nbthree3

Funny you should say that

That too

If you're protesting, keep it to a) banners and b) at the stadium

Wrong house for starters. But someone's had to see that outside their home this morning and that's awful regardless

Thankfully they're dealing with it

And this level of ambition is why he's getting the job. Just think if he pulls that off, most successful manager in nearly 40 years a "Kopite"

"Application will involve detailed submissions and supporting evidence that the Defendant is preparing alongside current procedural deadlines in arbitration proceedings with Newcastle United Football Club, which are said to cover materially identical issues to those raised in the Claim and which are being heard on an expedited basis in July 2021." Is the only thing we know about certain timeframes. https://www.catribunal.org.uk/sites/default/files/2021-05/1402_StJames_Reasoned_Order__130521_1.pdf

Haven't used this in a while. Remember Soccer Sauce? The same Soccer Sauce: ... and again:

As I've mentioned before, always up for a challenge. Maybe the biggest one of his career knowing the circumstances around it

It's good that they embed here as it's annoying having to incognito his account when I want to check on it as he's blocked me (and half the fanbase!)

https://www.catribunal.org.uk/cases/130161218-bm-european-value-retail-sa If people who understand the process better than I do, and I try, would this be anything similar to what happens? A hearing to determine it based on an "order of the chairman (directions)?" https://www.catribunal.org.uk/sites/default/files/2019-02/1301_B%26M_Order_220119.pdf Order https://www.catribunal.org.uk/sites/default/files/2019-02/1301_B%26M_Transcript_060219.pdf Transcript

https://www.catribunal.org.uk/sites/default/files/2017-11/The_Competition_Appeal_Tribunal_Rules_2015.pdf (6) An order containing a declaration that the Tribunal has no jurisdiction or will not exercise its jurisdiction may also make further provision as to the disposal or stay of the proceedings. (7) If on an application under this rule the Tribunal does not make a declaration under paragraph (6), the Tribunal shall give directions regarding the future conduct of the proceedings. Think those 2 are the relevant bits, page 23. Part 4, point 34

Maybe it's the Liverpool connection, maybe it's the claims he's past it. Maybe it's even the 'Bruce has done better' card or the 'failed in China' one which is obviously a lie to the informed. I don't think it's a minority or for one certain reason and he'll be given dog's abuse from the second it's announced. Interesting when we play them and Liverpool have their Merseyside derby, what will the reception be like?

Defacing the stadium now - at least keep it to banners that can be taken down at ease!

I do wish Talksport separated themselves from idiocy such as this though

The latest on Rafa came this morning on Talksport. https://talksport.com/football/901743/rafael-benitez-close-next-everton-manager-job-fan-backlash-liverpool/ It is believed Toffees owner Farhad Moshiri was taking time to measure the response from supporters, after an angry backlash following their approach for the ex-Liverpool chief. X-rated banners have appeared outside Everton’s home ground, with one of the more polite messages to the ex-Reds boss reading: ‘Benitez not welcome’. Everton’s approach for the Benitez has also split opinion with pundits, with accusations the former Chelsea, Real Madrid and Newcastle United boss uses clubs as ‘stepping stones’ to get bigger jobs. And it is now understood Moshiri has decided to push ahead with the deal following extended talks with the Spaniard. However, it appears not everyone at the club is in agreement over the pursuit for Benitez. Other members of the Everton board are understood to be ‘concerned’ by the approach, especially following the angry response from supporters with volatile banners directed at the ex-Liverpool manager being erected on the gates of Goodison Park. They claim it could happen before the end of the weekend

He's scored and assisted for Paraguay this... morning... against Chile. Very impressive

Yeah definitely, still an interesting observation anyway. If I had access to actual databases I could look further into how things were

I know Everton fans are using Rafa's "poor" performance in China as an argument not to appoint him. It's interesting that https://footystats.org/china/chinese-super-league/xg for the 2020 season (Rafa's full season) says Dalian had the 2nd best xG (rising from 1.36 to 1.65 per match) in the division, out of 16 teams. The actual output got worse, but from what I can tell the underlying stats got better? xGA fell from 1.54 in 2019 to 1.27 in 2020 too. The average squad age in 2019 was 28.8 which was the 2nd highest in the division. In 2020, that fell to 27.3 which was the lowest in the Super League. Even if according to points per match Dalian slipped from 9th (1.27) in 2019 to 13th (0.79) in 2020, I think the data beneath it suggests an improvement hence the board being happy with the transformation over there

Actually painful

That's that, then