Taking Sides: Liverpool vs Everton

I think Spurs will finish above Boro.

Meanwhile, Norwich might even stay up.

Scouse Cult Leader (and Everton fan) Simon From Brookside
http://pictures.footymad.net/upload/104%5C202040-t.jpg

Big Dunc's got six this season if you include the Carling Cup and the scrambled winner vs Norwich in February which some sources credited to a confused Canary. Bless 'im (though he's still the biggest strain on our wage budget/always likeliest to be sent off/injury-prone/etc/etc). I groan whenever he's introduced (cos it always smacks of desperation) but it generally works. He's started the last two and has been magnificent (27 of his 32 appearances have been as sub). Cahill's got ten goals. Arteta strikes a better dead ball than Gravesen and is his equal in most other departments (save for hairstyle), so we have to make that move permanent. That such a makeshift defence kept out Wayne, Chrissie & co is extraordinary.

If Ferguson (D) keeps playing like this, maybe you won't have to buy Robbie Keane from an uncaring Jol for £500,000?

I am currently listening to an early demo of Lush's "Sunbathing" on Resonance FM! If only you were here. Or there.

The Nun's hopes of Benedictine intervention were well and truly dashed. His mum will have to light more candles.

Do we know yet what the 'Scottish banter' between Moyesey and Fergie consisted of?

Neville missed his target. He would be no good on a coconut shy.

I am currently listening to an early demo of Lush's "Sunbathing" on Resonance FM! If only you were here. Or there.

Are you, be Gad? Do you want a couple of Cookie96 mp3s?

I did say early doors this season, when all the Rooney fuss was happening, that I wanted Everton to do well. It's not an anti-Liverpool or anti- Man U thing, I've always liked Everton a bit. They're kind of *70's* in my mind, it feels like the likes of Roger Kenyon and Alan Whittle might still pop up again. Or at least *early 80's* - standing on the Shed with my best mate Andy watching Graeme Sharp batter Colin Pates into submission seems like yesterday. I never minded too much losing to you lot. I like the Z-Cars thing too. At least they still play 'The Liquidator' at the Bridge, the day they get rid of that I'll burn down the Chelsea Village Hotel.

(They're playing "Deluxe" now! PJM: Oui!)

If Bolton can't overhaul both, I don't know who I would prefer to get it. I guess maybe JtN and Cabbage outnumber Mike, so I might be more pleased to see the two happy. (I have a feeling I am forgetting someone who supports one of the two teams.)

(i think it was the only one that's coming true, though :( i expected norwich to fare better although they're not totally out just yet)

This is a thread derailment. I will stop talking about it now.

The Norwich goal was indeed tree-mendous. And their winner, in a very unreal sense, even more so.

It looked like Fergie said something about "...load o' fuckin' shite..." and Moyes said something like "Fuck off ya prick", but I'm no lip reader so I couldn't be certain. Ooh the Glasgae banter.

On the subject of Arteta: no doubt he's a skilled player, good control, can pick a pass, might score the odd free kick - but in his time in Glasgow he showed he could be bullied and kicked out of games. That said he seemed to put himself about a bit last night so maybe he's toughened up a bit.

I'd rather Everton or Bolton got 4th spot as that would be a significant achievement. For Liverpool it's where they should finish in a poor season, given the money they've spent.

But think of the injuries!

Actually, Neville's head as a target in a coconut shy is a very pleasing idea.

I note the BBC has 5th and 6th going into the UEFA. Who are the third team going into the UEFA Cup? I believe you don't get a place for losing League Cup finalist, and the two FA Cup finalists are both heading for the CL. Isn't 7th worth a place this year?

7th = UEFA Cup this season, yes. Which is why Spurs' defeat at Arsenal meant Everton were guaranteed some flavour of Euro footy in 05-06.

I think all this tittle-tattle in the papers about the FA asking for a 5th CL place is nonsense and makes us Blues look like a bunch of whining jessies. OF COURSE, the holders should defend their trophy. Good luck to 'em. I don't give a stuff about the CL anyway*, I just want to finish above the Redshite. 4-0 home win tonight would be nice though.

(* - OK, maybe I do)

I'm not known for my good fortune.

Asking for 5 English places is not only unfair but premature and why would any real self-respecting supporter want their club to get into a competition by any other means than the earning it the regular way?

So Man U's victory over Bayern gave England 4 places. How many places do Spain and Italy have?

two each from Spain, England, Italy, Germany, France, Portugal
one each from Greece, Holland, Czech Rep
the previous year's champions

So, WTF?

(Incidentally, top three in table get seven Euro places [4 CL, 3 UEFA], next three get six [3 CL, 3 UEFA], next two also get six [2 CL, 4 UEFA] and then it rather arbitrarily drops to four, split evenly between comps [9th thru 15th] or just with one CL place [16th thru 21st]...)

(* - it's here: http://www.geocities.com/jfaugeras/UC200304.html
Sorry, brain is fried today, can't do blue writing).

M White: ManYoo's win probably indirectly gave England its fourth spot because it pushed Eng up the coeff table.

If the defending cup holder already qualified directly for the group stage of the Champions League, the champion of the 10th country on the country ranking list will gain direct access to the group stage, the champion of the 16th country on the country ranking list will gain direct access to the 3rd qualifying round, and the champions of the 26th and 27th country on the country ranking list will gain direct access to the 2nd qualifying round. Similar changes are made if the cup holder already qualified directly for one of the qualification rounds, or if the cup holder did not qualify directly but is from one of the top three ranked countries.

It's kinda interestin' cos it means L'pool and Chelsea would make it into the group stage directly and Arsenal & ManYoo's battle for 2nd spot in the Premiership would be meaningless - they'd both go into r3 of the qualies.

A decent performance, I'm sure Chelsea fans will be here soon, beingquite cocky saying things like "oh yes, we'll do them away, no problem" all with that authority that a decent bit of success after years in the doldrums gives, we've been hearing it all season.

Saves made by Dudek - 0

made by Cech - 2 (including one of the best I've seen in a long time)

all the posession in the world doesn't necessarily give you a goal.

Jamie Carragher = Colossus

upstairs or downstairs?

ahem, back to footie everyone.....