Tonto

Holt and his newspaper are continuing to peddle the lie that Suarez used the English word 'negro'. It's Pravda style reporting.

A few times last night he was standing, heavily marked, at the back post when a cross came in. It makes it harder to pick him out and means the cross is more likely to be floated in and therefore easier to defend. If he's up there on his own I think it makes more sense to attack the near post. There was a fantastic ball put in by Stevie (one of those ridiculous crosses from about 40 yards out that somehow take on the trajectory of an outswinger hit from the goal line) and Carroll was at the back post, behind three City defenders. If someone had attacked the near post it was a clear cut chance on goal. Maybe Carroll is doing the right thing in staying at the back post and the problem is that there's supposed to be a midfield runner going to the near post but no one's making the run. If he's there on his own though then I'd prefer to see him take up a different position where he'd have more chance of getting on the end of crosses.

I think it's the natural result of the (manufactured) outrage culture in the modern media. "We" are outraged therefore "we" demand an apology - where "we" is an undefined and undefinable majority who are all equally outraged by the same things. There's a hint of it in the transcript from Kenny's presser yesterday in how the journalist alludes to speaking on behalf of the "wider public".

Think it's fairly clear he's referring to Comolli's disastrous intervention with Marriner after the match. If he is, he's right. That's the point at which this started unravelling for us.

He starting playing for them again towards the end of last year: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/15661001.stm

Togo aren't in the ACN.

No, Suarez said he didn't report it or mention it in his statement, not that he didn't hear it. It in this case allegedly being sudaca. If Evra used this word, and if Suarez responded in kind i.e. in Spanish and using idiomatic language that refers to one's race or ethnicity, then it's clearly a very different context to Suarez sidling up to Evra giving him an unprovoked sledging. Anyway, this is all a mess until the FA clarify by explaining whether Suarez has been found guilty of the initial charge (the 10 times that no one heard - very likely meaning that they took Evra's word over Suarez's despite there being no corroboration) or whether they seized upon Suarez's one-time negro/negrita admission and punished him for that.

If the crux of the argument boils down to the cultural context in which certain words are used, with Evra's side saying Suarez has been in northern Europe long enough to know better and Suarez's side arguing the words were intended with their South American meaning, then a suspended ban might be seen by the panel as an acceptable compromise. Suarez would be technically 'guilty', is given the benefit of the doubt for now, but knows that he cannot use those words again without facing a serious ban.

Did I miss something or did Defoe do nothing wrong for that yellow?

Wow....and Kompany is probably their most reliable defender.

This is the thing. 3 consecutive clean sheets and yet we're committing men forward in greater numbers than we've seen in a long time. Clean sheets don't have to come at the cost of attacking football.

This is the equivalent of waving the imaginary card by Moyes isn't it? http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/feb/01/cesc-fabregas-david-moyes So, what does he have to gain from this other than potentially to hurt Arsenal and help Ferguson?

bensmith_Times Ben Smith Times backpage by @TonyBarrettimes: #LFC prepare moves for A Young/C Adam as Torres nears exit ($) http://thetim.es/f8ptzI

There are hotels within the terminal buildings at Schiphol that have business suites - very common way for meetings to take place.

He's moved from Rennes to something called Lennes to Lens in the space of two posts

Have to come up with a better way of dealing with Feillaini on set pieces.

A certain Sami Hyypia too.

Seriously? Did he care to explain that? I'm watching on ESPN and they were outraged at the decision in fairness to them.

Are they going to hand back a couple of points?

It's not like much time elapsed between the handball and Nani shooting though. I think the blame ultimately lies with Gomes - you play to the whistle, end of story. But, the ref should have clearly indicated he was playing advantage (I'm pretty sure he didn't from memory, but could be wrong) especially important given that the linesman had flagged. Also, the laws of the game state the referee should: allow(s) play to continue when the team against which an offence has been committed will benefi t from such an advantage and penalises the original offence if the anticipated advantage does not ensue at that time I think the bit in bold clearly applies in this case. Of course, Ferdinand should have been booked as well, but it's hardly surprising he wasn't, in the current climate and all..........

Do you think Roy might maybe look at how Everton press us right up to the edge of our penalty area and win possession back in dangerous areas, and might think that it's quite a good idea?

Has anyone got a Sopcast channel with English commentary? Edit: found one - 82153

We are playing like we have zero confidence.

3e

Is that a 4-4-2 with Babel and N'gog up front or some variation on 4-5-1 with Cole in the Gerrard role behind N'gog and Babel wide left?