Rich

He said they wouldn’t know about Burn until after training today. It’s the kind of thing players can take an injection for and use padding with, so seems like they’d be testing that out today to see what the reaction is. Surely a 6’7” Blyth lad on the cusp of making a home debut for his boyhood club isn’t going to be kept out by an infected toe?

I think I love him

Dubravka Trippier Lascelles Burn Targett Guimarães Shelvey Joelinton Fraser Wood Saint-Maximin Darlow, Krafth, Schär, Manquillo, S.Longstaff, Willock, Murphy, Almiron, Gayle Squad sort of picks itself, but think that’ll be the XI and bench. Fernandez, Dummett, Ritchie, and Wilson are injured and Gillespie isn’t needed. Honestly think if Burn is fit, the biggest decision is Lascelles vs. Schär. I know who I’d be picking on ability and form…

Massive praise for Fernandez from Howe in the presser today, after Waugh asked about his inclusion in the squad ahead of Clark despite his injury: "I don't see Fede being too far away. I also think Fede is a really, really important person in terms of his leadership qualities in the group. I think he's a real fighter. In terms of our position currently in the league, I think he's an inspirational figure around the club, so I was desperate to keep him available for selection."

If we get a CEO of a similar ilk, then my word, we're about to properly take off.

Fucking hell, this would be mint.

If West Ham, Man Utd, Palace, Man City, and Villa all win, and we manage at least a draw, then we’re out of the drop zone and it’ll have been a canny midweek. If all of the above just don’t lose and we win, we’ve pulled Everton right into the clarts and Brentford/Leeds aren’t a million miles away. That’ll be a fantastic midweek Massive round of fixtures, and a good idea for a thread given the circumstances!

Back to sleep…

Too late.

Davies, Delph, and Doucoure all out. Calvert-Lewis is 50/50, misses out today after picking up a knock in the last home game. Pickford in goal. Townsend and Rondon coming back. Alli no doubt being a proper cunt, as always. Lampard/Cole in the dugout for their first game. Night game. Sold out. Wor Flags. Three new signings making debuts. Coming in on the back of a win/successful training camp/biggest spend in a window for eons. It’s all set up to be a proper match. I’m going to say 2-2, with us being unlucky not to win.

Already nervous for this. Missed this feeling.

Thought the same, initially, then noticed ASM on Shelvey's team and Murphy on the right for the greens. Think it's just testing out different combinations rather than anything definitive.

Another £40M, aye.

Just call me Eddie.

Probably doesn’t need the hyphen, but it is the term that gets used in this scenario. “Deregistered” just looks fucking weird to me.

Might just be an absolute freak and weirdo?

fkn hell

Dubravka Schär Fernandez Burn Trippier Joelinton Guimarães Targett Fraser Saint-Maximin Wilson This would be my personal “best XI”, when everyone is fit. I doubt we’ll ever see it. I do think Willock could play where Fraser is and offer more threat, but I’m keen to see if Fraser can keep improving with a run of games.

Well this is fucking hilarious. Accountability eh? What a drug.

It's impossible not to like Brighton. That Championship season made me feel guilty. Diamé's goal and then the final day stuff, dear me.

It seems like none of the signings do.

Reckon it’ll be: Dubravka Trippier Lascelles Burn Targett Guimarães Shelvey Joelinton Fraser Wood Saint-Maximin (4-3-3) Subs: Darlow, Manquillo, Schär, Dummett, Murphy, Willock, S. Longstaff, Almiron, Gayle. Schär deserves to keep his place for me, though, he was so good at Leeds.

Nope.

I’d go: Goalkeepers: Dubravka, Darlow, Gillespie Defenders: Trippier, Manquillo, Krafth, Schär, Lascelles, Burn, Fernandez, Dummett, Targett Midfielders: Fraser, Murphy, Willock, S. Longstaff, Guimarães, Shelvey, Joelinton, Saint-Maximin, Almiron, Ritchie Forwards: Wilson, Wood, Gayle De-register Clark, Lewis, and Hayden.