um pahars

Very pleased with that point. At times we couldn't get near them and a winner for them seemed inevitable, so fair play for digging in and holding them at bay. Around the 80 minute mark we got a second wind, but with the sending off it was batten down the hatches. Some great defensive performances out there today, particularly when you consider the calibre of the players they were up against. Really missed Bertrand and Clyne (particularly going forward), although Yoshida & Targett did ok deputising. Would have to say City for the title after seeing both teams, and Ivanovic really is a grade a #*#%. A great player, but ruins it with his play acting & histrionics.

No idea of the veracity of it, but someone who is apparently "close" to Ings passed on that Liverpool were sniffing around and agents have already been trying to do the deal. As someone else has already said, I find it difficult to believe that even if someone was sniffing and Ings was keen that Burnley would sell this side of June 2015. If we had the chance, then think I'd take him.

No idea if true or not, but we really seem to be overawed by them today.A bit like our first time back at Anfied when I got a sense the players (& mgmnt) were overtaken by the occasion. On that form today, I would say City are going to give Chelsea a run for their money.

We came up against a City side firing on all cylinders and were simply not good enough. Thought we may have weathered the storm after they tore us apart for the first 20 minutes, but losing Schneiderlin was probably just too much for us to handle given we had no other midfielder (good enough) on the bench. As someone said above, it was very much like the Chelsea game where an in form & very decent side outplayed us. Target for me would be to try & get 2(or more) points from the next two games & win in the Cup.

Dunmore Rovers?? Or United?? they were loosely based on Watford where they filmed the show (similar kit, pop star owner). Think it was also filmed at Derby (was made by Central)

Sadly, I think the biggest complication is that one of the "bigger" teams (inc those on the Continent) will be sniffing around come May!

Toby for me. Both very classy, but just think centre half is more important a position for a team.

Don't normally go I for schadenfreude, but feck me I did enjoy Lallana on the bench, LOLvren having a mare and Rodgers squirming in post match interviews.

Imdeed, absolutely outstanding, cool, calm, controlled. Real pillar at the back. Signing him up would be a fantastic coup (who are Atletico Madrid's centre backs?? As they must be mustard).

Defensively (apart from the slip up towards the end) we were outstanding. The back five plus Big Vic gave us the platform to push on from. But going forward we weren't at our best (although Leicester did make it hard of us). Morgan had a real off day IMHO and Tadic struggled. Pelle was decent and Mane looked lively, but we didn't create much. Davis & Cork also struggled to make an impact, so fair play to Koeman and Long for changing the game. A decent gritty win.

Agree It wasn't just how good he was (at times down here he was out of this world!!!), it was also the impact on the Club and City of signing the Current European Footballer of the Year. Even though McMenemy had a knack of signing talented, experienced players (Osgood, Ball, Watson etc), this signing was huge. Only here for two seasons, but his impact was enormous.

Indeed Stu. Keegan dipped out after Espana 82 having not really recovered from his dodgy back and missing a sitter as England were dumped out in the the second group stage (having not lost any of their 5 games!!). And of course we finished 2nd in 1984 (we finished 6th & 7th with Keegan)

Always thought Rogers was overrated and last season he hit lucky with an inform Suarez combined with the other title rivals having a mare and/or rebuilding, but even then he couldn't manage to pull it off. Lambert was a stupid buy for a club in their position and signing Ballotelli is just dumb. IMHO He won't be around for the start of next season (which will make it even more interesting regarding those he bought!).

Fantastic result at the end of a tough week regards travelling and nature of opponents. Absolutely amazed to be sat so solidly at the top end of the table. These last three results have really impressed me as I had a worry that we might come down to earth after stuffing Sunderland. Hats off to the players, manager and those working hard to prepare them. This start to the season is all the more sweeter for our summer "troubles".

Very, very, very surprised that the ref gave a yellow for the second tackle by Crouch as having just seen the highlights it really should have bee a straight RED. He totally lost his head microseconds after losing the ball and goes way over the top on Davis. No idea how anyone can defend him.

