Why isn't it fitting?  Give me a decent reason that isn't rooted in your dislike of Chelsea and Terry.

Your clue isn't a clue. You're not a Sunderland fan and suggesting ''many were (livid)" changes nothing, especially without evidence.  Indeed it proves my point about tribal football supporters.

Jesus wept, I've not commented on either Terry nor the 'guard of honour'. I poked fun at Moyes. If you're going to be petulantly unhappy until I've praised Terry's career, that's your problem.

Whether I like Terry or not has no bearing on this. I simply don't accept that a football game should be stopped for a gratuitous act of self indulgence such as this, irrespective of who the player is, irrespective of the club he plays for and irrespective of how long he has played for said club.

Moyes and Sunderland have shown themselves up by pandering to Chelsea's request. Let's suppose the shoe was on the other foot and Terry had played his entire career at Spurs/Arsenal/Liverpool/ManCity or Man Utd. I cannot, in a month of Sundays, imagine any of those clubs making the same type of suggestion to Sunderland. It's so small time.

Maybe I misunderstood: who is 'Gollum'?  I thought you were having a dig at Terry; I don't do nicknames.

"It's so small time" tells me all I need to know about your small-minded attitude.

End of discussion.

Ah, explains it. Gollum is Moyes, and I was replying to Smerc saying he couldn't understand why Sunderland had agreed to it.

Anyway, now the dust's settled a bit and the ticker's returned to normal rate, time to reflect on the season.

Arsenal so very nearly pulled of another miracle sprint finish. After some seriously patchy form, they ended up winning their last 5 games (and 8 of their last 10). Why is it they only pull their finger out when the title's already lost? I can see both Ozil and Sanchez leaving this summer, so more rebuilding for Arsene (someone on RAWK suggested we should lodge a bid for Sanchez for £40,000,001 ). Will failure to land a CL spot finally see the purse strings opened in a flurry of escaping moths? Wenger seems stubborn in refusing to accept the transfer model has moved on massively - there's very few bargain-bin nuggets these days, whilst £30m only buys a decentish player.

Liverpool so nearly buggered it up, and needed a decent set of results to keep them at bay (21 points from last 10 games, including 10 from last 4). I saw a table showing all the teams after 19 games. We were already into our January slump but sat in 2nd. We struggled without the pace & unpredictability of Mane, and must address that this summer.

Spurs need to keep that side together, and I think they will for at least one more season. Great team to watch and deserve some silverware, but that league is going to be so tough next year: both the Manc teams will throw more money at their problems (another quarter-billion from the scummy tossers in Salford?).

Chelsea will need to juggle CL football, and the issue with this is not so much fatigue as not having a full week to train/prepare for the next opponent. I dare say the Russian crook will open the wallet again to beef-out the squad.

City have looked superb in some games in the latter end of the season, but have fallen flat in others. I think Guardiola's learned much this season, which will stand them in better stead, and there's some real special talent coming through there.

One thing's for sure, Maureen will continue to be a complete & utter cock.

So after bookies confirm that a lot of people bet of Terry being subbed in the 26th minute, and Chelsea confirming they staged the kicking out of the ball at a set time... aren't they guilty of spot-fixing?

I'm sure there'd be a certain group who'd welcome an 8-point deduction.

Its not an issue, I'm surprised at the fuss...its not like there appears to be irregular betting patterns now corresponding with a 26th minute substitution...oh hold on.....

Quite. Pure co-incidence I'm sure.

"One bookmaker said it had paid out on three bets, with one customer claiming he had been paid at 100-1 on a £25 stake.

He was given his winnings after being involved in an exchange on Twitter with the bookmaker as to whether the substitution occurred in 26th minute, when the board went up for Terry to come off, or the 28th minute, when he left the pitch.

The bookmaker said: "Clearly the send-off was planned for the 26th minute to commemorate JT - hence why we paid out."

Another successful gambler, who staked £10, anonymously told the Press Association: "I only put money on this because I thought this is surely going to come in.

"I don't normally bet. It's only the second time I've ever placed a bet.

"I was surprised the odds were that high."

Meanwhile: "Terry has admitted his 26th-minute farewell was his idea and he had agreed it with manager Antonio Conte."

My view: What a self absorbed little prick Terry is.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39999708

Agreed. It's the fact it was his idea that makes it so vomit worthy IMO. Had it been anyone else within the club it wouldn't have been as bad. Given his past events on and off the field it was always going to be disliked by anyone other than Chelski fans. It being Terry's own vile concoction makes it, as you say 'Merc, a very self-absorbed decision indeed 

I was watching the news the other night and the reporter was in the US, at the release of Chelsea Manning. Half expected to see John Terryin full kit trying to get on the photos.

Moyes finally gives Sunderland fans a little cheer by resigning.

Betting irregularities are relevant because?

Is that actually a genuine question?

Why do you need to ask that?  Of course it is: in what way are people placing a bet on something, and bookmakers agreeing to give an event odds, relevant to Chelsea agreeing to mark the end of someone's 22-year career?

Your naivety astounds me. Next you'll be saying that the 'pillar of society' that is Roman Abramovich made his money respectably.

Fat Sam has resigned from the Palace job.

No guard of honour, by the way.

Seems he's retiring from football management!

in what way are people placing a bet on something, and bookmakers agreeing to give an event odds, relevant to a Pakistan bowler telling his betting pals that he's going to bowl a wide with his 4th ball of the first over?

Not remotely comparable, as well you know.

Nkt a bad effort though, Saint.

Is that the best you can do?  Lost one point so you try something even more bizarre.

Nice.