just

Well that's stretching it a bit too far! How about an injury free month?

I'm still waiting for Frank to finally commit his future to us and sign that new, (it's been on the table so long can we still call it new?), contract

That is correct BB. He disappeared on a couple of occaisions and failed to return on time. Disco Baba was a big party animal. Had bags of ability and could have been a great player but football was never the top priority for him.

Loved his summation of Totty Becks. "If David Beckham were a dog, the problem would not be so much the collar as how to brush his hair. The Englishman, whose global fame is out of kilter with his talent, is a naturally super-fit individual who, through perseverance and repetition, evolved into a great dead-ball player. Messi is a great live-ball player".

No he didn't. http://www.theshedend.com/forum/viewtop ... f=5&t=6344

Tim, I've just noticed your all time favourite player. That is a fine choice my friend. What is your favourite memory of Sir Garfield?

I actually thought the Defoe offside was the easier decision! Even Mark Lawrensen called it on MOTD.

With you on that Lozzer. All three deserve to be in the squad before Totty Becks. And so does Aaron Lennon if his performance against Man U today is anything to go by. Agree about your views on Robert Green as well. A half decent keeper, and at the moment, half decent is all England can hope for.

Lino!! Offside!!!! Eduardo's for Le Arse and Defoe's against us. Both proved conclusively on the replays. They were both pretty straight forward decisions but unfortunately both were missed. Hopefully the swings and roundabouts will turn in our favour next time.

At times ? Hum, Always?

Hey you! I like the cut of your jib. You seem a man with sensible trousers and no nonsense. Not like those floppy Italian fellows. Could you do my fixed odds coupon?

I consider him a better striker than Basil Fawlty and JFH. And a better person than Roy Keane and Hitler.

Someone told me the other day that Defoe has scored on every full-debut he has made. Haven't checked if that is true or not, (anyone?), but he will be the main danger this afternoon.

You may be right BJD but he's doing everything right at the moment. Brian, I'm suprised you're not all over him like a bad case of herpes because he's very Zlatanesque. Very tall, great touch, good awareness, notches his share of goals. Works much harder than Zlatan though.

Another couple of goals for him today. He's carrying that team in terms of attacking. Not just for the goals he's getting but just as importantly with his hold up and link play. Where would Le Arse be if Togo had qualified and the dreadlocked lurch had gone off to the ACN? Probably fighting Liverpool for that 4th spot.

I sit in row 5 of the SU gate 6. I had a great view for the cross on the goal. Joe had the ball and was waiting for PF to make an overlapping run which he belatedly did. However, by running late he was stretching to reach it before it went out. He showed great technique to clip it in so deep and away from the keeper, but he hit it blind. And the late run made the cross harder than it should have been. That left footed cross to Ballack near the end. Let me ask you a question, what had Paulo done with the ball on his right foot, and with all the space and time in the world not 6 seconds before? Answer. He hit the first defender standing ten yards away but, luckily, the ball rebounded straight to him for a second go. Paulo is not a consistent crosser of a ball. In comparision, he's better than SWP, not as good as Belletti, about the same as Ashley Cole. As for defensive lapses, in the first half Joe Cole clearly bollocked him, because on two occaisions when Reading pressed forward, PF was way too far infield leaving Cole isolated trying to deal with two players coming at him from wide. Cole was entirely right, though to be fair Paulo stayed in position for the rest of the game. Also in the second half, when defending a cross from the left Paulo was caught ball watching allowing Lita a free header back across goal. Overall he did have a good 7out of 10 game, but it wasn't anything as high quality as we have seen from Belletti this season.

I still haven't fathomed out how he got 50 caps let alone 100! Along with Mr Gerrard, undoubtedly the most overrated player on the planet. Well done Fabio for this long overdue decision.

My missus is always saying the same thing. I'd love to try your solution, but I think it would upset the kids. Great idea about Drogba though. How about we sell him to Tottenham?

Actually, he didn't. He headed it into the ground, as all strikers are coached to do nowadays in the belief that the keeper will not anticipate the bounce of the ball. Personally I'm not a big fan of this "modern" technique. The second was the better chance, there was more time, but on them both he had the opportunity to take the ball around Hahnemann. I felt he had an excellent first half. He was the man making us tick. 2nd period he wasn't as influential but still played well. The standard of refeering in the second half left much to be desired last night. Mr Dean was very whistle happy, most of them going in Reading's favour. As a result the game was very stop/start. There wasn't the flow to it that there was in the first half. Incidentally, while he was consistent in his punishment for every minor infringement at our end he completely ignored Cisse climbing all over Anelka everytime the ball was in the air. I agree. However, he was lucky with the missed challenge on Hunt. I could see why he wanted to do it. Everybody in the ground wanted him to do it. But he could have got a card for that and been suspended for the Liverplod game.

No thought given to the calibre of the opposition in that decision? Or even the way maka has been playing? Or his experience? If you're considering "like for like" roles, I would have thought Ballack was more in competition with Lamps than Essien?

Hunt got a great booing all around the ground. And a great swearing. And he was suitably poor. Lots and lots of Rottenham chants tonight. The hate is on. I think by the day of the final lots of the newbies will be fully aware of why we dislike that team more than any other.

First half Ballack. Second half Alex. Over the whole 90, Anelka or Alex. Hard to choose. Paulo was alright defensively, (though there was still a number of glaring errors), against the world class attacking force that Reading have at their disposal, but he was still miles behind Belletti going forwards. "The cross" I hear you cry. Yes, the cross for the goal looked great, (do remember, even Cashley and SWP hit one good one every now and then), but I urge you to watch it closely and then comment. Did he time his run to perfection? Did he want the ball? Did he look up and pick Ballack out deliberately? Or did he hesitantly run very late to a ball he never wanted to have and just loft the ball over without looking? You decide. I can't help but notice that a lot of the people who criticised Jose for being too defensive and demanding a more expansive game are some of PF's biggest fans, and yet he has all the attacking finesse of Phillip Neville. Felt SWP was very poor tonight. Two absolute gilt edged chances to finish the game and he never took them.

Eh? Essien.

Pauly, when I was playing I used to have my boots paid for by the club. Two pairs a season. Moulded and screw-ins.

I stopped reading when I got to this bit: "Claude Makelele, who is one of the best holding midfielders we've seen in years" One of !!!! In years !!!!!! The bloke is obviously new to football. The best there has ever been mate and don't you forget it.