It could all look great by next week ......... I'm hoping Palace win at Hull, a Swansea win at Fulham, West Ham losing at home, to Chelsea, a flukey home win for Newcastle against Norwich and a thumping home defeat for Cardiff against Man Utd. West Brom play Villa, on the Monday night, so someone will be dropping points, perhaps both as I expect.
Stoke have doubts over the fitness of Kenwyne Jones and Marc Wilson, while Sunderland will give Wes Brown a late fitness test. On Friday afternoon, striker Jones had not returned from international duty, meaning Stoke had not had the chance to evaluate a shoulder problem he was reported to have picked up. Full-back Wilson came back from the Republic of Ireland's two games with a stiff hip and manager Mark Hughes was waiting to see whether he would recover in time. Sunderland boss Gus Poyet will make a late check on defender Wes Brown before finalising his plans. The 34-year-old has played the last two and a half games after almost two years on the sidelines, and while he appears to have suffered no ill-effects, Poyet will assess him for the game at the Britannia Stadium. Full-back Andrea Dossena and midfielder Lee Cattermole both complete three-game bans, but the manager otherwise has a full squad from which to choose. Stoke squad: Begovic, Sorensen, Shawcross, Pieters, Cameron, Muniesa, Walters, Ireland, Adam, Palacios, Whelan, Arnautovic, Wilson, Nzonzi, Pennant, Etherington, Crouch, Jones, Assaidi. Sunderland squad: Westwood, Mannone, Celustka, Bardsley, Cuellar, O'Shea, Brown, Diakite, Roberge, Colback, Cabral, Gardner, Ki, Giaccherini, Johnson, Larsson, Ba, Karlsson, Mavrias, Fletcher, Altidore, Borini, Ji.
I've always had my doubts over his fitness I think you'll find his shoulder problem is the chip he's carrying around on it
Bag packed; Megabus to Manchester at 06:05 tomorrow. Train from Manchester to Stoke at 09:05 arriving at Stoke at about 10:10. In the pub at 10:15..Bring it on..
Good on yer mate ........ people like you are my heroes. There's far too many whinging 'that's it I'm finished and never going again' types around. If you support a club what does it make you if you withdraw that support whenever the fancy takes you ........... have a great day, Haway the Lads!!!!!!!
OUCH!!!!!!! He was so lucky he managed to leap over that tackle and so was Huth ......... that would've been twice as bad as Dossena if he'd caught him. Pulis claimed, afterwards, that it was a great tackle and the he'd dived
If you didn't know Pulis was a bellend beforehand this would convince you. Meyler has had a terrible time with severe injuries and this tackle could've finished him, so Pulis says, "Really and truthfully the player is trying to get the player sent off." "I think it's a disease that's coming into the game where players roll around and they're looking to see if they can get people booked or sent off." FFS, Olga Korbut couldn't have landed that jump.
Just one more stat. We have conceded one goal every 225 mins with Wes Brown on the pitch and one every 43 mins when he has not played this year. So if he plays we at least get a draw
Sunderland: Mannone, Celustka, Bardsley, O'Shea (c), Brown, Ki, Colback, Larsson, Johnson, Giaccherini, Fletcher Subs: Cabral, Gardner, Altidore, Roberge, Borini, Mavrias, Pickford. Stoke: Begovic; Cameron, Shawcross (c), Huth, Pieters; Walters, Nzonzi, Whelan, Adam, Arnautovic; Crouch Subs: Sorensen, Muniesa, Palacios, Shea, Assaidi, Etherington, Wilkinson.
Lots a passing. A few soft penalties but still an even game. Shawcross kicked it off the line, but that was a mix up from their defence. Fletcher also through 1 v 1 after a great cross from Johnson, but it was awkward. Still 0-0
