luckyluke

Didn't see this the other day, I wasn't saying Dyer was comparable to Ben Arfa. Just that in terms of SHEER ATHLETICISM Dyer's Everton goal is probably only matched by Ben Arfa's recent goal against Bolton

Very good.

It very much depends on where we finish this season. Champions' League qualification would have massive implications. I would still expect us to strengthen this summer, but our need and ability to will depend massively on the results of the next two games. All I can say is that I disagree with the original assertion that domestic cups are secondary. We have not won a trophy for 40 years ffs. Liverpool fans are currently mullling over whether this is a good season for them (or will it be if they win the FA cup as well); it's okay for them, they've won what, a dozen cups since the Premiership started. We've won fuck all. And look at the teams who have benefited from regular CL qualification recently - the now defunct Big Four of Man Utd, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool - all regular fixtures in the domestic cup finals. Success breeds success.

Is this the final draft Fish? If so, make sure you change 'Chelsea' in the general questions! Likely to attract the same amount of goodwill as the Allardyce question, but: Honestly, how did you feel when Chelsea were buying the title a few years ago, and how do you feel now?

Forgot he played for us until I saw this thread, it was only last season as well! Wish Roeder had signed him when he left Arsenal the first time instead of him going to Portsmouth.

Boils my piss how players try to injure each other in such snide ways. There's nothing 'hard' about putting in a sneaky elbow/flying in with two legs up/leading with studs.

Ayethankyou. Tbh although you obviously didn't want to admit that I was struggling to see what you actually did mean instead.

Comfortable home win predicted as well, without an ounce of humility/qualification. Haha, you cunt.

Bold of you to admit that online mate. Don't fret, Viagra has done wonders for many people like you. See your GP.

Sounds like Fish's name for his cock.

I would imagine that's how most clubs calculate their 'attendances'.

Oh yeah, I don't mean any of that as a criticism, I mean there's a lot more to being a striker than chips and feints etc. look at Messi, 68 goals this season but toothless against Chelsea.

The Everton and Villa goals aside, our record scorer is almost conspicuous by his absence here, with Robert, Solano and the more recent Cisse and Ben Arfa dominating. Shearer had a different craft, rather than tight dribbling, tricks and feints, swerve and curl on his shot, he had power, strength, ruthlessness and tenacity, a sledgehammer rather than a surgeon's knife. The amount of goals where he just muscled past or through defenders to make a chance...a goal against Spurs on the 7-1 (I think) springs to mind.

There was always a chance that we'd have a part to play in the title race with this game. However rather than a perfunctory, non-speaking role with no real interest in our own fortune, like we would have played in previous years or like Swansea play in their upcoming match against Man Utd, we are a major character, with as much attention focused on what the result means for us as it does for City. If City don't win the title I think we'll certainly be the story of the season, particularly if we have a hand in denying them a trophy that their bankrolling owners, wanker fans, contemptible players and ineffective lame duck manager simply do not deserve. But fuck the title race because this game is about us, our fortunes and what we have to play for, the chance to play on the world's biggest stage and all the opportunities that brings with it. We may go on to be a fixture at the top of the table, it may be a false dawn like the last time, Ashley might finally have changed, he may disappoint us all again, who knows what the future will bring. This season, the most enjoyable in a decade, is not over with only two games left, and not since relegation (how long ago does that seem?!) have we been able to say that. Bring on City, bring on Everton, bring on Europe, bring on them all.

I know what you mean, but they took the piss a bit with South Africa. I doubt them not going to the Ukraine is a budget decision, probably would have been cheaper than staying at home!

What a player Dyer was, all too infrequently at times. I don't remember the backheel finish @ 1.35, is it Leverkusen in the CL? The Everton goal was what I thought of when I saw the thread title, in terms of sheer athleticism the best goal I've ever seen, possibly equalled by Ben Arfa's recent effort. Speaking of backheels, that overhead 'dolphin' thing by Robert against Fulham (2004 I think) was a bit special.

He was part of the 2010 team tbf. Bet Linekar et al are gutted that they haven't got a jolly abroad this time. I don't usually get in a fit about "license payers' money" but the amount of cash that it must cost to fly those bellends and all the support staff out, put them up for weeks and broadcast from some prime location like they did in Berlin and SA when they could just as easily do it from home, "in these austere times" takes the piss a bit.

What a season, just when you think the good times over they pull this out of the bag. What a team, and what a fucking player. Btw watching highlights on sky, commentator says Tiote basically deserved getting his head split open.

He should ban them from his press conferences. They're going to do their best to hound him out anyway, he might as well get his own back.

Nice to seem them justifying booing a victim of racial abuse.

I think a problem we face if such retrospective punishments were introduced (which I doubt will ever happen) is that the FA, FIFA etc have been so blinkered in their support of their officials that touching a player in the penalty box (oo er) is now deemed an offence. Just look now on SSN when they have a ref to review the weekend's big decisions, even with the benefit of replays they very rarely disagree with a penalty decision so long as there is this magical 'contact'.

Perhaps but if it was all retrospective then this wouldn't be an issue. You're not righting the wrongly given penalty there and then but at least Ashley Young might be a bit more vertically stable if he knew he'd miss 2 games when he'd inevitably be found out.

A major, major problem with diving and refereeing in general in this country is the cast iron assertion is that the referee's view of an incident should be upheld. The FA refuse to go against the decisions, presumably in the belief that it would undermine the referee and therefore reduce their credibility. This is of course nonsense, it only goes to undermine the confidence in the referees and the FA further. What needs to happen is a change in thinking, to admit that referees are human and can make the incorrect decision - this may be through no fault of their own, as we often here they do not have the benefit of multiple slow motion replays. But WE do have that benefit, so let's use it and ban the divers like Young and rescind the stupid red cards like Derry. Obviously it would be ideal if this was all on the spot, but even some retrospective justice would be better than the farce we have at the minute.

I couldn't see the picture last night, I was certain it was going to be of Viz's Cockney Wanker. Disappointing.

Yep that's what I mean, struggle out of the group stages only to get a dry bumming in the first knockout round.