angelman

Leeds 0-1 SFC (Lambert). Actually more memorable for Kelvin's MotM display.

That's fine, but it seems that the club are leaving AL hang out to dry. They, and by that the Chairman (or manager) should come out and say that it is him who is doing this and not the player.

Illegal approaches?? Not sure whether it is or not. But the one that got me, was Ashley Cole saying that he would love to see Luke Shaw at Chelsea. Getting players to tap up (or sound out) other players seems to be the way of doing it these days.

I always wonder why, if mining was such a worthy business to keep going (or that is how many seem to portray it), there was no management buy out.

It seems that the punishments aren't the same. Yellow for diving or red for professional foul, plus of course the free kick or penalty depending on where the dive is. {Arsenal dived in the middle of the park} I think refs should be given direction and be told that if it had been a foul rather than a dive, would there be a red card? If there would be, then the diver should be subject to the same punishment. I suspect that that might begin to cut out some of the diving, at least in the box.

How about this article??? Lovely descriptive or two! http://www.eyefootball.com/news/17034/Southampton-plot-January-Jonathan-Pitroipa.html

I see that some are dismissing the importance of this competition, and I would agree. But I see it quite interesting the managers left in the competition. As of now there is ManC, Sunderland and tonight's games of Stoke, Man U, Spuds, WetSham. Man C - have bigger fish to fry, but even then, the manager HAS to have success. Finishing 2nd is a failure. While this competition doesn't mean the most and won't save his job, it is still some silverware. Sunderland - it might be important for Poyet to get some silverware. While survival is more important, this could be possibly a job saver not that I expect him to get the chop just yet. Stoke - while I reckon they will beat Man U (maybe!!) Hughes has the least riding on this. Weather is pretty **** poor and they've gone off. Think Stoke will handle this better. ManU - Moyes HAS to win silverware. This won't appease his detractors but it will help. Spuds - if AVB was still there, it would mean more. But Sherwood has something to prove if he has any chance of getting the gig full time. WetSham - Fat Sam has the executioner's axe hanging over him

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2525712/Southampton-hoping-Mauricio-Pochettino-signs-new-deal-end-Spurs-interest.html

To a certain extent we do. Clyne can be LB cover, with Chambers slotting into RB. That is if none of those two are injured as well as Shaw. I can't see Fox playing again in the league.

**** defending

http://cricfree.tv/live/watch/newcastle_united__v_southampton/17172

Agree, but even then, I am not sure that I would be too interested going. What's the point of going to watch part of a competition that you aren't even fully trying in? As for prices, I think that it has to be by mutual agreement with your opponents. I think it would be wrong to want cheap prices when playing, say, a L2 team as what might not seem the biggest amount of money to us, might prevent them from going bust.

Been to every home league game this season. Don't get excited by cup games as the tickets aren't cheap enough for the second/third string we field. Will be missing the Chelsea one on NY day as got other things doing.

It's not a Chelsea song, more a generic song that a few clubs sing and based on a nursery rhyme.

That should be November's Sochaux player of the month.

That must be awful and what a shame to miss 15 mins of every game. I know it would be a stupid suggestion, but he could set off 15 minutes earlier.

I must confess to running late the other day due to traffic (Villa game) and not having time to have a ruby (is that really any better than the food at SMS?) so had a foot long hotdog with onions. Wasn't as bad as all that - not great but at least I wasn't belching burger for the next 6 hours.

They pay for their ticket, they can leave when they want. I once left 10 minutes early at Selhurst Park when we were playing **** and were 3-0 to Wimbledon. As I was leaving we scored, but I carried on and that was the final score. Do you criticise those leaving their seats 5-10 minutes before half time just so that they can buy some **** and expensive beer without having to queue for it? As it is, I tend to leave early. Wait till the board goes up for extra time and leave with one minute of ET to go. I'm at the back of the stand, and as others say it takes for ever and a day to get out, and when I am with my nipper (although this is sometimes an excuse I use for others I go with if leaving early) I like to get him out and over the footbridge before it gets too busy. Actually these are two major flaws in design getting out of the stadium from high up, and getting over the railway lines. If anyone has been to the Stade Chaban-Delmas you will know how easy grounds can be to get out of (well it was when I used to go there before they redesigned for the WC, so not sure if different now).

Had a spare second as was wondering on the different amounts that the squad cost. Figures taken from here: http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/?from=top_navi and may or may not be accurate, but not sure 100% accuracy is wholly needed. I also know that since Bosman, transfer values are greatly affected by how long is left on the contract (eg Kompany signed from Hamburg for less than they signed him for). Gazzaniga – 2.772m Chambers - free Fonte – 1.232m Lovren – 8.800m Shaw - free Cork – 0.739m S Davis – 0.880 Ward-Prowse - free Lallana - free Rodriguez – 7.612m Osvaldo – 13.288m Ramírez – 13.376m Reed - free Lambert – 1.056m TOTAL – 49.755m Pantilimon – 2.024m Zabaleta – 7.656m Kompany – 7.480m Demichelis – 4.400m Kolarov – 19.976m Milner – 19.360m Yaya Toure – 26.400m Fernandinho – 35.200m Nasri – 24.200m Aguero – 39.600m Negredo – 22.000m Dzeko – 32.560m Javi Garcia – 17.776m Jesus Navas – 17.600m TOTAL – 276.232m (PS still can't understand why we paid so much for Gazza - something fishy there)

I thought he had a blinder yesterday and can understand why some consider him MOM. But was wondering, can Chambers play CB as well?

The person who impressed me most was Chambers. Thought that he was excellent. Gazza sticking to his line was a bit of a concern. Interesting reading ManC forum - http://forums.bluemoon-mcfc.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=294279. The OP is somewhat arrogant from the mod saying that it was another Cup Final for us.

Most of the second half we had 3 as Luke Shaw was much further up on the wing and didn't drop back into defence. Lovren took his place.

I agree. Boruc - Gazza or Kelvin is not ideal but hope Gazza can come through OK. Still can't understand why we spent £2.5m on him. Clyne - hmmmm. Maybe JWP can drop back Spider and Wanyama - I like Steven Davis and am happy there. Cork, if he can get back up to where he was last season might be OK. We are a bit light esp if JWP drops into RB. One would hope that Gaston might be able to step up to the plate and show what he's made of, but......!!! BTW, does anyone know how Isgrove is getting on? He seemed to do well in pre-season. When we played 3 at the back on Wednesday, it got me sitting on the edge of my seat a wee bit too much. Given that we had 77% of the possession I can see why that was OK, but I can't see that happening against City and having only 3 at the back would be suicide.

If we needed to fill a spot and there was only Gaston or Danny Fox - who would you have?

bit quiet at times at Stanf. Bdg,