Cronky

It feels like this team has crossed the boundary between hoping they can win, and knowing they can win. I've witnessed us in five domestic finals, and it's the first time I've detected that.

Worriers into warriors. There is no finer manager on the planet than this man.

And it was with his weaker foot. Incredible.

For me, overall, that Bonkers table does open up the distinct possibility that, if LIverpool should falter significantly (and that's quite a big if), then it's anybody's, including Forest, Bournemouth and our good selves. Chelsea have lost their way a bit, Arsenal aren't the same threat without Saka, Man City look like a re-work in progress and Man U and Spurs look out of it.

I came across the 'Bonkers Premier League Table' since Spurs beat Man City 4-0. All have played 10 games unless stated. Interesting - 1. Liverpool – 22 points, GD +17 2. Newcastle – 22 points, GD +14 3. Bournemouth – 22 points, GD +14 4. Arsenal – 22 points, GD +11 5. Nottingham Forest – 22 points, GD +3 6. Manchester City – 18 points, GD +12 (played 11) 7. Chelsea – 18 points, GD +6 (played 11) 8. Crystal Palace – 18 points, GD +3 9. Aston Villa – 17 points, GD -1 10. Fulham – 15 points, GD +4 11. Everton – 12 points, GD -2 12. Brentford – 11 points, GD -1 13. Brighton – 11 points GD -1 14. West Ham – 11 points, GD -9 (played 9) 15. Manchester United – 10 points, GD -5 16. Wolves – 7 points, GD -10 17. Leicester City – 7 points, GD -13 18. Ipswich Town – 7 points, GD -15 19. Tottenham – 5 points, GD -5 (played 11) 20. Southampton – 1 point, GD -22

Thank you.

In his goal celebration, Tonali held up 7 fingers. Anyone got an idea why?

I don't think there's any need to a) go public or b) use sarcasm. The Fountain is also right in pointing out that if they're trying to offload the player, telling the world that he's got a bad attitude won't help.

So many times, this guy does not get his brain into gear before opening his mouth. There's no need to insult a player like that. That won't go down well with his squad.

I think a factor that made it a red was that it wasn't a genuine attempt for the ball. Effectively, the stamp was not entirely accidental.

Indeed. As a footballer, I think he had some untapped potential. Eddie is so good at developing players, and he may well have had a more successful career under his guidance.

At first, I thought I was going to have to change my avatar, but there's some mitigating circumstances. Eddie would have made something of him.

Whatever he's trying to do in terms of a new system, I don't see the point of telling the world that this is possibly the worst Man United side ever. It's not going to inspire the players at all, and it also isn't true. They have a good squad that should be challenging for the European places. There's a reckless aspect to his statements that make me wonder whether, deep down, he's in two minds about whether he wants to stay.

Yeah, I've just checked the stats and Bournemouth were ahead in the foul count by 18-7 and in yellow cards by 6-1. It's part of the professional game, and players have to find ways of dealing with it. We move on.

The team have had a lot of attention this last week, with getting into the top four, and suddenly being talked about as title contenders. Maybe a bit of edge went out of our game with those extra expectations. I particularly felt that at the start. But all in all, Bournemouth had us beaten physically. We were exposed as slow in defence and they won most of the 50-50 balls.

Fair do's, the better side won. They had the equipment to nullify our game. My heart sank when Isak grabbed the ball for that free kick near the end. I appreciate that as our star striker he wanted it, but Tripps is the free-kick specialist. It astonishes me when I see that kind of school playground mentality among professionals. Either the captain or the manager should have insisted on Trippier having it.

I agree. They're doing us for pace all over the pitch. Even before they scored, I was thinking I'd settle for a draw. Hopefully Isak will get more into the game in the second half.

The DCL rumours have been very persistent, but I think our interest may be dropping, purely on the basis of what I've seen of Osula. He may not turn out to be quite as good as DCL (who at his injury-free peak was a very tidy player) but I like what I've seen so far. He certainly looks quick and strong. Above all, he has what I always like to see in a young player - that belief that he belongs out there on the pitch and is going to make things happen.

