manc-mag

Are there any posts knocking about where Leazes says we'll never qualify for Europe and that he'll quit the board if we do? I mean I know obviously there are loads of the former, but I've noticed he's also taken to issuing 'quit' wagers re certain disputed outcomes on those evenings when he's had to push his balls back from the pub in a wheelbarrow*. Have any been linked to Euro qualification does anyone know??? * © Gemmill

Nonsense. One does not simply walk into Mordor, and yet against Bolton, that's exactly what he did. When are YOU going to answer MY simple question?

Wasnt implying that YOU moaned on like an arsehole btw MF (caps intentional)

Not my words, Michael. The words of Shakin' Stevens! Absolute class video btw. Deserving of the biggest accolade imho, which is quite simply that they are worthy of the shirt they play in. An all too rare occurence, so all the more reason to enjoy it and to be positive about their progress, rather than moan on like an arsehole. Absolutely proud of that team.

I was speaking to Alex recently as it happens and he was calling you all worse than shite. Especially Gemmill.

I'd nearly forgotten that saga. Alan Oliver would always link us with him, even in 2007. Him and Riise I still detest Riise even to this day, in the twilight of his career. He's offensive quite frankly in the sense that he's made a top flight career out of being generally competent and toe-ending everything thats fallen to him within 30 yards of goal. Literally toe punts everything. It's anti football. I'm ashamed to the point of being apologetic at toe punting anything-you do it as an absolute last resort stretching for a ball. He does it as his very first thought. Horrendous player and face.

Again, no one mentioned love or work rate, just creativity on the wing. Do you ever consider his importance in the context of the team though or merely in the sense that he's not Stanley Matthews? We're not a good enough team to play unbridled free flowing football (not meant pejoratively, just specifically mean we wouldn't be as high as we are if we did). A massive part of our game is about work ethic. Need to get away from the idea he's some sort of cart horse too just because he doesnt put it on the strikers head from the touchline. Hardly any goals are scored that way in truth. What's worse, this acceptance that his crosses are less than world beating has somehow become shorthand for him not being able to play any sort of forward pass at all, which is just patent nonsense.

He was nowhere near it til the recent run, which just goes to show how big a push it's been and credit to the lads. Hart plays behind a defence assembled at the cost of billions and a midfield that have played much of the season with 70% possession, so he barely faces any shots for the most part. Krul's achievement vastly outstrips Hart's. He's been immense.

Leazes is seething.

To summarise, as Raymond the Bastard would say, the kid is: "Stunning - like a young Burt Reynolds!"

We often sit deep to defend with our central mid set up the way it is. That's been hugely important to us this season so I'm not knocking it at all-not losing games has to be what comes first as we build. When we change things to push the opposition back a bit though and the ball to B Arfa is a simple one on the half way line that he's collecting in his stride, he only has to beat one man and he can be on the edge of the opponents area right down the middle of the pitch. It's phenomenal. He's the only player in the Prem that can do it. Silva (who is a supreme talent) is a left to right slalomer who pulls opponents out of position for the clever pass in between them. Others are million mile an hour wing merchants (Bellamy) that dont actually have beat a man with the ball, but ultimately need a striker making the run for them. Running right down the middle of the park, directly on goal is pretty much impossible at this level and not even attempted. ...this lad is doing it as his first thought route to goal. When he has quiet games his contribution will be zero or worse, but he has won matches for us we otherwise wouldnt have won. The team can be not firing 100% but the beauty is he only has to be playing his own game to give us a chance. It doesn't matter how the team's overall game is panning out at the time. Bellamy was the same in that regard. The goals have been borderline ridiculous as a spectacle, but they're elevated even higher by virtue of the fact they've been key goals too. ie not show goals when we're 3 up and coasting, but goals that the result has depended on. When his names on the sheet it's going to get to a stage where half of the opposition's game plan is going to be about obsessing over who's sacrificed for the day to pick him up and just trying to nullify his threat generally. That's a fucking massive advantage as it'll frequently mean their preparation will be inadequate in other areas and we're starting to amass players that can exploit that. At it's purest, it's just fear. Teams are going to start fearing playing us with this kid in the team in that forward line-and if you've won the psychological battle before the first balls kicked the fucking world's your oyster.

It looks like a dildo on wheels.

Fuck off City ffs.

It requires no great leap to visualise KSA walking out of 16 year old Stevie Wonder's 1966 Top of the Pops debut performance of 'Up Tight' in protest at his 'lack of bookishness' and limited life experience. Well 50 years on and Stevie wonder is collabortaing with with the likes of Pixie Lott, while KSA languishes at IKEA Warrington, listening to piped muzak and complaints about defective BORGSJÖ book cases. So perhaps he'll keep his fucking mouth shut the next time he sees Adele tucking into a second plate of KÖTTBULLAR meatballs in the competitively priced store canteen.

Come on City ffs.

Tom's capri/mustang idea sounds infinitely cooler if theres anything of that nature knocking about? The old mustang is far more European looking (Old Aston Martin type), whereas the Corvette looks like it should be stuck in the ground and pointed at the moon. It's faintly ridiculous iyam.

Are you buying principally as an investment or because you like the look of the car itself? Fair enough if it's mainly for return on investment, but I reckon you'd look tragic if you tipped up anywhere in that personally.

Come on City ffs.

Fucking grim weather here in the deep south.

That was the equivalent of a Martinez meltdown today in the post match. Got a lot of time for the guy (if not his club), one of the few true gents of the Premiership. Chelsea can go and fuck themselves.

I shared a bottle of dog with Barney and Ronnie one night many moons ago down Harlsdon High Street. A true musical genius - one of the best I've seen live. Slowed down the last few years but fuck me - he was awesome. Sounds like a genuine privilege that like. Top stuff.

I see Fop ruined the boat race for the rahs.

COME ON YOU MACKEM TRAMPS!!!!!!!!!

It's only forward passes that count for anything at the end of the day though (and incisive ones at that). It was frustrating, but it was a training game from them at the same time. I'm not knocking them-they're punching above their weight-but as the saying goes the hardest thing is putting the ball in the back of the net and that wasnt even on the radar for them yesterday. They were writing cheques that their skillz couldn't cash. Or something. They looked dangerous at times but were let down by the quality in their side because they couldn't make that final pass. They threatened to pass through us a couple of time but failed to male the final ball. The way I looked at it this wasn't surprising seeing as they are mostly championship level players. Put more quality in that side and I think they would find that killer pass and finish in the final 3rd. However, maybe Pardew assessed that quality which was why he was happy to let them have the ball. No I'd go along with that to be fair. I wasn't as comfortable as some seem to have been watching it. I stand by what I said about their failure to find a killer pass (it's a substantive weakness rather than a minor one) but I think in letting them have that much possession it was still a risk. Less because of their ability but more just because it's a long time for a team to focus without the ball, and you can end up playing that killer ball for them with a sloppy pass after receiving the ball for the first time in 15 minutes. I think we could have had a bit more (23% or whatever it was might have been 33% without changing our game plan), but overall Pardew got it right so I'm not going to go off on a moan about it. Absolutely delighted with the points, the attitude and the class where it counted.

Classic reference. To be used against City hopefully if he puts one past them.