Game On! Chelsea v Newcastle

toonsy

Game on at Chelsea!
Game on at Chelsea!
Hello all and welcome to this ‘Game On’ article which will take us through our tussle at Stamford Bridge this afternoon.

You may have noticed that there is no match preview for this game. There are two reasons for that, the main one being that my lad spilt something on my laptop and now half of the keys won’t work so I’m reduced to writing on my phone which is tricky to say the least.

Anyway hopefully it will only be a short term issue until I can get it fixed or replaced. Speaking of short term issues, our lack of available players will also hopefully be a short term issue. We’re missing a few for this one but you’ll be able to see the official team news at the bottom of this article.

The game itself is not being shown live here in the UK but it is being broadcast across the globe so picking up a stream shouldn’t be too difficult. If you do find a particularly decent stream then please share it by leaving a link in the ‘comments’ section below.

After the derby defeat last weekend the only way to bounce back is with a win but at Stamford Bridge that won’t be easy so perhaps we should be looking for a vastly improved performance instead?

Howay the lads!

Chelsea:Cech; Ivanovic, Cahill, D Luiz, Azpilicueta; Matic, Lampard (c); Willian, Oscar, Hazard; Eto’o

Subs:Schwarzer, Cole, Mikel, Ramires, Schurrle, Salah, Ba

Newcastle:Krul; Debuchy, Williamson, S.Taylor, Dummett; Anita, Santon; Ben Arfa, Sissoko (c), Sammy Ameobi; de Jong.

Subs:Elliot, Haidara, Yanga-Mbiwa, Gosling, Marveaux, Shola Ameobi, Armstrong

About toonsy

A lifelong Newcastle fan and current webmaster of this very 'blog who has the sole aim of creating a place by Newcastle United fans, for Newcastle United fans.

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671 thoughts on “Game On! Chelsea v Newcastle”

  2. Pity like would have liked Fulham to take all three points,but nice to see m/u get done at the end,funny not one player booked in the game

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  3. Mark – a couple of pints of what mate?
    If we can take 12-15 points from the remaining games I’d be happy enough. I think that would still be good enough for a 8-9 place finish

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  4. Bent scored in Fergie time too.
    Hope we catch them ******* by the end of the season.
    I would love it, just love it. :mrgreen:

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  5. I see 12-15 points there Mark mate. Hope you’re right though. I see us finishing 9th or 10th which would serve Ashley right after the January window fiasco. Hire a clown, fire a clown. What’s next Mike?

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  6. If the bottom 8-10 teams weren’t so poor we might be in more trouble. Who will be the next clown to come into the club courtesy of Ashley? Surely it can’t get worse than Joe. Please tell me it can’t get worse! 🙁

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  7. aye. I Could be a little too optimistic. We’ve had a bad run of late but I fancy a decent run looking at the games coming up, if Remy lines up with De Jong.

    We need Goofy back and we need to try and find a spark from the middle.

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  9. My predictions
    Spuds loss
    Avilla draw
    Hull Loss
    Everton loss
    Fulham Draw
    Palace win
    Saints loss
    Man utd Draw
    Stoke Win
    Swansea Win
    Arsenal loss
    Cardiff Win
    L/pool Loss

    So 15 points possible 52 points but could quite easily be a lot less depending on injuries and suspensions. Right now I would settle for 6 points and safety.

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  10. Ben Arfa will almost certainly leave in the summer along with Remy and possibly one or two of our other top players. That would leave a huge job for someone as far as recruiting is concerned and I just don’t see us being up to it. Ashley is clueless but too afraid of bringing in someone with a real football brain because they would want to control transfers. A very difficult and self defeating situation.

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  11. G2 , I can see Remy, Marv ,Debs and benny and goofy all wanting away tbh , whether they all get their wish is another matter as the price would have to be right as we all know.

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  13. gouf’s going no where YET
    we will have him for another season at least.
    HBA can go, but I agree we have a massive recruitment problem coming up in the summer.
    I doubt there is a plan in place already either.
    Last minute panic buying and loans at the end of august
    same old ****

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  14. Your point estimate looks spot on Kimtoon. The big worry as we all seem to be saying is what happens in the summer? If a clearout does get going Ashley clearly won’t be ready for it. Our fiddling about with strikers since Ba left is a clear sign of that. And now we’ve weakened ourselves in midfield. Ashley is his own worst enemy. No owner could be worse than him at working constructively with a club and its supporters. You get 0 out of 10 for that Ashley.

