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Listed below are comments made by nibs between Wednesday, 18th November 2009 and Saturday, 5th December 2009.

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England get luck of the draw 01:24am on 05 Dec 2009
Even looking at the pre-draw odds for what they're worth, England's group is only one of two where the best opponent was given 100/1, and only one of two where the 2nd best was 250/1!

Coming straight after the softest ever 2006 proper and 2010 qualification draws, the level of FLUKE is beyond belief! This time even the location for the 1st game & knockout was right on the money!
England get luck of the draw 00:14am on 05 Dec 2009
22. At 11:32pm on 04 Dec 2009, anglophil wrote:

"I believe the England group will be more difficult than it first appears. If you analyse the FIFA standings of the group members, only 2 groups are harder. If you exclude the seeded teams from each group (France rather than SA in group A) and analyse the opposition, England has the 2nd most difficult set of opposition. If you look at the most difficult 2 opponents for each seeded side (to exclude some of the patsies) England again has the 2nd most difficult group."

Mate what are you on about? First of all why do you put France rather than SA as 'seeded', the comparison is what opponents England and the other top seeds could have got (hence France not SA) and which they did get. Second, comparing the 2 most difficult opponents for the seeded sides -patsies out- as expected only ONE group has lower average ranking (32 to England's 21).

US Algeria & Slovenia almost the hardest group...Next you'll be telling us the earth is flat!
England get luck of the draw 10:16pm on 04 Dec 2009
I was saying yesterday England would get the softest group out of the 8, but I am the idiot for not placing a bet on it -if there is one, I'm sure there is. It happens so often now that it's not covered by probability theory any more.
Wenger finds defeat hard to swallow 11:50am on 03 Dec 2009
I am not interested in the piece but I counted the word "Wenger" 19 times plus one in the caption.

This comes close but does not beat the record count of "Benitez" in two earlier articles.

This is what you call top drawer football punditry.
Time to play England's 2018 trump card 12:36pm on 26 Nov 2009
At 01:47 on 26 November 2009, Matt Slater wrote:

"It's the best bid, plain and simple."

No, ACCORDING TO YOU it's the best bid plain and simple.

Else we should stop all the preparations, presentations and lobbying because Matt-Slatter-somebody said England is the best bid.

It's your agenda to do what you do so I don't expect you to pick out any of the -numerous- drawbacks, first of the bid itself and also for the people in the UK. The funniest of all is the 'return of investment' you wrote towards the end, when as the Olympics specialist writer you surely know all about the shambles with the 2012 budget.

And after all you know better than anyone that it'll probably all be down to politics in the end, what Gordon Brown or whoever will offer as political or financial return to the voters and how the alliances stand. Just like for 2012 with Blair's secret meetings and who got the American votes after they were knocked out.
Benitez under spotlight after Champions League exit 12:31pm on 25 Nov 2009
Also wait for those puppet pundits now changing their minds about how the Europa League that used to be 'Mickey-Mouse' isn't so 'Mickey-Mouse' any more with Liverpool in it. Oh and also how they are now instant favourites to win it, easy.

The 'Mickey-Mouse' competition whose winner outplayed United in Monaco last year, that knocked Villa out in the qualifying round, leaves Celtic bottom & winless, gets Fulham knocked out by a Swiss club and a side that's mid-low table in Serie A, and embarrasses Everton and their 'great' manager home and away. And that's even before the really strong sides come into it.

Oh silly me I forgot, it's because they are snubbing it. Yeah, that's it. The grandiosity of the English league is such that the players are knowingly not putting maximum effort during the games. Unlike those teams from rubbish continental leagues, who live for the privilege to be on the same pitch as the EPL superstars. They are above and beyond.

Eh Phil?
Benitez under spotlight after Champions League exit 12:00pm on 25 Nov 2009
Listen to what Gary Megson said after the Arsenal game: "Arsenal can beat anyone, they can be good as anybody and no team will want to be drawn against them". The other night he'd said on their night they are better than Barcelona.

Yes Gary they've just lost to Sunderland so not so fearsome. Everyone goes on about how they are a joy to watch. Granted they are as good as anyone in Europe going forward with Van Persie in, but their defence at times can be a shambles. Not just the back 4 but the defensive midfield also. The whole of Europe knows that, it has been the case for the past 3 years.

In fact that's why they can be good "on their night". Which means when the opposition is afraid of them, are playing for the draw, sit back and don't test them. That's why in the home games they've been comfortable. Away it has been a different story. When they are under pressure the back line is suspect, and we've seen it against City, United etc and in the CL away legs, or last year Villareal 1st leg, United etc. In the round of 16 if unlucky with the draw and especially the quarters they'll be under pressure for long periods. Even lest night Liege hit the post twice had it cleared off the line and should've had a pen. Against better opposition these'll get punished.

If they drew Barca tomorrow, with them having 65% posession their defence would be tested every 5 minutes, and with the high pressure on the ball they wouldn't be able to play themselves out of trouble as they do, therefore particularly if they conceded early there's a good chance they'd get thumped.
Benitez under spotlight after Champions League exit 11:34am on 25 Nov 2009
It was also nice seeing those punters of the Sky Sports studios making a fool of themselves again. "Serie A is lame, if Chelsea, ManU or Arsenal met any of them they'd be delighted and would go through quite comfortably" - with United spitting blood to get a result against the likes of Wolfsburg/Cska at home and Arsenal conceding goals at will, and especially on the night Liverpool supposedly 'tailor-made' for Europe was knocked out with a game to spare by an Italian side with hardly any European pedigree that sits 6th in Serie A and at the weekend lost 3-2 to Parma at home.
Benitez under spotlight after Champions League exit 11:08am on 25 Nov 2009
Phil this is what you wrote after matchday 1 (16/09):

"Liverpool's subdued display will not be recalled if they reach the knockout phase, WHICH THEY SURELY WILL."

So if you want not to remain the laughing stock in the future you have to start showing some RESPECT, boy.
Weighing up Button's McLaren move 4:37pm on 18 Nov 2009
Bottom line is that, after playing it tough for a few weeks, McLaren proved too weak and succumbed to the pressures of Hamilton Management aka Anthony not to accept a top driver in the team. Something Montezemolo had refused to do when the same candidate knocked on his door.

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