Why the Net has the advantage in the ‘Undies world’
- Shopping blogger Emma Iannarilli
One in one out possible for Albion
Monday 12th January 2009, 11:49AM GMT.
Albion have stepped up the chase for French striker Marc-Antoine Fortune – as Napoli weigh up a move for Baggies defender Marek Cech.
Nancy striker Fortune has emerged as Tony Mowbray’s preferred choice for a new striker and reports in France claim a Hawthorns delegation will fly in for talks.
But Mowbray may have to fend off unwanted interest in Slovakian defender Cech, with Italian sources claiming Serie A side Napoli are considering a swoop.
The manager is keen to recruit a new face up front in time for Saturday’s Hawthorns clash with Middlesbrough, especially now leading scorer Roman Bednar has been ruled out by a one-match suspension.
Reports in France say Nancy president Jacques Rousselot was preparing to meet Albion representatives to discuss a loan move for the remainder of the season.
The transfer has been halted so far by Nancy’s demands for a hefty six-figure loan fee for the services of the 27-year-old, who has fallen out of favour with the French top division outfit.
But they are now keen to bring in January signings of their own and need to free up space on their payroll, increasing the chances of a compromise.
Benfica striker Ariza Makukula remains a fall-back option for Albion, although the Lisbon club are still to be convinced of the merits of a loan deal and are holding out for a £3million permanent transfer.
Napoli are reportedly keeping an eye on Cech, who is frustrated after his £1.4million summer switch from Porto.
The Slovakia international left-back has admitted he considered his future, as he struggled to oust Paul Robinson from the left-back spot.
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Why the hell are we getting rid of Cech? TM, as much as I think you’re great pal, this an almighty mess if you sell him. I don’t blame Cech – he’s not getting played, so TM pull your finger out. Dipstick.
Shame about Lovenkrands he would have been nice, hopefully Newcastle will reject him and we can pick up the pieces!
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Tomo instead of keep thinking about bringing somebody in grasp the nettle and sign him,and pack luke moores bags please.
BOING BOING……
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I think if Cech plays against Peterborough, he’ll play against Middlesbrough too.
I am a big fan of Robbo, I always have been (well, since he learnt to cross a ball anyway) but he hasn’t been playing well recently.
I think it’s time for Cech to have a run (not 2 matches) in the team.
There must be more players coming in soon seeing as we’ve got rid of Slusarski and Sherry Mac surely?????
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I wouldnt blame Cech for wanting to go, he waits patiently for his opportunity, then when it comes along he plays well but gets dropped.
With injuries/suspensions starting to bite we look like we need strengthening all over the pitch. Olsson at times looks like hes defending on his own, the Hoff remains the worst right back in the Prem, i hope Loonies fit very soon.
I just hope we dont leave everything until the last minute, a la the summer debacle.
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News reports today reported that helicopters and airplanes were experiencing unsual atmospheric conditions while trying to land at Wolverhampton airport (halfpenny green).
Apparently it was down to the huge Wolverhampton Wanderers bubble bursting!!!
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Going down the mowbray way boing boing!!
ayeaye
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mmm not happy about tm saying villa cant play football..they are fourth and we are bottom ..whos right think tm let himself down there any way i still think he is a great mananger but stupid thing to say!!!!
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Birmingham City have come up with a 10 point plan
so Ive done the same for Tony Mowbray.
No1/Drop Carson & play Kiely.
No2/Drop that badge kisser Robinson and play Cech
who deserved to keep his place after his Man of
The Match performance against Spurs.
No3/Play Valero in his best position which is
just behind the two strikers.
No4/Sell Brunt and Beattie for money to get a
new striker.
No5/Start playing Teixeira or he will never get
fit to play.
No6/Get Zuiverloon back URGENTLY!!
No7/Start playing Dorrans who deserves a chance
N08/Stop playing so much tippy tappy football.
No9/Never play Chris Brunt again.
No10/Get Hodgkiss back in at right back.
I havnt got a problem with Mowbrays team
selection for the Villa match but I have got
a problem with him leaving Marek Cech out the
team,and then bringing Brunt on instead of him
as that second half sub.
UNFORGIVABLE!!!!!!!!!!!
