The Fish

Pence is even worse.

What's more in keeping with my persona on this board? Agreeing to this reasonable request, or being a cunt?

We've had London games moved to a Monday night and we've still sold out. Any excuse for a piss up

Aye, I'd start him then maybe take him off after 50 minutes or so? The terms and phrases being used at the minute are surprising me. "Getting points on the board", "turn this round", and the like. We're top of the league, we lost a cup game against Premier League opposition on penalties and the Forest game cannot be a cause for concern as it was void as a contest as soon as Dummett saw red. The Blackburn game was shit and a disappointment, but the other two losses have sufficient mitigating factors that I'm not worried at all.

Minimum 5 games if found guilty.

I do tend to agree with that, however a counterpoint would be that we need to get used to playing without him in competitive games.

Every minute counts for those fat fuckers http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-27328674

Can't find my christmas one, can't be bothered to make/find one so you can suffer this one throughout and presume I'm a Grinch. Scratch that, someone did one for me in this very thread so Merry Christmas you filthy animals.

Are we their longest journey? It's only 3 and a bit hours, what are they moaning about?

We've the biggest and best squad in the Championship, we can rotate our squad without dropping the standard too muich. Far more so than any of the other teams up at the top of the table. I know he gets some shit on here, but Mitrovic is a much better option most teams have in lieu of their first choice striker. Lascelles, Clark, Mbemba and even Hanley would walk into most Championship sides. Unlike most Christmas periods before, in this one we have a chance to kick on while others are struggling with the fixture list.

I'd be tempted to shelve Shelvey, he might be all riled up and it'd be fucking typical if he escaped punishment for the Lansbury incident and went in two footed on some no mark from Birmingham. Hayden was superb last game and playing him alongside Diame might bring Ritchie and Atsu/Gouffran into the game more, instead of us always looking for Shelvey?

Can't find owt, but there's this from 2012. The article says http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2253648/Carlton-Cole-Darron-Gibson-red-cards-overturned.html

Gotta tear up most of my notes for the Podcast recording tonight now. FA, always screwing the little guy.

You think if it hadn't been on tv (and hadn't received such widespread criticism) we'd have seen the reds overturned?

You have to give him credit for that one, not many people could have made that link.

It's a variation on the 4-4-1-1 though.

How about Darlow Yedlin Lasc Clark Dummett Ritchie Hayden Diame Atsu Mitro Gayle Mitro played as a pivot that the others play off, almost like a deep lying target man?

I'm beginning to come around to TGQ's way of thinking.

I like the looks of Atsu, if he can improve his final ball and decision making he'll be tip top. Agree that that kind of mercurial Gauloises-smoking, Proust-quoting, genius doesn't dovetail with Benitez's pragmatic approach to football. @@Gemmill must be delighted.

Not really, he was as suspect at the back as the rest of them. I thought Enrique was the pick of the bunch, especially because of the relationships he had with Colo and Jonas on the left.

That bastion of reason and insight Kris Boyd has had his say on Cathro http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/kris-boyd-tears-newcastle-coach-9396571 "Look at him, with his counting machine, bet he doesn't even let his players have a fag at half time!" I've heard nothing but good things about Cathro and he's certainly paid his dues, hope he does well up there.

Shit draw imo. Not a walk over, nor a big scalp, not even an interesting club.