new kit is the one below. Wouldn't say no to a red & white version of that.

To be fair he's a lot slower nowadays, there's no real need to foul him any more.

A tradition that the fabled "Black Box" has continued to the present day

Being able to decide on the day to go to a game, pay at the turnstile and know you'd still be able to squeeze a way trough to stand with your mates who would be stood where they always stood.

Hit it? From my recollection it bounced off his knee from about a yard out. Although it's a long time ago, memory can play tricks on us oldies.

Thought exactly that as well. Can't see RK has enough input into the club to warrant that sort of figure. Far more likely to have been LR.

That doesn't look their strongest team ever. Don't even recognise 4 of their subs. Optimism levels raised a notch.

No need. Bournemouth are doing ok now.

That's not being "honourable", that's just grudgingly doing what they legally have to do. Being "honourable" would be doing the right thing and compensating Nantes as they had agreed to do for the player who, whey have told all and sundry on many occasions, was "Forever a Bluebird".

How can this be? He's too lazy, still not fit, not interested, bad influence, been sold. I know all of this to be true because I've been following this thread. Seriously, if he's fully fit (and can't imagine RH would select him if not) that's as good as any January signing. Sent from my ONEPLUS A3003 using Tapatalk

He didn't say that at all. he said "Bertrand's body language always strikes me that he doesn't give a t*ss " I don't think there's one of us that wouldn't have said the same about MLT. Not many of us would have left him out on that basis.

That's how I saw it too, he made up his mind to fall over the keeper and went left to make sure McC couldn't pull out. 50:50 chance of fooling the ref, and we got lucky this time. I think if he'd have gone right (same as the ball) and gone down it would have been given.

He's just got a new dog if that's any help. Sent from my ONEPLUS A3003 using Tapatalk

You're asking us? Surely you already have a cheeky insurance bet on just that eventuality .

+1 for all of that, with a +2 for this bit.

You've been here 12 years and this still surprises you?

For some reason a new name has randomly appeared in my Twitter "Who To Follow" list - @TheoWalcott ! I'm sure transfer speculation has sometimes been based on even more speculative info than that