Naked Mole Rat

The ref's decision right before Ivanovic's sending off was a right one. Torres was just trying to make the most out of the situation because he knew a: Savic was already booked and b: he couldn't get to the ball before the defender did. Watch the replay again, and you'll see that Savic is obviously the better positioned of the two, and Torres doesn't even attempt to move around Savic or anything, but instead he barges right into him and then goes down fairly easily. To be honest, it was a very, very smart play by Torres, but the ref was in the perfect position to make the call, and he did. The ref actually did us a favour a couple times during the game like when he didn't anything about Luiz who was shoving and kicking Tevez in and around the box because he had lost his temper and when he didn't send Ramires off for a foul on David Silva. So, no complaints from me.

I won't comment too much on the outcome of the match since I don't think it's fair to criticize the team since they went a man down early in the game and the results could have been different had Ivanovic not been sent off. What I am most concerned about is the lack of professionalism and discipline some of our players showed today. Obviously, there was Ivanovic with his reckless challenge in the first half to get himself sent off, and then Mikel was booked for dissent, followed by Lampard who took it out on Milner. For fuck's sake, he's our vice-captain, and he loses his head in what is essentially a friendly match and does something stupid like that. And then there was a moment when I thought David Luiz would pull a Pepe on Tevez immediately after his annoyingly spectacular goal for City when he went on shoving him inside the box unnecessarily and attempting to boot the player. He was lucky not to concede a penalty or be booked there. And finally, Bertrand. He should know that if he goes around pushing players in the chest like that, he'll be booked for sure, and the last thing we wanted in that FRIENDLY match was another player on a card before the season even actually began. Let the referee deal with it, and don't get involved. Is that too difficult?

Ivanovic's red card was justified, and yes, you do see players get away with stuff like that, but still, a very dangerous challenge. I agree with the call before that as well. Savic did look very uncomfortable, but the replay showed that Torres sort of ran into him. But that fucking half-time whistle.

TORRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRES

Is it just me or is the British anthem really short?

Dafaq? Man City's lineup looks pretty strong without Silva, Balotelli, etc.

So, Mata will start indeed. I was hoping he would sit this one out, and I think Di Matteo would have let him had he wanted to. Anyway, it's good to see that he's so willing to play.

I hate it when we play Man City. They are strong, and we haven't exactly figured them out yet the way we've managed to keep United, Arsenal and Barcelona fairly harmless past few years. And I find it a bit more difficult to take a loss against them than one against a 'traditionally big' club. If likes of Silva and Kompany are missing out, however, we should be able to win this one.

My word, so it IS true. Prolonged exposure to Liverpool is extremely stressful and can cause your brain to give up.

I like your reasoning.

Sturridge to Spurs? What a preposterous and unlikely scenario at a time like this when we lack strikers and Levy's been a bitch to us.

I'm glad he chose to join WBA instead of Wigan. We've had a few players loaned to them in the past, and none of them did well there (they probably loan players from us just to mess with us lol). Besides, he's way too good for Wigan. He needed to step up his game, and playing for a team that ends up barely avoiding relegation every season wouldn't have helped too much. I think he'll find a decent competition (not like the one he was involved in here with Drogba, Torres and Sturridge around) at Albion, and that's a good thing.

Arsenal to win something? Unheard of.

Dear diary, today I learned how to peel a banana.

5th place finish in the league right behind Arsenal & retain Champions League title.

I don't believe this. How did you manage to beat my score with your eyes closed?

Possibly. My doctor did say it's probably due to a bacterial infection.

I've been sick these few days and haven't really felt like hanging around the forum so much recently, and I definitely don't think I should be singing. About anything seems to hurt my stomach at the moment, and you know how passionately I sing.

22.5 s.

He should be, though I can't see why Di Matteo would want to start him.

Nice. EE? Is it fun?

Hungry. My stomach's been burning for 2 days now and I had trouble breathing last couple nights. And today, I skipped breakfast and couldn't finish lunch, and since I've only been able to eat a banana.

A bit random, but yeah.

I think I might have gastritis. I'm too young to die!

Both Mikel and Lampard are quality players, and I don't think it's right to fault one of them for our double pivot problem. It's just that when they're both occupying the pivot, we severely lack pace, which causes a lack of drive forward and inadequate tracking back. I think throwing in someone pacy like Ramires or maybe even Essien in the midfield should help (ex: Lampard & Essien or Ramires & Mikel), but I don't think Mikel and Lampard will make such a great duo.