kingxlnc

I do understand this to an extent. I watched a documentary on Brian Clough's Forest, and they were very well organised and hard to break down, with some flashes of quality but honestly, even in terms of his approach to management, it's very hands off, Steve Bruce-esque you could even say. Obviously that is a huge insult to the great man, but it was purely man management, the culture was very laissez faire, they'd do a bit of training, a bit of the pub, I recall one of the players smoked like a chimney. And yet they won the European cup twice and a whole lot of other trophies too. Money does this to an extent, you can afford everything to be bigger, better and therefore you start micro-managing every last ounce of performance. Wenger revolutionised the nutrition side, I believe Keegan was one of the first to focus on the sports psychology side. So naturally as money has taken over, and with the internet, everyone is more informed therefore you can get away with a lot less. Bruce is case in point - his approach largely worked for him ten years ago, whereas now he's getting called out for it.

Ben Arfa vs Everton debut Martins vs Spurs (any time)

Paqueta, Diaby, Etikite and Botman potentially could be like the 2001/02 year where signing Laurent Robert, Craig Bellamy, Distin and Jenas took us from 11th to 4th

Would Paqueta be our 'next-level stratosphere' type of signing or are we talking like a Diaby, Isak, Osimhen or even higher like a Dembele, Nunez or Dybala? Just keen to understand what constitutes next level for people given where we are today

There's no benefit to the sponsor for it to be Aramco - global awareness for a company that doesn't sell direct to consumers anyway isn't going to make a difference. But Saudia / Saudi Golf/ Vision 2030 / NEOM all have benefits for the sponsor in needing awareness for these burgeoning projects. So it's way more likely to be one of these.

Liverpool are well run at all levels, that's why it appears so. For example, you have home-grown youngsters like TAA that have become world class, then you have cheap buys like Robertson who have become world class, then you buy young potential like Carvalho with the potential to be world class. Even their main players, Salah, Thiago, Mane - were in the 30's - whilst now being worth at least double. This allows them to then buy a transformative signing Van Dijk or Allison once a year to really move forward. So there's that element which is true, which is it's a club that increases value of their players on the whole, whereas a Chelsea or Man U is often the opposite. They often buy high, and then sell cheap or let go.

The one thing some of the Bournemouth posters have said on here is that Howe has always had a mean eye for a young player, he tends to get most of these decisions right and he knows who he can work with and improve - and to be fair he's got a very good record in doing so. Even some of the so called flops such as Solanke eventually came good. Ibe is the only out and out flop I can think of. Usually a player being 19-20 and not having any history in any of the international youth teams would suggest there's not much of a pedigree and we're paying the premium for one decent season and therefore taking all the risk. But Howe knows the score and will have gained a lot of goodwill from his work so far.

Pug nosed gimp, lard boy. And i go yeah? what have you ever done in football? So don’t. Absolutely flabulous

Oh have you not seen that… that’s a classic

Mitrovic is a very good player. A tad slow but he has scored internationals, the champions league, everywhere he’s gone to be honest. His decision making of clubs perhaps underrates him as he would definitely score big numbers at a Napoli or a Leipzig or Villarreal. I hope next year he proves his calibre

Player of the Season: Joelinton Most Improved Player of the Season: Joelinton (Krafth second) Most Disappointing Player: Willock Signing of the Season: Bruno Goal of the Season (feel free to rank your top 3): Almiron v Palace Game of the Season: 2-0 vs Arsenal On the pitch Moment of the Season (we all know the takeover was the off-field most important): Battering Everton at home Manager rating out of 10: 10 Season rating out of 10: 8

I'd love Ousmane Dembele as our Robinho moment. Even though his attitude is considered questionable, I think he'd be next level and a huge statement - him and ASM on each wing would be dangerous. And I trust Howe to tame him. When he signed for Barca they said he was a future Ballon D'or winner in the making. Majed, make it happen.

And Forster for third choice?

Yellow gold would work a la 2006 that was a nice kit even if it does remind me too much of Owen

I think Everton will now become the Aston Villa of 5-6 years ago, the Lambert years

I’ve seen Cannibaga mentioned a few times, but when I Google him nothing comes up? Who is he and who does he play for? Is it a nickname?

With hopefully Trippier starting

Not a happy home life.

But professionalism is.... and that's not what Mike Ashley wanted

Castore logo looks like Fred Perry one

Kluivert, I know we saw a poor version of him but loved the way he played

George Weah seemed overrated - maybe I was too young. But was he really better than Shearer in that title-winning year at Blackburn Rovers where he won Ballon D'or? (1995)

Batistuta doesn't get enough respect but he was a beast.

Micah Richards given he is everywhere as a pundit, perhaps is able to glorify and overrate his past a little. Because of his louder than life personality, he is seated with bona fide legends of the Premier League in Shearer, Lineker, Keane, Neville, Henry etc as peers, whereas he was only good a for a few seasons before Zabaleta ensured he never got a look in, again.

Legend obviously at Roma, one club man and all that but I never got the hype around Totti. Never really saw 'talismanic' performances from him, that I did from the likes of Del Piero, Zola et al.