acrossthepond

Aye but I feel like a bit of a cheat when I skip games in a series.

Was it any good? Bioshock 2, that is. Played the first one and loved it, have 2 and Infinite but I heard 2 was a bit meh so I've been reluctant to start it, but I don't want to play Infinite (which I'm pretty sure is going to be good) until I've done 2.

Part of me wants to set up 4-4-2 and bring in Shola for Ben Arfa, with Tiote and Cabaye in midfield and Sissoko/Gouffran out wide. Remy often looks isolated as a lone striker and I don't think he's very effective at all in that role, and Shola will bother their centre-halves and make a nuisance of himself, which will give us another dimension to our attack. But I think Pardew will line up 4-5-1 with Anite, Tiote, and Cabaye in the centre of midfield. We will need a lot of harrier-type players in the midfield against Arsenal and Anita is good for that role. Can't see HBA starting no matter what formation. Pardew doesn't trust him to be disciplined enough on defence and we'll probably be doing a lot of that tomorrow.

I think I share the same view as most of you - the first yellow was soft but Whelan didn't have to be a dullard, he could've walked away. Second yellow was unquestionable. The red and penalty were equally unquestionable. Williamson's handball should've been given, that's a legitimate complaint. The HBA cross was inconclusive to me. The refereeing was of a poor standard, especially in the second half, when Atkinson knew the game was over as a contest and started giving sympathy decisions. Shawcross should've walked and gave away what seemed two clear penalties to me, one for pushing Cabaye over in the box and the other for yet another shocking tackle on Haidara, who seems to get cut in half at least once a game. But anything that happened after the second red barely counts. The game was lost at that point and those two reds were legitimate, so if Stoke are looking for someone to blame, it starts with their completely undisciplined manager who spat his dummy out and it's no surprise that his players did the same, the bunch of scabby mackem-coloured cunts. Fuck Stoke anyway, nothing side who hopefully will soon disappear into the oblivion from which they came. Not long now if they hang on to Hughes for much longer.

Not that he isn't, I just feel a red may be on the cards.

We need to take Tiote off in the very near future.

Shola will probably take his place with Anita and Cabaye in the midfield of a 4-4-2

Perhaps he'll appoint another friend of the family. A 24-year-old Estonian, maybe, whose only football experience is willing La Liga 16 times in a row with Real Madrid on Football Manager. Laughable. It almost makes you wonder what would happen if Ashley tried to take us down that road....

I don't trust Ashley with the CL money, so I can't put any stock in the argument that "finishing in the top 4 means financial prosperity and thus the funds to attract a higher calibre of players and advance the club." He'd pocket most of it and we'd be little better off. Nobody could take a Cup win away from us, however, and it'd be something to cherish for all our lives. So yeah, cup.

Kinnear replacing Pardew is so obviously going to happen at some point in our relatively near future that I almost wish he'd do it now and get the misery over with. Having that drunken fuck constantly hanging around, rummaging through the bins, checking pay phones for loose change, must be like a Sword of Damocles for poor Pardew.

I wouldn't trust Ashley to give me the time of day.

Speaking of the bloke, he's been sacked. Next English club willing to take a punt on the 'new Mourinho'...? Anyone?

Christ, I hope so. If the bellend at Hull gets his way it's a short step to Newcastle SportsDirect United or something equally farcical. Hull Tigers sounds like a baseball team, get to fuck with that.

If you're talking about his Atletico days, sure. His form at Man U hasn't been anything to write home about. Maybe he just didn't seem as impressive because his defence wasn't getting constantly breached the way Krul's does sometimes.

And that's where the game was won. No doubt van Persie and Rooney are better strikers than any we've got, but past that you're starting to wonder. Is De Gea any better than Krul? It's a wash for me. Cleverley, Nani, Phil Jones, Anderson, Zaha...embarrassingly crap. I'd be honestly embarrassed to see Anderson turn out in black and white - how do you imagine the longtime Man U fans feel? Speaking of embarrassments, anyone remember Bebe?

They couldn't hear us?

Also, that was no smash-and-grab - we were in complete control of that game except for a 10 minute period after the break. We had more possession and more shots (thanks BBC.) We wanted it far, far more.

Brilliant. Another priceless away win and a tactical masterclass from Pardew, but that wouldn't have availed anything if not for the effort put in by every player. Happy Christmas Moyes, don't think you'll last that long.

Get in, get in, get the fuck in!!!!!!

Silence in the library at Old Trafford. Not liking what they're seeing, I don't think, and with good reason. No reason at all that we can't beat these today. If we keep our concentration, they're there for the taking.

Little diving fucking cunt, ugh. If that's not a yellow for diving I don't know what is.

If you're so desperate for a chomp, CT, why not try slathering your cock with peanut butter and letting Fido have a go?

What a dickhead. "Recognisable" centre-forward in the Mo Diame entry as well. Maybe Uncle Ben did Garth a favour by taking the glass of champange away....

And replaced by Rene (not going to attempt his last name.) A shocking turn of events that absolutely no-one saw coming.

I've got you beat then. I've been to Hartlepool as well. Although, in a sense, you've got me beat after all, because I've been to Hartlepool.