Ponky

****' hell! Is a game of football worth all this?

Pressure is 100% on them really. If they can't beat us under these circumstances they may as well pack up and go home. Come on boys - big effort tonight!!

Before the match it looked like Collins was sucking on the pain-killing "whistle" - so he was obviously not quite right to start with.

Also Houllier appeared to laugh at something Nasri said to him after the match. I think we need a thread about that. And Pires was kissing the Arsenal players before the match. Need a thread. Collins wasn't holding a little kid's hand before the match. Need a thread.

We were destroyed by a gulf in quality. Strategically too I think we were all over the shop, and we looked infinitely better with two up front and Downing on the left. Was a disappointing match, one we deserved to lose, but congratulations to Clarkie for two quality goals and to Ireland for showing some balls. Warnock, Collins and Luke Young were shockingly bad.

Obviously the time zone thing is all relative. Considering it's Worlc Cup and not the Euro championships it would be nice for countries in the Asian time zones - which represent massive numbers in terms of TV viewership of football - to have an opportunity to watch matches in their waking hours and even get the chance to travel less than 6 hours on a plane to watch a World Cup match. So fair's fair really. You guys can "gorge" on football for the next 11.5 years, and we'll take 6 weeks of gorging, and you lot can have it again for the next 12 years or so...

I think it will be USA but I hope it will be Aus.

They are missing Fabregas, we are missing potentially an entire first XI. I think I'd rather be in their shoes, although you'd have to say their poor form is more worrying than theirs because at least we have an excuse.

Time for a 442 I think with Gabby and Nathan up front and Downing/Young out wide. We have to be positive and captalize on our strengths which we cannot do with only Gabby in the box. Hopefully Collins will be back so we can play Clark/Bannan in the middle. Young has tormented Clichy in the past but he is Sagna's bitch, so I'd put Young RM and Downing LM and keep them there. Unless Albrighton is fit of course.

I thought we were far better in the second half when we stopped trying to play killer balls across field and allowed Bannan to run the ball through the middle. None of our forwards were prepared to hang onto the ball and look for options, rather than be smart-arses. The few actually successful through-balls we managed Gabby was totally unprepared for. Ashley Young played the entire first half as if he was miffed that Bannan has been getting more press than him and seemed keen to prove that he was the team's main man every time he got the ball and completely ignored the fact that he had teammates. There was one moment in the first half where he tried to dribble through 3 defenders when Bannan was standing at the top of the box with 15 yards of nothing but grass around him and a clear shot at goal. VERY frustrating. And can someone please tell me why Downing played the entire match at right midfield/wing? Delfouneso looked good when he came on and far more of a goal threat than Gabby, and Pires too showed that given a bit more match fitness he could be pretty valuable for us - but very slow! I agree though with the poster who said we need to give Blackburn credit for their defending. As brutal as it was at times, they let very little past them, and backed on to two pretty lucky goals, they deserved their win - unfortunately.

Little boys or Nuns?

Women who think just because you are a man you look at all women as sex objects. I don't. I only look at good looking ones with hot bodies as sex objects.

Take them both back 2 years and Downing is still better value in the league.

Did anyone who watched the match get to see Bannan standing next to Shaun Maloney - just curious as to who appears "taller" out of the two...

Someone please change the title of this thread to "Completely irrelevant things that occurred before Spurs became the greatest sporting team in world history"?

Maybe its best if we concede first and chase the game.

I think something really clicked for us on Saturday and despite our injuries I think we will kick on. A 3-1 win to us.

Notice Fergie having a moan about the Ref not protecting the Utd players from 'unfair tackles' from Villa players. Cheeky bastard.

Made a superb sliding tackle on the sideline in about the 60th minute yesterday. I thought his distribution was nervy as most have said, but he broke up play really well and didn't allow the Utd midfield to get any sort of rhythm.

Tell you what, when Marc Albrighton develops a little more composure in front of goal he will be a lethal player. Should have had a hat-trick today. Can't wait to see the celebrations when Bannan gets his first PL goal too, reckon he will go off his nut.

I think Mr Capello would have had his first non-viagra related erection in 15 years watching Downing and Albrighton. When I saw Hogg's name on the team sheet today I realised the true depth of our injury crisis and to be honest I feared we would get battered. Even at half time I thought Utd would pick up an arsey goal at the death to win it. I can't say I am rapt about the draw but I feel incredibly upbeat about the way the boys have played today. I thought Young and Warnock were great today - Luke Young has really been on the angry pills lately and comes up with some ripping tackles - it won't be long before he gets red carded but in the meantime I am enjoying his no more mr nice guy routine. Young and Collins are my only real concern with this lot at the moment. I think at the moment they are like two battleships in a swimming pool - just seem to lack flexibility or agility to deal with anything that's a little unpredictable. I think we need a more agile defender in there and if Cuellar will be out of contention - for any reason - Houllier should consider re-calling Curtus Davies.

Not sure if it's bindunne but: make it stop Janice! (fat kid on a carnival ride)

puking during turbulence is a health hazard

According to Houllier Cuellar was injured and will miss the Man U match - hence not on the pitch. With the Fonz sub Gabby was already there waiting top come on (IIRC) when Fonz scored so I think Houllier had already committed to taking of Delfouneso. Speaking of the Fonz, I thought he played far better on the weekend for no reward, but he was a bit average today and scored twice. A good sign for the kid. Is interesting that Warnock is copping a bit in this thread, and I suspect that Warnock's and Dunne's performances are linked up to a point - chicken or egg though? Much better performance from Ashley Young tonight, superb assist for Nathan and seemed to be looking to play his teammates in, rather than try to do it all himself. My MOTM was Downing though. The guy has really stepped up this season and looks a very dangerous player.

I just started a game as Villa and haven't managed to offload anyone despite offering for lower prices. Managing to fiddle my budget a bit I signed JS Park, Ivan Obradovic (LB) and Hedwiges Maduro (DM), but am currently running about 60k over budget because I cannot shift Sidwell or Heskey. I have decided though that this game is completely unrealistic - Brad Friedel got injured on the eve of the season and has missed 3 weeks - like THAT would ever happen...