Coffee_Johnny

You’ve shown great restraint not to put that particular page to use.

What a night! Twenty five years!! ?

Clurb, sounded a bit Northumberland. But not much else. North Tyneside??

Corrected ?

More incentive to get a lonnggg way from home?

Yep, I know it is tried, tested and favoured (by many) to have a pure defensive/water carrier (with more negative slant) type player sitting in front of centre backs. I’d just prefer a more fluid flexible set-up. That doesn’t exclude them having relative strengths, just all able to interchange and be able to do everything, even if to a slightly lesser degree, is better I think.

Never drawn there this century. somewhere around 9 losses and 5 wins.

Not sure it is fair to say he did a better job than Rafa, the numbers so far this season don’t support it either. Last season, there was certainly not the kind of new manager bounce you would expect, based on the theory that Rafa was in some way a toxic influence at least. Personally, I don’t want to see Lampard fail. In fact, and I may be in the minority here, but I have a soft spot for Everton. Know the area reasonably well and in some ways it reminds me of where I grew-up. Similar people, similar struggles. I do, however, think he will fail. Hope I’m wrong.

Not that it matters much, but I’m not a fan of the one-man one-role notions for a midfield three. Bruno, as he says and as we’ve seen, can do everything required. Joelinton is very strong on some attributes and, oddly given why we bought him, less reliable in terms of finishing and creating opportunities for others. Another one to join who is a bit of an all rounder (athletic, can tackle, pick a pass, calm head, good tactical awareness), but stronger in terms of creativity and finishing than Joelinton, and we have a fluid flexible trio who are much harder to mark/generally cope with. I hope this is the plan, rather than bringing someone in to mainly sit and mop-up so Bruno can go.

Great news for the lad. Money talks. Speaks volumes re what they are seeing in him.

Not sure it’s fair to say Rafa ‘failed and deserved to be sacked’ by Everton. Think it was obviously a risky appointment (both sides) but if you appoint, you have to fully back your manager (particularly one with ‘control’ issues) and give him at least a season. His half season there looked pretty much like the second half of the season under Lampard. Benetiz: Everton P22 W7 D5 L10 Lampard: Everton P21, W8, D2, L11 The above is all comps. In the league, Benetiz picked up 19 points (1 point per game) and Lampard 20 points (1.1 ppg). Lampard has thus far achieved the same kind of return this season. P7 W1 D4 L2 (1ppg). Though just thinking, if it is still 1ppg by December, he might well get sacked too!

Or another all rounder alongside him and Joelinton would do very nicely.

Fair point. But you still need to apologise to the people of Cheltenham, Worcester or Alnwick (amongst many more!).

Wrexham? Wales you say? Check this out! ?

No never, if it compromises the probability of winning a match. Players who need pitch time, development, a confidence boost, tend to get played when there is no other choice or when a game is already won. Other than that strongest 11; always.

Don’t think that negates the point. He put him in when he had demonstrated he was ready and would be an improvement.

Big rap-stylee mayoral chain ? p.s. called civic regalia

I agree he’s a top prospect and really hope he is an integral part of a really strong team for years to come. However, Howe (pretty much any manager) will always pick what he thinks is his strongest team for the forthcoming match. Aiding a player’s development is always going to be a lower priority.

66 points with one transfer (Bruno in—again). Happy with that, given average was 50. Shame I got rid of Son (You’re welcome, Spurs fans!)

Table was a nice surprise this morning! Wish (obvs) I had stuck with my initial 1-0 to Villa and, abandoned due to low probability, 2-3 to Fulham!

Re the not fathoming bit. I do think Burn still has the shirt on merit. I’ve loved glimpses of what Botman has and will bring, but personally I don’t think he has done enough to oust Burn. Not because Botman has looked iffy—he’s had iffy moments, but has generally looked good—but because Burn—who has also had iffy moments— has been better, more confident, more critical tackles and is as people point out is more experienced and a good leader. Haven’t kept a record, can’t provide facts and figures but Botman has a bit more to do to take a shirt. He’ll get it, but it’ll be through consistency, and the confidence Howe has in him, not through the size of his transfer fee, potential, or pet-lip.

Gameweek 9 Arsenal 3-1 Spurs Bournemouth 1-1 Brentford Palace 0-2 Chelsea Fulham 2-3 Newcastle Liverpool 2-1 Brighton Southampton 2-0 Everton West Ham 1-1 Wolves Man City 2-0 Man United Leeds 2-0 Villa Leicester 3-1 Notts Forest

Yep, mood vacuum. Hope noise fills the space next home match. Silence angsting/waiting for the team to lift you, rather than vice versa, can too easily become a habit.

Howe did say he could see Wilson and Isak playing together. Those two and Maxi sounds pretty fearsome to me.

He’ll have no clue if Wilson will play. Even if fit.