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Cech should be kept. Robbo was not coping before he got injured anyway and if he had not have got injured would he have been dropped. We need cover as this may happen again. Can understand his frustration and we need him to feel more valued by playing him starting tomorrow evening.
Thanks wbababe we all need a laugh this morning!
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valero loves brum.
Is your ten point plan to get us relegated by playing hodgkiss at rights back???
you said get zuiverloon back urgently, but whats the urgency when at point ten your replacing him with hodgkiss?
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Can’t believe we bought Carson and can’t believe what we paid for him. Liverpool & Villa fans we right….. he’s useless…… I have a sinking feeling and I’m getting used to it. Hopefully them lot down the road will not get promoted and we can thrash ‘em next season! Can’t see Wolves blowing it though?
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If Cech does go,and i wouldn,t be surprised,He must be so brassed off at the moment.What has he got to do for this bloke(Mowbray).He is a far more accomplished player than Robbo,escpecially going forward.He reminds me of Stathem,and thats a big tribute.
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10. I think he meant zuiverloon with hodgkiss as cover rather than hoefkens as cover.
I’m with everyone in saying we must keep – AND PLAY – Cech.
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Lukey boy
Iam saying Hodgkiss should replace Zuiverloon until he`s fit as Hoefkens is crap!
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IT NOT REALLY IN ANY SORT OF ORDER,
IAM JUST STATING SOME FACTS!
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VLB – I’ll react to your 10 point plan as I think
1 – No, he’s better than Kiely. Did you not see the 2 saves in the 2nd half on Sat?? The save from Laursen especially was point blank!!
2 – Yes, I’d agree with that at present
3 – As you know, I don’t think Valero’s really earning his shirt at present, but maybe that could work….I’ve not seen him play there so couldn’t tell you.
4 – People need to offer us actual real money for them, if no-one’s doing that, how can they sell them?
5 – Play a bloke who’s unfot to get fit?!?!
6 – Play a bloke who’s injured urgently?!?!
7 – I agree with that one, should at least get a start on Tuesday IMO
8 – Yes, we do need to mix it up again more like we did against Man City especially
9 – Never again is a bit harsh, but he hasn’t played well recently I would agree.
10 – Jared Hodgkiss has had 1 decent match for the Albion and that was against Bristol Rovers in the Cup last season. He is not Championship level, never mind Premier League level. Sell him on ASAP!!
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i’m sick of reading all the negativity guys! right – so carson made a mistake on sat, but what about the fantastic saves he made and the points he’s clearly got for us in other games? plus barnett shouldn’t have allowed abonglahor to get that far anyway, so it’s no good blaming just carson. Everyone makes mistakes yet when it’s the keeper it’s more noticeable. so get off his case guys, still rate him higher than kiely or have you forgotten some of his performances last season!?
agree that cech should play over robbo, but mowbray doesn’t seem to want to drop him, so play him left midfield and drop brunty who doesn’t add anything to the team – useless at tracking back and cech is a lot more skillful.
gutted about mozza being out for at least the 2 boro games, he’s the one player who really makes a difference. hopefully with tex back he’ll take over that role of pushing forwards and actually wanting to shoot! at stoke when tex came on he made an impact – hopefully he’ll be fit for sat.
did anyone really expect to get anything from villa anyway? we played a top 4 team, away, and lost by just 1 goal. nothing to be ashamed of. it’s the other games we need to win – here’s hoping for 6 points from the next 3 games!!
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I have to say that apart from his first 5 or 6 games Zuiverloon has been very dissapointing. He gives the ball away in advanced positions and the can’t be bothered to chase back, gets caught the wrong side to often and backs off so much he is in danger of falling over the advertising hoardings. Robbo should be sold as the only person who thought he was any good was Robson and we know what a good judge he was (not). We need some pace and power in the team we are tippy tappy with no end product and a team of smurfs would over power us. TM can crticisie the Villa’s style but look at the results. I think the crticism of moore is harsh to guys, against Spurs and man City he looked good because he ran the channels and we hit him early, on Saturday we went back to square passing and moving the ball so slowly it was easy to defend against us. One final point Simpson looked good for a short time early on then he kept getting caught in possesion. Why did he start Bednar on the bench?
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8.
