Scally Bob

They are going to stay up so next year if it's a morning kick off I'll organise a brekky at my local. If it's a "normal" or late KO then I'll sort the best boozers. No name on the list you can't get in routine. Quote me on this.

That's my opinion. For a striker of his reputation, not based on "potential" (which far outweighs Cisse's) it's as bad. Had Nando crossed it Robbie would have side-footed it in.

What was great about the move though was Robbie's contribution. The ball took a wicked bobble just before he crossed it yet the cross was perfect. If Morientes was stretching he shouldn't have been. That might have been our one chance in a game and for me was as bad as Cisse's miss at Old Toilet.

He did.

They do, yes. Normally they play "Out on the Floor" by Dobie Gray at half time or "Sliced Tomatoes" by the Just Brothers (that's the original tune that was sampled for "Funk Soul Brother"). Yesterday it was Al Wilsdon's "The Snake" and "Two Can Have a Party" by Gaye & Weston during the hit the bar competition. Dobie Gray was on at full time. Personally I can't stand the Al Wilson number. To be a real Soulie you have to be this anal about it. Anyway it's better than "I Feel Good" at the Reebok.

Was that when Abramovich ran onto the pitch offering him a hill of beans for his rights to all the minerals, oil and trees in Siberia?

The pitch was only recently relaid-if you looked behind the goals you could see the join. Apparently it cost them £100,000: I think they were done. It was awful today, we couldn't get the ball knocked about. And it's a big pitch-we should have passed them out of it. I was told that the rugby doesn't harm the pitch as much as the football but surely the problem is that the pitch is in use 12 months a year. They can't re-lay it properly or seed it in the summer. Also, although there were football piches around there before the stadium was built there were also loads of scrapyards and they reckon the ground under the pitch isn't very good.

I was playing 5-a-side there the night Everton played. The brain-dead security staff were carrying on as if Al Quieda were coming to town. You know the small-town nervousness you get in Cup aways? That sort of thing.

Plastic glasses, won't let away fans in and awful fizz ale. Bad idea.

How can you express an opinion that Rafa isn't if you don't know who is? I'll make it easy for you: who is better than Rafa?

I worked out that was your opinion from your earleir comment. As you have an opinion, who do you think is the best manager in the world? This bloke maybe?

Eiler, do not pass go, do not collect £5. 1. He's not a manager now 2. He never was

Go on then, who has? I could do with a laugh.

It's not Arsenal next, it's Wigan. Get some perspective. In Rafa we trust. Not sure about Morientes though.

I forgot to mention that Pauline who runs the Cherry Gardens, is the sister of the landlady of the Albert and a big Reds fan. Pooles Pies went downhill when Whelan bought them out and started using cheaper ingredients.

You can park in the streets near where Springfield Park used to be and it's a short walk (over the canal bridge) to the ground. You can also park near the Orwell and walk along the canal. Don't go on the big car parks near the JJB Soccerdome because it's a nightmare getting out. When I come home from night matches at Anfield they are still queueing to get off them! Two places to try and avoid are Scot Lane-that's the road at the side of the JJB Stadium-because it can't cope with the traffic and the big roundabout near Asda because it looks like Stevie Wonder designed it. Have you been? If you know where to go it's fine.

Note to self-read the original post. Now I get it.

I live in Wigan so know every boozer in town. The Red Robin is a Wacky Warehouse and is absolute garbage. If coming by train from Lime Street turn left/from Kirkby turn right down Wallgate until you come to the Wigan Pier complex and there's a pub there called the Orwell. Proper beer, not just the usual fizz. If coming from the M58/M6 through Standish as you get to a mini roundabout there's a big pub on the left called the Cherry Gardens. My local, nice place. If you come in Haydock way there's nothing around there, you'll need to get into town. If you're in town the centre is a bit wild west and the locals think it's still 1973 so I'd swerve the kiddies pubs around there. If you walk down where Debenhams is and keep going in that direction you will see a tapas bar on the left (just across the dual carriageway) and just past there on the right is the Royal Oak. Excellent proper beer. Or you could go down to where the bus station is and there's the Anvil. Proper beer. Or if you find the Technical College (just at the back of the market) you can follow Frog Lane to the Pear Tree. If you get lost ask anyone where the Deanery (it's a school) is and the Pear Tree is opposite. The Pear Tree has great proper beer and you can walk to the ground from there. If you want even more local to the ground you could try the Springfield which is where their old ground used to be. Don't park on the Asda or Robin Park Shopping car parks, they'll clamp you. If you want a pie, go to Waterfields or Greenalgh's. Pooles are rubbish now.

What's the panic? All STH's will get one. There'll be a big queue at the start of the day and by 11 o'clock you'll get served in half an hour. Have a lie in.

It has to be that maggot Bowyer.

Is it April 1st already? Anelka wants another move. He's been here before and did well but we only have his version of events. English clubs pay the best wages and he probably sees us as the best option to get Champions' League football next season because the other contenders won't take him or don't need him. He doesn't want to burn his bridges with us but it would never last. I can't see Rafa fancying it. Anyway that banging noise a couple of days ago-was that the transfer window closing?

You are Jose Maurinho and I claim my £5. I got a copy of the Echo and that said it was in.

Quiet news day is it then? I'm only surprised they didn't print it on the Saturday before we played the Munsters.

Barton? No, I don't think so. Modern-day Davey Thompson.

OK hands up about Henchoz and De Zeeuw they are CB's and Henchoz is struggling a bit. What I meant was that defenders-in any position-who are aware of space around them and read the game can get away with having no pace. I just don't think Johnny Boy is a "natural" left back. Ashley Cole might catch wingers he's given a start to but generally he doesn't get himself into that mess. Look at Rob Jones: he was quick, yes, but his positioning meant he rarely had to catch people up. And you can't say he learned to do it, he couldn't even be taught to tie his shoelaces! It's the nack of being in the right place at the right time and it's only my opinion but I don't think Riise has that. Consequently he gets caught out and you don't want your full backs doing that too often. Finnan doesn't do it. Like I said, hopefully the new contract will allow him to focus fully on improving his game and if Rafa thinks he's good enough, then he is.