Gribz

Was close to having a flutter on Draw with Czech v England, I fancied the hosts to get something, even better they won. When England come up against a decent side they arent good at all. If you had a flutter on the draw between England and France in the rugby before the cancellation - would the bookies have paid out?

Going by that list, when everyone was at their peak what is the best line up (Gerrard not allowed as didnt play for Rangers). Wattereus Hutton Gough Cuellar Papac Steven Mendes Albertz Novo Mols Lovenkrands

Rangers squad managed by Alex McLeish and Ian Durrant. Ronald Wattereus Richard Gough (C) Jonatan Johansson Peter Lovenkrands Jorg Albertz Kris Boyd Michael Mols Nacho Novo Carlos Cuellar Lee McCulloch Sasa Papac Clint Hill Alan Hutton Marvin Andrews Gregory Vignal Pedro Mendes Trevor Steven Alex Rae Steven Gerrard Thomas Buffel Charlie Adam

I think we can give the Russians that one after the Rugby match the other day (so long as the typhoon doesnt spoil Sunday). Im still struggling to see where the mass hype of Clarke came from. He has always been a good No.2 or No.3 coach - which may well be a good and respected thing at times but the frenzy behind him for the Scotland job was over the top. It seems his good run with Kilmarnock was down to organisation but any of the other 10 SPL sides could do what they did last season with a bit of that as there is nothing between them most of the time. Yet he does have the worst set of goalkeepers and defenders in the history of the national side. But being behind Cyprus and Kazakhstan is something I thought Id never see.

Not exactly a nice topic to randomly think about!

And then there were 6.... When Aston Villa got relegated a couple of seasons ago it meant there were 6 clubs left who have competed in all the Premier League seasons. Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton, Liverpool, Man Utd and Tottenham. Over the seasons some big clubs have gone like Newcastle, West Ham, Leeds and Villa. Even Man City were in the 3rd tier in 1999. But could there be an even bigger surprise and any of the remaining 6 ever being relegated in the near future. Its something Sam Allardyce commented on yesterday about Man Utd. Arsenal - Not a chance. They are too well run behind the scenes and can bully mid to lower team levels at home. Their away form was relegation form in the last 15 months but I dont see Arsenal ever crashing in the near future. Chelsea - If Chelsea were to ever drop it would be down to finances with Roman leaving and the club being like Leeds with way too much debt. On the park they will always have enough quality to not be in danger. Finishing 11th a few years ago is as bad as it will get for Chelsea. If Roman did sell they would have buyers queing up. Everton - The Toffees dabbled with relegation fears in the late 90s early 00s before Moyes came in. They made an escape finishing 4th bottom one season. At the moment they occupy a relegation spot after 8 games. This international break is typically where the league shows a true reflection of the team. Everton have chopped and changed manager too often as the fans dont know what they want - An all out attacking manage like Martinez or a Not lose manage like Allardyce. For me they had the best in Koeman who just had a poor run and paid for it. Now Marco Silva has all the pressure on him. Liverpool - Simply not a hope unfortunately! They are bordering going on to be the next dominate force. Man Utd - Id say they are possibly behind Everton on being so poorly on the pitch despite being higher up. They are spiraling down every year and despite spending so much money their squad is getting weaker and weaker. Its the fact they are the machine that is Man Utd that could be carrying them at the moment but teams are sussing them out big time. For me they have the wrong manager. OGS lifted the side for a few games but he took Cardiff down and only performed in Norway with Molde - that cant be the basis of a long term Man Utd manager - its just what Brighton are doing in taking someone like Potter who earned his trade in Scandinavia. No disrepect to them but that level isnt near the top 4 leagues in Europe. The board at Man Utd have got to be reviewing this. I cant see them going down, it would be bigger than Leicester winning the league but they have no chance of top 4 or 6 at the moment. Tottenham - Like Chelsea I think if Spurs fell away it would be financially after paying for a Billion pound stadium. Not only that they cant be letting over 100 million worth of players walk away for free. Vertongan, Alderweirald and Eriksen are all out of contract and could pre-sign for a club in January. There manager seems to have lost the dressing room and might be working his ticket out. His comments since April have been bizarre and it could have came from dropping Lucas Moura from the CL final who blasted them into that match. But to publicly say his squad isnt together is wrong. I dont see them ever going down in the near future though, Levy would easily pick up a good manager if Mo Po leaves.

Best ever British player Ive seen but looks terrible. He looks about 70 not 50.

Great response after the Celtic defeat, a huge morale buster. I fancied Livi to get a draw but a win was a boost. Can you believe there is scum everywhere, when I cheered Livi second goal in the bar a celtic fan from yorkshire threw a beer mat at me! Obviously that was last thing he done that day messing with a finely tuned machine like me lol and he paid for my next few drinks.

