Whitey Grandad

Have you been eating too many blue Smarties Jeff?

Rickie had the same problem.

Spotting

I think you're right about Mourinho and his nasty sneaky tricks. His whole team were at it yesterday, flinging themselves to the ground at every opportunity and whining like cry-babies whenever a decision went against them, Fàbregas for example. It's not something that I ever want to see in the team I support. It reminds me of the dirty cheating Leeds team under Don Revie.

Not so Redslo. Most referees and assistants run what is called 'rights'. With each assistant running from the halfway line to the goal line and the referee running diagonally from one corner to the opposite so as to cover the quarters with no assistant. The senior assistant handles the side with the managers and benches. Very occasionally they will switch to the mirror of this, either to try to keep themselves mentally fresh or more usually because if physical reasons such as a muddy touch-line or, as yesterday, sun in the eyes.

Perhaps he wants to move closer to 'home', spiritual or physical. He was born in Wimbledon and without knowing anything about his personal life it's quite possible that he or his family are getting a bit fed up with the North-East.

Pilot

Thanks. I'll be very quiet. I promise.

Thanks, but I've already had one, two years ago. Watching is about all that's left to me now And another thing... All my teeth are my own. I paid enough for them.

Can I watch?

You're right, some refs might have given it but I still think Fàbregas pretended to be tripped rather than being accidentally tripped. I strongly suspect the yellow card was for his over-reaction, dissent in other words.

Or joining us as a replacement for Morgan

Two yellows = one red = a one match ban. It's not like violent conduct or serious foul play, more like denying a goal-scoring opportunity.

Did well in an unusual position. I suspect he was subbed because he was on a yellow.

No, there's no such rule, but I wouldn't have given it. Was Fàbregas tripped, or did he trip over Targett's leg. I've watched it again at home a few times and it certainly looks as though Fàbregas is already going down and tries to make the most of it. His reaction suggests to me that the ref was right. On this occasion at least. The rest of the game he was in Chelsea's pocket.

Nice article. Shame they can't tell the difference between Reed and Ward-Prowse.

As long as we score first we'll be ok.

I am certainly prepared to give home some time to demonstrate what he is capable of, but I question his technique in striking the ball. It may well turn out that the other aspects of his game will more than compensate for this, but up until yesterday it appeared to me that his presence seemed to disrupt the team rather than complement it.

Briefs

He's a member of the team. He makes space for others and disrupts their formation. Success is not all down to one player.

The local fans are fine, they know their football. It's the media lovefest that gets a bit wearing at times.

They should all pray that they have hit rock bottom. We should all pray that they haven't

The ref gestured that he got the ball, which he did, but more by luck than judgment, and then caught the Leicester player with his follow-through. I think it looked a lot worse than it was. Years ago it would have been seen as a good challenge.

The Times prediction index has 20% home win 28% draw 52% away win So, almost 50:50 that we won't lose

Bugger! You beat me to it