maggiespaws

This weekend decides a lot imo. I hope the Mancs get beat and need a result at Hull. A win for us will make the Villa game less tense. Fulham aren't a bad side at the minute in fairness, but their away record is poor - we need to capitalise on this.

The ball is in our court. We can offer him what we like, because he needs 1st team football if he wants to play for Oz and his injury record and age means he is not going to be in high demand from other teams.

I agree that match reports need to be accurate but in this situation I don't think players need to hear over the top criticism. The phrase "(Harper) who was otherwise absolute and utter gash" was not only unnecessary, it wasn't even true IMO. I have to say, I agree. The description was over the top imo. It insinuates he did nothing right all game and that's totally untrue. It's the same with their comments about Guti. Yes, it wasn't his greatest game but jesus it wasn't all bad. Other than that, I thought the rest of the article was pretty good. Not sure that Nolan was quite as good as they made out, but to be fair, I thought the 2nd goal came from a Guthrie cross until a read about it this morning So maybe I've missed other stuff Nolan did during the game too

I think describing Harper as utter gash is a little harsh, although I appreciate that people at the match get to see more of what he was/wasn't doing than those of us who had to settle for Setanta. He made some good saves and did try to keep the momentum going with quick distribution. However, I also agree he looks nervous. Given the importance of last night, I think he was more nervous than normal. He seems scared to come out and claim the ball on a few occasions last night in case it resulted in him making a mistake. Problem is, his reluctance to do so put the defence under more pressure, which on another day could have resulted in us conceding. How much match practice has he had though? All those years as Given's understudy have taken their toll I think. Thinking about it, don't Krul and Forster play the reserve games? Harper has probably forgotten what playing a football match is like :| Hopefully it'll come back with time. We need to strengthen in so many other areas, replacing him would not be a priority imo.

Wow, what a game. To come back from conceding the early goal and win the game, a game of this importance, showed they were up for the fight. I don't think Beye could do much about the deflection but I was pleased he kept his head up. He went on to have a good game. I can't completely agree with all the comments about Guti. He causes people problems and does run at people but as has become the norm for him - no end product. I don't recall him shirking a challenge though, I thought he got kicked as usual, with no protection from the ref, as usual. I've worked out the problem with Butt though - he's schizophrenic. One half of him is a great defensive midfield player, the other is a player who can't play forward. Last night he tackled, won the ball and clearly took one for the team with his yellow card (he knew he wasn't going to get the ball, but he had to stop the boro forward play). However, as soon as he tries to play the ball forward he switches to "useless fucker" mode. We counted 3 passes he made that reached a b&w shirt - all night. Most of them went to a red shirt or the middle of nowhere. Nolan was a lot better than he has been, but his distribution was poor at times. Guthrie kept making runs down the right and Nolan kept ignoring him. Guthrie had a good game and it was great to see someone actually play a decent corner. Duff played well at LB and I don't recall him doing anything wrong. He linked up with Guti (although a couple of times he played the ball to guti and didn't overlap which lost momentum). I thought Owen did ok and I think it was all part of the plan to bring him off after 70mins. Oba was never going to do more than 20 and I said that before that match started. The key was Viduka and last night he finally stepped up. Viduka is the key to our survival. Owen, Oba and our midfielders can play off him and he showed last night he still has it when he can be arsed to show it. Oba was lucky with his shot, but you need luck as well as skill to win matches and we were due some I'd start with the same 11 against Fulham or maybe swap Guti for Lovenkrands and bring guti on later in the match. I

Win for us. A 2:0 nailbiter. We'll score early on then they'll threaten to equalise all game before we make it 2 in the 87th. There, I've said it. Now that I have, it's cursed 'cos my predictions are never right

Feeling bullish and inexplicably optimistic - and thats before a pint has touched my lips. I think it's because I refuse to believe we'll go down - not that I haven't workout out it's a possibility you understand; I just think we'll get through by the skin of our teeth. I have this mental picture in my head of Indiana Jones sliding under a closing door then reaching back to grab his hat just in time. The Villa game with be the hat Of course, this refusal to entertain the possibility means that should this not happen, the crushing blow it will deal will probably leave me catatonic.

