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I think it's players like Targett that Howe is talking about when he talks about players popular with the fans leaving.

Match worn shirts are like £90 aren't they? I mistakenly bought an England match shirt from 2018 WC and it's like spandex and lovely quality compared to the replica.

Job very well done, and without two incredibly pivotal players. Very different challenge coming up now and I see no reason why he can't accomplish what he sets out for us next season.

It's a massive jump up from League One to Championship, the gulf in quality is probably bigger than Championship promotion to Premier League. They'd likely be relegated again without smart investment.

Youri Tielemans.

Marc Albrighton.

BURN uses local hero! It's not very effective...

Looking quite relaxed in possession at times. Probably helps that the game has started with the pace and verocity of a training ground match.

Touching grass as I type this, but I do think that's Leeds gone now.

There would be plenty of buyers for him at £35m. Managers love a maverick wildcard that they hope to tame. We shouldn’t sell him in the summer unless he makes it clear he wants to go. He was the only bright point for long periods of time before the takeover and played his part in ensuring we were still a PL team. I don’t like the things he has said publicly but I feel he deserves a chance in an improved side. If we bolster our attack and he still isn’t performing, then we should look at our options. He will come good again.

The plan has to be that we can keep it close for as long as possible in the hope that City lose their bottle. Much easier said than done but if we get to the 60-70th minute a goal behind or level, introducing Wilson might just be enough to gain a point or three. Defend well, frustrate them then maybe those doubts from their CL game creep back in. They had the final in their sights and threw it away in the time it takes to make a cup of tea. Liverpool have given them initiative, we have to test their resolve.

What happened? Did Bruce do a tactic or was he just up against a side that finished below a team that had given them a 21 point headstart?

/Record scratch /Freeze frame "Yep, that's me. You're probably wondering how I got into this situation…"

They feel like comments made by a man under pressure and feeling the heat. Not the wisest but if he finishes the season strongly they'll be quickly forgotten about. I like ASM. I think the problem comes partly from Wood wanting aerial service into the box and he's never going to be the type of player to whip in a quality cross so I can see where he's coming from. Swap Wood with Wilson and it pads ASM's stats a bit with assists. He has to look beyond his own personal stats and buy into the thinking from the players that the team comes above the individual. Everybody works in conjunction with each other and those comments give a feeling of ASM being his own personal interest. The team right now is largely set-up to accommodate him but where he is struggling is repeatedly doing the same manoeuvre of cutting inside and dribbling the length of the box before running into trouble. He does look like he's improving in terms of releasing the ball a little bit more often but his passing is wayward and his shooting has been abysmal. I'd say the majority of fans do want him to succeed here, I really hope he does because I do like him. It's all up to him because there is a lot more ability to come out of him.

Compare net spends with the rest of the league without the £90m January spend. Then compare them with the £90m spend. Use a period of however many seasons under Ashley as you wish. The only advantage we have had is Howe spending that wisely and coaching the players he inherited in a way that has elevated their performances and our league position. If league position directly correlated with financial spend, Everton should be a Champions League side. Our net spend competes with upper table Championship sides.

I'm all for motivational messages and pictures. "A moment on the lips, a lifetime on ya tits"

That own goal looked like it was on Pervis to me like.

It's a tough summer window but we have the added benefit now of being a stable club going into it. We've tackled a relegation battle better than anyone could have hoped for, so there will be plenty of players out there ready to join probably the most exciting and progressive project in world football right now. Howe will understand his professional and personal targets for this club, and he'll give himself, his coaching staff and the players the right amount of time to soak in the support and achievement. Then it'll be right back to work because there's no such thing as resting on laurels at this club anymore and Howe understands that more than anybody else. There'll be a target finish in mind, but that'll be broken down to a game by game basis in which case the objective will be to win against every team we line up against.

Supreme confidence in his own ability to lead a club into an exciting new era. OR He's a mercenary putting himself in the shop window for a quick move, but I'm not getting those vibes. We'll see.

He has that ability, just like Trippier, of knowing where to position himself, where and when to intercept, and where to pass. He's nowhere near even hitting his peak either. He plays and reads the game like a seasoned veteran and that's only with a handful of Champions League and international appearances. It's impressive as fuck.

Day 42. We're 15 minutes away from half time.

Would have loved to have seen Kluivert and Bellamy get a good run together up front. Would have meant Shearer on the bench and he wouldn’t have broke Milburns record like so was never going to happen.

There's the narrative written for his eventual sack. "Well, he wanted them to be at the top, it isn't his fault the players/board/nutritionist down at Dixy Chicken, weren't good enough!"

Unchanged line-up.