It helps to have a player with the versatility of Yaya Toure. We looked very open down our left flank until Barry came on. It still all depends on whether we can find some form away from home. We havent had a really convincing away win since the Spurs, Utd & Villareal games.

Hansen's bell-endedness is coming to the boil, on MOTD as I type

Go away, Anal

I went to Nerja last year and I got talking to a couple of fellas at a bar. They said they were 'board members' of a supporters club within the area, they were telling me about the potential new stadium and the potential spending. My girlfriend's nan and grandad have a place up in Nerja, I may pop there for a week in October and go to a Malaga game.

bloody love Nerja, whereabouts were you?

Actually, it's just on the very outer edge of Torrox, literally on the coast their place is so it's just a drive along the coast into Nerja. We spent every night in Nerja, I can't remember exact things but I do recall a big copper statue right next to a cracking sea view. Type in "Urbanización Beach Club, 29793 Torrox, Málaga, Andalucía, Spain" on maps to see where it is, they used to have a cracking sea view until the locals built in front of it. Still, a lovely place.

there's balcon de europa in nerja which has amazing sea views?

love the place.

That's the one, can't beat chilling out around there with a few scoops of 'tastes like ferrero'. The place is lovely, I might go up there in October and catch a game or two. Would be nice if they got in Europe, even if I'm not a fan of sudden billionaires getting straight to the top.

Small squad. The style of play demands a hell of a lot from the players and they're running out of steam.
Bear in mind, though, that this is year one of the Bielsa era. A total change of ethos takes time to implement. Still, new contracts for Bielsa, Martinez and Llorente are all good news.

Cazorla > Senna. But that's more about Cazorla's being amazing than Senna's being average. I thought Casillas was slightly out of position, but Senna still had to spot the gap and then find it.

Big win for City last night. It isnt their home form that has been the problem though. It's winning these "easy" away games I was told about earlier in the season. Stoke away is a massive test. I expect them to perform at the Emirates.

Ridiculous decision to disallow Drenthe's goal against Arsenal. It was a quality goal as well, lovely move. He was also in my fantasy football team.

they gave that lino a right kicking on 5 live at half time regarding that decision another one he pinged Drenthe for.

QPR 3 Liverpool 2. Finally we win another game !!!!

How long does it take to calm down? It seems he still hadn't calmed down over 3 months later as at the start of January Mancini was saying he was hoping Tevez would be sold in the transfer window. As you well know, between 27th September and 23rd October city had opened up a 5 point lead over MUFC. Amazingly 3 days after a 1-0 defeat to Everton which was the culmination in Utd clawing back citys lead at the top, Tevez was re-named in citys 25 man premier league squad, and Mancini says he could play again if he proves his fitness, along with the gem of a quote: "There is only one thing on my mind, the Barclays Premier League."

And thats without me even going into the contrasting reaction of the fans between then and now.

Yet they managed to play out of their skins against United between abject (non) performances in La Liga.



What was amazing were the antics of the Madrid players and bench after the goal. Even Marca questioned the reaction in today's edition.

An inability to back up those performances Thursday-Sunday was how I read it, but I'm probably looking at it through rose-tinted bins.


Oh, and the reaction to the goal last night at El Madrigal was probably something to do with the fact that it wasn't even a foul. Or at least I didn't think it was on first viewing. Even after a couple of replays, you'd have to say the lad went down with little persuasion.

Which is so strange in modern-day football...
They had an ex-referee (no me jodas, Rafa!) on Spanish tv who said that it was definitely a foul. He argued that making contact with the ball first doesn't matter if you then go on to take the player out.

Well that's right of course. There's no provision in the rules to say it's not a foul just because you got the ball. On first look at real time though, it just didn't look a foul.

It's not like Madrid are the beneficiaries of any decisions, though, is it? I can't remember who they played a few weeks/months back, when a player scored against them but was flagged for being five yards onside in his own half.

Two shouts for Villarreal penalties waved away last night too, one iffy, one barely even debatable.
But the amount of scrutiny over marginal calls in games featuring El Real and Barcelona is utterly ludicrous and so blown up by hyperbole that it's never a mistake or never understandable given where the ref was stood. It's always a CONSPIRACY and anti-your club bias by the authorities. It's rare to have a reasoned debate about it.

Gary Neville made a great point last night. He said in a title race it's not so much the big games that can catch you out but the games where you back up and have a short turnaround.

For examply, during man uniteds title run they play wigan away, but only a few days after a weekend game. Wigan away looks a banker, but it's backing up only a few days after a big game at the weekend, and this is what he was talking about.

Stoke away is a huge game for man city this weekend and a bigger test than chelsea at home.

so what do you reckon?

who's going to win the premiership?
the top 4
who's going down?

In August I posted this in the 2011/12 Prediction Competition;

Premiership Champions: City
Runners Up: United
Third: Spurs
Fourth: Chelsea
Relegated (Name 3): Wigan Athletic, Wolves, Bolton
Golden Boot: Robin Van Persie

Not much I'd change there.
Heart and head say United but my gut says City.
I reckon Arsenal will scrape third, while Chelsea will pip Spurs for the final Champions League place.

United

United, City, Arsenal, Chelsea

Wolves, Bolton, QPR

Man United, Man City, Arsenal, Chelsea

Wolves, Wigan, QPR.

Good riddance to Wigan and QPR.