midds

Chelsea fans will be loving the fact they're in such safe hands and making big decisions based on the opinions of experts They're a fucking joke of a club

Couple of things about VAR I'm pretty uncomfortable with - firstly the idea that it's a 'mistake'. It's absolutely not a mistake or an accident. That Brighton pen yesterday wasn't a 'mistake', it was a conscious and measured decision that took a few minutes to be decided by several individuals as a collective. They looked at it again and again from different angles and decided it wasn't a pen in a huge game at a vital time in the game. A mistake is stepping in a puddle or something like that, it's also usually involuntary and spontaneous. That decision was the exact opposite of a mistake. Secondly, the narrative straight away is that 'Brighton was robbed' and they were. They got the big (meaningless) public apology this morning and that will be that case closed. More people should be looking at who is directly benefitting directly from decisions like that. The focus is 100% on how Brighton lost out and 0% on how Spurs benefitted. If it's the same clubs benefitting again and again and again then maybe something will be done about it. That one decision potentially saw a 6 point swing from a Brighton win into a Spurs win. The fact it was massively dodgy and important and went directly in favour of Spurs should be the big talking point here. It's a bigger deal than just 'Brighton got robbed'

Just looked like a senior pro counselling a younger pro about what needs to be done in the final stages of a match to ensure the right result. That's pretty much his role now, quiet word here and there to just keep things ticking along without the manager needing to step in and deal with shit. Dare say Lascelles has been doing similar for the last 18 months too. Not uncommon and very healthy imo.

Totally agree. I've also sensed a willingness from Howe to take the shackles off a bit and just go for it in games in the last month or 2. Just get the best players on the pitch as much as possible and hope the system holds up enough for the talent in the final third to create and score. None more so than today - Gordon and Wilson on at HT and saying 'fuck it', get about them and see what happens. Shit or bust

When they have Casemiro back and they're a direct rival then yes. He's the difference for them this season.

Imperative we take 9-10 points from Leicester (H), Soton (H), Everton (A) and Leeds (A) mind. I've already banked those

We have a 3 point lead on Spurs, effectively 4 with the GD and still have to play them at home AND we have a game in hand. Spurs still need to play Newcastle (A), Man U (H), Villa (A), Liverpool (A) and Brentford (H). They also need to go to Leeds on the final day who might just need a point to stay up. We're in a fantastic and unexpected position right now. We keep our shit together and beat the dross then we'll be very difficult to overhaul. Absolute worst case scenario is a 5th place finish now. If the end of the season is a nightmare then we finish 5th. How fucking mental is that?

Whisper it gentlemen, but Arsenal will be secretly shitting themselves they've got Newcastle (A) in May. Especially after the demolition job we did on them 12 months ago. That could easily be their 'Liverpool 4-3' and throw a huge stick in their wheel

Making 2 subs at HT and bringing on Wilson to tweak the formation a bit to include/incorporate 2 CFs is superb pro-active management. Sometimes it just isn't working and it's a massive strength of his to a) recognise it and b) be decisive enough to make the right changes at the right times to flip a game on it's head. But for a bullshit handball it would have been 3 goals in 20 minutes following the changes. He's absolutely fucking brilliant, full stop, no debate. Not perfect but ridiculously good

If they do storm their run-in then it would also mean they beat most of Brighton, Spurs, Liverpool, Brentford and Man U in the process, which obviously benefits us too. Lowest I can see us possibly finishing is 5th which would have been unthinkable in August. I'd say we're about 60-70% for top 4 and I think Spurs will wilt in the atmosphere in our game with them.

Godfrey seems like the weak link every time I watch Everton. Getting absolutely roasted this afternoon, every attack is down his side

Absolutely not a problem mate As I say it's one of those that seemed socially acceptable but now very much isn't imo.

This is all I was getting at tbh I've used it, and other horrible words, in the past but I've stopped and certainly won't be using them again in the future. Was simply a nudge to Stif to maybe choose other words instead, no more.

"mongs"? Really? Come on.

He looked completely gassed tonight and needs a rest. No problem with bringing Targett in for a game or 2

Simply a case of seeing the chances go in rather than go wide. Last month wasn't great in that respect but we all knew the chances just weren't being converted - now they are. And we look superb tbph

Compare that performance to the shambles from Spurs last night. Chalk and cheese. We're doing this 100%

That was a Champions League performance from a Champions League team. We look strong, smart, edgy and dangerous all at the same time. Fucking love it

West Ham look turboshit. Isak will hand them their tattered arses on a plate when he comes on.

Acceptable start. One more wins it I reckon

All depends if the Chelsea players actually fancy trying to perform for Lampard tbh. If they get their heads together and decide they want to give it a go then it might just work out for them

Knows the club Safe pair of hands DNA Get's it Show us your medals etc Have I missed any?

Liverpool

Conte's ghost isn't exactly the inspirational figure that's going to turn that shitshow around. Sense a lack of belief, unity and confidence running through that team from top to bottom.

Being single