Peter

Never win at Palace eh, early 90''s won at Selhurst 3 years on the trot, Lee Power, Chris Sutton, Jeremy Goss, Chris Sutton, David Phillips, Rob Newman and probably some others scored during that period. Only recently we go there with no expectation, Gunny and Gossy tell them how to do it.

Didn''t Saturday give you any hope, lets cling to slender hopes until 17.00 Saturday.  I think it unlikely but a similar performance it would not be impossible. 

3 defeats on the trotfor the Geordies, out of 2 cups and defeat to City would be nice, Souness to get the boot, former Scummers to face disappointment.  And Bellers to return to SJP in triumph.  This would top of their season.  Freddie it couldn''t happen to a nicer (I joke) rotund Chairman, the Geordie Robert Chase, unless it was Chelski of course (am I getting bitter now). 

Mike Riley, perhaps one of the poorest of an extremely inept bunch or referees that officiate in the Premiership, I can''t remember the names of all of them but they include Howard ? (ref against MU), Halsey, ,Poll, Riley etc. etc. Help me here I can remember some of the dodgy haircuts. From the current list I would exclude Dermot Gallagher (does he still officiate) and Mark Clattenburg who in his first season looks a cut above the others. So don''t expect Saturdays official to be any good, he will be equally poor as its only Palace and Norwich and not Man U, Chelsea or Arsenal, who sem to get all the fifty fifty decisions.  Nb though Palace are at home, if they can''t be biassed towards a big club the home club will do.  

An early goal against City and it could be over, Palace will relax, but a win for Palace is essential, one point for either team is simply not enough. Early goal for City and it would be very interesting, however last minute goal will also do very nicely.

Nottingham Forest (not Notts thats County) have long played football the right way, they don''t deserve Megson''s brand of the beautiful game, Cloughie will be spinning right now. Forest the first small city club to make an impact in footballing terms, followed by City and unfortunately Scumtown, outside the heartlands of London, NW and NE, it is sad to see their demise and lets hope they can reverse this trend and be a force again.  Football needs the smaller hotbeds to enrich itself.   

Pessimist by nature and now no need to change the outlook of a lifetime, however an away win Saturday there will be an ever growing chink, but until a win for City is gained, no point in losing sleep, start to think positively only after a win on Saturday. 

I may be wrong but wasn''t it only one season before the two Andy''s Townsend and Linighan left for capital glory, missing out on becoming true legends. Is Andy Townsend really a creditable pundit ?

Success would be able to hold my head up, because we truly did our best.  I can''t as this season has been an embarrassment, Delia coming a distant second to Worthy''s under achievers.  Too late now for the old up and at em. Can anyone truly say this was my best, certain exceptions apart you know who he is ? or perhaps you don''t.

It is rumoured Ruud "Red Rum" v Nistelrooy might be on the bench for Utd instead of running at Aintree, lets hope so.  If any team or player has been on a poor run the obvious antidote is a game against City.  It happens far too often to be a coincidence, a game against City the "perfect pick me up.  Get your money on now.

This is excellent news if true, hopefully not a haemothorax Gary Holt life threatening situation which before its diagnosis was treated with similar delight. Craig I advise 6 weeks complete rest.

Yes stuffing the Urinals would be some small compensation. I sem to remember pre Prem I think we were unbeaten in 6 consecutive matches against MU, until 3-0 reverse at Carrow Rd which was all ticket which I only found out after driving 100 miles to be stopped on Carrow Bridge.  Another reason if I needed one to hate the Red Scum.

With 7 games to go and riding high in the fair play league, although it doesn''t amount to a hill of beans, to jeopardise a potential round or two of money spinning, so you can impress Worthy at the eleventh hour by getting stuck in and getting booked or sent off (I am looking at you Yussef), maybe a price not worth paying.  There seems little point to it at this late hour. Perhaps Europe may be seen as a distraction too far. I am not advocating Euro football but it would make economic sense, Worthington Cup (ironic name that) !st round exit is never particularly lucrative is it?   

Lets have new category of caution for diving or simulation, you would need the equivalent of 3 yellows to be sent off if one offence is for diving.  If player receives two yellows for diving and replays post match reveal both were actual dives this would become sending off and suspension.  If booking for dive was in fact a foul rescind yellow after the game. I advocate booking each apparent dive as it happens, this would stop it at a stroke, referee cannot always be certain player has dived, 3 times in match is unlikely to result in a sending off for diving, review diving offences after each game. Thank you for reading hope you get my drift.      

