This gameweek I think it'll go:

Middlesbrough L 0 V Man Utd W 1
Chelsea W 2 V Fulham L 0
Man City W 3 V Blackburn L 2
Portsmouth L 0 V Arsenal W 2
Stoke City L 1 V West Ham W 3
Tottenham W 3 V West Brom L 2
Wigan D 2 V Bolton D 2
Liverpool W 3 V Newcastle L 1
Sunderland L V Everton W
Aston Villa W V Hull City L

My prediction will put us 8th

I would love to see Almunia as the goalie in the England squad but my opinion of him might be slightly biased.

For me there is only one question: Is Almunia better than any other English keeper?
I would say he is.

I think what might be putting people off is that his carrer in Ar_senal's squad didn't start very well due to number of very silly mistakes but I think in last two seasons he got his act together now he is excellent. I think he is now of the best in the league, just as good as Cech, Van den Saar and Given (Given is the best for me btw).

If I was him I would have a chat with Cappelo and see what he has to say...

Actually, you should probably blame Freddie Shepherd for getting the club £250m in debt by sanctioning the buying of a load of shoddy footballers and then giving them huge wages and long contracts so you couldn't get rid of them. All that happened before Ashley turned up, he was just the poor mug who bought the ship before it actually started sinking. if you thought anyone was going to chuck in a quarter of a billion to clear the debts, then chuck in a load more money to pay off a few contracts on a few wasters then spend even more money to get in some actually decent players, you're living in dreamland.

Having said that Ashley & Co haven't exactly helped themselves. I'd have driven Kevin Nolan to geordie land and paid you to keep him out of our team for a while, let alone you giving us several million for him.

Jon

Fantastic result for us last night, ruined by a terrible refereeing decision.

It was looking edgey for the few first minutes with the arse having possession and really looking as though they were going to make a go of it.

There was really no time between the first and second goal, but after the second went in, there was really nothing left of the game, arsenal's heads dropped and it was always going to be a massive battle from there.

We put in a solid performance and once again showed we can do it when required.

I just feel so much sympathy for Darren Fletcher, I think he's probably had his best season with us, and really deserved to at least play some part in the final, if not take a starting place. A once in a lifetime oppurtunity has been taken away from him, and there's no right to appeal. Gutted for the lad.

The way things are going in the CL, I don't think it'll be anything like 'once in a lifetime'. I mean, can anyone see NEXT years CL semi finalists being anyone other than the English teams + Barcelona? The Italians are rubbish as are Madrid. Bayern are even worse. Unless something really bizarre happens, it's going to be a good few years before anyone else can muscle in. Maybe if Serie A get the 'premiership style' reorganisation they're gunning for but even if they do and it starts generating the kind of cash the EPL does it's going to take a couple of years for them to catch up. For the next few years the CL is going to be contested between the EPL big four, Barcelona and possibly possibly Real if they get their act together and everyone else is making the numbers up.

Jon

On a slight change of subject my boys Brentford FC did the biz. League two champions. Up the Bees.

Quoting and saving so that when next year's finalists are someone other than the CL Big 4, I can re-post this.

. If only I shared your optimism. Tell you what Blue, I'll have a bet with you about it if you like. I'll bet both finalists in next year's CL will be either English or Spanish. What d'you reckon?

Jon

1-0 to Essien,what a superb strike


Is it going to be The Blues against The Reds??????




yours wecrookie

I think the referee won that game

He made mistakes but there is no excuse for the reaction of the Chelsea players,especially Drogba.
They had their chances to win the game and didn't take them.It was another superb strike by Iniesta to give Barca the equaliser.

Not at all happy with the result,but well done Barcelona.




yours wecrookie

Call me old-fashioned, but I think emotions or not, there is something to be said for losing well.

Chelsea consistently don't do that.

Best two teams in Europe in the final though - maybe they can do a deal to off-set the red cards?

I totally agree.



But here you are talking out of your a*se...

As i said above the ref won the game no one else did.Should have been at least 2 penalties given,no red cards either.

No part time refs should be in charge of games like that.It should be the best refs going so as not to end up having the disgraceful reaction from Drogba.

Chelsea & him will end up with big fines and possible suspensions,which will be the right thing to do.Also Ballack should be punished for his re-action too.

yours wecrookie

He is the most disgraceful player I know. Ronaldo grew up from his diving ways*, Drogba is at it like never before...

*not that he doesn't dive but not as much as he used to

the most disgracefull player I know are joey barton and diouff (blackburn)

Ronaldo's been acting like a petulant 3 year old all season and did spend a fair few games kicking people and getting away with it but Barton's in a league of his own really. Diouff's an unpleasant character - and I speak as someone who supports a team he played for - but as far as I know he's never put anyone in hospital nor done serious time. Diouff is kind of the worst example of your modern footballer, whereas Barton's frankly just a scumbag and the kind of person I would cross the road to avoid.

Jon