On a lighter note....

[checkpoint]

Rafa in, Rafa out. Out of our hands really BUT

I can actually see us get something to cheer about in the coming weeks.

02 Feb, 2008 Sunderland Barclays Premier League H 17:15 Y N Y -
10 Feb, 2008 Chelsea Barclays Premier League A 16:00 Y N Y -
16 Feb, 2008 Barnsley FA Cup 5th Round H 15:00 Y N Y -
19 Feb, 2008 Inter Milan Champions League Last 16 (1) H 19:45 Y N Y -
23 Feb, 2008 Middlesbrough Barclays Premier League H 15:00 Y N Y -
02 Mar, 2008 Bolton Wanderers Barclays Premier League A 13:30 Y N Y -
05 Mar, 2008 West Ham United Barclays Premier League H 20:00 Y N Y -
08 Mar, 2008 Newcastle United Barclays Premier League H 15:00 Y N Y -

Sunderland could prove to be a 'Derby experience' (ie 4-5-6 nil)

Facing Chelsea away at a time when they're not playing THAT free flowing footy could prove to be a 'turn of the season'. First team to beat them at SB in ages?

Barnsley. Next round please.

Inter. Now THAT is a challenge. But we all know what a CL night at Anfield is like. Juve sh*t their pants when they were here u know.

Boro is another team we'll beat. IF Rafa goes back to school and attends the 'Course of attacking, part one'

Bolton away, now with no SA urging them to kick the sh*t out of us, could also result in 3 points.

West Ham. Revenge time.

Barcodes. Even Kuyt could score against that defence.

NOW, this would not mean that we'd be any closer to the top spot, but it would surely mean that 2-3-4 spot would be within reach.

Any one else here on the same drugs as me?

[Craig_H]

All ifs, coulds and maybes.

Under normal circumstances, we'd win most of those games, but things arent going as they normally would right now. The way we're playing, tbere's no game i can look at and say "we'll definitely win that".

[Bari]

In out, in out shake it all about, still the scum will win the league, the blue scum will finish above us and the toffee scum will get 4th place

[Craig_H]

In out, in out shake it all about, still the scum will win the league, the blue scum will finish above us and the toffee scum will get 4th place

The 'blue scum' ARE the 'toffee scum'.

[robbielad9]

Rafa in, Rafa out. Out of our hands really BUT

I can actually see us get something to cheer about in the coming weeks.

02 Feb, 2008 Sunderland Barclays Premier League H 17:15 Y N Y -
10 Feb, 2008 Chelsea Barclays Premier League A 16:00 Y N Y -
16 Feb, 2008 Barnsley FA Cup 5th Round H 15:00 Y N Y -
19 Feb, 2008 Inter Milan Champions League Last 16 (1) H 19:45 Y N Y -
23 Feb, 2008 Middlesbrough Barclays Premier League H 15:00 Y N Y -
02 Mar, 2008 Bolton Wanderers Barclays Premier League A 13:30 Y N Y -
05 Mar, 2008 West Ham United Barclays Premier League H 20:00 Y N Y -
08 Mar, 2008 Newcastle United Barclays Premier League H 15:00 Y N Y -

Sunderland could prove to be a 'Derby experience' (ie 4-5-6 nil)

Facing Chelsea away at a time when they're not playing THAT free flowing footy could prove to be a 'turn of the season'. First team to beat them at SB in ages?

Barnsley. Next round please.

Inter. Now THAT is a challenge. But we all know what a CL night at Anfield is like. Juve sh*t their pants when they were here u know.

Boro is another team we'll beat. IF Rafa goes back to school and attends the 'Course of attacking, part one'

Bolton away, now with no SA urging them to kick the sh*t out of us, could also result in 3 points.

West Ham. Revenge time.

Barcodes. Even Kuyt could score against that defence.

NOW, this would not mean that we'd be any closer to the top spot, but it would surely mean that 2-3-4 spot would be within reach.

Any one else here on the same drugs as me?

And on that positive, feel-good post, i shall retire to my pit for the night Thankyou mate

[Bari]

All ifs, coulds and maybes.

Under normal circumstances, we'd win most of those games, but things arent going as they normally would right now. The way we're playing, tbere's no game i can look at and say "we'll definitely win that".

Its all been downhill since harry kewell came back into the team with the so called balance he offers on the width

[Bari]

The 'blue scum' ARE the 'toffee scum'.

I perfer to call chelsea the blue scum

[Craig_H]

I perfer to call chelsea the blue scum

Chelsea are insignificant nobodies and dont warrant having their own 'tag'.

[Bari]

Chelsea are insignificant nobodies and dont warrant having their own 'tag'.

Its not a tag its a statement, I hate the insignificant feckers just as much as the other 2.

[checkpoint]

All ifs, coulds and maybes.

Under normal circumstances, we'd win most of those games, but things arent going as they normally would right now. The way we're playing, tbere's no game i can look at and say "we'll definitely win that".

Well, this game IS full of ifs, coulds and maybes.

As in: wouldn't it be sad if maybe Rafa IS the one to bring #19 and he got sacked based on a slightly strange affection for Kuyt and being in need of wake up course in attacking premiership football?

Thing is, IF the season is going to turn around, these are the weeks to do it. And we can. Because anything can happen right? (tell me it can)

[Craig_H]

What evidence is there to suggest that Rafa's gonna win the title?

[Bari]

Well, this game IS full of ifs, coulds and maybes.

As in: wouldn't it be sad if maybe Rafa IS the one to bring #19 and he got sacked based on a slightly strange affection for Kuyt and being in need of wake up course in attacking premiership football?

Thing is, IF the season is going to turn around, these are the weeks to do it. And we can. Because anything can happen right? (tell me it can)

Rafa has alot of strange affections, playing Kewell and the love of NOT playing crouch to name a few.

[checkpoint]

What evidence is there to suggest that Rafa's gonna win the title?

THAT is a different cup of tea and hard to tell right now.

I was thinking more of salvaging this season and hoping to see some improvements in our troubled areas (using the right players and playing attacking football).

Maybe enough to prove that Rafa HAS got what it takes, both to manage the team to further sucess AND being backed to buy 2-3 players in the 'Torres mould'.

But that's just fortune telling isn't it......

[Craig_H]

There's no solid evidence to suggest he'd ever win the title...

As for this season, i'd like him to stay but i fear that we're not going to get into the CL next season.

[checkpoint]

Rafa has alot of strange affections, playing Kewell and the love of NOT playing crouch to name a few.

Another strange one I think is Aurelio replacing Riise. Has Aurelio THAT much more to offer at this time?

Not as strange as Kewell/Kuyt, but nevertheless, Aurelio's just back from injury and is clearly not match fit yet. Seems 'safer' to use Riise IMO.