Frederick

Throwing away a two goal lead under any circumstances is always regrettable, especially against a team you haven't beaten at home since 1995, but on paper it was panthers against kittens and we did well to not only compete, but to dominate so much of the game. Albrighton has been largely outstanding this year and I think once he irons out the silly, often costly fouls he will get his England call up. Last year Downing seemed a loose fit, an indulgence we could ill afford; now he's at the centre of all our good play.

This weekend marks a great victory for all of mankind and hopefully these deeply moving events will now lead to a fresh set of legitimate elections in Burma. Wait, what are we talking about again? Brucey played two up front and I'm loving it. Hunger, passion, drive, penetration: all displayed in abundance. Meanwhile Chelsea were almost geriatric in movement, so limp and lacking in ideas. Clearly Ancelotti hasn't a clue what to do without Ray Wilkins.

bobd418, this thread is clearly meant for people of a whimsical disposition, so I suggest that if you can't stand the heat, you better get out of the kitchen! I personally want to see all of the films listed and would be delighted to accept Baby's invitation.

Clattenburg got on my bad side after the now all but forgotten Thierry Henry Villa Park incident of five or six or seven years ago, in which Calamity Clatters generously asked the lightly moustached Frenchman whether he'd like to take to a free-kick just outside the Villa box "quick or slow", having decided that his whistle was just a silly old waste of time. Unsurprisingly the former Renault spokesman elected to take it quickly and hit the ball into an undefended goal, much to the bemusement of everyone else on the planet. The goal stood and life was never quite the same again. Anyhoo, back-to-back defeats for City! And what's this, Barry caught drinking in Scotland? Happy New Year!

Derby day? More like direby day! First, Villa. What turgid football we play. Basically our tactics consists of hopelessly lumping the ball up to man mountain Heskey, who's then presumably supposed to chest down the ball, scrape past four defenders and score. A likely story, I'm sure you'll agree! Meanwhile, someone put a leash on Reo-Coker! I can't bear seeing him tear away as our sole central midfield option any longer. Seriously, say Heskey holds up the ball...then what? Is Nigel or Sidwell going to come bounding in to finish the move? There's more chance of Fats Domino scoring a goal for us than those two! Michael: I don't know what you're specifically referring to regarding Phil Dowd, though your sentiments certainly ring a bell. Heck, Mark "Clattertrap" Clattenburg's need to consult his assistant (who reminded me of a drunk man who'd just stolen a golf flag) and, for no credible reason, Rio Ferdinand, speaks volumes of the weak willed shenanigans referees seem to now regularly commit. And quite frankly, during these incidents referees always look like they've just been caught wanking. Forgive my crudeness but please, hear me out now. First there's the profuse sweating, then the furious shake of the head, then the useless denial that it ever happened and lastly, the haunting but forever internalised sense of shame. But can we ever have a laugh about it later? Certainly not; for being a referee is deadly, morosely, thoroughly serious business. Sure sure sure, don't get me wrong, it is a tough gig but the trouble with refs is they want to skip straight past accountability to martyrdom in one sweeping movement. Its why they become such tedious, utterly earnest self-promoting media duds when they retire.

Albrighton should have absolutely started and I just hope this doesn't start a precedent whereby Hou cherry picks what games he should and shouldn't play because 1) we're already light on numbers 2) he's too good for that and 3) Ireland's been pretty much useless since he arrived. 4-4-1-1 when Gabby gets back. Its the only way.

I'm interested in Michael's take on the game yesterday (you know, the game). Normally I'm honest enough to rip into our boys when we deserve a beating but I genuinely thought we were worth a point. Why we're playing Dunne when our best central defensive pairing is so obviously Cuellar & Collins truly begs belief, though I'm sure a man of Hou's intelligence will come around to my way of thinking soon enough. There's no doubting that Dunney had a great season last year, much to my surprise, but he's just not cutting it so far this campaign. Good to see City get thoroughly spanked today, particularly enjoyable to me was observing David Platt and Brian Kidd's studious demeanour on the bench. Surely, surely no one actually believes that they are the real coaches of this team! I mean really, they were so obviously hired solely for a shot of "traditional flavour". Anyway, even with his ever expanding waistline and balding middle-age, the 2010 Platty surely couldn't have done any worse on the pitch than a certain other slow, portly England midfielder with prior playing time at Aston Villa.

U-turn? More like a Roo-turn! I'm particularly delighted for the fans, for Malcolm and his sons, for David 'Gilly' Gill, for Nani, for Giggsy and of course, for Owen Hargreaves. Now, where's every broadsheet hack who tried to convince this was anything other than a bargaining ploy? I bet Ferguson was pulling a Joaquin Phoenix in his highly confessional press conference, now that I think about it!

With QT

Hey come on Michael, its not like we have to play qualifiers against countries with the vast talent pool of Montenegro every time! There are still easy wins against genuine minnows like Wales in the offing! Anyway, what a week! Roy Hodgsen really is becoming more and more like Ellen Burstyn in Requiem for a Dream.

Yes.

Balotelli's curiosity about the state of women's prisons really tingles the senses! In fact should I ever run into the gladiatorial City sharpshooter down at the newsagents or city library or what have you, I'll be sure to recommend him the Prisoner Cell Block H DVD boxset, which I think he'd thoroughly enjoy. These hijinx reminds me of a few years ago when Glen Johnson sat down and watched Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, which he enjoyed so much that it inspired him to start stealing toilet seats on behalf of the poor. Noble intention, kid, but maybe stick to the football, eh?* *although on recent form, maybe he shouldn't!

Afraid not, dear.

Dazed and Confused?

Melinda and Melinda?

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Love Rose's use of the phrase "bizarrely earnest". And the pictures are terrific, too.

Re: Liverpool/Sunderland - What a terrible refereeing performance, one of those real cowardly, snivelling weak willed ones. And Gerrard's elbow, how typical. But its okay Alan Hansen (ex-Liverpool) said it wasn't a red card because he only "led" with his elbow, which is of course utter nonsense. Bruce was absolutely right, if it had been Lee Cattermole it wouldn't have been seen as contentious at all and he'd have gone. Will the Pool still get Big Four advantages when they finish 9th though?