Barclays Premier League 2013/14

Still think they should go for Spalletti.

What do people make about Toure saying he doesn't get as much acclaim because he's from Africa?

Personally i think its a load of bollocks, he's got nothing but praise this season. Bit of an odd thing to say imo.

That's overstating it but I don't blame you for not wanting him.

The decline of Milan is entirely in the hands of Berlusconi and Galliani. Allegri's only fault was not being good enough to cover up for their stupidity, it would have taken a miracle-worker to do anything with Milan's mix of has-beens and kids.

It's not an odd thing to say. You think players from Africa are given the same amount of coverage and acclaim as their South American/European counterparts? Given the massive problems that many European countries have with racism against black players, and the fact that the only other African player deemed worthy of world-class status had to be appropriated by a colonising country (Eusebio), says something for the wider point he's trying to make.

I don't think Yaya Toure is underrated, at least not in the UK, but he wasn't just talking about himself, he was talking about African players in general. He named Samuel Eto'o and Didier Drogba as players who he claims have gone underrated because they are African, and he's making a larger point about underrating players from the continent, which I think is fair. I don't know about the current state of football in Africa, so I wouldn't be qualified to argue that there are young players currently being ignored by European clubs because they play in African leagues. But there must have been players that have gone criminally underrated for decades. Given the history books of the sport, you'd think African players didn't exist until Roger Milla scored at the World Cup.

Nah, he's talking bollocks.

Toure has had tonnes of acclaim. He was purchased for 24 million pounds, is one of the best paid footballers in the world, is up for EPL Player of the year and is constantly talked about as one of the best midfielders in the world.

Drogba, Essien, Wanyama, Bony, Salah, Mikel, Eto'o and tonnes more have won lots of individual and team awards and been recognised. For every African player who is underrated you could name countless non-africans who are also underrated

How the fuck can you say Eto'o and Drogba haven't had acclaim? Both have been transferred for tens of millions of pounds, been some of the best paid footballers ever and have won countless awards.

African players generally don't get as much recognition as most of them aren't that good, which is what you would expect from any third world country with very limited training and coaching facilities.

Eriksen is mint

STAND BACK! THERE'S A HARRY KANE COMING THROUGH!

Kaboul just robbed him of a goal as well

Eriksen is mint

1-0 Newcastle, others goalless so far.

Howard Webb made a big decision against the home team!!!!!!


And he got it wrong \o/

It's alright, he gave Cardiff a peno too

Wonder what the chances are of Sunderland having another cracker and taking some points of Chelsea today, i'm thinking slim

Would be too much to ask for I think (from a Liverpool perspective), I think Mourinho will ensure the job gets done.

I hate when people say stuff like that didn't ensure the job got done against Palace did he?

No Cech today

No Hazard again either, come on Sunderland!

Crouch been getting manhandled all day

Newcastle concede last minute peno, Bony scores

True, never know I guess!

Swansea turned it round at Newcastle, 2-1 up. Villa are dire.

I thought Newcastle's miserable 2014 had finally bottomed out at Stoke, and once again I thought incorrectly. This is probably the most depressed I've felt all season, and considering all that's gone on before it since Boxing Day, that is one hell of an achievement.

Wake me up when Pardew's fired.

Not to rub it in but think Opta had a stat earlier that Gerrard, Sturridge & Suarez have scored more than the entire Newcastle team in 2014

Not surprising, they've only got ten.

That doesn't surprise me. In fact I think Sturridge has scored more on his own than Newcastle have. We have scored fewer goals than everyone else in the top 4 divisions in 2014, and with 13 defeats in 18, we're also in what must be the worst form of our entire history, or at least one of the worst. In fact, Hyde are in better form than us and they didn't win a game until January.

Pardew is absolutely fucking this up big time, and yet morons like Jamie Carragher still say he's doing a good job. What the fuck did we do to deserve this?

Are the Chelsea fans in the stadium holding a prologued moment of silence during this game?

Eto'ooooooooooooooooooooo. Good goal

Can't believe Palace and Pulis, incredible job he's done there. Surprising as well how good they are away from home at the moment too, Stoke were rock solid at home under him but only won a couple of away games a season IIRC.

I just hope that in a couple of years time when he's stabilised them as a mid-table club that there aren't any know-nowts calling for his head due to his style of play.