Armchair Pundit

Seeing other teams (Liverpool, Tottenham, Villa, Southampton) signing players we've previously been linked with, while our own deals for Botman and Ekitike stall, is getting me kind of nervous about the actual capabilities of our recruitment staff and buying power under our new owners. That's not to say I'm about to start screeching that we're shit or the new owners aren't up to the job, though it does cause the smallest of doubts to creep in over whether the reported wealth and backing that was touted as part and parcel of being owned by the PIF was actually realistic. ... before anyone says it, yes, I know we've had years of mis-management and neglect but I can't help feeling things are being done a little slowly, with new players and new facilities. ... what I need to do is remember that whatever happens, we're still in a place a million times better than we were under Ashley! *edit: actually, I think @STM's comment above is where I'm at right now

Fucking hell, Klopp? What a load of bollocks.

Player of the Season: Joelinton Most Improved Player of the Season: Krafth Most Disappointing Player: Wood Signing of the Season: Bruno Goal of the Season (feel free to rank your top 3): 1) Bruno's back heeler 2) Trippier round the wall 3) Almiron against Palace Game of the Season: Arsenal at home On the pitch Moment of the Season (we all know the takeover was the off-field most important): Probably Trippier's free kick moment, but still enjoyed seeing the oil protester smacked in the face by the supporter at the Everton match Manager rating out of 10: 8/10 Season rating out of 10: Hard to mark this one, it was one of the worst first halves to a season I've seen for us, but the second half was one of the best. Certainly exciting since Christmas and the takeover felt like a cup win, I'm going with solid 7/10

Ha! Wycombe aren't at the races, it makes a bit of sick jump up my throat but the Mackems deserve it so far. To be honest, as much as it's funny them being in League One, I wouldn't be adverse to playing them in the Prem again one day, now that we're no longer hamstrung by a shit owner employing shit managers and half-arsed players.

That Sunderland home shirt looks gash, like it's faded in the sun... derland.

Singing the national anthem, no boos to be heard, can hand both teams that - not like the scummy scousers thankfully.

Everything aside though, what on earth does the Wycombe manager look like? A poundshop Michael Bolton?

... it's a nice looking shirt imo

Would be funny if anything came of it, I can't see the Premier League moving fast enough though: https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12617672/everton-confident-they-have-complied-by-ffp-rules-after-burnley-and-leeds-threaten-legal-action

We live in their minds completely rent free don't we, it's great

Well, whatever the reasons, I like all three new kits, though perhaps not sure about the sleeves on the blue away kit. The Saudi third kit probably won't be worn much, I'd think it's just a marketing ploy to get Saudi nationals to support the team and sell more over there. We've had green and white before, though slightly different shade (third kit 99/00), even if it is a tad obvious why we've gone that route (perhaps a little too early in the new owner's tenure).

Totally misread their shirt sponsor when I first turned over, then I'm finding childish humour that they've got a player called 'Gooch', to be fair it's probably the most entertaining thing about them though.

What the hell was that?!!! Not a pen my arse!

https://www.caughtoffside.com/2022/05/08/newcastle-linked-with-shock-transfer-for-england-star-who-shone-at-euro-2020/ Nope...

https://www.nottinghamforest.news/2022/05/08/journalist-says-nottingham-forest-want-jamaal-lascelles-from-newcastle/ Wouldn't be adverse to that, would probably be a good move for both parties.

Yeah, I'm not sure about that. Like most things in America I get the feeling that domestically it's quite normal to believe that all things American are the centre of the universe, when really the rest of the world aren't that fussed. At least, that appears to be the case with the sports there. (Just to add, I'm not trying to offend there)

It's crap for the league that it'll be another American led consortium, they'll be pushing all the more for changed to our league and game to make it more like the MLS. So many things with this transaction that make you sick, the fact it can be rushed through, unscrutinised in a matter of weeks when ours took years. The fact the government are forcing special treatment, the ridiculous valuation, the media wank-fest and justification. One thing I'm not sure of, does Abramovich get his massive wedge from selling the club? Or is that frozen from him? What's the point of sanctioning him if not?

Could be another case like MK Dons and Wimbledon AFC I suppose

I don't get his So Foot comments, he's got better players around him now than he did last season, yet his form's dipped. The only real difference for me would be Wilson not playing so not drawing players off him and giving him that much more space perhaps.

More bloody jam than Hartleys this lot

It's the 'luck' that Klopp and his Scousers have...

Bloody gypsy thieving scousers strike again

Exactly, as much as it'll be a load of bollocks compared to the shit we had to go through to get our takeover, the powers that be just won't let it happen. What I don't understand is, if Roman is sanctioned and his assets seized (ie Chelski), how does he have any say in how much the club is sold for? Or whether he gets any money he put into it back? I'm not really up on what all the finer details of this sanction mularky means really.

I can't see Mitro being any different in the Prem this time than he was last time tbh. As seen before, it's one thing scoring week in, week out in the Championship but another thing entirely in the Prem. I suspect there might be an initial push but it'll probably fizzle as the season gets underway.