ChezGiven

We had a far better side when we were in the championship and still struggled away from home against teams in 9th. Sammy and Obertan were total shite today, Bigi Santon and Anita were the only players on the pitch who could even threaten the starting 11 of a premiership side and even they were indifferent.

That period of play there was the most atrocious I've seen, passing it sideways in space between 2 players under no pressure then pass it forward and give it away. Not even championship standard.

Ranger and Dummett then

May as well swap Abeid for Amalfitano too.

SAmeoi off, Marveaux on. I want to see Anita further up the pitch too. This is fucking shite like.

It's tricky because you have a strong chance of meeting a better team before the final so winning the thing is a long shot. Since the odds of winning it are long, the expected benefits of beating Brighton is just extra games. This is why every single top flight team does the same to a greater or lesser extent. As teams progress, they put out stronger sides as the expected returns increase. We also have a negative return which is the increased probability of being relegated. All in all, it's perfectly logical and rational to approach the game this way which is little compensation to those desperate to see us end our trophy drought.

It's better to lose a goal earlier than later tbh.

I did salmon last night. Coated it in piment espelette which is a a basque mild chilli then grilled it. Served it with fried shallots, ginger and carrot which I added a splash of soy and honey to at the end. Simple rice with a salad of spinach and mache tossed in walnut oil and balsamic. Worked well as it wasn't planned.

Did you go to Berghain?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/spain/north/9449684/San-Sebastian-from-tapas-bars-to-Michelin-stars.html

Our lass's family has got a house just north of Biarritz in Soort-Hossegor. If you want recommendations etc for a holiday in the area i've spent at least 2 weeks there for the last 6 summers. Hossegor has a lovely long beach, a decent belgian beer bar and loads of young french fanny. St Jean de Luz is a picturesque picture postcard town right on the border with a nice beach, hotels and restaurants. Bayonne is a large-ish town and depending on timing, is worth a visit during the Fete de Bayonne which is a massive piss up. On the Spanish side San Sebastian is a must.

Madrid is between 10 and 14 degrees this week according to my phone app too. http://www.mercadodesanmiguel.es/

I would prefer Spain over Germany at this time of year. Munich as Meenzer will be able to describe in better detail is a bit middle class and lacks the authentic atmosphere of Berlin. If you are fixed on Germany, go to Hamburg, the weather could be a lot colder of course but its a better city. I wouldnt hesitate over Madrid if it interests you. My preference would be to stay in Cortes (somewhere like the Westin) and would recommend that if you are going for a weekend, you make your way to Mercado de San Miguel. Its a very old covered market with loads of places doing iberico hams, seafood, wines etc. Its a great atmosphere and superb quality food. Get there early evening and sample the foods before a late dinner. There are loads of nice plazas around that area (and some touristy places at night, its a mix really). Once pissed up at the market, head out for more drinks and dinner somewhere around 2am.

I think i was over-estimating it but i suppose its only contributing to 20 out of 65 points. One quarter of his goals last season came in defeats, of the rest, 6 of them were in 2 games. Straw clutched.

Some hate him some dont mind him, he's a bit like Marmite really. Which is canny racist tbh.

I think i made a 'things to do in Paris' post on here once, might have been just basic stuff for people who hadnt been before, cant remember tbh.

Ba's? I was thinking about this yesterday, how many goals did he score in games we lost and drew in? Can anyone be arsed to trawl through and see which games he scored which resulted in 0 or 1 points. There were a few but not sure if i'm over-estimating the times it happened. Also, we got 5th on the back of Cisse's goals technically as Ba's dried up.

Having not drank for the 2 weeks in the lead up to Christmas, and kept up the running, been able to enjoy some great meals without too much guilt. Had my last day today, old friend who emigrated to Melbourne was in town, had a 4 hour lunch which turned into a session. Bloated, sated and done.

Michael Owen nearly didnt say we were too good to go down there, then realised he was going to sound like a cunt, then realised he was one and said it anyway.

Get in.

I dont think any signings we could have potentially made could have made us equally attractive to Chelsea to someone like Ba. I don't doubt the lack of ambition had made it an easier decision so I agree with that.

But if we had bought Debuchy and N.E Centre back in the summer and removed the 'ambition question' would that have made any difference now?

Happy New Year Alex. He didnt have the chance to move before now so not sure ambition comes into it. He spent years looking for a decent club, was in deals with the likes of Stoke, West Ham and then us. No one came in for him last summer as there were still question marks, was his form permanent? The fact that he has moved now has everything to do with him removing those question marks and very little to do with our own club's ambition.

How come I've just noticed how good a poster BigWalrus is? Not been paying attention obviously.