ilikenewcastle

Was just about to say a 2-0 defeat here would be pretty decent for Leeds, but are Arsenal going to do an Arsenal here now?

He's not clever or funny and I've never got the impression he even likes football. Stealing a living.

I don't know how anyone can look at those fixtures and have any clue who will go down. Can understand why people would pick Leeds, but those games against Arsenal and Chelsea are far from lost causes.

Could Southampton still get dragged into it? Let's not declare Everton as safe just yet, we did the same after the game against us and Man U. Still impossible to call for me. Everton seem like the sort of side to try harder against the top teams so I'm hoping their easy run in may yet be a disadvantage.

I'd expect Abramovic to be sacking Tuchel at the end of the season if he could.

They've had some ridiculous luck at Goodison lately. Once chance one goal v us, deflected goal v Man U, undeserved late equaliser v Leicester and now this pathetic goal.

You just have to look at who's 4th, 5th and 6th. Said it before and I'll say it again, people who think our target next season should be top 10 are seriously unambitious (not that I think we'll do as well as finish top 4).

Love how Everton moan like hell when they aren't given debatable penalty decisions. Maybe if you didn't dive 10 times a game you'd get more sympathy from refs.

I hate this fixture, always an horrific watch. I would like to think this is the last time for a long time that we go into a match expecting a battering and 20% possession.

A much more difficult fixture than Lincoln last season...

Particularly frustrating when you remember their equaliser at Anfield...

This is why we should be ambitious next year. Standard in the top 4 race is appalling never mind the race for Conference League qualification.

Bearing in mind the complete lack of quality outside the top 3 and our form in 2022, I'd certainly like the target next year to be a European finish/top 7. Not saying it's a failure if we don't get it, but that should absolutely be our aim (assuming the summer transfer window is at least as good as January).

I was amazed how every pundit considered that a 100% nailed on penalty. It would have been very soft and you definitely don't get those at Anfield (especially when you've established yourself as one of the worst divers in the league in your very short career).

Considering how bad Everton are away from home, I'd fancy both teams to get a similar amount of points - this will go to the final day and Leeds could well be involved. TBH it's been a weird season down there. Just as one team starts to look doomed/safe, things seems to change dramatically.

Remember when they were going for the title in 2019 and they beat us in the last minute from a free kick? Blatant dive from Fabinho (I think). I'd love to get revenge by messing up their 2022 title hopes.

Always the sign of a failing team/manager when you can beat the top 2 in the league but play like crap against bad teams. Didn't turn up for a derby the other day either.

Making me angry watching this and thinking of all the penalties we've not been given this season.

Can all the people with a bee in their bonnet about Howe getting "outclassed" or "outmanoeuvred" on Sunday please remember that it's only a couple of weeks ago that he would have beaten the European Champion (with half our team missing) if the VAR ref hadn't fallen asleep.

I have to say I'm sick of Burnley always seeming to have games in hand. Still a way to go and we can easily get dragged back into real trouble if we're careless, but it's always worth pointing out that Burnley and Watford have to significantly increase the rate at which they pick up points to even match the 31 we have now.

I don't get why some people on this forum get so worked up about him (especially after a game in which our defence completely collapsed). We all knew we weren't getting a top striker in January, we were having bids turned down left right and centre and Wood was an easy transfer due to the release clause. Our form improved with him in the team (how much is down to him you can debate all you want), we are now likely to stay up and he will be replaced/become our 3rd or 4th choice striker next season. Nobody is arguing he's class or should lead the line next year.

Ideal draw for me would be England, Germany, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia. One game to get us all hyped up with 2 very winnable games in case we mess it up.

Disappointing results in a lot of these play offs. Would have been nice to see some new faces at the World Cup but it looks like Qatar will be the only debutants.

I don't think there's anything wrong with picking players with a good international record even if their club form is nothing special. In fact, pretty much every other team does it (Giroud and Klose were regulars for the last 2 world champions despite not setting the world on fire for their clubs). Southgate overall has done a good job, but the manner of the defeats to Croatia and Italy will always annoy me and I fear that we'll see something similar this winter. I wonder how different the second half v Germany would have been in the Euros if Kane stuck that chance away before half time.

There's absolutely no doubt in my mind that Pawson would have pointed to the spot straight away if Salah went down there. VAR would then say not enough reason to overrule.