Have to say that my main concern at the moment is the future of our defence. There is no current concern, as it has been the bedrock of our excellent start, just a concern that it might be a bit temporary! Now given where we were May/June, then those at the Club have done well to get such a strong back 5/6, but I do wonder what the chances are of keeping hold of Bertrand & Toby, and to some extent Clyne. If Bertrand & Toby keep performing as they are, then think we might struggle to keep them despite having first dibs. And more solid performances from Clyne could also see the bigger clubs sniffing around. A decent placing in the League, some sweet talking from Koeman and a bit of luck might do the job, if not I fear we may have another rebuild next summer. Targett, Gardos, Stephens, a n others - I'm not sure, but given their success last year with regards succession planning, I imagine Les & Co are already on it.

I'm sure most people were concerned, but as trousers rightly points out it was the way that concern was expressed. Whilst some had a hissy fit and invented (or believed) stories of a meltdown, chaos, conflict behind the scenes, sellng up, asset stripping, etc etc etc, many others fortunately saw it for what it was. i.e. A few ego & £££££ driven individuals flexing their muscles and demanding a move. And fortunately this many were also prepared to give those in power a bit of time to respond and deal their way out of the situation, time afforded to a group who had helped haul us from the bottom of div 1 to the Top Flight. For me they deserved that benefit of the doubt, not the awful responses that saw them harangued and abused. Good players will still leave us (can see Tadic being snapped up & Clyne being tempted) and am sure at some point Koeman will depart, and just next time the obvious disappointment can be tempered somewhat.

With the campaign to honour Corp McLaughlin ramping up, might have to have another read of Bramley's Welcome to Hell, as can't remember how much this fella was mentioned.

Thought Throbber was quite open about being in the thick of it down there. Decent bloke, and anyone who has been in the midst of war has my total respect. Pretty sure he was on Alacrity.

St Throbber (Rich Harper) from Cardiff Saints is your man. Now a civvy in Police force I believe, but was in the thick of it in Falkland Sound/San Carlos!! Always had an interest in the Falklands War as a few friends of my older brother were on the ground and at sea down there plus brother worked on QE2 kitting it out (with Vospers in King George V)before she sailed south. Bunked school to watch QE2 come home and also popped down to welcome home Canberra. Must have read most books on the war and dropped a hint recently to the missus that I would love to visit the major battlefields down there one day (she did a great Normandy tour for my 40th).

Was in the Archers for this one and from where we were it looked as though it went in then out. BUT I just don't believe it went in as no one made a real fuss to the referee or linesman. Would have thought that if it had gone in then Hughes and others would have gone ballistic.

I'd imagine some rotation when JRod is fit, as can't see Mane, Tadic, JRod & Pelle all starting many games. Those four would be great going forward, but the other midfielders and defence would have their work cut out! Didn't mention Shane Long above, and as much as he I don't think he is worth £12m, I thought he put in a good shift yesterday and gave us an outlet & some legs in the latter stages.

Think he has slotted in seamlessly and would love to keep him, come next summer. Left back was the least of my concerns regarding players leaving and being replaced, as as good as Shaw was, I just don't think it is that critical a position. A half decent season and an arm round the shoulder might do the trick come May, but my only concer would be wages. Just wonder what Chelsea are paying him (is he on mega bucks) and whether we could or should match it.

Definitely on a roll and would regard that as a hard earned win. A win where in the past we might have only managed a point (or worse). Some good performances out there yesterday and I would go as far as saying that performances can get even better as the team really starts to knit together (fingers crossed for no major injuries!!!). Forster looked solid and The back four steady. Bertrand has fitted in as though he has been here ages, but Toby needs more game time. Vic, Davis, Cork and Morgan all performed, with Vic being my pick of the bunch. its going forward where I think we can be even better. Pelle is scoring, but think he has even more to offer. It's obvious Tadic has class, but I don't think we've seen the best of him yet, so hopefully he will get better as he really settles in. Mane provides something different to what we've had in recent years-pacy, unpredictable, busy and had a good debut, but like Pelle & Tadic I'm hoping there is even more. QPR weren't as poor as I thought they would be and gave us a good test, but a fair result would have been 5-2.

As many have already said he's a decent player, seems a key part of the squad and I just wonder how much it would cost to replace him if he does leave. Hopefully if Koeman does rate him then he can earn his wedge by putting his arm around Cork and get him to sign up.