Mark Albrighton

The most important question has to be who is the lovely brunette who features in the first and sixth pictures?

Yep, she's probably being cautious and there's every chance that she'll have spoken to her girlfriends and asked them if a no hug goodbye was a good move. The fact she's keen to meet up again and suggested a specific day is a very good sign I think.

Bit surprised about the popularity of "Love, Actually" on here. I thought it was detestable, but there you go. Films I like and associate with watching at Christmas (no apologies for listing the classics)- It's a Wonderful Life Scrooge (1951, black & white) The Muppets Christmas Carol The Apartment Groundhog Day And as an alternative to "The Great Escape" (I see no reason to believe I will see a great escape anytime soon) I like watching "The Bridge on the River Kwai" and "The Man Who Would be King".

I'm fairly relaxed about it all. Either we pull off the great escape and survive, which will piss off a few people and also mean the likes of Lawro etc will be forced to discuss us for the three or four minutes they allow for us over the course of next season or, the more likely outcome, Randy loses millions. Either eventuality appeals.

I knew as soon as I posted that, it would come back to bite me! Think I may have jumped the gun a bit in mentioning her to be honest. I've got her number and we're sporadically messaging each other. We've said we'll meet up over Christmas but not sure anything will come of it. Not picking up many romantic undertones. So these obstacles, is it a matter of timing then? It sounds like you're positive about it all but kinda bracing yourself for a fall.

I.....no, WE have been patiently waiting for news of that young lady you mentioned weeks ago in another thread who's heart you stole. Yes, I remembered. I'm living vicariously through you at the moment Xela, I....no, WE (again) need something enjoyable to read on here mate!

I read he was meant to meet with supporters before the game today. Did that happen, anyone know what reassurances he have? Cue a picture of Private Frazer from "Dad's Army" saying "We're doooooomed!!!"

Garde is clearly winding him up to such an extent so that when he starts against Newcastle next week he'll tear their defence apart in a fit of rage. From then on he shall save us. Definitely the plan. I think.

Yeah I like a bit of Hopper's stuff. As you say there's a quietness about them, a sort of remoteness. Reminds me in part of Magritte and the influences of both can be see in the stuff Storm Thorgerson used to do. A strange calm is present in them. Having said that, I think I'm getting a print of Bal du moulin de la Galette by Renoir for my new place (when I eventually move in) which is a bit of a contrast to all the quiet remoteness.

Now a win like that would do bloody wonders. But a more realistic outcome would be a 3-2 defeat having gone 2-0 up.

Stating the bleeding obvious here, but if we did win tomorrow, safety would suddenly look very achievable. A win against Arsenal would be worth more than three points. although I don't think it's too likely.

If we're talking about films in which Christmas plays a pivotal part of the story....

Whenever I see that Sandler has got another $50m-$100m budget film out, I'm always reminded of the Partridge quote- "I think if you ask the British public whether they’d prefer 40 kidney dialysis machines or an Alan Partridge Christmas special, the answer would be pretty unanimous."

Everyone knows "In Bruges" is a better Christmas film anyway.

What position do you play? Edit- Is Dr Pangloss really Adama?

True, but I dread to think what the VT's relegation thread version number will be up to by that point.

If Remi thinks he's surplus to requirements, then fair enough. I just think it's a shame as I don't feel he's been given a proper chance. Not sure of it's accuracy but whoscored says he's played 781 minutes, which works out at just under 8.7 games. Four goals in under 9 games in a Villa team managed by Paul Lambert is a fairly decent return I think. I know stats can be manipulated and they don't tell the whole story, but I think 14 appearances in a struggling team, in a country he's not played in before is a bit soon to write him off. Ah well, I don't mind too much, I just want someone to regularly find the net for Villa, I don't care if it's Kozak, Gestede, Ayew or whomever.

You may be right. They might comment on it in a wider sense when discussing the lack of English managers given a chance in the top flight without having a go at Swansea in particular.

I wonder how much criticism Swansea are going to receive for sacking a young, English manager.

Christmas Eve-beers with a few mates at a couple of locals. Christmas Day-most of the day with the folks and my younger brother. Christmas lunch, crackers, The Snowman, etc. Boxing Day-hope for three points/getting depressed once another three points has passed us by. Sunday 27th-maybe beers with mates. Monday 28th-see Boxing Day. Tuesday 29th-watching an Oasis tribute act in Bilston. Wednesday 30th-nothing planned. New Years Eve-get drunk, venue to be arranged. New Years Day-hungover, venue to be arranged. Saturday 2nd-see Boxing Day. All presents yet to be bought. Would also like to meet up with a nice girl I've become reaquainted with recently. But that one may well be for another thread

Gala-Freed from desire "My love has got no money, he's got his submarine." At the time I suspected that it probably wasn't "submarine", but I always felt it worked better.

Happy for Libor to be given a chance, even if it's from the bench. He's scored a couple of important goals for us in his very brief appearances. While I don't believe we'd suddenly become the highest scorers in the league if he started, I'd be interested to see what he could do with the likes of Gil, Adama and Ayew around him. At least a few games between now and the January window would be nice.

You're not the only one.

Did anyone see Football Focus on Saturday? In case you hadn't fully realised the "magic of the cup", they actually went to the trouble of bringing in a magician to do card tricks. Paul Daniels & Dynamo nailed on to do the third round draw tonight.

Have those three words ever sounded more deflated and yet somehow tinged with an underlying optimism?