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  15. We should have about £50m in the bank. That spent correctly will push us to top 6 contention. But we all know he won’t spend that, so let’s move on.

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  17. BB@463, the unfortunate thing is that HBA can walk away next summer for nowt, his contract runs out in June 2015. As yet talks of a contract extension have been pretty quiet to say the least. It would have been nice to get something for the lad, but it isn’t going to happen…

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  18. For me Ashley is running out of options. His flunkies have failed him and he doesn’t want somebody competent in there who would demand respect and control of transfers. In short Ashley is wasting his time and only continuing to make things worse for himself (and us). Harrumph.

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  19. I think we will see the following players leave:

    Dan Gosling, Shola Ameobi, Hatem Ben Arfa, Gabriel Obertan, Sylvain Marveaux, Haris Vuckic, Papiss Cisse, Michael Richardson, Loic Remy, Luuk De Jong, Jonas Gutierrez, Fabricio Coloccini.

    We can replace those with reserve players and a new loan signing, which is likely all we’ll get in the inflated price market of a World Cup transfer window.

    Fucking disgusting.

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  20. I believe that Ashley thinks the best way forward for the club is to move sideways and then take a few steps back. A short pause and then a few more steps backward. Then crouch low and hope to not be spotted for a while. It’s all part of his Method. Very cunning.

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  21. That’s quite a list FJ mate. If it turns out to be true we’ll need a few players in. Perhaps we’ll hang on to De Jong? And surely Shola can play until he’s 40 for us? He’s cheap to pay after all. And all Marveaux needs is a kick in the *******? That would be as good as 3 new signings right there! 😆

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  22. I’m waiting to see what kind of tremendous deal we get for Obertan. It will be very exciting and should keep the tea lady in those fancy ankle length stockings she loves to wear. The future is bright indeed with an Ashley owned club. 😳

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  23. Geordietwo,

    It is a bit of a list and maybe I am being slightly negative but Ashley doesn’t do things by half. We got 5 players in a week when he wanted to so I can see his clearance sale being just as drastic. Those are player who rarely play, never play or get a few minutes here and there. They are all useless wage takers in his eyes.

    Next season is going to be horrific.

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  24. Dave – I meant move in from the particular fantasy of investing in the team for a chance of success. Silly idea I know for a sporting institution

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  26. If it makes anyone feel better – Cabaye is seemingly a firm bench warmer at PSG.

    Hopefully he won’t get a World Cup spot now, lol

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  28. FJ I would be amazed if Cabs wasnt allready been basically assured of his spot in the French team.
    And I say good luck to him, as I remember the interview hen Pards was asked how he managed to get Cabs to sign, to which he said with the promise of pushing for a European spot.

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  29. I hope for his sake he has been because he is on the bench again tonight and it is unlikely to change bar injury or suspension with PSG going well again this season.

    If he is still a borderline World Cup player, this move isn’t helping him outside a bit more exposure to French fans on TV, etc.

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  30. FJ is this not only his 2nd game with them ? If so for me he probably needs to get his fitness up.
    As its clear our players are less fit than most others. I really cant see Cabs being a bench player for PSG.
    I would say that would be just wishfull thinking from fans that hold it against him for moving from us

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  31. I watch PSG quite a bit on BT Sport and ESPN and I really don’t see many players that Cabaye is better than in their midfield. He strikes me as being a firm squad player.

    PSG are a firm Champions League team these days, remember. Cabaye has rarely been at that level and playing with us won’t have helped him much.

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  32. Big Dave – Cabs was told by Pardew to sign because we’d be pushing for Europe? He’s a gullible ****** that Cabaye!

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  33. @premandup – 445
    I wouldn’t have thought we were any stricter re non EU immigration than the like of Portugal or France.

    I base my assumption on the fact that once a person is in the EU, they are able to move around.

    Therefore (presumably) all member states have similar requirements re non EU immigration which would have been agreed prior to them joining the EU.

    IDK but i do know that there are some clubs in Europe that churn out very good footballers on a consistent basis.

    A lot of those clubs are in Spain.

    We as a club (& nation) need to catch up asap.

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  34. @stuart79

    I think most of our players signed on the assumption that we’d be challenging for 4th.

