g3.7

that's saturday 5th feb, 2011. (at 3pm)

preliminary scans suggest anything up to four years.

you have to agree with scott. although, maybe it is notable for confirming rio as exactly the kind of idiot everyone always suspected.

silly real- he's fit again, and they get rid... really not a great move on their part. when cannavaro goes they'll have to spend another ?20m on someone no doubt.

that's a bit negative, oz. on the other hand, tottenham have far less to play for than charlton. it's still only six points. if we keep winning (and truthfully, we are the best team in the league) and united draw a couple before we play then it's all good. we don't need to equal their tally yet- just get within 2 points.

I actually never really had a problem with mokoena's tackle... or with mokoena for making the tackle to be more accurate- it was late, but not malicious IMO... however the game in general was played in a very poor spirit... pederson, I like him but you can see he probably wouldn't be right for a side aiming for the title (again, no disrespect). I hope dunn gets through his problems, he's a talented player one of very few english players in that vein. sparky is doing a good, solid job, but so far not enough to manage us... I like that he has the balls to use a player like tugay in a 442, and that he has signed players like dunn and bentley, players who can pass. it looks promising.

in these days of not stealing music and films and games and sandwich makers over the internet, some people will find that they do not need an external hard drive. as one of these people, I've decided not to buy an external hard drive, even if this http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?Module...2&DOY=4m2&c=dow does seem like good value. I also noted this 500gb model, and will avoid it like any other: http://www.amazon.co.uk/o/ASIN/B000EXZB0M/...7755616-1274213

yeah... I think sides used to lie down before arsenal when they went on their unbeaten run- not many mentally strong enough. with man united I just feel they are playing as well as they possibly can, and getting some luck- if spurs got that penalty at 0-0 who knows... in any case, I wouldn't be surprised to see them slip in a game with less pressure on their opponents (than today).

it's probably true that united attacking sides for 90 mins helps.

hilario is a good keeper for third choice. cudicini is a quality first choice standard keeper that would get into many big sides across europe. my only thinking behind jose prefering hilario would be that hilario accepts he is a back up, whereas cudicini is someone who would fight for a place... i.e. it is easier to man manage hilario.

steve finnan.

bah, I'll do them myself. cech- 0, did nothing all game. bridge- 3 booted the ball out of touch. diarra- 9, dispossed jimmy. terry- 3, spectacular diving headers, even when there was no need. carvalho- 1, was lying around and rubbing his head. essien- 2, I saw him. lamps- 8, passed the ball. ballack- 8.5, headed the ball, won a free kick. drogba- 9 nice pass to kalou kalou- 9 nice pass to swp swp- 1, missed.

anyone have the player ratings? I watched the last 5 mins if you include injury time so I doubt giving mine would be much help.

too easy to point out that lampard and ballack should link up with drogba and sheva. I was tempted to take maka out, put essien in flat and ballack at the bottom of the diamond for his passing and defending of long balls... also, I don't care one jot about what liverpool and arsenal do. I'm only concerned about what we do and hope united can draw 2 games before we play them (and surely, beat them).

to be honest we've seen the difference when agbonlahor has played against both, and bridge came away looking far better... I wouldn't be too concerned. bridge isn't as quick off the blocks but is certainly no slouch.

terry's back, and in he goes... difficult to choose the team for this round- don't really want to drop any of the midfield from the blackburn game, nor the strikers... and diarra deserves a place... ........................................cech diarra..............carvalho................terry.............bridge .......................................maka ...................ballack.......................lampard .......................................mikel ...........................drogba...........sheva subs: carlo paulo essien robben hopefully, swp more likely kalou ... not dropping essien- he's been our best midfielder in terms of form. he's played every game though, so we could try to rest him. if he's needed he's on the bench.

lampard was the best of the midfield, without a doubt- he created a fair amount of chances for drogba and sheva (who also both created chances)... ballack played well though and it was for longer than a "20 minute spell"... when he got the ball in areas to release the strikers he did it, and otherwise kept a hold of the ball. it wasn't a steven gerrard peformance, but if you have all the midfielders playing that way all the time you will never keep the ball. also I did a foul count for him yesterday- I counted, 2, which was probably the least of all 4 of our midfielders.

I don't like him, I don't want him playing for my club, but I wouldn't wish an injury on anyone, nor do I take pleasure in the fact he now might face a difficult recovery.

first of all, drogba, fantastic. MOTM. not a spectacular attacking peformance from him, we've seen sharper general play with the ball from him this season, but lead the way with defensive work. his finish was spot on also. diarra- very interesting... looked quite at home at right back, and took the p*ss a couple of times when keeping the ball. very encouraging. he deserves to keep a spot in the side. the midfield 4 showed the advantage of having 3 attacking midfielders (as opposed to essien AND maka)- it was quite fluid and mikel and ballack are similar in their ball retention and looking to create... lampard, particularly first half was excellent. ballack, I thought, had a strong game. I think all 3 deserve to keep their places. maka was solid, and that he doesn't take more touches than necessary is really important. as a midfielder that is one aspect essien can learn from. sheva had a game compromising of good runs (and encouragingly getting more of the ball in dangerous areas) and poor touches. he should have scored a goal today, however the general play was good and I wouldn't go close to suggesting it was a bad peformance. his touch is far better and his finishing unequalled. those things shouldn't concern anyone. phillip... you should be more positive! blackburn, with pederson, emerton, bentley and mccarthy looked decent in possession, but never really threatened away from corners. tactically there was nothing there. finally, cashley's injury. it looked painful and I wish him well in his recovery. damaging knee ligaments is not fun.

not really, tevez has played a fair bit, mascherano has not. in any case, a great signing for liverpool.

he's been chasing personal acheivement, goalscoring records for a couple of years now... no real motivation to do anything else... it's been sad to see. although, of course he deserves plenty more respect than he receives. lets see what happens now... he could follow figo and do something to reverse his situation. that can apply to raul to. a club like madrid is not the place for any serious footballer. given time cap will change that... but he probably won't get that time.

diarra has looked very good, but crucially we haven't really seen him in a situation where he has to man mark a player, when he's played, we've only really seen him with the ball.

a girls name. a girl's name. a girls' name.

man united, wolves, liverpool... and... ooh... blackpool or aston villa? I'll go with blackpool...

maka is good. very, very good. when you find yourself up against it, in the nou camp, and messi, deco, xavi and ronaldinho all are looking to tear you in half, that is when you realise makelele is the best player in the premiership.