acrossthepond

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.

Watching him out there makes you wonder where he's been all this time. Why has he never had a run in the team?

Get in! Winning the game at both ends.

Rather the opposite to be honest, the wanking over his "tidy and competent" play on here after the Huddersfield game was way over the top, he was 7/10 at best in that game and that's being very generous. First half against West Ham, toiled for not much, overhit pass that Atsu managed to rescue for the first goal. I'll grant the second half may have been a huge improvement as I didn't see it. I understand the urge to want him to be good as he's one of the few signings we made to improve a bang average team. But trying to be objective, he looks at home in our side, because he's looked as average as the rest of them. That said he looks far better than Sanches today.

Fantastic save. Seeing some great leaps and headers from Joselu. Shocking dive from - imo - a nothing player in Merino. I've seen nothing about him to convince me. He looks about the same as Sanches. No impact on the game.

Krul Mbabu Hanley Satka Lazaar Gouffran Anita Vuckic Thauvin de Jong Murphy Subs: Sels, Ameobi, Armstrong, Toney Kit man: Riviere

Here's a fun exercise. Vurnon Anita released Sammy Ameobi released Yoan Gouffran released Haris Vuckic released Lubo Satka released Florian Thauvin sold Kevin Mbabu sold Matz Sels loaned Adam Armstrong loaned Daryl Murphy sold Ivan Toney loaned Emmanuel Riviere released Siem De Jong sold Grant Hanley sold Tim Krul loaned Achraf Lazaar loaned Take that heap of shit and make a first XI out of it, then predict where it would finish in the Championship. Bonus points to anyone who fires up FM and actually makes that team and plays as it.

Which we will not, because we will still be owned by Mike Ashley. 16 outbound players. Not counting those who had no first-team future (Vuckic, Satka, Mbabu) and those who are coming back (Armstrong, Toney) that's 11 outbounds and 6 incomings. No side in the world has ever been promoted and gone "You know what would be great? To sell twice as many players as we bring in for our consolidation season."