    Remember last January when Pardew said they had a new league table to get to 4th between the January transfer window & the end of the season.

    The players probably thought we’d be challenging for 4th this season too based on some of their preseason comments.

    I think it’s a realistic target. You need 69pts (23 wins) in a season to challenge for 4th.

    Any team that can do the double on all of the teams in the bottom half, has a very realistic chance of Champions League football.

    Not winning against teams in the bottom half is down to luck (aka dodgy refereeing decisions) or lack of focus.

    A charismatic & tactically capable manager could take us to 4th without spending £100m.

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  36. and after many seasons as REDBULL Newcastle FC, all of the fans on the Redbull Newcastle blog (run by Redbullsy- Ex Toonsy) spend a moment to reflect on how good the days were when Mike Ashley was our owner 😆 😆

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  38. That is interesting M. 4th most successful in England. Not what most thought. Knew we were behind Man Utd. Still interesting. Thanks

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  39. Aussie 😆

    M..Interesting read, sort of backs up what I said a couple of threads back…
    “a couple of years back I did put the figures up(can’t be arsed finding them again) but the percentage of players at “all” Premier league academies who go onto be professional footballers at “any” level is tiny. I think we have at least 4 or 5 who’ve come from the academy and feature fairly regularly in the first team squad which I’d guess would be about average for most teams. Then we have the big clubs who can pick and choose the best youngsters from around the world so should always have a better chance of them making it, you could also say poorer clubs have to develop youngsters to survive and so put more effort into development than we do and so “possibly” have a better chance of bringing more through”
    … although we seem to be slightly better than average though not much in it if you look at the figures rather than league position.

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  42. Kim – he is welcome to stay, but we need to see goals from him.
    He is struggling to get any power into his shots, and consequently not working the keeper.
    Hopefully if he can cope with the pace of the game, get match fit and keep fit, then things will work out for him..
    The team as a whole need to get more service in to him. Something we have struggled to do for the last couple seasons. Ask Cisse.
    He cant be expected to make goals out of nothing tho.
    If our overall team play doesn’t improve, he wont want to stay.
    If it does however, maybe even Cisse will be like a new signing 😯
    But Pardew has got to change the way we play, completely.

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  43. Its not as tho being so defensive minded is even working out for us.
    We are forfeiting our attack, by being so defensive, yet we are leaking goals like a sieve.
    Worst goal diff of the top 9 clubs. Plus joint lowest goals scored of the top 10.
    Pretty **** really

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  44. BB, totally agree mate, service has been shocking for a long time, corners just terrible too. Goofy makes a lot of difference in that respect, when he’s not in the team we look even more devoid of ideas, but it really shouldn’t be down to just one guy to deliver or create anyway. We are beyond slow getting forward and to my mind still look less fit than other teams, quite why this should be I don’t understand. It’s no good bringing in Faye Downy if the training or coaching isn’t right. Why do our guys look so out of puff by 65/70 mins. See players cramping well before the end of games as well, which I find odd given the fitness levels of todays athletes . It’s not like years ago when they were out on the booze and having the odd crafty ***, there is supposed to be more focus on fitness now. 😕

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  45. BB, It has to be training/ coaching mate, we have some very creative players more than capable of bagging lots of goals but the application is often poor. Against the Scum we looked pedestrian , Christ we even made Altidore look good 😯 , and on the day the players looked like they were beat before they even kicked off, very odd.

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  46. Kim – Yup, I have been banging on about our quite frankly garbage coaching staff and training setup for years now.
    Giving those muppets 8 year contracts, beggared belief.
    That whole department is the Achilles heel of the entire club, from youths to first team.
    Clueless, brainless, old fashioned bully boy coaches that have no place in modern football.
    The whole lot are taking the ****, and because Ashley doesn’t have a clue, he is incapable of changing it

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  47. I use the word ‘Bully’ for a reason too.
    I remember a few years back, Peter Beardsley was accused of lining the kids up and blasting footballs at them as a punishment.
    Nowts changed over the years that I can see.

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  50. What fans can achieve when they work together. So to all the people that say a boycott won’t work read this.

    Dodgers fans get last laugh
    Ramona Shelburne [ARCHIVE]

    ESPNLosAngeles.com | November 2, 2011
    LOS ANGELES — For seven-and-a-half years, Frank McCourt took whatever he could from the Dodgers and the city that loves them. More than his share. More than he ever deserved.

