Conjo

I would assume that Benitez, in order to accept the offer from Everton, was satisfied with the squad he inherited from previous managers since there wasn't much funds available to buy new players. If he accepted the offer blindly without thoroughly assessing their squad & available funds - what does that say about his reasoning for rejecting us in favor of China? For me, if Rafa isn't happy with the squad at Everton, he doesn't have anyone to blame but himself.

I had to look at Transfermarkt to see where their money has gone the last few seasons. 20/21 season is fine. Their three main purchases Allan, Doucoure & Godfrey for ~€25m each seems to be good buys, so far at least. However, the three seasons before that there are a few standouts for me: €27,5m - Moise Keane €25m - Jean Phillipe Gbamin - who the fuck is this?!? Never heard of him before, haven't seen him play (according to transfermarkt he's featured in 2 pl matches in 19/20, 1 match last season and 2 matches this season) €25m - Andre Gomes - decent buy, but seemingly struggling to get back to former level after injury €30,5 - Alex Iwobi - terrible player €9,5m - Fabien Delph - not the biggest fee, but assume he is on big wages €49,5 (!!!) - Gylfi Sigurdsson €22,5m - Theo Walcott €27,5m - Davy Klaassen €22,5m - Cenk Tosun That's €239,5m wasted the in '17, '18 & '19 combined.

Do you think the two could be connected somehow? My main takeaway from the championship season was that he was setting us up to play a certain way so the players were better prepared for the return to the premier league. So often you see exciting teams tear up the championship, but then struggle to replicate the same style in the premier league. They are not able to completely change their style of play to a more defensive/structured/organised style of play and get relegated again immediately afterwards.

At the beginning of the season his poor performances were blamed on not being match fit. That he was only used because of DCL injury and was never intended to play for another couple of games. Problem being that his performances haven't really improved since then. It's difficult to say whether it's physical or lack of motivation. Based on his character and personality while with us, I'd say he simply doesn't have the same strength and endurance he had 2-3 years ago. I've seen him starting well in a few matches, only to dissapear later on and never really imposing himself in the games. Edit: And now he's seemingly off with a muscle injury

What if I told you that some players are finished at the top level even before they reach their 30's. Rondon has been around the world and had a long career. It's not that far fetched to assume either his body or motivation, or both, simply isn't at the level it used to be.

He got older.

They don't exactly look like a well drilled Rafa side Everton.

No offense taken, only a near heart attack & the need to avoid eye contact with my neighbours for a couple of days.

We don't know that. Howe took Darlow & Clark out for Arsenal after the Brentford game. It is very likely that he would have gone with Lewis even if Ritchie was available. Next game against Burnley will give us a much better indication of his judgement of players.

I wouldn't want Coutinho here full stop. Either way, I don't see why players wouldn't want to sign permanently for us as long as we pay them the going rate. Look at some of the players Wolves signed while in the championship - there's hungry, ambitious talents that could help us now that would happily take a year in the championship, if that is the situation we end up in, to be part of this project.

Agreed. The positive thing is that he seems to be learning by benching Darlow and Clark (against Arsenal). Who knows what he'd done ahead of Norwich if it weren't for Ritchie and Lascelles suspensions? My gut feeling (based on nothing tbh ) is that Lascelles would have played today, but not Ritchie. The biggest indication of his judgement of players will come next game. I'd be extremely dissapointed if Lascelles and Ritchie are back in the team against Burnley at the expense of Fernandez and Lewis.

Benteke shouldn't have any stats above 8 for finishing, composure and decisions on FM next update.

Nobody is saying that? That's just the way you interpret it for some weird reason. I think you'll find most people saying they "think" or "feel" we can stay up, but recognising that it will be difficult, that it requires investment in the squad in January and so on, but that there's been good signs since Howe came in that an escape is possible.

Please, tell me more.

Time for the doom mongers to enter the scene and tell us how certain relegation is. Going to be a great week on here up until Burnley.

Good point considering the circumstances.

I still think we'll stay up, even if we lose this.

Tough ask with the wet ball imo.

Model professional.

Has to be said, I got the feeling that VAR/ref was looking at every possible angle to find any details to NOT give that penalty. Shouldn't have taken THAT long to make that decision.

FUUUUCK YESSSS

To be a fly on the wall in our dressing room now

Only plausible conclusion we can draw for the time being.

"Norwich were the better team before that dildo went off" was your exact words.

Clearly the better team then.