Mikey88

Important players are going to be rested over the next month whether we like it or not. Best get use to it!

Good atmosphere

I'll be getting my traditional pair of slippers and new dressing gown no doubt. Think the girlfriend might have gotten me one of those new Kindle Fire things, not sure what there like if anyone can shed any light?

https://twitter.com/DejanLovren05/status/409427342990520322/photo/1 Just got caught badly with studs by the look of it. Don't think it was a muscle injury

Or his third

On a side note, Russia's War, Blood upon the Snow is a brilliant series about the war on the eastern front. link here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4hXhy8_hho

Yeah, I have heard that myself, wasn't it the Japs who intercepted Russian messages about it? Although If a Russian attack was imminent I do find it strange how static and unawares they were found on the first couple of days of the German attack.

I'm not so sure it was definitley always going to be in 1941. To me it seems more like they were pushed to make a decision due to the circumstances they found themselves in. Firstly, Britain refused to do the logical thing and surrender which really scuppered Hitler’s plans. Secondly, the German war machine was desperately short of oil. They had two main options in try to solve this. Take the North African oil fields in Libya etc. i.e. focus their attention on Britain or attempt to take control of the huge oil reserves in the Soviet union. In terms of his ideals, it was probably not a tough choice for Hitler. We didn't offer him the living space he required and it is widely believed that he admired and respected us as a nation whereas he despised the Soviet union. There is also the fact that Stalin was carrying out large scale military reforms which would of come into place by 1942 which would have greatly strengthened their army. Hubert Menzel who was a major at the German army HQ is quoted as saying "We knew that in two years' time, that is by the end of 1942, beginning of 1943, the English would be ready, the Americans would be ready, the Russians would be ready too, and then we would have to deal with all three of them at the same time.... We had to try to remove the greatest threat from the East." They therefore chose to attack the Soviets in the hope of defeating them in a quick offensive and then be able to turn their attention to Britain before they were fully prepared themselves in 1943. There need for oil proved problematic here though as instead of focusing fully on taking Moscow before winter, they instead focused on taking the oil fields in southern Russia and the Ukraine. The offensive on Moscow was delayed, Winter set in and the rest as they say is History.

Injured isn't he?

I think most people widely agree that there needs to be a clamp down on pay day loan companies and i think were beginning to see small steps towards that with advertising bans and so on. In terms of wider regulation in general, Scandinavia is often held up as the shinning example of good economic practice, although they have stuttered recently, and they have generally low levels of regulation. Yes tax havens are a huge problem but how do you stop it? Personally, I would cut corporate tax, make it more appealing to pay tax here. It makes up a relatively low % of GDP anyway and a lower tax rate might well encourage them to pay tax here instead of abroad as I don't think they really want the bad press they gain from the constant stories about their off shore accounts.

Not disagreeing with you. I think most football fans in the country would like to hold on to the idea that there is another, more romantic way of achieving success and that's why we have had a lot of people saying that were their second team this year. I think it also adds to the optimism on here at times. Maybe our place is to be a decent top half of the table side who consistently churn out good English players but never quite reach that next level. If so, I could live with that.

Quite a depressing thought really

Why has this turned into a debate about whether or not the NHS works or not. You can have a strong welfare state and still have a predominantly capitalist economic policy. It doesn't have have to be a toss up between the two.

Huge difference between playing direct, i.e. trying to find the forward men as quickly as possible and just hoofing the ball up field with the hope the big man up top might be able to get somewhere near it.

City game was pretty much sold out with the odd seat here and there still avaliable until City sent some of their allocation back. Think there might be 150 or so left all together

Ah yes, because humanity is often preserved in the Socialist hotbeds around the world isn't it?

Disappointing game yes but lets take stock. After 13 games we are ahead of Man united and Tottenham. We are 2 points of the CL places. Some of the histrionics on here are embarrassing. The ones moaning loudest seem to be the ones who tell us we are mid table at best. If that's the case then surely they cannot complain about getting beat by a team like Chelsea.

Less than that if I remember correctly. Pretty sure Roma had to release their accounts due to being on the stock exchange and it was less than what was being reported in the British press

Are people really complaining about us bringing out a new range of clothing? You do realise that it is not a prerequisite of being a fan that you have to buy every single item of teamwear don't you? If you don't then i'd suggest it's your problem rather than that of the clubs!

Don't quite understand where any of these reports about him being unhappy here are coming from, to me they seem completely unsubstantiated. After a couple of weeks there was one report in the paper saying he wanted to leave which he publicly denied and everyone else seems to be clinging on to that. If his partners twitter is anything to go by (yes I'm sad enough to follow her) then they seem to be incredibly happy. In terms of his ability, I don't think anyone can deny he has talent. Time now to give him an extended run in the side and see if he can translate that talent into performances for us.

You can't go to the Emirates and gift wrap them one never mind two goals and expect to come away with much, simple as that. More frustrated than downhearted following that as without those to errors we could of came away with a very credible draw. In terms of chances created, whilst they were better on the ball I wouldn't say say that they had us on the wrack for large portions of the play and we created just as many half chances as they did. Whilst, i'm not saying Boruc should be dropped someone does need to have a word with him as he seems to want to overplay it too much when it just isn't on for him, it seems a mentality issue rather than ability/ To be fair he did improve on that after halftime. Despite the flack he recieved before kick off I thought Jos looked ok, not as classy as Lovren obviously but didn't look out of his depth. Hopefully, Dejan and Shaw will both be back next week though as I thought our overall shape looked slightly unbalanced in the second half. Final point from me, time to give Osvaldo a run in the side. Whilst he hasn't particularly shone just yet, he isn't going to prove anything sat on the bench and he deserves a shot, whether or not he fits into a side with Lambert I dont know, that's one for Poch.

Feeling ambitious and got £10 on Saints 2-1 with J-Rod anytime at 45-1. On the off chance it comes in it will be a nice extra bonus for Christmas!

It did start out like an extract from the Savile memoirs. When does the Bielsa inquiry begin?

Great read, much better than constantly hearing about your Bales and your Walcotts 24/7! Certainly doesn't seem like he will suffer fools gladly!

Broad arriving at the press conference with a copy of the Courier under his arm. Brilliant.