Huckerby is played wide left but delivers with his right therefore always need to cut in, that is what he does, should be so easy to send him down the left, but surprisingly teams of the calibre of Arsenal and Chelsea failed to do so and two goals.  He may be predictable but is our only effective source other than Bents v Bolton. Lets have a tru right winger not seen since Disco and Ruel, ex Womble at Cardiff might be the answer. But Hucks is a brightish light in a depressing sea of mediocrity.  We will need him next year, lets hope all this transfer talk is rubbish otherwise we will really see what we shall be missing. 

Worthy has found some steely determination from somewhere, suddenly dropping people and trying to instil an uncompromising approach. I may have applauded this attitude if it happened a little earlier in the season perhaps August.  However getting tough now just looks silly after all we have had to hear after each abject failure.  Are you just trying to sound tough to keep a job?, have you noticed how lately Kezman at Chelsea has been issuing rallying cries and defending Mourinho, wouldn''t be necessary if you weren''t such c**p earlier in the season, goodbye Matey. Getting back to Worthy, it took far too long to recognise the potential of Shackell, Flemo still plays on Saturday.  Docherty and Charlton must be well fed up, what for them next season, we shall need them for next years battles. We can still do it !, sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings but we have absolutely no chance of staying up, despite what messrs Worthy and Dowie spout, we were doomed a long time ago.  Post Xmas down with the decorations which has long been the City way has returned after a briefg sojourn in 2004. Worthy in or out ? I don''t know but he is certainly looking desperate now, too late for the change of heart. Hoping we can buck the trend of recent demotees of the Premiership and come back stronger and WISER eh Worthy. 

Perhaps you ought to have watched him a bit closer. Sure he shows talent sporadically and will go onto have a useful career, but a star he ain''t at the moment and it looks unlikely.  David Bentley is no Dennis Bergkamp.  And is unlikely to get the Arsenal No 10 shirt, which apparently was a major factor in joining City. Stop believing the hype, improve your attitude and your work ethic and just maybe.

Phil Mulryne was on the bench last night but was playing for N Ireland. Out of contract this summer. Please keep up.

What would it take to prise Ashton away, bids would have to exceed £3m otherwise we will take a loss on the deal with payment owed to Crewe.  Will anyone pay more for a promising player who has sparkled in patches for a handful of games.  This seems unlikely and I expect Deano to lead our charge next season, if it doesn''t succeed it will be goodbye Deano.  I am also sure the rewards are detailed in his contract for staying loyal.

The Danish wonderkid recently signed for the academy was involved in car accident Good Friday and has broken bones in his neck. It can''t be good news, so looks goodbye to a promising City career.  

Possible additions to midfield for next season: Dickson Etuhu if Preston dont go up and Francis leaves. Johnnie Jackson (Tottenham) Sidwell Reading probably too expensive, but may have Francis money. Bullard but Wigan to go up probably. Koumas would he come ? Would also like both left and right midfield, still unsure if Jonson will stay and if good enough, oh for a Disco Dale or Ruel.  Hucks presumably will fit left middle or be accomodated there. I am sure there are other suggestions you can make!  

We have had a long debate ongoing on this board whether we should have spent £2m on the lanky one, who is now pulling up trees for the Saints. Would he have done the same for the Canaries, it does seem improbable given there is no service to our forwards from the right, and last year in a poorer quality division Crouchy only managed 4 goals in 12/13 games.  Also hucks service from the left cannot be relied upon. No mate you made the correct choice, if Worthy had signed you unlikely he would have played you given how the other close season signings have fared. We must hope Worthy learns from his mistakes i.e. tactics, constantly playing his underperformin favourites, substitutions, selecting other options etc. etc.  But who amongst us can be certain he will change ? If we waited 9 years for Prem football and were served up with the poor fare we have witnessed this season do we really want to go up, who will be happy in stuffing the Binners twice each year ? 

Is Worthy blind, yes when it comes to our skipper. Should have been moved aside earlier in the season probably August.

Craig Fleming makes yet another rallying cry on todays Pink Un. To be honest I am getting a little peeved at our captain expressing himself regarding what we ought to be doing on such a regular basis, Craig should take a look at himself ask himself what could he be doing better and take some action, Worhty apparently is not inclined to take positive action in Flem''s case. Flem can talk the talk but walking thats another matter. 

Certainly a valid point, but then the we would have to include Worthy who for some reason known only to Worthy is going for Flem to play every minute City play in the Prem.