acrossthepond

In fairness I don't think that foul by Allen merited a yellow, I think it was the ref making up for his earlier mistake.

Murphy off for Joselu. Never thought I'd say this but we need some height in this game, our front line are like Gulliver's fucking travels. Ref has waved play on for 2 yellow card fouls now and forgotten to give the card.

Because Jonjo can kick football good but he not very smart.

I don't fancy Manquillo, that walking disaster, against Shaqiri. The defending down our left has been questionable all game. Ritchie can't seem to keep his feet either.

You wouldn't know about that, because of course, you aren't Thompers/CabayeAye/DesmondTutu/everyone else you've pretended not to be.

The howler from Saivet actually seemed to put a rocket up his arse, he played like someone with something to prove. Good on him. We've looked more threatening since Gayle has been returned to the starting line-up but most of our good opportunities still come from out wide. If we had some reliable quality in the middle of the pitch too, we'd be a lot better off than we are.

I'm Egyptian man, I despise Algerian footballers. Deal.

Well done. We deserved it thoroughly. Happy Christmas.

Atrocious play by the keeper there, but fuck, you can't score if you don't have a go. It was a class free-kick but Adrian should've had that.

Yes please. I'll overlook the fact that he's a snidey Algerian bastard, quality player.

Going back to the Everton penalty, or non-penalty, I agree with Ant that there was no real reason for Lovren to put his hands on the Everton player and that you're "giving him a chance" to make a meal out of it, and so that's a reason to be disgusted with him. OK. But on the other hand, not every tiny bit of contact is a foul, and that's what we're supposed to have referees for. It was a 100% dive, not a "soft foul" or "soft pen" as we hear so often these days. That was a dive. Referees are not supposed to be conned by that level of obvious simulation. So no, I don't find fault with Lovren there. It's not like he made a challenge, it's not like he had his arms around the player or tugged him. He put his hand on the guy's back and he went down like he'd been shot. When someone cheats at poker with you, is it your fault for sitting down with that person to play?

Getting this for Christmas. Cannot wait. Been round my mate's to play it, my son loves it too (as a 3-year-old most assuredly would), everything about it is lush. Skyrim has been re-released for it as well - could never be bothered finishing it on pc, portable with better graphics sounds like I'd have it wrapped up by easter.

Both halves of me pretty pleased with that. Piece of piss group for England, manageable group for Egypt. Saudi are absolute dogshit, we can get a draw off Uruguay, and Russia are a wild card - shite on paper, but with fanatical fans and bent refs, who knows? Still a decent draw.

Or the Stephen Ireland maybe, he's missing two grans.

I'd be gutted for Buffon to go out this way, but for the rest of them, I hope Sweden win. Since 2006 the Italians have acted like they've got a God-given right to be at the top table and they've not been particularly good in the meantime, a finals run in 2012 excepted where they bored their way out of the group, beat us on PKs in a wretched match, and got trounced in the final.

Better if he is, doesn't have to grow up supporting that shower.

Still waiting to hear the t-word applied to this utter cunt. But he wasn't Muslim, so he's a "shooter" or a "gunman." Fuck off. Innocent victims, RIP.

Also moaned about the terrible reception he got at SJP in '11. "One greedy bastard", I believe it was. It hurt his feelings, how awful of us to criticize someone who tried so hard in all fifty or so appearances he made over 4 years.

Mrs ATP and I were discussing this over the past couple of days. Hillary is utter poison for the Democratic Party. They lost the election because of her awful campaign. The longer she hangs around in the background rattling chains and doing spooky moans about Russia, the worse it is for the party. Like all ghosts she needs to move on.

The clock continues running while the ball is still on the field of play. So when you "kneel down" or "take a knee", you touch the ball to the floor, which ends the play but keeps the clock going. It's a way of running down the clock, rather than trying to throw a pass which might go out of play (stopping the clock and thus letting the losing team have more time) or worse, being intercepted by the other team. At any rate, it's being used now to protest during the national anthem at sporting events, we did a lesson on this last year with my middle school kids. A (white) baseball player did it last night too, which is the first time it's spread outside American football.

In your day, women didn't even have the right to vote, so I understand your consternation. Safety wink needed? Not sure.

Agreed. I think the problem is that he seems to go missing quite a lot. It was hard to tell he was playing during the first half of the Swansea game. But he's scored a lot of goals for someone who has rarely been used as an out-and-out striker.

If all of you want to invite Merino in to have a go at the missus after 5 games, you're welcome to, and as I said, I didn't see the second half v. West Ham. He was as shit as everyone else against Huddersfield and I don't care what any of you have to say to that, because it's true. Definitely made Sanches look a mug v. Swansea though, that was class. Forgive me for not wanking myself silly over him a month into the season. We've all been burned that way before and I'd like to see a bit more adventure and getting forward from him (without pathetic dives) before I get me fucking kegs dirty.

Get in, great away win. Have it you 75% possession jokers.

Aye, that was a booking if Hayden's was.