We're going to be runners up again. :-(

[PSRB]

The rumour up here from a City fans I know is that Foden suffers from Crohns Disease, hence why he's so up and down in form and fitness

[Peter]

That?ll only become a possibility if the cyborg goes the rest of the season without picking up a knock. They?re a shambles upfront without their target man. I quite like Cherki but Marmoush doesn?t look too great and Foden?s form is up and down like tower bridge. It?s on.

Right, but he probably will go through the season without getting injured. He usually does. Whereas we cant keep one striker out of three fit......

Watching Dermot Gallagher's pathetic attempt to justify the decision on the Liverpool goal, and being a complete **** about it, shows another huge problem we have. We are refereed differently.

I have a solution but nobody is going to like it. Make Declan Rice captain. Refs like him. It will do us good. And apart from anything else, he should be captain anyway.

[7sisters]

Right, but he probably will go through the season without getting injured. He usually does. Whereas we cant keep one striker out of three fit......

Watching Dermot Gallagher's pathetic attempt to justify the decision on the Liverpool goal, and being a complete **** about it, shows another huge problem we have. We are refereed differently.

I have a solution but nobody is going to like it. Make Declan Rice captain. Refs like him. It will do us good. And apart from anything else, he should be captain anyway.

He?s the captain in most people?s eyes anyway. Giving to Saka as a deputy seems mental. He?s not a communicator in the sense you?d expect from the role. If you?re not opting for Rice then at least give it to Gabriel. He bleeds Arsenal.

[Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult]

Half of them back would be great. Imagine only having three forwards injured- heaven

We have no idea yet what this squad is capable of, and if we can get some better luck with injuries we might just find out.

But one thing is for sure. Even with them all missing, we are a better side than we were at the start of the season. That's really encouraging. And we can still play a lot better....

TBF, I think thee only time since we started challenging when we saw what the squad was capable of was the half season before the WC after we'd signed Jeez and Zinny. And we were top of the table then, too.

I would love to see what this squad could do with all fit. The Vik/Kai options up top, Noni coming on for a RB so we have him, B and Odin trying to unlock a parked bus, rotating people to keep them all fit etc.

[Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult]

He?s the captain in most people?s eyes anyway. Giving to Saka as a deputy seems mental. He?s not a communicator in the sense you?d expect from the role. If you?re not opting for Rice then at least give it to Gabriel. He bleeds Arsenal.

He's articulate and intelligent, bit like Odin but speaking in his first language. Well bought up lad so he's polite. Also perhaps the biggest England star playing in the country with a WC coming up so do you want to be the ref that pushes him over the limit?

I'll be honest - I wanted Gabby cos we only win doubles with a CH 6 as skipper. But he's be more likely to lamp the ref so it makes much more sense to have a polite, well bought up young chap like Odin or B.

[Peter]

He's articulate and intelligent, bit like Odin but speaking in his first language. Well bought up lad so he's polite. Also perhaps the biggest England star playing in the country with a WC coming up so do you want to be the ref that pushes him over the limit?

I'll be honest - I wanted Gabby cos we only win doubles with a CH 6 as skipper. But he's be more likely to lamp the ref so it makes much more sense to have a polite, well bought up young chap like Odin or B.

I want a captain who will help charm the refs. Rice is the best option. Refs like him.

Sorry to say it but refs are going to have an issue with the other candidates. They are either not English or, and I hate to say this, not white.

Look at these referees. Look how they act. Look how they speak to people around them.

Give them a white, English working class lad who knows his place and they will treat him ok. Anything else and they are just itching to go after you.

The other issue with Saka is he is viewed as a cheat. We all know that is total and utter *******s. But crowds give it every week. Of course it influences referees It cant not.

I'm not labelling all refs as xenophobic and racist. But they are a bit.

[redgunamo]

I want a captain who will help charm the refs. Rice is the best option. Refs like him.

Sorry to say it but refs are going to have an issue with the other candidates. They are either not English or, and I hate to say this, not white.

Look at these referees. Look how they act. Look how they speak to people around them.

Give them a white, English working class lad who knows his place and they will treat him ok. Anything else and they are just itching to go after you.

The other issue with Saka is he is viewed as a cheat. We all know that is total and utter *******s. But crowds give it every week. Of course it influences referees It cant not.

I'm not labelling all refs as xenophobic and racist. But they are a bit.

Trouble is, they're both from London. Premier League-winning captains tend to be northern and or foreign (you may have noticed that white, working-class Englishmen are not exactly a popular or protected species just now, especially "Cockneys").

In fact, despite producing so many players, London has returned only three Premier League winning captains (Tim Sherwood, TA6 and JT?). Probably not a real surprise as practically all of our officials hail from the North, specifically the North-West. THAT'S the real, age-old, shatterproof divide in English football.

