Stottie

Boro last season were ultradefensive and still went down, so it leaves you wondering what the point was. It would certainly be more entertaining if more teams adopted a gung-ho Holloway Blackpool style, at least against teams less likely to punish them for making an open game of it. Realistically that means at least half the teams in the league.

I think they've got to give it to Pep if/when City beat the single season points, goals, and goal difference records. It would make a mockery of these achievements otherwise. Given the glee with which the press greeted Liverpool beating City in the CL, laying into Pep and glossing over the two big offside calls etc., I can easily imagine them giving it to Dyche however.

After the City games I thought Liverpool's name might be on the trophy and that just reinforces it. Things at the margins seem to be going their way, not necessarily refereeing decisions. City had less luck with them than Roma.

I missed the first thirty minutes, so didn't see the good stuff. What I saw was a lot of errant passing and poor application, typical of a team "on the beach". Rafa won't be happy, and there is no need for anyone who paid to watch that to be either.

50 pence heed

Rafa's going to be fuming at this.

Mitro Mk II

C'mon lads, fifteen minutes to go. Let's see something better.

Some woeful passing today.

I dunno if it was just an off-day or less time on the ball for him due to Everton's pressing, but Shelvey struggled to find Slimani as well as he'd been been finding Gayle. That's only one game's evidence, but it might be something Rafa sees as important in the big picture.

Mitro looked offside to me, but it was a great header. Mackems should have had a pen too, to add to the hilarity. Just pleased we're not in that division. Or the one below like our neighbours.

Socrates is my all-time favourite NUFC rumour, but Iniesta? That's a canny one too!

It took me seven viewings too. The ref is almost comically looking the other way and giving the play on gesture when Mitro does it.

If Salah on this form can get a team incapable of defending to the CL final, it's fair to wonder what he might do in the cagier, more-likely-to-keep-it-tight world of national teams. I think even the most ardent Liverpool fan would struggle to credit Klopp's tactics or Firminho or something else for Salah's first. That was simple individual brilliance.

I said it post-game, but I thought the ref let them do niggly stuff all game. Schneiderlin committed a professional foul to stop a fast counter about half an hour in and the gormless Madeley didn't even give him a talking to. It felt like a cue for them to just do argy bargy and stop us playing with any rhythm.

Bollocks. Pinball in our box. Fell to them. Quality finish. Pinball in their box. Straight to hand. No decision. Followed by second yellow foul. No decision. Other than that, lots of hustle and bustle and physical niggley fouls which suited them more than us. We were on an off day, but didn't get any help.

Blind as a fucking bat

All a bit hurried so far from both teams. I think there is a win here though, as their energy level drops.

Not wanting to sidetrack things but it sounds like Suarez' contract only had a "good faith" release clause, not an automatic one. https://www.quora.com/What-is-a-release-clause-in-a-professional-footballers-contract Since they need defensive solidity, Rafa would definitely move them forward, but he certainly wouldn't be loved as he is here. It could be Chelsea type antagonism all over again.

If they get Simeone, it would be like back to old days of George Graham. Kick the opposition up a height and aim to win one nil. Wenger's had a brilliant career that was ultimately undermined by the stadium move, the rise of the money clubs, esp. Man City, raiding his team as badly as Liverpool have Southampton, and possibly the odd unlucky move, e.g., offering the escape clause fee for Suarez but for some reason I never understood not getting him. He's still been successful in the cups, but they don't seem to get you much credit any more. He can't spot a player like he could back in the day, I guess the other teams' scouting caught up, but he signed some amazing ones and brought them to play in our league. When Wenger goes, Rafa will be seventh longest serving Premier League manager. Klopp is fifth with two and half seasons.

Man U in Fergie's last season looked on course for a record points total or league-winning margin, I can't remember which, but it was all on the back of last-gasp winners by players in decline, Van Persie, Rooney, etc. or randoms like Macheda. They hadn't been controlling games, which is the most sustainable way to get long-term success. I think it was a bit of a poisoned chalice, and not just with Fergie sitting up there in the stand. Arsenal must have low expectations by now and look like a semi-randomly thrown together group of expensive players. You would think a new coach could improve them by better coaching and/or signing players to improve the most glaring weaknesses, which as Vidic said the other day are mostly at the back. They have conceded more goals this season than us.

no shit, they've just spent +£100m on two strikers though, it would take man city levels of backing for us to be able to overtake them anytime soon i'm afraid because it's not like they're going to stand still As Vidic said the other day, the problem is their defence. They've conceded three more goals than us. Their goals for is only three fewer than Man U, but is being undermined by their defensive woes. I don't like to downplay the FA Cup where they've been very successful, but without it, they have been effectively standing still for a long time. If Dyche goes to Arsenal, he needs to take their keeper. Like de Gea, he's been playing out of his skin.

huss9's point about Mitro for us wasting his energy on bad attempts at winding up opposition players, like a shit version of Diego Costa, was especially apt. He seems much more focused now, and not surprisingly looks a much better player.

Aubameyang 57m Lacazette 47m Xhaka 40m Mustafi 36m Welbeck 18m Even with injuries, they fielded nearly half a team that would break our transfer record. And couldn't fashion a chance in the second half.

It took Ritchie 2/3 of the season to start scoring, but he was contributing all the time.