The College Dropout

Been terrible the last 2 but must be exhausted.

We’ve had 4 clean sheets all season apparently. 4.

It would be very Newcastle United to get relegated from this position.

Fancy all 3 English clubs to go through. Chelsea seem to struggle with injuries in key positions though. They killed Real with squadd depth last season off the bench. Madrid it's the old boys with the quality + Vini. The rest generally aren't difference makers. And Vini & Benz are the only consistent goal threat. I think if Real are to win the likes of Valverde & Camavinga need to be utilised and play at their best. I've always rated Ancelotti at top clubs. And he's not giving Bale, Hazard & Jovik a sniff which makes me think they are not up to it. They barely make it off the bench. Rodrygo & the other lad are not up to it at the highest level but are seemingly better options. That's how bad they must be.

He is what he is. And that’s not a premier league footballer. if he would push and run more often at defenders he would be useful. The one time he did it he destroyed the defender.

Everton are TERRIBLE today and we are well coached. If we had more quality we would be 1 or 2 up.

No the team has been toothless. Bruno just off the pace. Getting the bal knocked from him. Everton are doing what they like in his zone. Slowing things down when we need to be quick. Has shown a nice range of passing at times though. Nice switches.

Almiron is awful. Fraser not much better today. Wood has been bad. we look slow at the back but capable, organised and deferred. Krafth is just…

We look the better coaches tesm but lack quality. Everton awful all round.

Interesting. Haven’t been impressed. Looking extremely toothless too.

Aye I didn’t grow up with sky or cable. CL nights with Des I think it was special.

The more prestigious a club the more I want them to fail. I’ve never liked Chelsea but can’t muster up the hate. I probably dislike (and like) Arsenal more. im not young enough to have any City friends to annoy me.

You’ve moved the goalposts. You said only Micah was attacking Ralf. Now 3 more pundits have done the same. Mourinho left Chelsea midtable in the league. The wheels had fallen off completely. He’s not gone on to any real success after Manchester United he was on a downward trajectory. And even then, he actually did a good job for a season. You look back at that team and it’s v. average. 2 trophies and your only 80+ point season since Fergie. Simple as - the Spartak Moscow technical director should never become Man Utd manager. He’s not managed for a decade. There’s a good argument that he shouldn’t even become Mam Utd technical director. His shitshow management undermines any good he might be able to do upstairs. This is not a bad team at all in terms of individuals. A lot more talent than the Mourinho side.

Maguire has always been good for England. Mings? man....

@Froggy I think it was this thread where I said the pundit media had turned on Ralf and this is further proof. Scholes, Hargreaves and Ferdinand basically said Ralf was not good enough or qualified to be Man Utd manager in any capacity. and Rio said something that is very true. Neville in particular is a big proponent of the ‘Manchester United way’ of long-term managers only and not getting an a-list manager who may only be there for 2-3 years and he cites Mourinho as proof that it doesn’t work. Rio said they didn’t get prime Mourinho that’s why it didn’t work. Had Mourinho replaced Fergie he would’ve won major trophies in his first couple of seasons. Mourinho and Van Gaal despite being past there best are still the only post Fergie managers to win trophies at Man Utd. Man Utd keep missing the boat on the best managers available.

Didn’t have the heart for the hustle. Stay in Spain.

Kovacic gets the ball and runs past 3 of our lot including Bruno in the second half. As you say, Kova was much fresher. I don't think Bruno is that type of midfielder. I like the way he's happy to play in tight spaces and often invites intricate 1-2's. I don't think opposition will be able to press his influences out of games the way you could a Cabaye or even a Xabi Alonso.

Most of these are v. athletic or sit deep. I'm using the word pace but what I mean is a certain type of athleticism - acceleration, power. Our league has always been filled with CMs that could really run. Cabaye was "mobile" but he wasn't very athletic. Opposition midfielders could sometimes have him chasing shadows.

Over short distances I think he's slower than Shelvey. He's got no real acceleration. Although his overall mobility and stamina seems much better than Shelvey's. From what i've seen so far anyway. He would compliment Jo really well imo. Jo has that acceleration, pace and strength. But can Jo play the intricate passing game with Bruno?

Yes. But they probably need 13 points from their last 9 games to stay up. They've managed 22 points from 29. That's a massive upswing in form.

I don't see Watford winning 4 out of their last 9. Even 3 wins, 3 draws seems like a lot. I think they end up at 32/33 points and go down. Burnley have only won 3 games all season. You expect them to go on a run but they haven't done it yet. Leeds & Everton are very vulnerable.

Richarlison scored 13 goals in each of his first 2 seasons at Everton at about 22. But he hasn’t managed 10 in the next season and 3/5’s. Really gone off the boil. if he can get back to being a 13 goal a season wide player. Great.

The RCB in a back 3 needs to be comfortable in defensive FB situations. Lascelles isn't but he did ok there to be honest.

The elbow was more red than yellow but not overly mad at that. The thing that makes it red for me was his elbow was higher than his head and he was nowhere near getting the ball. I know it's a different competition. But Koulibaly got a yellow card in the AFCON final for simply jumping with his elbows - didn't make contact or cause blood for an opponent, elbow wasn't even above his head. The penalty is a penalty. Simple. Robbed really. Positive thing is it shouldn't affect us too much this season.

Won't get more than £10m. Guéhi is 21 and went for £18m.