Ponky

Isn't there a Barcelona FC in Ecuador or somewhere? Maybe it was there

Just something I was curious about - when you decide squad numbers at the start of season some players request a specific number - do they get shitty with you if you don't give them the number they request?

His nerves probably put him off his finishing but if I am not wrong he had about 4-5 clear cut scoring opportunities on his own. Thinking back to the Blues game, I am not sure our entire team had that many scoring opportunities. So while I am disappointed he couldn't convert the fact that he was in a position to score and on the end of a few crosses/through passes etc was very encouraging. Give him time to work through the nerves and he will be fine.

Fonz was very unlucky not to score from those two headers. The first especially looked like it might go in off the post but it veered wide. When he had a few opportunities on the ground he choked a bit and probably over thought it. What I love about him is that he takes players on and is a lovely dribbler of the ball. He presented well but was really on a hiding to nothing competing for headers against Hangeland all day.

Desperately unlucky. Friedel to blame for the goal IMO. Stood there with his hand up appealing for a foul rather than trying to save it. Thought Ireland was very good - can't see how he can be blamed. I reckon Fulham took the game out of our hands a bit by keeping it in the air more. Took Bannan out of the game and Fonz was always on a hiding to nothing up against Hangeland in the air. That said, until we learn to take our chances in front of goal this will keep on happening to us.

Young is trying too hard to do something incredible with the ball and just looking like a headless chicken as a result. Bannan started a bit slow bit is growing with every minute. Thought we were screwed when NRC went off but it looks just the opposite. That goal was like a basketballl alley-oop. I hope we can keep our composure 2nd half. Delfouneso went very close a few times. Hopefully one will drop for him this half.

I have been married for 15 years & we did things pretty much the old fashioned way. We first started going out together at 22 and 19 & I knew within 6 weeks that I wanted to marry her, but all the same it was about 12 months before I actually asked the question. We spent most of those 12 months or so getting to know each other and talking about stuff like what our aspirations were in life in terms of careers, houses, kids etc. We never lived together as such before hand, but spent a lot of time in each other's pockets. We got married 10 months later, at 24 and 21, and haven't looked back.

Thar she blows!

The ultimate in recycling.

Allow me to add a couple more to your list:

Blind Freddy could have told Milner that City was a terrible move. But I guess Blind Freddy would take the cash & run with it too.

As expected SHA moaning long & loud about how hard done by they were about the ref. Whatever helps you through the night I guess. The game was on a platter for them with the wekest Villa lineup in years and and they still couldn't put Friedel under the slightest bit of pressure.

If they turn out to be good enough what does it matter about their age. In the end you will not know if they are good enough until you give them games. One thing I like about Houllier is that he will not die wondering. By the end of the season we should know all there is to know about the Premier League futures of several of those players. Some will have a future with us some won't. At this stage it's not like there is a myriad of quality established players being kept out of the team by them is there?

We were very unbalanced in the first half - reminded me of the days Pertov/NRC were played at right-mid. Once Bannan came on and Young pushed wide I thought we started to trouble them. No doubt all the scum fans will be moaning about how they deserved a penalty and a red card for NRC conveniently forgetting Foster punching Clark in the face and Zigic's elbow on Collins (not to mention Gardner's handball in the box). I'm not one to celebrate the injuries of others but I have to admit I had a chuckle when Roger Johnson went down.

Is the traditional dancing of Lapland called Lap-dancing?

Extended highlights can be seen here Some incredible saves by Friedel. The Heskey tackle - yes he got the ball but as we saw with the penalty we got against blues last season that's not the be all & end all. The Lichaj handball probably should have been a peno but not a red card because it wasn't deliberate - in fact his back was turned. From what I saw the Albrighton send off was bullshit. The bloke threw himself to the ground as soon as he felt contact - no doubt if that had been Heskey with the ball people would have just sais he tripped over a sparrow's fart, nothing to see here...

It sounds like some of Houllier's decisions can be a bit baffling but we have to remember he is still getting to know the players and is probably still going through a phase of "I wonder what would happen if...." and so now he knows! Better that he do those little experiments in a cup match against 2nd tier opposition than away against UTD. Remember MON's decision to man-mark Rooney at Old Trafford using Aaron Hughes as a defensive midfielder?

Why choose one when you can have both!

Only one burger in there? You could fit three - what a softcock!

We would have had an extra 2 shots on goal had NRC and Downing not been fouled in the area :winkold: While it was a shocking OG by Dunne it happens and unfortunately at the moment he is trying hard but just not quite right. Beye was OK in the first half and very impressive in the 2nd. He put in a couple of good crosses and generally looked better defensively than Warnock. Sidwell was our best today I thought and far from anonymous - just goes to show that playing a passing game that brings CMs into the game is beneficial to the overall performance of CMs. Other than Dunne, and Ireland, who simply looks out of touch, I thought Ashley Young was our biggest worry - he struggled to beat players he would normally upend, and his delivery from crosses and set pieces was generally poor. Hopefully he can rectify this soon enough.

Are you really Joe Lolley AVFCPOB? I had you on trial couple of times in my lower league games in FM10. I wouldn't have told you to f--- off back where you came from if I'd known it was you

It's good to see the Manager using the reserves to keep the fringe players match fit. It used to perplex me why the likes of Beye, Young and Sidwell got very limited (ie no) match time in the firsts but apart from the closed doors friendlies never really got the chance to maintain their condition under actual match conditions.

Nigel is desperate to score from what I can see, it's just that he completely and utterly lacks belief that he can do it.

I think McEachran was booked for having a funny shaped head.

Carew was nothing but a post for the ball to bounce off today. I once loved the man, but no longer relish the thought of BJC ripping defences apart because it is the stuff of myth these days. Chelsea really lifted a few gears in the 2nd half and I was pretty much pessimistically waiting for the coup de grace but it never came. While it's true that Nigel should have either buried that chance or at least hooked it back for Delouneso I would remind people that Ashley Young missed a couple of nailed on 1-on-1s last season and Gabby misses those in his sleep. And you have to acknowledge the fact that he picked Cole's (?) pocket to get the opportunity in the first place. A weakened Chelsea vs a weakened Villa, both teams having plenty of missed chances, you'd have to say a draw was fair. Downing was my MOTM, with Warnock close behind. Clark did a pretty decent job, given the circumstances. His passing was a mixture of liability and inspiration but he did his job defensively and was a whisker away from bagging a goal.