Mucky Duck

No, that was him just squirming in disbelief at such an awful game of football!

That's just asking for trouble… even with a pantechnicon fully-loaded with gold bullion and driven to his home personally by Man City's owner, he managed to win only the SFA cup. He might as well have filled the team with outcasts from the local donkey sanctuary! Come to think of it…

Well it's shame to lose anyone from any forum because they feel they don't fit in. Isn't there a common ground? I think we just have to live with the fact that our written words can be interpreted wrongly far more easily than chatting face to face. There's no reason not to have good, robust debate as long as it doesn't get out of hand… and it's no different to anywhere else on RMweb.

I understand it's all part of the rivalry RD and, as mentioned, I wasn't offended. I did notice your absence from here for a while after last May and can understand why. Of course, absolutely the last team I'd like to take any major honours would be Man United, although I have to say that - for reasons to do with arrogance, most recently being the presence of Mourinho and Ronaldo - I've increasingly loathed Real Madrid to a similar level. Last weekend fell into place perfectly for my team and I was, indeed, highly delighted. Last night went the other way but it didn't bother me too much that United had already progressed as it means a busier schedule for you guys. I also agree with you to a certain extent that about luck in the Champions League and that, on paper, Chelsea were not good enough to win it but they did the right things at the right time and got away with it. It wasn't a great spectacle or a particularly good advert for football but it brought the cup home and I guess that's what it's all about these days. I sincerely hope your lot don't manage the same feat and I don't think you will. However, being a City supporter, I also have these dreaded little thoughts that it could all go horribly wrong.

Not offended at all (although I do find the little digs in your signature a bit cheap). While Man City remain league champions, everything's like water of a duck's back to me - and it's not as if Man United are going to win the Champs League anyway… like City, they're just nowhere near good enough currently. I'd have thought you'd prefer Man City to have progressed through the group stages though. Now we can concentrate on the Premiership, which can only mean bad news for the other teams… barring a huge dose of Cityitis.

Really don't think it's gonna be Pep. I suspect he'd prefer a project where he knows he'll be given time so I think that Abramovich has made a mistake getting rid of Di Matteo at this stage if he's trying to attract Guardiola now or in the future.

Unbelievable… or perhaps not, Abramovich is excessively ruthless. According to the BBC, at 262 days in charge, Di Matteo lasted longer than previous Abramovich managers Villas-Boas (256), Avram Grant (247) and Luiz Felipe Scolari (223). I could kind of understand had he not won anything during that time.

Having only seen my team's game I can't comment on other matches, only results… thus, from my point of view, yesterday was almost perfect. On one hand Steve, one could say that Villa should feel hard done by to have lost 5-0, especially with that extraordinary penalty decision but in the cold light of day I'm not sure I agree. Man City hadn't been beaten before that game (they haven't been beaten at home since 2010), they traditionally start games slowly and score most of their goals in the second half. They were basically camped in Villa's half for most of the match and, looking at it another way, had their strikers been on better form it could have been a cricket score. I agree that so far the quality hasn't been great in Premiership this season but what's even more telling is the inconsistency of every team… with the exception of the bottom pair who have been consistently poor (at least Southampton tend to show great spirit before collapsing). It all points to the fact that there are no easy games, as Colin suggests. It's all shaping up to what I'm hoping will be a classic second-half to the season… and wouldn't discount Liverpool for a top four just yet. I wonder how long Sparky will last at QPR and wonder where Man City would be now had he not been given the push! As for the red card problem? Compulsory substitution (so only two subs left) for a red or two yellows except in the case of violence in which case, sorry but the culprit has let down his team-mates and fans, so shouldn't be subbed. Speaking of which, Fulham's Brede Hangeland has just received his marching orders against Sunderland. It was a 0-0 stalemate up till that point…

Was only just yesterday listening to Wishbone's Silver Shoes and Don't Come Back from the There's The Rub album… Andy's guitar playing raised the duck goosebumps a tad.

That V2 looks like a great donor for a weathering project

Hi Wibble. Congratulations on getting published in MRJ again… shame they're nearly all black & white images. Hornsey Broadway is simply stunning, even better than the impressive Wybdenshaw (what happened to that?). Are you likely to post more HB images here?

Nice to see friendly rivalry… seems a little more difficult to achieve with us Mancs! I'll second that! Not sure Dzeko would appreciate that comment but you're right, it does seem to be a 'feature' …even Silva, who at first glance looks a mere slip of a lad, has powerful legs. Have faith, dear boy, but I do know the feeling… after a certain 'sick swan' in Stretford last season I avoided commenting in the immediate aftermath for the very same reason… had to make do with an inner glow of pure satisfaction - but then we all know what happened in the 93rd minute of the last game of the season! Now this season is starting to take shape… it's gonna be interesting.

Or… His pets don't smoke because he never forgets to turn off the grill in time! Sorry, I'll get me coat!

Maybe he told them not to smoke because he's almost as allergic to cigarette smoke as he is to punctuation.

In a world of increasing musical mediocrity, it's refreshing to see true genius at work