Andy

Doubt the Glazers give much of a fuck about whether we're relegated or not, they'll just look at the financial aspects of the deal.

Apart from actual Sevilla fans who know better than any journalist?

Not sure why people concern themselves with price tags like, if we can afford to pay it and we're happy that it fits within our FFP budget then I don't really care what we pay.

Stats like that can be very misleading when it comes to judging a defender, though. He may make errors that cost goals occasionally, but that may be counterbalanced with top positioning and athleticism the rest of the time, preventing significantly more goals than he costs. He's a regular in a team that has conceded only 13 goals this season - the joint best defensive record in the top 4 European leagues I think. That to me suggests he brings the latter to the table way more often than the former.

Think that's the biggest myth in football, personally.

Hmm. Think he looks poor a lot of the time because teams know we have literally no other outlet and can just double or even treble up on him. His end product is very hit and miss but he's capable of creating chances out of nothing, which we're completely reliant on at the moment. I'd be very hesitant to drop him, and that's not even taking into account how dire the alternative options are.

Got to agree, bringing players from the only team below you in the league isn't a great sign. Don't know enough about Tarkowski to judge him as a footballer, but his confidence can't be any higher than the players we already have at the moment.

I believe so yeah, so I guess it can be done. I still think there'd be a huge mental obstacle for him to get over though, particularly in his first few months back, which is unfortunately when we'd need him to be at 100% if he was to come here.

For me, if Howe was to be sacked due to continuing bad form or relegation I would take Rafa on the basis that I don't believe anyone better would be keen on it. I wouldn't want Howe sacked to make way for Rafa though, he has to be given a fair crack at it with the (hopefully) additional bodies we have coming in.

Aye. Surely it will constantly be on his mind as well. Think how hesitant you are when you come back from a hammy or something, you'd have to have an unbelievable mentality to play at 100% knowing you have a dodgy ticker.

Not sure the comparison is so simple though. The players at Everton know they can half arse it and Rafa will take the fall due to his frosty relationship with the fans, which I think has been a contributing factor. That's not to say he hasn't dropped some bollocks since he's been there, because he certainly has, but "vibe" is important in football and it clearly wasn't right from the start.

We're drawing games that we would lose under Bruce, unfortunately that's not enough of an improvement.

I think Joelinton is fine in that position too, if he can maintain current performance levels. He's breaking up play as well as anyone outside of the top 6 tbh, it's not even a meme anymore.

He's absolutely shocking, like. Find it hard to believe that we don't even have someone in the academy who could do a better job. Constantly loses the ball and his lack of pace pulls the defensive line back ten yards. Isn't even particularly good in the air to make up for it. Sometimes looks okay against forwards who are equally immobile, that's about the extent of his game.

Joelinton was indeed very good again, but I wish chances would stop falling his way like

It is concerning if he hasn't identified the midfield as our biggest weakness, like. I'm not sure if that's actually the case or not though, we'll find out in the next couple of weeks. For all we know there could be unreported work going on behind the scenes to strengthen up in there. I have an uneasy feeling that he rates Shelvey in particular a lot higher than any of us in here. I'm not convinced he'll be replaced any time soon.

For all that Howe hasn't started well, I'm not having that we'd be better off under Bruce like we're in this mess because of him, his luck had clearly run out this year.

Difficult to form an opinion after one match but first impressions weren't great. Battled hard enough but thought his movement was poor and he didn't really give their defence anything to worry about

Trying not to be too knee jerk, but he certainly didn't cover himself in glory today. It was clear shortly after we scored that he needed to freshen it up but he waited too long and allowed them to gain momentum. Defended him last week on the basis that he didn't have a striker on the pitch, he's got the one he wanted now, so it's time to start delivering results. The game management in the last twenty minutes was Bruce-esque, unfortunately.

He's the absolute antithesis of what you want from a captain in this situation, complete opposite of a calming presence.

Can't wait to see the back of Lascelles like, easily one of the worst starting defenders in the league.

Performance is absolutely irrelevant, just need to find a goal. Had a few half decent chances but the confidence is just non existent.

Willock has been shite all season, manager is irrelevant on that one.

Looks like the kind of player who is capable of making his own chances though through directness and pace, which often makes up for natural finishing anyway.

I doubt it will be the only choice, pretty much everyone credible is reporting that we're still in the market for another striker.