Pass the Dutchie

Yeah, you could feel that one coming from all the commentary 20 minutes before the end about how it was done and won.

Woooooo!

Bournemouth 2-0 down against Millwall. Just posting it for those who want Eddie Howe here instead of Puel.

Oh, Southampton...

There you go! VVD!!

Bright start by the sound of it.

Streams for some other 3rd round games (not ours though): http://www.feed4u.tv/section/football/

My personal point being that recovery time is important, and that a player's schedule comprises much more than just the time played in an official match; a fact overlooked by some people (perhaps not seriously) in discussions about squad rotation. Rotation helps prevent overload injuries, but also has disadvantages. I'm just creating a place for discussion about these things.

Just out of curiosity: did you pick those people randomly, or has there been something in their behaviour that makes you feel like they feel differently about the club than other players and managers who left?

I really rate Tadic as a player but I can't imagine which top 5 team would want him right now.

Will this game be broadcast anywhere (TV/Internet)?

That's the thing up for debate though, isn't it? None of us here can know for sure, it's all just rumours. But it's exactly his professionalism that's being questioned (by, for example, Le Tissier). Just showing up and playing the games isn't quite enough, especially not when you're the captain of the team. Of course he won't refuse to play. What would he win with that? I can see the club not wanting to use him if they feel he's not motivated, but that's another thing.

He seems to have a tough time most of the time though, despite obvious talent. When he came to Ajax I was expecting a lot, but was disappointed most games.

Just be cause he did that (once in his life) doesn't make it a good or healthy idea.

Some people on here seem to hold a somewhat simplistic view on player fitness, and how much energy it takes to play a professional football game. “Can’t these millionaires run around for more than 90 minutes a week? Isn’t that what they’re paid for? Look at so and so in that other sport!” The weekly physical activity of our players obviously doesn’t start at the beginning of a game and end at the final whistle. Don’t forget that teams train a few hours almost every day of the week, often at high intensity. Recovery time is a very important factor in any sport at any level. Injuries due to overload are very common, and even though teams sometimes take that risk with certain key players, it’s a good idea if it can be avoided. How to find that perfect balance? When does rotation stop being a good idea and start becoming a negative influence? Puel seems to take this to the extreme sometimes, which looks like a fantastic idea when the results are great and looks like a bad idea when the results disappoint. We also all want to see our young ones getting chances, and we also all want to see our best team every time. Does anyone know what a typical week for our first team players actually looks like from day to day?

His time here was running out, new contract or not. He's been very great for the club, but an unhappy and undermining captain isn't an inspiring captain. I hope for him he'll make some more millions in his years remaining as a player. China?

So what IS a new conract, if not a pay rise and an extension? I'm honestly curious.

In the BBC quote above it says: ""Six months later we were prepared to improve that contract and extend it. He has turned down the opportunity to increase his salary, and he's turned down the opportunity to get another permanent year on his contract."

It's not about not liking him. It's about when and how that is expressed (which none of us know for sure).

I didn't realise (if it's true what Reed says) that they didn't just offer him a higher salary but also an extra year.

[video=youtube_share;xEM4CL4s9P4] (skip to 2m7s)

This made me smile from The Guardian: "For some reason the Rumour Mill can’t fathom, Wolfsburg, Everton and Southampton have joined Stoke in the chase for Napoli striker Manolo Gabbiadini, who has scored only three times in 17 appearances this season and has looked about as hot as a penguin. He’s yours for £24m – £24m! – folks."

Goals after 20 games:

Position after 20 games: