That "tough nut" Leeds just lost 4-0 to Spurs.

Adios Bielsa.

Cristiano has got the biggest Adam's apple in footballdom.

Well done TG! That is at least a five for the price of one post - six if we count climate change. You missed out on the anti-Artetas and Xhaka though...

Sorry, was just listening to radio 5 and it’s really hard listening to these poor poor *%^@ers begging for help that won’t be coming

Not sure I can pin this on xhaka although I thought he was *%^@ against wolves.

A very fine jinx by me, if I may say so myself.

United drop points.

Watford got it done, a ton of counter opportunities but shots looked like the gang that couldn't shoot straight. Even at the end, they had a chance for a last minute winner. Partey is looking at Watford's Kuco and saying 'He can't hit a barn door'.

Come on the Hornets

3 games in hand and 'only' 2 points behind Man Utd. I like that.

Cracking predictions.



I have no idea how you thought that the Leeds prediction was ‘reasonable’.

Yes, being serious now, it feels depressingly helpless for the innocents involved. The only consolation is that even if Putin wins the battle he has surely signed Russia up to a long-term war that will drain them dry. Apparently there are already thousands of dead Russian soldiers, and the Ukrainians will fight hard to defend their lives. Abramovich is ok though...

United play city, spurs and Liverpool next in the league.

We can get a point at the lane we have a real chance

4th is in our hands. Let's see what we do with it.

Highly doubt we'll catch them but if we go on a run, we could give Chelsea a scare for 3rd at least. First things first, lock down top 4. If nothing else, Europe beckons next season.

I worry about how we start games. It's been taking us a while to get rolling. The good news is Pépé looks a new player. Martinelli is back from suspension. Lacazette got a much needed goal albeit recorded as an OG but still, he did the hard work by shooting it.

The only reasons I would like to see Liverpool win it is City is just plain bought. Liverpool at least made smart buys from selling players at huge prices. Also, to have them catch Man Utd for most titles.

Every since Chelsea and City got minted, I've been casting a weary eye, long term, on their titles. In the next 10 to 15 years which sounds like a long time, City could rack up a half dozen titles with their money. The Toon with their sugar daddy will eventually challenge the top spot and may murky that prediction a bit. If Roman had continued the same spending, I'd have feared Chelsea, with 6, eventually getting within sniffing distance of our 13 but I doubt it now.

Would love to see us get back to adding a few before I get too old. Seeing us win the CL is my dream as a fan though. Wonder if I'll ever live to see it?

A whole different perspective....interesting view if nothing else.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrMiSQAGOS4&t=2791s

Blimey - Abramovitch has relinquished control at the Chavs.

He knows sanctions are heading his way. All he’s done is give it to the charity he bankrolls. I think this is strategic rather than too significant. Let’s see how this plays out. Interesting regardless

This is suffering, killing and death served up for our delectation as 24/7 wall-to-wall infotainment.

What a fucked-up world we live in.

The only way Putin wins this war in the medium term is to entirely subjugate the Ukrainian population and to do that he needs in the short term to kill millions.

Like many, I moan about the Welsh or the Scots so I’m sure there are plenty of Russians who can’t be arsed with Ukrainians. But like our relationship with the jocks and the taffs, Russians and Ukrainians have lived and worked together, traded seamlessly and inter-married for centuries.

So invade your neighbours? Try to wipe them out??? WTF!!!

As I mentioned the other day, one can only hope that intelligent Russians see through the messages they are being fed and put simple humanity before politics.

I'd be a bit concerned about the Leeds game though.

There’s no escape you can’t avoid it, news, radio social media dominated. Like I said you feel like some kind of *%^@** up voyeur listening to it.

Those poor poor people. Hope they give the Russians an absolute pasting.

If the Russians make the mistake of killing that president they will regret it. He will become a martyr and symbol for the Ukrainian people.

Forbes reported on February 24th that Abramovich has sanction insurance to the tune of several billion dollars.

I think Leeds will sack their manager. I think the clubs that might get sucked in to the relegation are Brentford and Leeds. I think Everton might escape but not a given.

How can a charitable foundation take over the stewardship of a highly commercial football club packed with employees earning millions of pounds per annum? Is this really what charitable status allows?

We come out to play against the clubs around and above us. We either do that or get embarrassed. What Areteta needs is to break down the clubs who are going to pack the box and play everyone around the 18 yard box. Liverpool and City do these one touch flic ons with people making Ljundberg-esque runs and either get a shot on goal or sometimes a penalty.

I'm not expecting that intricate level of play but we do need a strategy. Tierney crossing into the box where we are often shorter and outnumbered isn't going to work.

Forum update.

I have just optimised the tables, increased the forums memory (It's double now), and doubled it's storage space.

It should be more responsive now.

Thank God for that. Double the forums memory and storage space will do doubt allow me to find the car keys, recall what i was supposed to collect at the supermarket and remember appointments.

On a serious note thanks for your ongoing efforts to allow us to continue to honour Steve's legacy.

Looking at the league cup final I was conflicted on who I wanted to win and then just stopped caring.

Very handy to see Man U drop 2 points v Watford. Spurs would seem like our barest challengers now.

Also I thought City were very lucky not to concede a penalty in the last minute of their game v Everton.

At this point, we should be frontrunners for 4th. If we don't get 4th some may blame our lack of buying in January or depending on HOW we lost 4th may blame Arteta or a few players.

I'm nervous. Like any fan, I want CL football very badly. Right now, all the challengers are trying to lose 4th and we are losing it the least. I am hoping we go on a run and put it out of contention.

Again, I'm nervous. More than just a little. We still have to play Liverpool, Tottenham, Man Utd, and if god forbid we lose them all which is not a far fetch reality, it will be devastating.

No point in having VAR if the person watching the screen is inept. Everton totally robbed by the no handball decision.

It makes the game look ridiculous when these sort of decisions are made with the benefit of review. Mike Riley’s mob are a shambles.

I saw a bit of the Man Utd game against Watford. They had some very creative flick ons, slight of hand (or foot) passes around the box that almost came off. To me at least, it seemed more creative than what we come up with mostly. I thought they'd score. Sometimes bad finishing. They have some very skilled players. I'd take a Pogba / Partey swap as crazy as that may sound. He looked very good at moments in that game.

For whatever reasons or a myriad of reasons, they can't get it together. And they seem to get it together when they play us.

The next 2 games are huge. We play watford and Leicester and should be winning both.
Man U are away at City and then they host Spurs.

Big opportunity for us to put some distance between us and the rest

Wolves and West Ham play each other today. The loser is probably out of the top 4 race

Our away games against both Chelsea and Tottenham haven’t got dates yet. Frustrating because I think it would be nice to know who we have to play and when.

I thought so too at first, but then I noticed the ref indicating offside as he finally waved the goal off. Apparently Richarlison was deemed offside in the build-up that lead to the handball. There seemed to be some confusion about it, because the speaker at Goodison Park said it had been ruled as no handball.

Bielsa gone

That could save Leeds. As explained previously they were fast becoming my favourites to go down. Be interesting to see who they appoint. But whoever it is, they should have enough games to avoid relegation.

Gaz have you tonight's lotto numbers?

The Arsenal documentary becomes increasingly a must buy. Its a Cindarella season of sorts so far. A few things I'm hoping to get more info on are:
1. Aubameyang
2. Saliba
3. Xhaka
4. Arteta's meeting with Stan