benjii

Yeah, what an absolute budgie!

Don't think Forster had anything to do with it really. We only scored four goals in our last eight away games. That's rubbish. QPR scored more away goals this season than we did and only six teams scored less.

I don't like to complain after an excellent season but we really should've finished fifth. Too few goals away from home this half season. Mind you, Kevin Friend has had a big say in us being seventh not sixth!

I might get one to store warm drinks in on a short-term basis.

Shame about Morgan but Steven Davis has scored against City for us twice so I have full faith in him opening his account for this season on Sunday. Although it would be good if Mane could get a couple just in case he doesn't. And Pelle. And one from Long just to be sure. And JWP. And I don't think Fonte has one this season.

Ralf's speech prompted me to stop watching. The guy may bring a lot to the party in some form or another but his public speaking is anodyne in the extreme. As an aside, would it be too difficult for someone to help the players dress properly? If it's black-tie then wear a ****ing bow-tie for goodness sake. As for the blue monstrosity presenting the award earlier... Standards, people. Standards.

I've never understood why on earth clubs hold these before the final league match. Any ideas? Have it afterwards and let everyone get on the lash. Actually, I think I've just answered my own question.....

Yes but inevitably that team will be poorly managed and have no playing identity whatsoever. Fair play to Targett - quick rise through the ranks for him. The coaches must rate him. Can't believe Jenkinson is still U21, he seems to have been around for ages.

Not so concerned with Morgan leaving now Jay Rod is confirmed as staying and it sounds as though Clyne also is (assuming there aren't any unexpected departures yet to be mooted!). I think Wanyama will attract interest but not sure it will be at the level we can't refuse this summer. As others have said though, if Morgan goes I want him going to Arsenal, Man City (I actually think he would be perfect for them) or abroad, not to Spurs or Liverpool who we can realistically endeavour to finish above. £25million in should pay for Clasie and Austin. Then it's just a case of adding a number 10 (Djuricic, perhaps, or maybe even promoting Hesketh/McQueen), a GK, and a centre back or two depending on what happens with Toby and Gardos. I don't think Gardos is likely to get many opportunities so if someone is willing to pay a decent fee we should look to replace him with a defender who can also cover RB IMO. I expect we will also sign Vilhenna (not sure precisely what Koeman's plans for him are though) but it should be pretty cheap. We should be able to conduct our business for a net spend around £20million or so with only one player leaving which is pretty good. I don't see why we can't do even better next season if we recruit well. I think the top 4 will generally be stronger (and will be the same as this year) but Spurs and Liverpool face a testing season IMO and the teams below us, absent Swansea, are pretty cack.

Final Score on Saturday were speculating whether we would be able to hold onto Mane, Bertrand and Clyne. Bertrand FFS - signed him four months ago! As for Clyne, according to Garth Crooks he would be "worth £10million of anyone's money". FFS - £10million?! Yeah, let's sell him for £7million less than Chambers. Pin headed, fat arsed, supercillious tosser.

I agree, we should be positive. Just scored a hatful and we're unlikely to grind out a 0-0. City'a strength is attach but they are susceptible at the back and centre mid. Hopefully Morgan can come in for Davis, otherwise unchanged.

Could you hear the David James stuff? Was funny.

Spurs have just scored an offside goal. Our decision today was terrible. The ref didn't even speak to the lino. If he had then surely the goal would've been allowed.

Well, Villa completely played into our hands with a high and slow back line. We took some risks committing men forwards and it meant Villa did get through our midfield at times but it always looked like we were going to score a hatfull. We were a bit half-arsed in the second half but that's not surprising. Ron Vlaar is out of contract this summer. No thanks! Gazza - 7 - solid. Has definitely got all the attributes and looked more confident to leave his line. If he can keep the howlers out if his game he can be a decent GKer. Clyne - 8 - looked much better today. Good offensively. Font - 7 - solid as ever. Toby - 7 - as above. Bertie - 7 - not as prominent as Clyne in attack but usual high standard. Big Vic - 6 - him and Davis both struggled a bit, just due to the way the match was set up tactically. Still made his fair share of interceptions and challenges. Davis - 6 - as above. JWP - 7 - embraced the attacking responsibility and helped us add numbers to attacks. Some good deliveries. Long - 10 - quality. Great play for Mane's third and what a second goal. Pelle - 9 - unlucky to only have one goal. Ran their centre backs hard all match. Mane - 10 - MotM - what a player he can be. Frankly, he took the **** at times. Worth double what we paid for him already and if he carries on next season we'll struggle to keep him. Class.

She looks as though her ***** would be really hairy. A thick, black, unkempt jungle. You can just tell sometimes.

Januzaj? I think he's got real talent, is exactly the sort of player the squad lacks and van Gaal doesn't seem to fancy him too much. Not sure if he's on mega money or not burning don't see that there will be suitors from clubs who can blow us out of the water.

Right, but Cork didn't want that. He didn't want to be sat around waiting for Morgan or Victor to rule themselves out. So we could either pay him way over the odds to be a squad player or let him leave. There is only a discussion to be had here if you think: i) he should have been starting games ahead of, or in addition to, those two for most of the season; or ii) you would liks us to make squad players financial offers which are too lucrative to refuse.

Agree. Unfortunate that tuition fees were seemingly such a big stick to beat them with for a lot of people. Particularly given the other parties' ignominy on that subject. Tony "I will never introduce tuition fees" Blair, comes to mind.

Not sure about that. Look at the Labour leadership contenders. Most of them make Ed Milliband look statesmanlike and they will probably end up choosing someone awful anyway. If we have the EU in/out then, whatever the vote concludes, UKIP are likely to he viewed as fairly redundant in the next general election. There won't be any SNP glory in failure (no one votes for UKIP on any policy other than EU/immigration) so that's nearly 4million votes up for grabs, a lot of which would probably lean more Tory than Labour. Can't see Labour regaining much in Scotland with the inevitable centrist move that will transpire. Then you've got Boris. Love him or loathe him he will probably obliterate whichever empty suit Labour put forward. Absent a huge Tory-scandal (sleaze, corruption on a grand scale, concentration camps for the poor, etc) I can't see anything other than a further win for them right now.

Sold out, so too cheap really.

Have people watched this? The whole series is on demand on Sky Atlantic at the moment. I thought it was one of the most intriguing tv programs I've seen. The producers couldn't have imagined it going any better. If you haven't seen it and haven't heard about it on the news then you should definitely watch it (but don't do any research first!).

Legal costs will be £0 in a small claims court. Therefore there is really no point in paying.

I think that's stretching it. They won a case which will be appealed, probably. It doesn't mean all parking tickets are therefore enforceable. That particular case also related to an overstay at a fee paying car park which is distinguishable from, for example, not showing a permit or overstaying at a free car park. From my recollection, the signage at West Quay is minimal and not at all clear. I can quite easily see how people would miss them. The OP says, "didn't see the signs - his fault". No it's not; it's their fault. I would reply by letter saying clearly that you didn't see the signs, that no contract was formed and you have no intention of paying the fine. That's unless you really can't be arsed with writing a few letters and are just going to cave in anyway the moment they send you some stroppy notices. If so you might as well pay it. The point is, even if they do take you to court and win (unlikely) you haven't lost anything, you would just have to pay the ticket. You wouldn't have to pay their costs.

Teachers should be paid more. It simply isn't aspirational for the brightest.

I sent my postal vote today. I hope I win. I was amused to see the local TUSC candidate was called "Mike Marx". Mature.