BigWalrus

I'm not convinced Danny Simpson is still alive. I reckon he's gone down on Tulisa and she's accidentally coughed and swallowed him in one.

I donated the other day, although I don't have a money bag under my name (not sure how that bit works to be honest).

Santon isn't any more dependent on having support ahead than any other full back in the league. It's a standard requirement of a wide midfielder to support his fullback to prevent him from being outnumbered, just as much as going forward. No full back in the world could cope with being attacked by an opposition winger and overlapping fullback, all at once, without some help from team mates.

Howay lads, surely we're above the "I know more about football than you" arguments. It's all irrelevant, as I know the most and my dad has a bigger cock.

Mushy or marrowfat?

That's doubtful, in my eyes. Simpson is constantly caught way out of position, usually drifting in no mans land between full back and centre back. He's then too far away from the winger to cut out the cross and too close to the winger to clear the final ball. His lack of ability on the ball and nervousness going forward invites pressure on us. Santon at least can kick a football. He knows how to pass a ball and is infinitely more composed on the ball. Positioning can be coached to a player and I wouldn't expect Santon to have mastered positioning yet given his tender age. In Simpson's case though, if you haven't developed a first touch and composure on the ball by the time you're 26, you never will, which is why I think he's a lost cause. He's only played so many games because we failed to secure Debuchy in the summer.

Sigh.

What about the number of our own attacks he has broken up by putting a simple pass out for a throw in? Simpson is a horrible footballer. He can't pass, he is terrible at cutting out crosses, he is cowardly when it comes to positioning and has a non-existent first touch. He is incredibly fortunate to have earned so much money from being so poor.

Yes, that was my point. He's at his best when he is as far away from the ball as possible. For example, at home playing on his Xbox or tweaking Tulisa's nipple.

Aye it would have been the gig in 2008. Saw them in London too, supported by the Wurzels I think. And there was another uni gig about 2006 ish...frightening how long ago that is now.

Just makes a change from pictures of people swearing or a pair of plastic tits.

Like this?

That's where Danny Simpson comes in. He's at his absolute best when he's off the ball.

Got tickets for Neil Young and Mark Knopfler up here and also Muse at the Emirates. I was looking at British Sea Power too, I've seen some quality gigs of theirs. The last one was a bit disappointing though (at Newcastle Uni). I remember a woman with an SLR standing at the front being forcibly protected from the crowd by her bloke. Any sort of movement wasn't tolerated by the bouncers. I remember a gig of theirs at a church in town just down from Swan House roundabout, that was canny.

Also, Phil, can I just say that you have the friendliest avatar I've ever seen, on any message board in history!

To be fair, Santon is only 20 or 21, whereas Debuchy is 27. I like Debuchy though, but Santon can use age and lack of experience to excuse his positional weaknesses, Debuchy should have it sorted by now. He does have a bit of a reputation for being poor positionally, but his pace and ability going forwards stops it from being too significant to his overall game.

Agreed...although I think with experience Debuchy might have avoided even the tangle.

They did the same against us. 2 shots on goal vs 10 for us. Bastards!

That Le Fondre is something of a wonder-sub. Fuck me.

I hope not. It's about time he finished melting.

Reading haven't had a shot all game. Not even an off-target shot.

A secure defence isn't created by simply adding more defenders. All that serves to do is reduce your outlets to play out of defence and invite more and more pressure. A strong defensive performance must be matched across the pitch. You can't simply stick an extra defender in there and give the midfielders a free role. As has been suggested, stopping Juan Mata could be crucial - this will depend on the performance of Sissoko / Perch / Anita (delete depending on who plays!) in the deeper midfield role more than it will on Coloccini, Taylor or Mbiwa.

While most of us were hiding behind our settees and biting our nails down to the skin, you were making notes about Shola's success at winning long balls! Brilliant.

The bloke we bought the house from had a prepay meter in, where you top up on a card when you need electricity and gas. We got that ripped out and a direct debit set up with British Gas. We switched to Scottish Power after about 2 years or so, but we never received a single bill from BG for electricity. They billed us correctly for the gas, but nothing whatsoever for the electric. Equally as incompetent, but sometimes their fuckups work in your favour.

Haha that description is spot on. I remember going to Leicester away in the Championship. We parked near the ground and went to a national chain pub which no doubt put on a carvery on a Sunday. There was a table of 7 or 8 lads, 18-25 year old, all with a bottle of rose wine each. Who the f*ck goes on an away trip and drinks rose wine?