Dark Munster

A win for Citeh. No way we can keep up with them in the long run, but there's a very slim, but not impossible, chance of staying ahead of ManUre.

Red cup cakes do: http://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/article/165/9539916/swansea-city-have-appealed-against-federico-fernandezs-red-card No wonder clubs don't take cups so seriously and often field weakened teams.

Fair enough. But either the agent or the club is telling porkies. My money's on the agent.

I agree, in principle, but hard to enforce. What if the goalie goes down "injured" 30 seconds before the end, winking at his team mates as he's stretchered off?

Big differences: 1) FA cup vs. League Cup (or whatever they call it now). 2) We were locked in at 8th place late in the season when we played Sunderland, with maybe a drop to 9th the worst case scenario. 3) A win against Sunderland would've taken us to the quarter finals, with many of the big boys out. 4) Deeper squad this time, so 4/5 changes won't weaken the team as much as it did last year against Sunderland.

.....

Goalkeeper is a must, unless we can get Artur and his toys back in his pram.

Don't forget our Bertrand, 1 goal and 1 assist already.

1-2 final score. Boos ringing out at WHL. Music to my ears.

Taters: MP tactically naive, and lacking. Not a great CV, questioning why he went to such a "big club". Only one win in the last 7. Did well at Saints but inherited a strong squad. Oh dear, knives being sharpened.

I'd rather they finished 4th and we finish higher than them, than if they finished 20th and we finish higher than them.

Let's be honest, we played some fantastic football under MP. I hate to admit it, but his new team also played well in beating us 1-0 recently. But he wasn't that great in the transfer market, was arrogant (e.g. refusing to speak English in interviews), didn't take cups seriously, and in the end saw us as a short-term stepping stone and was looking out for number 1. I'm glad the slimeball has gone, and would choose RK over him any day.

I'd be delighted if West Ham finish 4th. As long as we finish higher than them.

Doubt it. Barring significant squad injuries, or sendings off, I think the only teams who could beat us by 3 or more goals are Chelski and Citeh. ManUre may be able to put 3 or more past us, but we'd probably do the same to them.

No Stoke player touched it, so the goals panel have awarded it as an own goal by the goal post.

^ This.

Ok, if Wednesday's game goes to penalties, who will be our 5 penalty takers?

Yes, indeed.

Maybe we haven't improved by 10 points again (hard to get to 25 points from 8 matches!) But after 8 matches last year we had 15 points and a gd of +5. Now we have 16 points and gd of +14. Still improving.

In the sense that he's being picked and not a complete disaster. Apart from the cross for the goal last night (which his previous efforts indicate was more luck than skill) I thought he was mediocre at best. And he didn't even reach mediocrity for England. I would have Nathan (and our CBs) over him any time.

So a hat trick for Owen Goal. Brenda will definitely try to swoop for him in January.

Yes, but that's football™.

Are you positive about that, Pete? Yes we have the same number of points from the 7 teams who were in the PL last season, but we are 3 points up against the weakest promoted team (QPR, who are also bottom) versus the bottom team last season (Cardiff).