Happy Face

They are on about lowering the voting age. Who is? They should like.

Anyone reckon they should get moved closer to the pitch?

If he did take us down, we'd be in exactly the same position as we were when he started his first full season as manager.

Mind you, that's what they said about women and blacks. Give kids the vote!

Taxi to the Dark Side Apart from Sicko, the Best Documentary category at this years academy awards was dominated by American made films about the 'troubles' in Iraq/Afghanistan (Michael Moore was already ahead of the curve on that one). Taxi to the Dark Side took the award and you have to be impressed at oscars persistence in rewarding those that tear a new arsehole for the Bush Administration. Scathing, it shows that war crimes commited in Guantanamo, abu graib and Bagram which contravened the Geneva convention were comparable with nazi torture. In particular that they were conceived at the highest levels of office and repeatedly acknowledged by top brass. The difference being disciplinary action has been taken only against those at the lowest levels, against soldiers that carried out the vaguest of orders. While George Bush and his cronies are guaranteed immunity from prosecution under laws signed and passed by themselves. The film was made by the director of Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room and has a similar anger in the face of corruption & institutionalised criminality. Well worthwatching.

Looking at where we've picked up points I don't see any reason not to expect points from the 3 home games in that lot.... We've not lost a game at home to anyone in the bottom half all season. So I'm confident of points there. Birmingham away would be a good place to get a win to seal it though. Thing is I'd be happier fighting this relegation battle above the relegation zone rather than in it. Our next fixture is Liverpool and we'll lose that so we can assume that by the following game we're going to be nearer to the drop zone than further from it. Following that up I really don't expect us to get anything against Birmingham at all-the danger with all that is that by then we're in a cycle of form where we're becoming serious strangers from picking up any points at all. Fulham follows that and while they're utter dog-shit, I think people under estimate how much the lack of wins might have affected belief by then. The mackems is looking like the best bet for me even though it'll no doubt be the most gruelling of the lot and thats just because its a derby and hence a free-for-all. It could go either way of course, but I'd take games that could go either way at the moment, rather than fixtures where people seem utterly convinced we'll win (wrongly in my view) or those that we know we almost certainly can't win (eg Liverpool). Can't see us dropping much lower, even if we lose next weeks fixture. Those who can jump us mathematically have to play Man City, Everton and Arsenal themselves. I give us as much of a hope as I give them.

You wanna get sued?

Looking at where we've picked up points I don't see any reason not to expect points from the 3 home games in that lot.... We've not lost a game at home to anyone in the bottom half all season. So I'm confident of points there. Birmingham away would be a good place to get a win to seal it though.

Happy Face-acious.

Holy Fuck

I'm sure I hoyed this in the youtube thread years ago. Good stuff.

Lazy Sunday Afternoon.

With the few that think applauding them at the end is more important than actually putting in a performance. Glad to see the .com boys picking him up on his cringeworthy act in the Man U report... God forbid they should acknowledge the fans, damned if you do... Nowt wrong with acknowledginging the fans. But Taylor ensures he's the last man off the pitch week in and week out. It's a disingenuous maneuver that convinces less and less people every week. Brown nosing, cockney twat that thinks the fans can win him an improved contract rather than performances. He can fuck off as far as I'm concerned. Isn't there an offer on the table from last year? He's going on like he's not heard a thing.

With the few that think applauding them at the end is more important than actually putting in a performance. Glad to see the .com boys picking him up on his cringeworthy act in the Man U report...

First home/away double of the season.

Under Allardyce, the complaint was we couldn't create chances for him. His legs were shot so he didn't have the pace to run onto speculative balls forward like he used to. I think he showed yesterday that he can still put himself in scoring positions when we attack as a team, rather than just hoofing it. Friedal is an immense keeper though, which seems to have been ignored. He didn't put a foot wrong yesterday. Owen will still be unhappy not to have put his chances away, but that'll just make him more hungry if you ask me. He answered a lot of questions about what remains of his ability and he has to start because he's a class above any other striker in the squad.

Keegan January or Allardyce January?

Looking at our games up to the derby, and the mackems', I reckon there'll be a bit more space between us come derby day. They've got. Everton Chelsea Aston Villa West Ham Fulham Man City I reckon they'll do well to take 3 points from that lot, wheras we can take points off all except Liverpool.

We deserved at least a draw yesterday. At least. On that basis his selection yesterday was alright imo. Viduka - Spat his dummy out big style the whispers go. Prob never play again for us. Martins - Maybe not ready for 90mins Zog - Unlucky to be dropped imo. Id have also brought him on for Barton in the centre. Also brought on a little late I think. I also thought Smith had a better game, his hard work actually being useful. Played the target man well I thought and was unlucky with that header. Overall, I understood the starting lineup, but would prefer to see Barton dropped and Zog starting on the left for Duff or centre for Barton. Martins may start soon or he may continue with Smith. Id prefer Martins and see how he does. Id also like to see Carroll now and again. I thought Enrique was better than Zog at LB, but he wasnt great like. But Id persist with him. Totally the right decision to put a left back at left back. Touch and go as to who should start between Zog and Duff. I guess Keegan's thinking is if Zog has said he wants out has he got any reason to fight for the cause? Not the sort of attitude you want in a relegation battle.

Call me daft, but I've still not been concerned by relegation. Since Keegan came, he's only had 2 games against bottom half opposition. He lost neither and deserved to win both.

Conversely, Reading’s run in: Man City Liverpool Birmingham Blackburn Newcastle Fulham Arsenal Wigan Tottenham Derby and Fulham: Blackburn Everton Newcastle Derby Sunderland Reading Liverpool Man City Birmingham Portsmouth

He's on the brink of turning things around. A better 90 minutes than any under Allardyce.