wacko

Alves + Aurelio would give us two great wing-backs and make 3-5-2 a very viable formation. There'd be room for Gerrard, Alonso and Sissoko in the middle.

Maybe, but I can see him looking for a new job at the end of the season if he doesn't win the CL, whether it's his decision or not. Mourihno has consistently signed players who fit his system and improve it. There were no places in that system for Ballack and Shevchenko, and why would he change a system that has been a runaway success? Those two signings reek of boardroom interference. I'm sure that doesn't sit too well with a character like Mourinho, and I'm sure his style of football doesn't sit too well with Abramovich: he wants his toy to amuse him more. Maybe Mourinho can make the transition to more attacking football successfully, or maybe he can't, like our own Ged. At any rate, though Chelsea has gained in firepower up front and creativity in midfield, I think they've lost more in pace and width, and the manager is trying to find his feet in a new formation. Without brilliant wing-backs, I can't help but think Chelsea are weaker for the changes, and the idea of marauding defenders really goes against his philosophy. As for his moan, how can anyone think he actually believes that himself? It's just for the sake of the press (and to give us lot something to fuel our Chelsea obsession).

If the ref doesn't see an incident, the FA can get involved. If he does, and acts or mentions it in his report, they can't.

Bayern are in every way the Man Utd of Germany. Their fans live miles from Munich (the locals support 1860), they are twice as rich as everyone else, and they take any player they want from other German clubs. And, as you say, everyone else hates them. They also have a World Cup legend of yore on the board and a complete and utter g******* with a bright red head for a manager.

Hardly a fair comparison. Dortmund budgeted for permanent CL qualification and permanent success in said competition. They sold everything, even the rights to the club's name. They pawned everything they had on the expectation/gamble of becoming a permanent member of Europe's elite on the back of Hitzfeld "doing a Rafa" (or did Rafa do a Hitzfeld?) and winning the CL with a team that had no reasonable expectation of getting that far in '97 (Dortmund might have the highest attendances in Europe, but the tickets cost peanuts relative to the PL and their stadium is owned by the town, not the club). Dortmund did exactly the same as Leeds, expecting to reach the late stages of the CL every season and the top end of the league. Their financial forecasts were based on tens of millions of expected earnings, not the 10 or so million extra group qualification means. 12m quid is a tiny wager in comparison, assuming Parry isn't trying to make us look poor. This could never bring the clubs to its knees--the sale of Gerrard alone would put us back in the black--and anyone who's been paying attention knows our management would never take such a risk. We splashed the guaranteed CL money on Alonso 2 years ago; I suspect we might do the same this year (though, obviously not on Alonso).

If you like football and support the team he manages...

I'd love to see a 3-5-2, but I don't think that will happen so often after we missed out on Alves

Aye, agree with that. I think Mourinho is philosophically very close to Houllier: it's only their wingers that add more flair to the team.

Diouf I did not like. Heskey and Smicer frustrated the hell out of me. Smicer I have since taken to my bosom, obviously.

This content is not viewable to guests.

This content is not viewable to guests.

This content is not viewable to guests.

This content is not viewable to guests.

Are you my ex girlfriend?

I would've said Placcy, just to see him cry, but he's gone. Hmmm. No point saying Rooney, because I could punch him as hard as I could and I don't think he'd feel it, so I'll take my free dig at Rupert Murdoch. The slag.

Adolf Hitler.

No-one ever seems to show much interest in the poor lad. It's all Stevie this, Stevie that. No-one ever shows any interest in me either, but I'm boring. Wish I had some holidays

Did you have a good time?

I'd take either. I'm not fussy.

On the NUFC forums the figure being bandied about is 10 million in the kitty. They're skint because they let Souness spend 50m They are going to be in real deep do-dos if they don't get a striker or two in. Outside bet for relegation?

This content is not viewable to guests.

This content is not viewable to guests.

I went to the Fan Fests a couple of times in Gelsenkirchen and Cologne. Stayed in Essen for most of the games. There were some great parties after the German wins. The police had to close off the street here because of 20k Germans partying like mad. It's been a great party. Shame we left so early Also, someone broke the second England flag off my bike on Saturday, the a***.

Did you hear? They're playing our song!

If you consider his dodgy penalty call compensated for by the one he didn't give. He's missed a few, but otherwise he's done well.