One of the players from that era whose reputation is fully deserved. If I was to construct a UK first team from the last 60 years, he'd be in there. Despite being relatively short for a striker and quite slim, he was deadly in the air. My Dad knew him personally, and liked him a lot.

I've got a theory about a) why he's so good and b) why he's so underestimated. As anyone who has been in a management role will know, it's a position that demands a lot of diverse and not immediately compatible skills. Eddie doesn't seem to have a weakness. He's very clever and decisive on the technical and tactical side of the game, he's strong on detail but has his eye on the bigger picture, he can put his arm around someone's shoulder and discipline them too, he handles the people above him well, he's sure-footed on the PR side, he understands and respects people as individuals, he's cool under pressure, and to crown it, he has a capacity for hard work. But what you see is this modest, softly-spoken character who is happy to direct the spotlight on to others. It's then easy to make the assumption that there's some more exotic character who can do 'even better'. I don't think there is, and we're very lucky to have him.

Keegan, in partnership with Sir John Hall, changed the whole thinking and ambition of the club. I don't think we'll ever go back to a pre-Keegan phase, so he will always have a special and pivotal place in the club's history. I think the factor that's not been aired so far is that in his era, we were outspending every club except Man United. Every time the momentum stalled (even in the Championship), the club would go out into the transfer market. And I have to say it - when the money ran out, he left. Sir Bob and Eddie both over-achieved on limited resources. All subjective of course, but I think Eddie's situation at the start was far worse. We looked like going down with about 20 points, and I couldn't see any way of getting out of trouble, no matter who was in charge and how much money could realistically be spent. What stands out for me is the way he gets good performances out of ordinary players. He has improved every player that he's managed at our club. I think they are all playing the best football of their careers, and our team is so much better than the sum of its parts. The man is the complete package.

I've got to admit that I've started to dream of something more than top four and the League Cup. Liverpool are the only team that's significantly better than us, and they will have to face a heavy fixture load. They've got a great squad, but if Van Dijk gets injured..... It's possible, that's all I'm saying.

He has a good shot on him, but his touch on the ball isn't great. It was a very poor piece of play from him to let that guy through to what might well have been a second goal. You get taught to move towards the ball, but he stayed put in a bad bit of judgement. It suggested that he might not be in the best place mentally.

Names I don't like to see with the first XI, no matter what their ability - Batty - a player who could have been a very good all-round midfielder, but who at one stage in his career, decided to be a clogger and the master of the sideways pass. Ben Arfa - probably the most skilful player that we've ever had, but he had major psychological problems relating to father-figures / authority. (Well that's what I think). Every time his career looked like it was taking off, he sabotaged it. Any manager other than Eddie Howe. Come on guys, be all in!

I do like the challenge of trying to pick an eleven that would fit together, rather than just my favourite players. So difficult choices. Given - No challengers. Trippier - Though I don't think we've had a lot of good RBs. Hopefully Tino will continue to develop. Woodgate - Our best defender of the last 60 years. Schar - Just makes it ahead of Botman. His technique on the ball gives the team an extra dimension. Hall - As with LB, not that many contenders. But I think he has really stepped up a gear over the last 2 months. His performances have been a major factor in our turnaround in results. Lee - A great all-rounder. He would really flourish in a three-man midfield. Tonali - A month ago, I would never have put him in. But he's now working very well with Bruno and within Eddie's system. It's a question of combinations. Bruno - Automatic choice. Classy player with virtually no weaknesses. Can stick his foot in too. The really tough bit comes now, because I really think I have to pick Isak or Shearer, and Isak gets it. I don't think they'd work as a twosome. Shearer also lost a bit of pace after he joined, though he was still a great player. The other thing is that I think a front three of Isak, Bellamy and Beardsley would wreck total havoc. If I were a defender I would dread facing them. So - Beardsley - With him, it was like we had 12 men. Full of energy, imagination and skill. Isak - A central striker of the like that I've never seen before. His technical skill and creativity is different class. I get the feeling now that as long as he's on the pitch, we've got a chance. He can get us something from nothing. Bellamy - Nearly won us the league before he did his hamstring. Great energy, pace and fire. Manager - Howe. The best and most complete manager we've had in my 60 years supporting this club. I'm distinctly partial to the ground he treads on.