BOF

Their run was mental. Once they turned the corner in gameweek 18, they averaged 2.34 PPG and got 68pts from the remaining 29 games. That compared to the 1.18 PPG they were on to that point.

I'd acknowledge poor old Houllier tbf, but I get what you're saying.

Me too. It gave them a massive boost, and seemed to destroy us.

"Champions-elect" is a bit of a stretch. It was week 5 But I suppose you're right about that gobshite pushing for more.

What do you call a Dublin man who breaks up fights? Liam Malone.

My point is he has said and done it. It's still early, but his actions have only confirmed his words so far.

I hope so. Still too early to say. Well it isn't too early, because he literally gave that in answer to a question after the Derby game. So his words and (more importantly) his actions confirm that he doesn't defend a lead, he extends it.

That's tragic. No age at all ffs.

The entire point is that it wasn't 2 back markers racing each other. They weren't racing each other at all, hence he wasn't closing a door. He was already past and an attack from a back marker was unexpected. You need to separate any dislike of Max in this instance because this was not down to his aggression. It was a bone head manouver by Ocon.

So "geeky perfection" that got his scales wrong...

Over the next 7 games, it's probably not surprising to learn that by average league position we have the toughest run in the league. But it's precisely because of this that it will define our season, as it's against most of the big hitters and also that lot from down the road. However, we could scarcely have asked to be in better form going into this crucial period and if injuries allow, we could be in for a thrilling few months. The average league position of our next 7 opponents is 7.29, and even that's distorted by the 12th place of the noses (which is a tougher game than 12th suggests). In contrast over the same period, top placed Norwich go up against an average of 14.43 in the league and second placed Boro are up against 14.29. Ranking 4th and 5th easiest runs over the period. If we work it based on the form table, things improve slightly for us, giving us the 3rd most difficult run of 9.86. Either way, we've a lot of football still to play in 2018 and while "you play everyone twice over a season"* this does seem to be a particularly significant run of games. * I **** hate that lazy-ass statement when discussing fixture lists.

I just came in to vote

There's blame on both sides. Max shouldn't have reacted the way he did after the race. While it is completely understandable, it can't be condoned. Although a grinning Ocon would have very much pushed the wrong buttons and the fan in me would have liked to see him get a proper box. As for the manouver itself. Ocon is completely in the wrong. You are allowed to unlap yourself, but the onus is on you not to jeopardise the race leader while you're doing it. Diving up the inside of an unexpectant race leader is unacceptable. It's not a battle for position, and he rightly got punished for it at the time. Verstappen didn't do anything wrong on the track. He had track position and was fully entitled to do what he was doing. The only thing I would say; and it echoes what Hamilton and others have said; is that experience would have told Verstappen to give more room on the off chance that Ocon is a prat, and it turned out Ocon was a prat. So it's not a fault of Max per se, it's just that he put himself at the mercy of a driver who could make a bad decision. Hamilton wouldn't have done that. It's a case of 'yes you're in the right, but it's scant consolation'. He'll learn from it. I'm glad Ocon is getting a year off now though. F**k him.

RIP Spike