    Now he will pay it all back, with interest.

    Because in taking from the team and this city, McCourt actually gave something back that will far outlast his reign or his legacy.

    Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images
    Frank McCourt’s temporary tenure as Dodgers owner didn’t hurt fans’ resolve, it enhanced it.
    Something too many fans take for granted until it is gone. The feeling a boy comes to naturally on his first steps inside a stadium and an old man spends his autumn afternoons trying to recreate. A love and a connection to a game and a team.

    This city wasn’t destroyed by Frank McCourt’s reign, it was awakened.

    This franchise wasn’t diminished by Frank McCourt’s ownership, it was renewed.

    The Dodgers meant more to Los Angeles once McCourt cast them into purgatory. Every new indignity he inflicted on the team, every sacred law he broke, made these proud fans realize all they had lost.

    The Dodgers aren’t just a team on the field and a franchise to be purchased, they are a part of this city and its story.

    This summer, in a stunning show of civic pride, Dodgers fans spoke the loudest when they said nothing at all.

    They stayed away, so McCourt would go away.

    Attendance fell a staggering 18 percent. Most days the park appeared half-full. There was no organizer or leader behind the movement. Somehow, millions of people all came to the same place, and spoke with the same voice. The message was clear.

    A city wanted its team back.

    It feels strange to be in this place, finally. This is a day that seemed like it would always come, but would never come soon enough.

    Frank McCourt has agreed to sell the Dodgers after a long, bitter fight. He pulled up a bit short of where it seemed he would fire his last shot. Before a judge in Delaware made him lay down his arms and baseball commissioner Bud Selig could have a last laugh.

    There was a bit of dignity in his final statement. It was short and to the point. No blame was assigned.

    “The Los Angeles Dodgers and Major League Baseball announced that they have agreed today to a court supervised process to sell the team and its attendant media rights in a manner designed to realize maximum value for the Dodgers and their owner, Frank McCourt,” the joint statement read. “The Blackstone Group LP will manage the sale process.”

    McCourt neither apologized nor expressed remorse for what he had done and how it all ended. He simply left and walked away.

    Though he will never be forgotten in these parts, all these awful memories will fade quickly. The pain of these last two years and all the courtroom drama was always going to be temporary.

    The Dodgers were in purgatory, not hell.

    As soon as McCourt moved on, Los Angeles would, too.

    Soon enough, another man will be entrusted with this franchise. He will buy the team with money he’s earned over a lifetime.

    But he will have that opportunity because of the actions of many. Because Los Angeles came together to save its team, speaking with one voice, so loud, with a passion that could not be ignored.

    Over the last few years, the Dodgers ran a marketing campaign inspired by the country song, “This is my town.” Players, coaches, local celebrities and politicians would tape spots wearing a Dodgers jersey, jam along with the music, and try to fire up the crowd during games. Billboards were put up all over Los Angeles.

    It was conceived in happier times. Before the divorce, before McCourt’s ugly fall.

    In the end, it might have been the truest thing the McCourts ever gave this city.

    The Dodgers have always belonged to this town. It’s time to put the jersey back on.

    Ramona Shelburne is a columnist and writer for ESPNLosAngeles.com. Follow her on Twitter.

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  51. If our players are unfit then we need to sack that Faye Downey surely for not doing her job even though she works at the most elite level and who was all the rage when we were in our winning streak a few months ago.

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  52. KK-You think our immigration laws mirror those of France and Portugal? Do you mean literally or only in respect for former colonies? Because if it’s the latter then your answer is pretty bloody simple.

    Jorge Jesus wept.

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  53. BB@497-Was that ever proven though? There are third party reports that Beardo is too soft on the lads, or was a few months ago. Maybe he was reigned in for what you mention? Or maybe it’s all trash.

    For me, the key coaching is all about ages 10-16. Then you need a man at the club to build relationships in order to loan out those youths to consecutively higher positioned clubs/different leagues. That’s what football at the top level is like these days. Either that or we identify 16-18 year olds who already look the part and do the same. It doesn’t seem like we at the club have any idea which route we want to take, because Ashley doesn’t know football and won’t employ anyone who knows enough/has vision to decide on one course or another. I’m happy that we are getting this new training facility off the ground, but no way will we be pushing through a new generation of geordie footballers, or even English ones-without a massive club overhaul.