Is this a cunning Baldrick 10 point plan?
1 Carson has done brilliantly for us. Look to defence for Saturday’s goal.
2 Cech played well going forward against ten man Spurs.
3 Okay.
4 Do you have buyers lined up?
5 He isn’t fit and you can’t play him until he is.
6 See 5, also do you really think TM hasn’t thought of this?
7 Possibly.
8 I assume you mean hoofing it up the middle.
9 Agree he’s struggling at the moment but never again?
10 Hodgkiss was found out in the CC, certainly wouldn’t have a chance in the Prem.
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17.. Laura could not agree more about Carson yes he made a mistake but your are right he made 2 wonderful saves. As an ex goalkeeper(semi pro only i’m afraid)I wlll always stick up for goalkeepers after all if the 10 people in front of the keeper did there job correctly the keeper should never really touch the ball
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Can I just add, on a completely seperate story that I’d like to wish Curtis Davies and the Villa all the best for the rest of the season.
I thought Davies was the man of the match, did exceptionally well getting his head on the ball for his goal, and despite having the Albion fans jeer him throughout showed honourable grace in his muted celebration.
Quality player, a nice guy, and still won’t be bad mouthed by this small part of the Smethwick End as he was fantastic for the Albion.
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The performance on Saturday proved we are capable of holding our own at this level. Defensive lapses cost us again but we were once again very venerable in the full back positions. Robbo is a great servant but his current form does not warrant him a place and Cech has to be re-instated.
The centre backs are being drawn out of position far too often to cover for slackness at full back and their lack of pace. Zuiverloon may have the pace but lacks the defensive quailites needed in the Prem – besides a striker and defensive midfielder we do need a right back.
I love the way TM plays the game but we have too many of the same type of player in midfield and Valero was not good a buy Greening, Morrison on the right, a defensive midfielder and a quality pacy left hand side player together with Simpson & Bednar until we obtain the right striker may just see us climb the league.
It doesn’t matter whether it is Carson or Kiely they are both suspect but they will have to see the season out.
3 points on Saturday and we are in the mix with Spurs, Pompey and Boro all struggling there maybe some of the older brigade on the way down.
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Laura
I agree entirely, yes, Carson should have dealt with it better, but he should not have been so exposed in the first place.
I wished people would look at the events leading up to the goal, we were attacking and lost possesion all too easily, when Agbonlhor recieved the ball he had two defenders around him, who decided to go on “walkabout” of aborigne proportions.
Carson is a young and excellent keeper who is big enough to deal with setbacks, and will get better for it, for heavens sake in the mistake market he is a learner compared to David James,
but for all his b****** James remains Englands best keeper.
Finally…i cannot believe all the call for Kiley, i bet these are the same people who berrated him last season.
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Nice that everyones ignored the token Wolves fan (No6) after we’ve had a proper derby match. Guys be honest, who really expected us to get anything from it before the match? Theyre 4th, we’re bottom. Admittedly we should have done but 9 times out of 10 as much as it hurts they’d beat us simply cos of the quality they have.
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Koren, valero, greening, hoefkins, brunt have all been big dissapointements this year. Koren is not good enough to play right wing in a kick about in the park let alone the prem.
We have no out and out wide men like the villa. Therefore we play to narrow and through the centre all of the time. We need width to pull players out of position and create clearer chances. Playing a midfield of koren, valero and greening is asking for trouble.
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8. you out your mind? Carson makes 1 major mistake and you want him out? get a grip, Kiely was pathetic in the championship he is over the hill what chance does he have. Take that out of your 10point plan for a start!
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On a complete seperate note 9sorry to change the subject) has anybody heard the rumour we might be signing greece’s international forward Angelos Charisteas. Just wondered what you all thought to that one?
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Birmingham City have come up with a 10 point plan
so Ive done the same for Tony Mowbray.
No1/Drop Carson & play Kiely.
A: Carson pulled of fantastic saves after that and Kiely wouldnt be good in prem. He wasnt good in championship
No2/Drop that badge kisser Robinson and play Cech
who deserved to keep his place after his Man of
The Match performance against Spurs.
A: Agrees
No3/Play Valero in his best position which is
just behind the two strikers.
A: Agreed. Played there for mallorca and was very good.
