acrossthepond

Who? Except for Ivory Coast and maybe Ghana, they're all gash. And Ivory Coast can never keep it together at big tournaments. Total collapse at the 2008 African Nations for example. I'm not sure what all the hype about 'Africans playing in Africa' is anyway. The WC will be played during the South African winter, and the conditions won't really be too different from those found in August/September games in most European leagues. I think Gerrard is one of the best midfielders in the Premier League, but I'd take Fabregas and probably Essien ahead of him. In "best in the world" terms, he shouldn't even be mentioned.

That was cracking stuff from Pancrate, I'd like to see him start on Wed.

And to absolutely no-one's surprise...

Aye, let's not start to get starry-eyed over him yet.

GET IN PANCRATE! That's done it then surely.

Lovenkrands in midfield? Doesn't bode well.

Blatantly no need for that, the idiot.

Get in!

You're the best Tom.

That radio link will be very much appreciated. Thanks lads.

I don't mind him staying longer on loan. We just need to make sure any permanent deal is out of the question.

I have to say that it's an issue of degree. Both actions were cringeworthy, but making a video of truly tonking arguably the best side in Britain versus making one of managing a scrappy 2-1 home win over a major promotion contender...they aren't really in the same league, are they?

And you would seriously choose that over getting back into the top flight? I don't see why its a case of choosing one or the other. But yes without doubt I would take winning the FA Cup over promotion this season. I want to see us win a trophy At the end of the day, we cannot survive as a proper football club unless we get back into the Premiership this season, to choose 90minutes of glory over the future of the club as we know it is madness. Thats why everything must be thrown at getting up there and nothing must get in the way of that aim. Distracctions such as the cups are just that, distractions which arent needed. Until we're sorted out with new owners and a proper structure then cups must go the journey, last year my worry was that it would get in the way of us stopping up, this year it gets in the way of us going back up. And if we do get promoted next year no doubt you and many others will be saying survival is the priority and so it goes on. Welcome to the world of Bolton and Blackburn, no chance of ever winning a trophy, reserve teams in every cup game, grim premier league survival year after year the only thing that matters. Not for me thanks. I want promotion and to survive in the premier league but not at the expense of everything else The FA Cup is a great competition and Newcastle have a great cup tradition - lets keep it that way I'm not sure if you really get it, mate. We're already below that level. Our aim right now is to get back to it. We have a thin squad, little to no chance of progressing to any meaningful stage in the cup, an untenable wage bill, and an owner we must shift to survive. We need promotion. Yes, at the expense of everything else. Something else to consider: since SBR was sacked, wouldn't you say we were already in the 'world of Bolton and Blackburn' that you describe? Save a couple of decent UEFA runs (all right, and the FA cup semis once), we never looked like winning anything (or often even finishing in the top half) and PL survival was an issue in several seasons.

Let's send the 14-year-olds. There's only one thing this season is about, and that's promotion. If I were Hughton, I wouldn't send a single first-team player. Let Plymouth celebrate their famous win and let's concentrate on regaining PL status.

We'll need this cushion after Fat Mike sells off every single decent player we have.

And hopefully the same befalls them, the jammy bell-ringing drum-pounding dodgily-owned saaaaaarf coast shiteaters. Their stadium isn't even PL standard and neither are they.

I think it's pretty damn shocking to be honest. The bit about Belhadj is fine, for me, because I can understand Zaki's frustration at losing his spot at the World Cup to a terrible team like Algeria in an extremely charged encounter, but the comments about the two Israelis are totally uncalled for and could be a lot more troublesome than they seem at first glance. Egypt is a trailblazer in Israeli (and Western) relations and the example for the rest of the Arab world, and for highly-prominent figures like him to be talking this way endangers that status. This is hardly the first time he's shot his mouth off though. Another idiot, like Mido, who has the skills to be a quality player but not the attitude.

That's shocking like. That's beyond blatant. What disgraceful cheaters. The only joy will be seeing them get truly pummeled in SA.

I think Ryan Taylor hasn't done THAT badly this season tbh, he is the only player capable of putting a good ball although Enrique does have his moments. He isn't a winger at all though. I'm not really sure what he is. He has at least some technical ability but he can't defend, can't run, can't beat his man.... It'd be fine if our strikers had pace or if our central midfielders could actually pick a pass, but as it is I feel we need the wide players to get up and support the strikers more, and R. Taylor doesn't have the attributes to play that part.

The Sunday Sun says he's meant to be a right winger, can't be much worse than R. Taylor. Sign him up, we need the numbers.

Aboutrika in the 95th minute to send it to a one-off playoff game next Wednesday! What a cracking finish...seconds from elimination and Egypt score to level the group on both points and goals scored.

Egypt 1-0 over Algeria in the 2nd minute, Amr Zaki with the goal. 2 more and Egypt go to the World Cup in place of Algeria. Come on you Pharaohs!

R.I.P. You have to wonder if he might've considered retiring from the game for some relief before this - surely this wasn't an impulse decision and he must've been feeling the pressure and the misery for some time. I feel bad for the wife and child but in the end we'll never understand what drove him to it. ITT: sniffer acts the cock again.

I think Nolan is still a PL player although he hardly showed it last year. This year he seems to want it more, and although he's obviously benefiting from the gulf in quality, if he keeps up the kind of desire he was known for in his first half-decade at Bolton he'll be a fine player for us in the Premier League.

I walked out. It wasn't really a protest or anything. I just felt as indifferent as several of the players had clearly become that season and thought, fuck it, I'll go to the pub. I suppose everything that's happened since is my fault I honestly cant remember. I'm not a boo'er though. Also most seasons I stay behind on the last game. I do remember one where the players were utterly embarrassed, wsant that season though, or last oddly. I know Bramble was here. That was 2006-2007, wasn't it, when we did a "lap of honour" for finishing 13th or whatever it was at our last home game against Blackburn. Roeder was still in charge although he'd get replaced by Fat Sam before our last league game v. Watford.