Dark Munster

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.

This. ^ They will if they finish in the top four. And now that Eva's gone and "the special one" has completely lost the plot, Chelsea seem to be offering them a golden opportunity.

3-1 to the bastards. I hate to say it, but they do have a strong looking team on paper, and look a good bet to grab the top 4 spot vacated by Chelsea.

If that's true then his first today (which was his 4th of the season) gets taken off his season's tally. Which opens the door for someone to take a tactical second yellow late in the game if he was going to be rested in the next game anyway. Mane

VVD = Class

With all their injuries I think they're probably dreading it.

I read he'll get a £30m payoff. I wish I was a dead man walking like him.

[h=3]Southampton v Bournemouth (16:00 GMT)[/h]Southampton are on a good run and are steadily climbing the table after a slow start and it is difficult to see Bournemouth upsetting them here. The problem for the Cherries is that they are racking up defeat after defeat but they are not going to change the way they play. Away from home, I don't know where the goals are going to come from for Eddie Howe's team and, defensively, they are not good enough to keep a clean sheet. Lawro's prediction: 2-0 Sam's prediction: Bournemouth to bounce back from a couple of heavy defeats. 1-2

True, but they are both (until recently) very big and successful clubs, so there probably isn't the intense hatred that comes from one side knowing (deep down) that their club's completely inferior to the other.