80

Would have been a much uglier month without him.

I trust that's a message of support rather than him actually starting...

Would take a lot of the anxiety and pressure out of the process for clubs. Weird restraint of trade.

Think that just means both yellows get deleted i.e. he's still on three after the red card ban. It only really works in your favour if you're on the verge of the 'reset button' when an extra five potential yellows get added on before a ban, like with Bruno last season.

Thought he came across quite well here. Pretty funny hearing him talk about Shearer the way I would Jackie Milburn.

It's amazing isn't it.

I mean, it's fair enough if we don't think he'll make the grade, but if the coaching team reckon he can't manage a game against a 4th division team, it does tell a story...

See my post above about using our total second string team? Ignore it when it comes to Pope and Dubravka

He can play there in a pinch, though I was thinking more Kelly at LB with him coming in the middle. He's getting to an age where he should be able to stand up for himself in his favoured position, if we're keeping him in the squad. To be honest my view is if we can't beat Wimbledon at home with a total second string, we shouldn't be deluding ourselves into thinking we can seriously campaign in both the cups and league. This is the gimme draw we've always moaned about not getting. Lack of fatigue is going to be our superpower this season, so we shouldn't be squandering it.

A game for Alex Murphy? If he's not suitable for a home tie against AFC Wimbledon, he should be on loan... Give Hall the night off.

15 years ago was 2009 - the majority of forwards definitely would've gone down. Need to go back 25-30 years to have any confidence in them staying on their feet or being seriously condemned if they didn't. Ironically, people with no foresight were using incidents like this as evidence of why we needed VAR to ensure they got ruled out. Instead it just helped formalize the process. In the post match interview, Gordon was claiming he was more likely to have shot if VAR didn't exist (not sure I believe him, mind).

As I said before, I wouldn't mind if that kind of penalty was ruled out as a dive, but that would mean we'd have a LOT less penalties in general nowadays. Standard stuff. Left foot gets caught and Gordon tries to make it extra clear as he hops over with his right. The lack of Man City complaints tells it's own story.

Had the same thought. Think it's plausible Gordon ended up being more suited to today's game.

100% agree. If - in an alternative universe - things went south with Gordon, well it wouldn't be easy to claim we offered anything other than support and loyalty. Potential signings would look at that. And obviously, that goes for the bigger picture too. If your reputation is for unity and backing through difficult situations, then it'll be taken a lot more seriously if anything else ever becomes needed.

All makes sense. But in a way Gordon's been emblematic of our season so far, in terms of high hopes and questions being asked - feels like where he goes our team will go - so I reckon they'll all get the message. Wor Flags have bucket loads of good will in the bank.

Win at Everton and it's officially a good start to the season for me. We're currently +1 point on our like for like fixtures from last season, fyi. Really pleased we've managed to keep the show on the road considering all the goings on we've had.

Yeah, looks like another great bit of work - not just in terms of theatrics but in terms of mission accomplished. Handy we'd had another #10 in a similar situation a couple of years back

I'm not an Xg lover, but what do we reckon that chance would've scored on the index? I'd guess it wouldn't be more than about 0.3. Big opportunity, but not one you can't believe didn't go in.

In today's world it was a clear pen. In halcyon days it might've been rejected, but we're a long way from Kansas now. But I'd probably halve the foul count if it was left to me.

Still suspect that was true but the daft cunt did it because he thought Eddie would fail and make him look good in hindsight.

Yes. I felt regret that a better player didn't get that chance - would've liked to have seen what Tonali would've done - but it was hardly a sitter, in fairness to him.

Bit fucking American if you ask me. Give me some pasteurised equivocation out the side of his mouth any day.

Happy to have him on the pitch. But that reaction to Grealish's elbow Wasn't really the time to stay down...

Thought that 50+ yard run he made at the end summed him up perfectly. Fantastic, incisive and then shat himself as he approached their area If only he had that little bit more in his mentality. Good contribution overall though.

My favourite performance today overall. Added a lot to our game. Was thinking back to how he got withdrawn at half time against them in the league cup around this time of year last season.