Dark Munster

Horrible, horrible weekend.

And a whale of a dive. Anyway, back to the DFCSBs: if they keep dropping points there is a real danger of them falling out of joint first place. I'm wondering if this is the shit or bust season for them if they don't get promoted? A bit worrying , those parachute payments aren't going to last forever.

I think it partially resets the bookings count. The two yellows are gone (they combine as a red and the suspension), leaving him on three yellows. Two more yellows (not in the same match!) before the cut-off date and he gets another suspension, I believe.

I think you'd be a lot happier if you'd just tell yourself that Wigley and Saggy were appointed instead of your beloved Glenda, due to the "vocal minority". That way you could direct your ire at the clowns actually responsible for our relegation. Of course, that would be rewriting history, but you have no problem doing that. This.

Trying to decide which is the best retort. a) ... for Stoke b) ... if we're 3-0 down at half-time. c) ... when we play City in a week's time.

IMO Luggy had lost you before he even walked into the stadium

Not only that, he had a decent record here: something like 1.23 points per game, despite for much of the season he had many first teamers out injured. But, apart from some pretty entertaining football and a respectable points record, he certainly was shite. His two games in charge during the relegation season (one win and one loss) were certainly what sent us down. Nothing Wigley or Saggy could do after that terrible start.

A dying breed, unfortunately.

I don't know, you'll have to wait for Christmas. You could get a preview by reading a chapter or two at Waterstones. Maybe there's a chapter explaining how he wasn't responsible for us getting relegated.

One for Dalek's Christmas stocking? Maybe someone can tell his mum.

Their defense was also pretty good last season (not as good as ours, of course). Agreed though about Morgan's awesomeness.

I have to disagree, I think you are overstating the impact of a GK on outfield play: the exception being if he's crap, in which case the defence and the rest of the team will indeed suffer (case in point, Kelvin against Leicester). Rotating goalkeepers shouldn't impact the rest of the team, as long as they are both quality. It's not as if the rest of the 10 players are the same each week: most weeks there is at least one change anyway, forced or tactical. Barcelona are rotating 2 quality GKs, and Fergie at ManU did it a few years ago, as well as Pulis when he was at Stoke.

That's what I've been advocating, but according to some experts here that would be far too difficult for our poor delicate defenders to handle. A far better strategy apparently is to have just one good GK and cross your fingers that the clowns who are backups won't be needed.

To be a viable rival you have to be at least a tiny bit competitive with your adversary. So that now rules them out, just like it did for most of the last 60 odd years. Having said that, I 4-1 would want one more cup game against them. Make that 12-0. After which, they can slink off back to obscurity in the cesspit of the lower leagues, for the rest of eternity.

Roger that.

Here's hoping. A long and bruising, but ultimately fruitless, run in the Europa league certainly wouldn't go amiss.

I'd rather anyone nick 4th than Spurs. Even Liverpool (now that Brenda's gone). Unfortunately the bastards are currently favourites. http://www.oddschecker.com/football/english/premier-league/top-4-finish

Just like Leicester last season. And Palace the year before that.

He started well, but near the end he really went downhill. He was particularly poor in last half a dozen games or so. He even seemed to be shorter.

But definitely Morgan and Bale. Clyne too, but Cedric is starting to look like a very promising replacement. Ox and Walcott are quality, but seem to be made out of glass.

Yes, but don't forget the bestest factor, which doubles their percentage.

I think the problem is that Stek may well not be happy to stay on as a no. 2 and not play often. If we want a decent no. 2 I think RK has to find a way to keep him happy, which probably means letting him start a number of games (cups, and league games against the weaker teams).

Well, thank you. And I hope you beat them too, when you play them. And Spurs, we hate them even more. And if you draw the skates in the cup (unlikely, I know) I'd pull out my Everton scarf and wear it for the day. If I had one, that is.

Sunderland have only won once this season, against a poor Newcastle team with help from the ref. We're unbeaten away. Given that, I certainly wouldn't have Sunderland as evens for the win. The bookies agree with me and will give you good odds, so if I were you I'd chuck a few quid on the Mackems winning.