Backbiter

Exactly. We've hardly lost a game for the past two and a half seasons, and even though we are playing sh*te at present we're still unbeaten in the last 12. So there's still some good to go with the bad. Totally agree about our garbage football of late. The fact is, we have yet to hit any sort of form since we smashed Manure to win the title. Brilliant displays against Barca do not constitute form. Over the season we've just not discovered any real pattern, style or rhythm, and the new signings - Ballack, Sheva, Cole, Kalou, Boula and Mikel - have not hit the standards we should expect from them. As Tim says, we've lost any attacking fluency we once had (and we've not exactly been famous for that under JM), at the same time as our phenomenal defence has deteriorated out of all recognition. Drogs and Essien have been brilliant, JT, Lamps, RC and Maka not far below their true level, but everyone else is way off the standards we need to sustain our place at the top of the pile.

Amused by this weird game, with Liverpool being tonked at home (2-5 at the mo), but can't get over the Sky commentary. It's like Liverpool are the English team being beaten by a foreign side - Tyler and Gray seem bewildered and can't show any enthusiasm for the Arsenal goals, as if they are heartbroken for their beloved Scousers. I know Gray is hardly a reds fan, but they do seem pretty depressed by the scoreline. Stephens' volley was a stunner, I have to admit.

That's good news. Glad the FA have been sensible. I've got no problem with the FA clamping down on back chat and players mouthing off to the press about refs - even when it's Poll they're slagging off.

OK, I'll confess, I've never actually heard the original, but love the Animal House version, which is miles better than the Lulu one. Can I ask, who's the 'we' in the above sentence?

I like that one. I also like: It's All Over Now Baby Blue - Them (Dylan) Chimes of Freedom - Springsteen (Dylan) Rosalie - Thin Lizzy (Bob Seger) Blind Love - Bob Seger (Tom Waits) New Coat of Paint - Southside Johnny (Waits) Well Alright - Santana (Buddy Holly) First We Take Manhattan - REM (Leonard Cohen) Shout - Otis day and the Nights from 'Animal house' (Isley Bros) Eight Miles High - H?sker D? (Byrds) My Back Pages - Tom Petty, Neil Young, George Harrison,Clapton, McGuinn (Dylan) The Bowie cover of 'Amsterdam' isn't a patch on the original. Nor is Rod Stewart's of 'Twistin the Night Away'

I remember us starting our defence of our first ever FAC at home to Man C. We got stuffed 3-0. Classic picture, Gem!

Jilted John was a good laugh. The bloke who made that was John Shuttleworth who's still around today doing TV and radio stuff. Merry Christmas everyone. I'm off abroad on Christmas morning - hope I return to find us sitting pretty.

What's up with the smilies and the number eight? Happened to me the other day.

As I'm sure Butch is bursting to point out, those 3 points at the Cottage have further boosted our standing relative to last season.