Happinesstan

TBF we are only a little past halfway, but yeah we need wins and draws in the next 17 games. Our recent form is enough to maintain an optimistic outlook. The past determines where you are, you determine where you will be.

Exactly. Our next 5 games are arguably winnable. Certainly 10 points are attainable. Of course if we come out with nowt then things will be bleak, but our recent form is a better indicator than our early season form. That Leeds performance was nervous but solid. We've added what looks like a lot more composure to that set-up. What we did in the first half of the season means nowt.

Yes, so the argument is only relevant to a situation far away in the future.

It's absolutely bonkers to think our form in the first half of the season dictates our final position. If you look at our points in the first half of the season [10 from 18 with Everton still to be played] in comparison with our results, so far in the second half [5 from 3], I don't see how you can be worried if I'm honest.

That doesn't need explaining. But where we are now is irrelevant to where we need to be when the table is finalised. When the table is finalised if we have one point more than 18th we finish 17th. Ergo we don't need 40 points if 18th only have 28.

Well if we don't finish above Norwich then we don't finish above 3rd bottom.

Are you pissed? We are in a group of four, if we finish above the team that finishes 3rd bottom, we finish top. Where we are right now is an irrelevance.

I didn't mention bottom 4, but even if I did, it shouldn't be confusing, in a group of four the top four are the same as the bottom 4. In order to finish top you have to outperform the bottom 3.

Guess again. Finishing second in our current group of four results in relegation.

How many points do you need to win a Champions league group? 1 point more than third bottom.

You're all ignoring where the extra points would come from. Take last season, Fulham needed 11 more points to finish above Burnley, but they only managed 1 point from their games versus Burnley. If they had managed 6 points from those 2 games then Burnley would be on 4 points less, leaving Fulham needing only 7 more points.

One of the four of us will, though.

It's correct to say that the Living wage is shite, mind. 40p above the minimum wage allows you to state you are a Living Wage employer?

It works for Russian oligarchs too. Dunno much about Everton.

It's a good look though. If you want a living wage get a Saudi employer.

Cue Mike Ashley telling SD staff that he can't compete with a sovereign nation.

As long as the buying team isn't prohibited then it shouldn't be a problem.

Ritchie is surely in as cover for the wide positions. If we're starting with Fraser that leaves us with Murphy.

It hasn't, yet. But with Trippier's quality and intelligence, you'd expect it to come. And like I say, he doesn't have to find him every time, as long as we are first to the second ball.

Trippier will be finding him with pinpoint accuracy by the time we face Everton. We just need to be ready to win the second balls. Willock may be the best opportunity for that, but I think we'll begin with Shelvey in a more advanced position, giving Trippier more options. Although he has connected well with Willock, so who knows? I think we can all be quite confident in whatever starting line up Howe goes with. Then it's up to the footballing gods.

Why I'd always play him in a three, get him closing down on that right hand side, allowing Trippier time to get back and support, with Lascelles and Burn able to deal with the aerial duel.

That could be 15 points. That would practically make him our saviour.

I say we use each according to the situation.

I think the Brentford game is what he will look to replicate, we were at our most effective in attack that day, but struggled at the back, we've strengthened in the areas we were lacking defensively that day.

He might benefit from a little loss of pace, older footballer, wiser footballer? Bruno look like can release him into space quicker than Shelvey ever could, so it shouldn't impact on the overall pace of the attack, but Gayle would have more space and time to compose himself.