No4/Sell Brunt and Beattie for money to get a
new striker.
A: Not sure
No5/Start playing Teixeira or he will never get
fit to play.
He’s fit and has got to play. Play him at middelsborough for 1/2 hour
No6/Get Zuiverloon back URGENTLY!!
A: Been poor but better than Hoefkens
No7/Start playing Dorrans who deserves a chance
A: Agrees
N08/Stop playing so much tippy tappy football.
A: Cant disagree more, Especially Greening
No9/Never play Chris Brunt again.
A: Harsh but agrees
No10/Get Hodgkiss back in at right back.
A: Would be awful for prem and I think hes gone to Aberdeen anyway.
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Laura
WHY DO YOU THINK VILLA GOT RID!
CARSON IS A CLOWN!
He almost blew it for us against Man City and
done that very thing against Villa,Kiely deserves
another chance.
THE REASON YOU WANT HIM IN THE TEAM IS BECAUSE
YOU FANCY HIM!!
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I have seen and watched many Albion Keepers play since 1959 many of the very best keepers, that played in goal for the Albion making massive errors on Judgement and some howler’s in mistake’s which made me laugh. But Carson is not an Experienced keeper in this division, as he is still learning his trade. His experience will come over a few season’s to which the defence in my view is to blame for those goals. Young Hodgkiss would not allow the Villa forward to have an open door run into the goalmouth and free shot and goal like Saturday, Hodgkiss and Cech back into Defence for me.
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valero loves brum
do you remember the howlers kiely has made.
The trwo at burnley that went 10 feet to a burnley player and we went 2-0 down. Or last seasons shocker in the 3-2 win over colchester, in which he was a fault for both goals.
In response to the man city goal, it was a great back heal that took a huge deflection off brunt.
WE all make mistakes, i slept with a pig in cyprus last year who looked like a man when the beer googles went.
e
Its a learning curv
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The game against Middlesboro next saturday is a must win for us if we dont then I am afraid we will be cannon fodder for the rest of the season.
with Man Utd H Arsenal H Liverpool H we have to get some points of them before the season ends and our last game away at Blackburn in May
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Get Kanu back.
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MY ALBION TEAM FOR FA CUP MATCH:
Kiely,Hoefkens,Donk,Barnett,Robinson,
Cech,Valero,Koren,Greening,Teixeira,Simpson.
I wouldn`t risk Olsson due to our injurys in
defence and there`s no point playing Bednar
if he`s suspended for Boro match,I`d experiment
with Teixeira and Simpson up front!!
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Chech presents a bit of pace on the overlap, more offensive and mobile than Robbo (luv u robbo but)Check was was my man of the match v Man City and did well against spurs….what happens he’s dropped..
least Mogga could do was to bin Hoffkeans and play Chech at right back The hoff is plain awful at this level..give check a break he’s done his time in the stiffs
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valerolovesbrum – erm, no I don’t fancy carson. I like the way that you assume because i’m girl i’m only sticking up for a player because i fancy him? i do actually know something about football, go to home AND away matches, I don’t watch it just for the players!
wasn’t the reason villa didn’t sign him because there was something in the contract saying they had to pay £10m? and didn’t villa do well last season with him in the team? maybe he wasn’t worth the £10m liverpool wanted – he’s a young keeper so fair enough. but to say drop him for kiely is ridiculous. there have been plenty of games where carson’s got us points – middlesborough away, bolton away just to name a couple. if you’re going to start blaming individual players for losing points how about you target the defenders who mess up, or pick on the strikers who don’t score enough goals. just because carson’s mistakes are more obvious you pick up on them. he’s done far more to prove to me he’s a brilliant keeper who will only improve than to say he’s rubbish. he’s calmed the defence down and we just need meite fit to replace barnett, get zuiverloon back to how he was at the beginning of the season, replace robbo with cech and we’re fine – think olsson is fabulous, him and mozza most consistent and my fav 2 pleyers at the moment (and no, it’s not because i fancy them)
end of rant, sorry!!
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Keep cech get risd of Robo, Brunt, Beatie, give dorans a game we are more direct with him in the side. How about a punt for Kumas, he’s out of favour
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how can everyone just blame carson for saturday? with hoff nowhere near his position every other defender backing off Gabi – carson had no choice but to get a block in, just bad luck!
totally agree Cech needs to stay – he won us the spurs game & robbo is more reputation than substance these days.