Went out to buy some new footy socks and ended up with 2x pairs socks, 2x training shirts, 2x training shorts and With Navy blue stripes. £65 down to £29 and I spotted them as I walked past the shop to the car. Couldn't resist for that price

For the last two weekends, the other results have pretty much gone our way and we've not been able to capitalise. I'm starting to worry that asking for a 3rd bite is a bit much

Joe Bonamassa - Live at Shepherds Bush: Asking around for you; which sounds suspiciously like Angel on my shoulder. EDIT: I should maybe drink less when I work late - the song is one in the same cue some pisstake from Tom.

Hmm, I will have missed that. I'll do a search. Thanks.

Nope, but thanks for the link. I'll take a look.

Might give that a listen later now that you've mentioned it as I'm in for a late one. Currently listening to Pure Cult - Greatest Hits: Cult as per Alex, Chez and Jimbo's reccommendations (you are right btw) Turns out I recognise a few of them - Lil Devil was on the soundtrack to GTA3 iirc. Really liking the guitar sound he uses on it.

Turns out I know of more Cult songs than I thought - Edie. It seems I've kicked of a Cult session

I got that ages ago too. Showed it to Mrs Paws and she completely understood. Show's how their minds work In fairness though, explain anything using examples someone is interested in / can relate to; and they are more likely to understand it. Just makes me marvel at how stupid women are that not one, but two of them would wait in the queue for a till when they don't have any money on them. And the answer is to the question in the topic is regular blowjobs. There is no way a woman can know she doesnt have her purse on her untill she is asked for payment, as its not untill then that they start looking for the fucker.

Oh dear, Keane have killed it! This is a b-side to their new single apparently

Most of their stuff is pretty straightforward rawk tbh (but good imo). I think the goth period was when they were still Southern Death Cult. Their greatest hits is pretty good (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pure_Cult_(Greatest_Hits)). And as Chez says, She Sells Sanctuary is quality. Good call on the GH. I think I'll try that and work from there. Oh, and listening to She Sells Sanctuary now because you've put it in my head. Choooooooon! And they sound good live too. A real acid test for a band imo.

She Sells Sanctuary is class. That's the only other Cult track and really know - and yes it is, it is most definitly class

We showed against Pompy we could create chances. The smogs will be up for it and will attack. This will leave them open. I believe we are better than them and will win. It's going to be a heart racing game though as I don't expect Boro will be a roll over. Still, at least it is on in the pub

I got that ages ago too. Showed it to Mrs Paws and she completely understood. Show's how their minds work In fairness though, explain anything using examples someone is interested in / can relate to; and they are more likely to understand it.

Cult - Love Removal Machine on Rock Radio Manchester. Never heard it before, but liking it. Beginning to think I should look into these guys some more. I know they've gone through a few changes and their earlier stuff is more goth (one of the lads in the office liked them and he's an old goth); but their later stuff seem at bit more rock and less mongy goth.

Ah crap. How long ago was this and what else happened in the ep? Just so I know which one to get a hold of.

I was thinking that up until the "nothing fancy" bit Was just about to PM him but not sure now. Is he some kind of Uber bike geek that's going to tell me I should look at anything under a £grand or something

Agreed and that drip called Daniel fucking grinds on me. I wish his mother had put that bullet through his napper. And whats the Hugo being gay thing all about? WTF? I missed this? When did this happen? I thought the 'catchup' episode was quite good as it mentioned a couple of things I'd either missed, forgotten about or not understood. Considering it skips about so much and it can be 3 weeks before a character is revisited - it was essential I suppose. Hugo and Miles kissed, you miss it? Tongues the lot! WTF, yes I must have? Seriously, when was this. Have I missed an episode? I had to get a new sky+ box recently thus losing my previously stored stuff and sky+ planner. I wonder if I've missed a week?