Bombadil

Why does Alan Smith keep getting away with masquerading as a striker/attacking player/footballer when he is so depressingly shit that it's unreal. One or two nice flick-ons every game, a few stupid tackles and that's it, is that why he's in the starting XI every week or is it just because the fat Aussie can't be arsed in training? Why do we keep fielding a striker who you KNOW is not going to get you a goal? That's 20 something starts, 0 goals this season, is it? I honestly think even Ameobi would get more goals and thus contribute more to the team than Smith, because ultimately that's what he's in the team for, to score goals. I honestly can't wait for Martins to get back in the side, he may be a circus act and a brainless, headless chicken with no vision, but at least he will actually scare opposition defenders and a get a goal every once in a while.

You don't want to know. True.

Team: Given; Beye, Caçapa, Taylor, Carr; Milner, Butt, Barton, Duff; Smith, Owen Subs: Harper, Enrique, Faye, Emre, Viduka

Jesus wept, I watched that video once an hour ago and I still can't get its shitty tune out of my head - "I'm gonna get to your heart, I'll take a shot in the dark"

That's putting it mildly!

I read somewhere that Spurs were the first club to suggest it. Never mind though, it may benefit the bigger teams more, but I think it's a good thing.

Definitely.

What a terrible idea.

Nice debut goal though from an 18-year old sub.

Second half was a lot better from England. Owen must be pissed off, every outfield player apart from Lescott got a bit of playing time, Owen didn't. Could be good for us though.

I honestly don't think England are playing well. The amount of misplaced passes and lost balls in the first half was shocking. I agree it will take the players time to get used to Capello's continental way of playing though.

A few thoughts: - Jenas may have got the goal, but apart from that he's been absolute rubbish. - Bentley has been England's best player by far. - I'm glad we didn't get Agent Orange on the basis of his performance tonight. - Switzerland are playing well even though they are missing their best two strikers, and are unlucky to be trailing at half-time. Their movement off the ball is very good, the same of which can't be said of England's players.

I'll be supporting Switzerland and Italy, and anyone who is playing the Portuguese.

I'm more worried about the fact that basically every English player is criminally overrated. I'd rather we had a team full of foreigners that are as committed and talented as Arsenal's bunch than the 6 or 7 overrated British players that are in our starting XI every week, and have been for the past three or four dismal seasons.

Fulham have beaten Villa today, hopefully we can get something at Villa Park next week.

I didn't see the game, but I'm worried.

I just hope (and I'm optimistic) that they didn't give Allardyce money because they didn't trust him, and that Keegan will be backed 100% during the summer.

I know all you can do about these articles is ignore them, but the crap in today's Sunday papers is worse than anything I've ever read about any club, and that's not me being paranoid. It's hilarious to see they are still angry about Keegan's theatre comments, but you have to say that if we don't win a game of football soon, the pressure will really be on for Keegan and what with happened this week re: Wise, I'm not sure that's a good thing.

What's wrong with what Shearer said there? It seems like he can do no right in some people's eyes. I'm mystified at the vitriol he's getting on here.

Good call

There's nothing to add to that really.

I'm not too disappointed as I didn't expect us to make any signings.

Where is Bernard these days?

Smith hasn't made the squad, there's a surprise.