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think i will send a note to T.M about playing cech, robinson has had half a season to impress and has failed big time,dorrans has done enough to start in my eyes,and as i have said before a ball winning middle man,a holding/defending midfielder,an out n out right winger,and a old fashioned head the ball hit man up front with jay or bednar
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if i was T.M. i would tell the forwards to score goals,and the defence to stop them,football is SIMPLE game,always has been,always will be.
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Solihull baggie tell greening to play attacking football, i hate defensive and square. Cheers
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blimey ive just read T.Ms comment,i did’nt copy him, on my rant above ‘ honest’
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Totally agree about Cech why not play one of them
just in front of the slack 4. Its true Carson makes mistakes but woudnt Buffon struggle behind our back 4 sorry Jonas FACptn.Last two seasons they made mistakes but our prolic scorers made up for this now this just isnt happening 4-1 ON to go down JP realises this hence no funds.
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Bring back Jason Koumas on loan havent got enough pace up fron 6 ft players needed with speed please
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The Cech vs Tottenham was the real Cech, thats it!
What a player he can be. Why get rid of him, its ridiculous.
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I really hope we can keep Cech. The lad deserves a chance. Robbo has had his and has failed many times this season. I really hope TM is not a manager with favorites, but it sure seems that way at the moment.
Agree Dorrans deserves a chance also. The lads that have played all season have not done the biz, and the last few games have displayed that we do actually posses some quality in the squad. The problem is now getting TM to use it!!
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No 11 – WorcesterBaggie
You are wrong about Carson – yes it was a major error- but i can’t recall too many other errors this season. He has been solid and the only reason we haven’t conceded a lot more goals, especially when our team plays so wide open every game. Get off his back – Kiely would have conceded more goals – guarantee it
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In response to everyone’s moaning at our present form, did anyone notice how different a team we were in the 2nd half of the Villa game with Bednar on the pitch?
If you want to blame anyone, I think Mowbray deserves a fair whipping. He’s making comments about strikers not being good enough, has he forgotten he is the manager of the team. I like the look of this Simpson and I think Luke Moore is improving but they are too young and inexperienced to play together against prem league defenders.
We need a scrapper in the middle of the park and I hate to say it, I thing Greening is the man to step down. He has been awful last two games. Brunt is not good enough at this level and I know Robbo is 100% but Cech is a far better player who has earned his shirt fair and square. Keep the faith!!!!!!
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I can’t believe some of the stuff on this page. It was an exciting match, (note the word MATCH) and our bottom team matched their nearly top team on THEIR pitch. Carson was NOT to blame for their second. It was FIVE defenders and a goalkeeper against their ONE forward. Then it was one goalkeeper against one forward because the five defenders were mesmerised and froze. Why is it necessary to turn against players who need your support, especially as we CAN get out of this mess. They respond best to encouragement not jeers. Had the ref given a dead cert. penalty in the last minute the same moaners would be high as kites saying how well we played and we could have won if only the ball had been a bit rounder. One of you called another human being ‘a pig’ that turned into a bloke or some such saftness and yet wants to sell half the team. Laura, I’m with you gal and it isn’t because I fancy you as I have never seen you. You at least talk sense.
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Whoever said Cech was man of the match against Man City, honestly, just think about if Cech played in the match before saying he was our best performer!!
We’re 3 points (albeit with a worse goal difference) from safety and improving, why has everyone forgotten about this??
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Thanks Cyril!!
I don’t know why everyone’s so gloomy – beat boro on sat and we’re level on points with them and hopefully stoke, who should (hopefully) lose against chelsea. 3 points from hull, then newcastle (we might even get a point from man utd….?!) means we should be in a lot better position come mid feb if other results go our way. stay positive!
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no.21.
just like to agree with your comments about curtis davies.
thought that he handled himself with great dignity and humility.i also know that he,s a really nice human being and wish him all the best for the future.(maybe he,ll be back one day).3pts against boro on saturday and all will look a little rosier methinks.we,ll still finish no lower than 14th. keep the faith
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