2011-2012 English Football Season and STEWART DOWNING WHAT ON EARTH Thread

[Old Manus]

<img src="http://cdn.caughtoffside.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/CITYFANGIF.gif" alt="delicious">

I've been on some family do in the middle of nowhere near Welshpool for the weekend. Never have I felt so justified in my determination to crouch outside over my phone in the one square metre of countryside that had 3G signal and refresh the BBC live text over and over. I hope that somewhere, someone heard a cry of delight echo through the rolling fields at 3:45 this afternoon.

EDIT: That's the 3 points from Man City and Arsenal at home, we SHOULD have also got the 3 points from Chelsea were it not for that last minute deflection for a draw, and we got 1-1 against Spurs. Man Utd scraped 1-0 from a defensive howler. I can't wait for Liverpool.

[Bubba]

Just settling down to watch Match of the Day 2.

Come on the Swans! Get in!

EDIT: As a Man Utd fan I have to say we got lucky with the penalty decisions. Theirs was, ours wasn't. Simple as that. I'm not gonna read too much into the arguments in the City ranks. Bad day at the office but they still look strong.

Have to say though, De Gea has been looking a class act in the last 6-8 weeks. Good to see Johnny Evans coming back to form as well.

Quite proud to be the only championship chasing team to beat the Swans on their own turf... only just mind!

[The Captain]

Now, that's more like it. Granted, Everton barely showed up, but Liverpool finally put together a consistent 90 minutes at home and actually SCORED!

Real happy for Stevie to mark his 400 league appearance with a Hat Trick though credit goes to Suarez who was lively all night and believe it or not, Andy Carroll who did a wonderful job tracking back all game, holding up the ball and winning headers. There may be hope for him yet.

I still think we need a more clinical poacher, but this result will do ahead of the FA Cup match on Sunday. I'd like to see this same side, with just Kuyt in for Henderson, play Stoke and have Bellamy and Maxi waiting for a second half sub-in if we need a burst of speed and energy.

Finally, a game I watched without pulling my hair out.

Take care all.

[Psychotic]

I damned well believe it. This "Andy Carroll is tit" nonsense is the same as the "Emile Heskey is tit" nonsense. Never seen anyone whose opinion I respect say Carroll is a bad player. He had a bit of a shaky start to his Anfield career although I'll chalk that up to his lingering injury, and I still don't think he was worth the £35m fee, but he's someone I'm always happy to see in a Liverpool shirt. But then blah blah a striker's job is to score goals and...

Personally I put this win down to a distinct lack of Charlie Adam and hope to see this trend continuing.

[Loony BoB]

I don't know many people who think Andy Carroll is trout, just people who think that he's not the same without his pal Joey Barton giving him supply, people who think that Newcastle are just better than Liverpool at supplying a striker a goal-scoring opportunity, people who think that Liverpool are trout in general and people who think that Andy Carroll never wanted to go to Liverpool, doesn't like it and doesn't want to stay there... and that this is all affecting his head.

For me? It's sort of like Torres at Chelsea. Good striker, good club, but sometimes things just don't work out as well for you as they did in the past.

[Old Manus]

For the love of all things holy, please change that god damn word filter. Change it back to skulls, change it to four giant :wasim:s, I don't care anymore.

[Psychotic]

Let's change it to Lee Trundle and watch all the Americans flip their Lee Trundle.

[Bubba]

Cracking game last night. Well played Chelsea. I can't see them getting past the likes of Real, Bayern or Barca but it would be quite funny if they went on to win it with Di Matteo. 8 managers in the last 9 years then their caretaker manager leads them to European glory. That would be amazing.

[charliepanayi]

Well they were a goalpost away from doing it with Avram Grant. Anyway I hope Barcelona or Real get them and crush them, but I suspect they'll get Apoel or Marseille in the next round instead.

[Bubba]

Well they were a goalpost away from doing it with Avram Grant.

Ahh... memories...

They'll get Marseille. Chelsea are quite lucky with cup draws.

[DK]

Reports in that the Spurs/Bolton game been called off because Fabrice Muamba collapsed on the pitch and stopped breathing, and is now on his way to hospital. Absolutely horrible situation, I hope it doesn't turn out to be another Marc Vivien-Foe, only 23 years old. Nothing on his condition yet, but god damn I hope he is alright.

[Old Manus]

Yeah that trout is rough, I had Sky Sports News on for an hour after it happened and was rapidly losing faith in any good news before they said he's stable but in a very bad way in hospital. Even if he recovers it looks like his career may be over. Puts our performance at Craven Cottage (which was phenomenal by the way, watch MoTD plz) in perspective.

[Bubba]

Great to see Muamba doing so well. It's really heart-warming to see fans, players and coaches all over the world offering their support as well. Brilliant stuff. One game, one family.

I know this is an EPL thread but someone has to mention Messi. Another hat trick last night. His eighteenth as a Barcelona player! He has now become the top goalscorer (254 goals) in the club's entire history... He's 24. Ridiculous. 45 games this season... 54 goals. Ridiculous.

Finally, good luck to a resurgent Chelsea tonight at the Etihad. Someone's got to take points off them there this season. Let's hope it's tonight!

Oh and I agree OM, I watched Match of the Day on Saturday and the Swans were awesome.

[charliepanayi]

I wouldn't say Chelsea were resurgent just yet, have they even played an away game since Vilas-Boas left? They've had some soft home fixtures in the league and FA Cup, and put in a good performance against Napoli (though Napoli bottled it somewhat).

That said, if they can beat Spurs this weekend, I wouldn't mind.

[Bubba]

Fair enough, maybe not a resurgent Chelsea, but certainly a bouyed Chelsea. If I'm honest I would say City have the edge, especially as John Terry isn't playing. Though there could be quite a few goals in it though if Kompany isn't fit.