Santa_Rosa

I've got to go to two funerals today. That will be three in a week. Not been to one in the best part of 5 years before last Thurs. It's going to be a long day.

I've been training to be a cage fighter. Got my first fight next week.

That budgie won't know whats **** hit it.

If they're bred by this feller, I wouldn't bet against the budgie to be fair:

I think MON should play NRC. I don't think Heskey is good enough for us, and he doesn't suit our style of play, but he works hard IMO and think he is unfairly cast as scapegoat too often. I'm frustrated by the way MON seems (and I emphasise seems, as we can't know) to have players who are his favourites and undroppable (specifically Young and Petrov, although now Downing is more or less back, this may change).

I'm delighted with his transfer signings on the whole, happy that he is using his bench well now, pleased with the result today (there's no such thing as a bad away point in the Prem, and grinding one out when we play badly is a good thing), hopeful that Emile's goal will do wonders for his confidence and ecstatic that Downing made an appearance. I'm over the moon with 4th place.

I'm appalled that there are those amongst us that think MON is a disgrace and wants sacking. Absolutely **** appalled.

Still reading Transition, getting more into it and the plots really starting to bite.

I'm into the last quarter and will finish it tonight. Great stuff, right up there with his best IMO. The premise, plot and structure are superb.

One thing I have noticed, is the odd moment of sloppiness in terms of words repeated in the same paragraph when others could easily be used (not got an example to hand mind). He's so good though, I'm just assuming this is intentional for some reason that is beyond me.

No. They'll never take me alive.

Saw a Carlos thread getting resurrected earlier, so thought it would be interesting to dig this one out. I think his performances of late have proved that the 75% who said 'yes', were right to have faith in the bearded wonder. Will be interesting to see how MON deals with the potential selection headache once Collins can return

I don't think it makes that much difference - all our centre mids are of similar quality IMO. We could have had those Irish eejit twins off the X Factor in the middle of the park yesterday with our 'front four' playing as well as they did.

Carew looked interested, Ash started looking like the player he can be and Milner and Gabby continued their consistent campaign for player of the season. That, and the fact that it was Bolton, was why we murdered them.

If Petrov had played instead of either NRC or Sidders I can't see how we would have faired worse. As long as they can win the ball, and give it to someone who is playing well enough to make a difference in the final third with a quality cross, run, lay-off, shot etc then that's all they need to do.

I'd bring Collins back

Managed to get the first couple of dozen pages of Iain Banks Transition earlier. It hooked me already, looking forward to properly getting stuck into it tomorrow. Pretty sure it's going to be a cracker, which is good because I was a little disappointed with 'Steep Approach..'

Gary Cahill my arse.

(although thanks for THAT goal).

Sidders playing well defending and going forward

CAREW!! The giant awakes

Well worked back after losing it Sidwell. Another good tackle and we won the throw.

Oooh, Carew. Should have scored.

Oh, he was offside.

2-0 Burnley by the way

Good stuff this. Need the second though.

Sidders playing well. Another good tackle

Been reading comics again Ash? Get it down man

Now lets take advantage, don't drop off.

Oh and Sidwell can't tackle.

Funny that because our goal started off with Sidwell making a tackle on the half way line and getting it wide.

Does anyone know of any crime authors that have a similar style to Pelecanos, Block, or Rankin? I'm looking for some new reading material as I have read everything they have to offer.

Big fan on Pelecanos. Michael Connolly and Harlen Coben are good too

I don't read too often but the majority of my books are based upon the Mafia. Sometimes I'll step out of my comfort-zone and will read famous novels but about 70% of books I read are Mafia related. My next book will be "Donnie Brasco: My Undercover Life in the Mafia"; I've watched a couple of documentries about Pistone's involvment as an under-cover FBI agent in the Bonanno family but I really want to read his book to get a more in-depth and personal experience from Pistone; once I have finished reading his book, I will then watch "Donnie Brasco" the film.

Aye, there's nowt like a bit of Mario Puzo every now and again. Omerta and the Last Don are two that spring to mind that I've enjoyed.

From the mafia documentaries I've seen, and the odd non-fiction book I've read, the way life imitates art when it comes to organised crime, particularly the Sicilian/Italian variety, is fascinating.

Donnie Brasco is a quality flick too.

Thought I'd give this a bump.

Just finishing House of Sleep by Jonathan Coe after loving A Touch Of Love and The Rotters Club. This one not so good though - too many convenient coincidences to make it credible.

Recently enjoyed The Black Echo by Michael Connolly and Hemingway's Farewell To Arms. The Brutal Art by Jesse Kellerman was alright, but nowt special.

Got Iain Banks Transition lined up next. Can't wait

TBH when was the last time we had a team that was so effective at away games that we expect to win or draw rather than lose ? but these guys were for the taking and we just havent done it.

Most of last season. Counter attacking on toast.

Looks like a good prospect that Hines

boo

Beye off

It times like this ...when I wonder why MON is so rated.....wasn't the obvious thing to do to play Luke Young ?

We seem to by held back by MON trying to accommodate players who we should never have signed, Beye, Heskey, Petrov

Tosh, for any number of reasons.