Is that club still owned by those horrible tin-pot little money-grubbing oiks? If so I can well undestand.

Board at United has thrown its weight behind Mourinho, which means he'll be out on his arse next week.

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The Ferret
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I believe that the comment was that, to stay in management in the EPL, he would even manage Palace - so perhaps not quite the affirmation that it would seem

A stairway to Heaven and a Highway to Hell give some indication of expected traffic numbers

Mourinho might even choose to walk as he has evidently got an unsettled first team and regrettably it is player power that usurps management, irrespective of past glories.

For the smaller teams like Burnley & Huddersfield, I really feel for their situations as both have played superbly in recent years but must be feeling the strain of limited resources when compared to the bigger clubs. Burnley was always going to be stretched playing Europa league alongside Premiership & Cup competitions - they just haven't got the depth of squad to manage all just as we wouldn't. I hope that Dyche and Wagner are kept.

Ooh hark at him and his metric ways!

Palace since 19 August 1972. Palace 1 (Tony Taylor) Liverpool 1 (Emlyn Hughes)

I'm at a loss to know what Rafa has done wrong. According to today's "i" newspaper, he said, "I'm surprised because normally the FA deal with these comments (i.e., Wilf's), but I have a lot of confidence in Andre Marriner. He has experience - even if his record with our players is not the best in terms of red cards, but I am quietly confident. He is a very good referee with experience and he will deal with the situation in a normal way." That last sentence could easily have come from the Referees' Association, or whatever they're called.

I frankly don't think Rafa's gentle criticism of the FA for not dealing with Wilf - if that's how the FA are interpreting what he said - is any worse than Wilf's criticism of referees for not giving him more protection. Or do they think Rafa's criticising Marriner? What if he'd said, "I know Andre has given us a few red cards" (how many is it, by the way?) "but he's a very good and experienced referee, in whom I have confidence." Same sentiments, different wording. The FA are thin-skinned, self-important and self-serving.

He tried to influence an appointed referee which has been against the rules for nearly 10 years now.

"Clubs are being advised that any media comments by managers, players or any other club officials relating to appointed match officials prior to a fixture will no longer be allowed," read an FA statement. "Such pre-match comments will be deemed improper and dealt with accordingly.

"Post-match comments in relation to match officials and incidents are still permitted provided they are not personal in their nature, imply bias or attack the integrity of the officials in charge of the match, or in any other respect bring the game into disrepute."

Optimistic as ever