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  54. Newkie@502… Yep, it’s not that difficult for citizens of any of Spain’s former colonies in S.America to get in and even easier if you’ve signed for a football club.

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  55. Richie-exactly. Just as its easier for our former colonies to move here. Unfortunately, they’re all ***** at football, especially in Australia 😉

    Work permits will also differ, and then there’s the whole fact that a shared history/language/culture is easier to adapt to. Footballers might all be paid like playboys but I bet plenty of them still lack confidence and moving to England would be a lot tougher than elsewhere. There are loads of examples.

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  56. …another disadvantage that Premier league academies have compared with many continental counterparts(unless the rules have changed) is that they can only recruit boys who live within 90 minutes travel of the training ground and that’s a Premier league rule!

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  57. @Alberts Tash

    Some on here such as Premandup, preach that we should be wary about wanting another owner.

    Better the devil you know and all that nonsense.

    That to me is like a battered wife who is too frightened to leave the brutal husband because despite the beatings, she has a roof over her head, so stays with him in case she is left destitute.

    I don’t accept that route at all. Even if we did force Ashley out and we got a worse owner then the battle would go on.

    You don’t stick with something you aren’t happy with otherwise you live a miserable existence.

    I say, **** off Ashley and we’ll take our chances! 😉

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  60. I liked Troy much better when he chucked a huff and stayed off the blog because he thought KK was his brother!

    Newkie.. **** off! 🙂

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  61. Hahaha. @ Aussie 😆

    It’s true! I was convinced it was B&B. 😆

    I don’t take the huff, I just distance myself from him in case I get another 25 page pile of p155 & 5h1t delivered on my doorstep. 😆

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  64. I tell you what like Aussie. I’m surprised at Premandup taking a howking off me without any defence. I can only assume I was right and that’s what he preaches. 😛

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  66. If you think the current situation is comparable with domestic violence I’m amazed. You obviously have little or no experience of the horrors that can bring, and to equate that to sport is ridiculous.

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  67. @ Aussie. It was defo a huff.. must be his 8th on here. 😯 at least he didnt go pestering Ed’s site this time… ah that’s where his Bro resides.. 😆

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  68. I think Troys got some experience in domestic violence. he’s constantly mentioning battered wives and always talks about hiding in the wheelie bin and wardrobe.

    I reckon its a cry for help 😥 😉

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  69. Newkie@501, I don’t think it’s that simple mate. I don’t doubt Faye is doing a fine job but it’s worthless if the coaching and training sessions are ****. Wasn’t it Jonas who fell out with Pards over the training not being up to scratch last year.

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  71. Seems like most people don’t realise that Faye Downey was at the club for only 2 weeks at the start of pre season. She’s mostly a rugby fitness coach.

    It’s unfit in the mind that’s our problem from Kinnear to Pardew and the players he’s done a negative job on. HBA, Santon even Anita is showing the signs. Marv and Cisse are lost causes he’s really helped. De Jong comes out saying he’d like to stay but I bet that changes before the summer. Slow he may be but dim? I doubt it.

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  73. @Prem

    😯

    Hahahaha. I can’t believe you are being scurrilous by using the analogy, (a very good one by the way) for not defending yourself. 😉

    Is it not right you preach that to force Ashley out might result in a poorer owner taking over? Hence, best to stick with the devil you know. ?

    To me and I’m not taking domestic abuse lightly, as I’ve been a victim since I was married and I’m frightened to leave in case I’m left destitute. My wife is only 5ft 3in but she has a wicked left hook and is into female dominatrix shannanagins. I dread walking thru the front door cos I know she’ll be standing there with her gimp mask and leathers on, waving her whip! 😯

    Is there anyone out there who could help. Not Prem though, as clearly his wife has a real hold over him. 😛 like me. 😉

    Now if you want to ignore the analogy as you find it unsuitable, then do so, I won’t take offence. But that is the gist of your sermons isn’t it? 😉

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  74. Georgio@521, Is that right 😯 Thought she was an ongoing thing like. Well that explains a lot more then, It’s the lack of stamina that I don’t understand, we do look less fit than a lot of other teams to me.

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  75. @Mark

    I find it hilarious how some get so defensive by mentioning dom violence. The comparison is clearly not meant to undermine the effects of dom violence but is a simple, understandable analogy when describing the regime abusing the fans. 🙄

    Dear me. FTSOTB 😛

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