Scott wins this week, a cyber pint and a swift nip on the side for you! Gribz 6 Scott 18 Compo 16 Cant beat international week eh!

Horror show from my Sat games! I should have dropped Spurs, they just arent at the races at all. Despite the injury to Lloris they were always second best. Its a bad one for the keeper but I think he should have just put the ball over the bar rather than the catch, but he will be out for months. So severe pressure on Mo Po. Everton also losing again, Silva another one under pressure. Its international week next weekend and its a time when clubs can make a manager change. But Everton have themselves to blame, chopping and changing good managers all the time. Typical Hammers are back - a home defeat to a team they should be beating.

IMO it could come down to partnerships. Playing two centre halves means they need such a good understanding of each other. I dont think we have had the time to 'trial' which two would eventually be the best two together despite having a lot of pre season friendlies as Edmundson and Helander came in late. Our only chance is league cup and u-23 games but it would also be a risk in the event of any injury. So for me SG starts Goldson as experience every time and is rotating Katic and Helander. The latter may also need time to settle and adapt. FWIW Katic starts first every time for me. A back 3 doesnt seem to enter SG philosophy but with Tav out of form at the moment it could have been an option.

Will be a tough ask to do as well as last week. Saturday: Brighton 0-1 Tottenham Burnley 1-1 Everton Liverpool 2-0 Leicester Norwich 2-1 Aston Villa Watford 1-0 Sheff Utd West Ham 2-0 Crystal Palace Sunday: Arsenal 2-0 Bournemouth Man City 3-0 Wolves Southampton 2-1 Chelsea Newcastle 0-0 Man Utd

An absolute thumping. It might be the result Spurs need to fix their issues. Its been obvious there is something ongoing behind the scenes and a few leads being thrown away against Arsenal, Leicester and Olympiakos has kept it quiet but in the space of a week they have lost to Colchester and thumped by Bayern. With the cost of that stadium they cant be allowing over 100m of assets walk away for free. Vertonghen, Alderweirald and Eriksen all out of contract at the end of the season. Danny Rose was told he could leave yet is still there.

I should have got a clean sweep, I only went with Villa after changing my mind. I did have a flutter on with some of the sides but Blackburn got beat by Luton at home ruining the accumulator.

Compo, Scott, I'll do a weekly tally between us. Just a bit of fun and not going to back date it from previous weeks. (of course if anyone else joins in I'll tally that up also) 3 points for a correct result. 1 bonus point for a correct score. This weekend prior to the game tonight. Compo 20 Scott 15 Gribz 28 Didnt start this just because I had a good score Updated after monday night match.

How long will Steve Bruce last? Big game tonight but its the fallen giants. Im edging towards a home win for Man Utd simply because Arsenal mentally havent shown up for years away from home against a big team.

Yup agree but you are probably right that stature comes into play with his decision making. As for Juve - I think they are the Spurs of Europe, always the bridesmaid and I dont think Ronaldo will assist in that. Actually still think the Real Ronaldo is up there with the best. Id have Maradona, Messi, Ronaldo, Ronaldo and Zidane as my top 5. As for Gerrard, he still ruined my FA Cup in 2006, West Ham on the verge of winning it until his strike. Bloody Scoursers

I think thats harsh, Ronaldo will go down as one of the best players ever off his own back. People may not like him but he is a real superstar. He has possibly had two careers, one as a winger and one as a striker. As for Gerrard, he makes my all time premier XI although De Bruyne, Silva, Aguero and Hazard are getting close to making a better side. Schmiechel Campbell Adams Terry Ronaldo Gerrard Keane Vieira Giggs Henry Bergkamp

Top 6 yes. There has been flashes of goodness but also stages where they looked poor. Wolves should have been them on the first day, they didnt show up at Old trafford and had Spurs goal been allowed to go 2-0 up then they were buried. So they are getting a bit of the rub of the green. Their depth isnt big, they rely on their first XI. Its a magic fixture for them this weekend, Newcastle at home. I just see Newcastle as too easy at the moment. Bruce wont last.

I see what you are saying but I dont think he could have done half the job Gerrard done tactically and get as close to Celtic as we are. The player pulling power is one thing - Gerrard has raised the bar on that - but tactically and on the park I dont think mcInnes would have done anything promising as far as getting titles goes.

7 out of 8 correct is a highest for a long time for me. Wolves off the mark. Hammers 3rd in the league. Man Utd 11th. Unlucky Sheff Utd though. Somebody will hit Liverpool soon.

Double Post

Didnt we half dodge a bullet with not getting McInnes as a manager! And that ship will have sailed permanently.

Defoe just ruined my prediction ...But I did say a smashing. Cracking day and right back in it!!!

Thats the answer. But having 4 clubs from the top leagues getting oozed up by the CL money has ruined it. UEFA may even want that but know if they do they top clubs will break away.