Aside from that, Rice is only a better choice than Saka insofar as Saka's position makes him presumptively dishonest, from an official's point of view. There's never really been an honest winger; they're always on the floor pleading for fouls and free-kicks and being captain just makes them worse as then they're not just doing it for themselves, they are also responsible for what's best for their team.

If it's an issue, your leading centre back is your best choice for skipper, regardless of "any other factors"

[Peter]

Trouble is, they're both from London. Premier League-winning captains tend to be northern and or foreign (you may have noticed that white, working-class Englishmen are not exactly a popular or protected species just now, especially "Cockneys").

In fact, despite producing so many players, London has returned only three Premier League winning captains (Tim Sherwood, TA6 and JT?). Probably not a real surprise as practically all of our officials hail from the North, specifically the North-West. THAT'S the real, age-old, shatterproof divide in English football.

Aside from that, Rice is only a better choice than Saka insofar as Saka's position makes him presumptively dishonest, from an official's point of view. There's never really been an honest winger; they're always on the floor pleading for fouls and free-kicks and being captain just makes them worse as then they're not just doing it for themselves, they are also responsible for what's best for their team.

If it's an issue, your leading centre back is your best choice for skipper, regardless of "any other factors"

Are you suggesting we sign a northerner?

Gabriel is a born trouble maker and refs do not like him one bit. You cant have him as captain.

[Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult]

I want a captain who will help charm the refs. Rice is the best option. Refs like him.

Sorry to say it but refs are going to have an issue with the other candidates. They are either not English or, and I hate to say this, not white.

Look at these referees. Look how they act. Look how they speak to people around them.

Give them a white, English working class lad who knows his place and they will treat him ok. Anything else and they are just itching to go after you.

The other issue with Saka is he is viewed as a cheat. We all know that is total and utter *******s. But crowds give it every week. Of course it influences referees It cant not.

I'm not labelling all refs as xenophobic and racist. But they are a bit.

Middle class snobbery - a man after my own heart.

Btw, surprised given our shared history BAs that we didn't bring up the work of the nation's finest historians when discussing which side of the civil war we'd be on.

As Sellar and Yeatman said in their seminal work*, the Cavaliers were Wrong but Wromantic while the Roundheads were Right but Repulsive. The finest historians these isles have produced. {And they don't pretend the Hossbach Memorandum didn't exist simply because it would completely undermine their book's thesis, unlike certain celebrated historians. }

*1066 And All That

[Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult]

Are you suggesting we sign a northerner?

Gabriel is a born trouble maker and refs do not like him one bit. You cant have him as captain.

He hasn't got banged up for drink driving like TA or armed robbery like Peter Storey.

I'm with Redg - if in doubt give it to the big no.6. Frank, Big Tone etc. Big DM {like PV4 or Dec} should be 2nd choice.

I had hoped that B's education and eloquence, combined with his cheeky smile and England star boy status might have counted for something. But you both reckon he's the wrong colour or from the wrong part of the country.

I was wondering if the Odin as skipper thing was that he could get AHA tickets for the refs' mums. Wasn't a girl in the '80s that didn't fancy him when he went all comic book in the video.

[redgunamo]

Are you suggesting we sign a northerner?

Gabriel is a born trouble maker and refs do not like him one bit. You cant have him as captain.

As I say, it's no issue for us as we already have a very suitable captain.

[Peter]

As I say, it's no issue for us as we already have a very suitable captain.

Then why do refs still hate us?

[Peter]

He hasn't got banged up for drink driving like TA or armed robbery like Peter Storey.

I'm with Redg - if in doubt give it to the big no.6. Frank, Big Tone etc. Big DM {like PV4 or Dec} should be 2nd choice.

I had hoped that B's education and eloquence, combined with his cheeky smile and England star boy status might have counted for something. But you both reckon he's the wrong colour or from the wrong part of the country.

I was wondering if the Odin as skipper thing was that he could get AHA tickets for the refs' mums. Wasn't a girl in the '80s that didn't fancy him when he went all comic book in the video.

Game is different now. Often refs will only talk to the captain. You need to put forward someone they respect. We only have one player they respect.

[Peter]

Middle class snobbery - a man after my own heart.

Btw, surprised given our shared history BAs that we didn't bring up the work of the nation's finest historians when discussing which side of the civil war we'd be on.

As Sellar and Yeatman said in their seminal work*, the Cavaliers were Wrong but Wromantic while the Roundheads were Right but Repulsive. The finest historians these isles have produced. {And they don't pretend the Hossbach Memorandum didn't exist simply because it would completely undermine their book's thesis, unlike certain celebrated historians. }

*1066 And All That

Don't start with that ****

[Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult]

Don't start with that ****

Name me a finer C20th work of history that 1066 and all that, P. Go on. I should go back to it as I reckon there are loads of jokes I missed aged c.10 and 20. Reading after A-levels when I'd read it ten was eye-opening, so there must be loads more joke I get now.

It should be compulsory reading at school before you have any actual lessons. Though I guess you'll be gutted when you find out William wasn't actually an orange.