Rayvin

Carroll scores...!

Villa look like they'll be avoiding relegation. Also, if Liverpool don't beat Reading today then there's something pretty wrong over in Anfield. Especially since I've got money on them.

I thought he was saying that out of pity personally. Although equally he might actually enjoy these games, you never know.

Could be blustering from the Telegraph to keep protesters away I suppose.

One thing I would agree with, we certainly don't go all out any more. I think that Southampton game was the first time we'd scored 4 since that legendary Arsenal game two years earlier. With that said, we've looked tighter at the back in general (Christmas period and WIlliamson aside) than I can ever remember us being.

To be as balanced on this as possible, my understanding is that something needed to be done for the country, but that the way she did it was horrific. She left the people who worked in the industries she shut down with nothing, hence creating the benefits issue the Tories rail against today. It was a social experiment born out of true need for change, but then Hitler could probably claim as much about what he did. I read one of those personal stories where they were paying policemen from London to come up and kick the shit out of strikers, in front of their families. If ever there was evidence of a North-South divide, that's it - probably also the source of her re-elections. Indefensible, it made me utterly ashamed and appalled to be British (although I seem to have been in that position since the coalition to be honest). That's the sort of thing you'd get in North Korea. I will continue reading, but honestly mate, some of the personal accounts of this...she sounds like an absolute monster.

Milwall fans apparently going to set upon the Anti-Thatcher protesters after the cup final. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/9990334/Football-fans-vow-to-confront-anti-Thatcher-demonstrators.html There'll be hell on if that happens.

Amen to that. Thanks for sharing, I've only a limited knowledge of what went on as I was a bit young at the time, but I've tried to read as many stories as possible of what people went through (hence that Guardian article over the page) and it's staggering, it really is. I've also tried to keep it balanced by reading the "positive" stuff, but there's absolutely nothing in there to justify what happened.

You're right, I suppose my views have just been tainted a bit by this uncomfortable season. Will feel a lot better after the game though (assuming all goes to plan). I very much hope you're right.

Ouch... Was going off max capacity with my own statement. Didn't realise they'd lost so many!

33k is pretty shite like. Leeds territory

You will not be disappointed with those. Epic games, although 1 shades 2. I'd recommend the expansion for 1 as well, it was an additional 20 hours or so.

I think a simple win just maintains the status quo. It'd be good if we started winning more convincingly so we can put to bed this idea that they're anywhere near us. Builds up a psychological barrier when they play us and will mean they will begin expecting to lose. I'm not sure if that's true at the moment.

I guess my concern is that Di Canio is an enigma, I don't know what his qualities are. If they'd hired Mark Hughes this would be easier, but with him, they're either going to be awful and overstretch themselves going for a win, or it'll be one of those awkward edgy games which I will very much not enjoy. Beating them 2-1 doesn't seem like much of an achievement, we're clearly better than they are and should be managing a win at the very least. Beating them 3-0 would send a message and it would be really difficult for them to rationalise that they're still somehow a better team.

Sunderland sound really up for this - Di Canio seems to think that Sunderland will be a bigger club than us in a couple of years; a puzzling statement at best. I guess the question here really is, is Di Canio actually as good as he thinks he is, or is he just over excited and a pillock.

Paolo Di Canio "I want four of my players in their box when we go forward" If he does that we'll destroy them.

Yeah it'd be interesting to see the stats for all the teams to be honest, since they mention all teams record attendance that way.I reckon ours would be about the same though, can't imagine too many people up here would spend money on tickets and then not go...

... Is it humanly possible to lower the tone of a thread harder and faster than that.

It'd certainly heighten exposure if you could get enough people to buy into it quickly enough. A twitter trend might do it? - I think it's the principle of censorship that's getting me though. Who are the Daily Mail and Telegraph to dictate to the BBC? And why did the BBC listen? Ultimately I'm just pissed off by how little of a damn the government gives about our (the North) opinions on the matter.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013/apr/12/manchester-united-attendances-police-figures This is pretty interesting - Man Utd actually get on average 10 000 fewer fans each game than they report they do.

How deranged do you have to be to divorce your wife over a football match? Snap jabbed a giraffe when I went on a safari after the Ryan Taylor goal at the Sol ^That is also hilarious, and very unlikely to be true.

I think the point is that we should stop talking about her now, but given the continuing airtime she's getting it does seem a bit premature. I pondered on it a little bit but then gave in to the peer pressure that comes from being a relatively new poster and offered an olive branch. I may be too diplomatic for this forum...

Liverpool and Spurs are likely to be seen as stronger in his eyes, so our only real chance would be if they didn't go for him. Also, do we need him? Where would be play? Unless you're thinking we'll lose Cabaye.

You guys are making me nervous