Fantail Breeze

Bloke has barely stood on a football pitch all season, it’s unsurprising he’s incredibly rusty.

Fantastic effort considering we had 10 men for 80+ minutes. Great defensive performance. Finally the four defenders we need on the pitch were all there. Lewis, Fernandez, Joelinton were fantastic. Unfortunate not to win, something to build on though. Although it piles the pressure on the Burnley match, that absolutely is must win now.

Not felt this nervous in a long time pre-match.

They’re so unlucky that the teams just about the drop keep winning If they keep this form up they’ve still got every chance though, which is mad for the position they’re in.

I was annoyed about the delay in sacking Bruce as I was with the delay in appointing Howe, which has ultimately cost us momentum and points. The delay in appointing to these key roles can’t affect our business in January, that’s the key point here. If we sign players in January, as early on as possible, fine. But we cannot be pissing around with transfers. Get one or two in as soon as possible and give much needed strength to the squad. Even if they are loans to the end of the season just to get us through, I’m not bothered. Survival should be the sole aim right now.

We’ll struggle to win most PL games with a midfield duo of Willock and Shelvey. It relies on opposition midfields being completely off the boil, because not many (if any) have a lack of tenacity like us. There’s a reason most decent midfields are built on at least one good passer/flair player and the other a combative tackler. I believe it’s the most important part of the pitch. Hayden should be one of the first names on the teamsheet for this reason. Not because he’s the best player in the world, but the role he fulfils is essential.

We were a Mo Diame fluke away from being in massive trouble with automatic promotion. Although, as others have said, under Rafa the big moments always seemed to go our way. Only can be down to luck a few times.

Idiots basically. I don't get it either. I haven’t see anyone suggest it wasn’t positive.

And will also stop them spending in January.

I don’t understand why Man Utd can’t sign Ronaldo but also challenge to win the league. They’ve got one of the expensively assembled squads ever. OGS has been fantastic for dampening expectations. That team should be at the top of the table with Chelsea and Man City. They might not win it, but they should be challenging.

Question for those much more knowledgeable than me about Italian football - what would be a good season for Mourinho with Roma? Are they expected to finish top four, or title challenge? Or are they rebuilding and anything would be a success?

That’s what I thought. Pleased I wasn’t going completely mad.

But that’s what I’m confused about, every other time when the phase of play has ended without a goal attempt, the flag has gone up?

Is it the rule? I thought linesman were still supposed to flag, regardless of what happens. Plenty of times a shot hasn’t been taken and they’ve flagged when they’ve realised a chance wasn’t going to occur.

No. Based on 13 games so far this season where Everton find themselves closer to the relegation zone than Europe. Based on watching Everton put in some dreadful performances, where the team selected (disregarding players not playing) should be achieving a result. I’ve already answered the question above regarding Real. In relation to China, based on the fact they finished in their second lowest ever position in the Super League and were knocked out of the cup earlier than they ever had been.

Like watching two pissed blokes fight at 5am over a kebab.

Lukaku coming on to save my Fantasy Football gameweek.

Had a dream/nightmare last night that they appointed Alex Hurst into the DoF role Not sure what is more disturbing, the thought of that happening or the fact I was dreaming about Alex.

Not sure. But I don’t know much about what Guardiola and Klopp demand from their players. I see Rafa and Mourinho as quite restrictive, whereas I assume Klopp and Guardiola encourage more flair and allow a bit more than the former. Equally why does Simeone get results with the same demands and style as Rafa/Mourinho?

This is not the entertainment I was hoping for. If they absolutely shithouse this

I don’t think it’s just necessarily the defensive football, I think most modern players are unwilling to buy into their demands. Even if they do, it’s only for a short period before they get sick of the level of work demanded. If results deteriorate they also seem to down tools very quickly.

I haven’t said anything apart from the fact Rafa did well with us. But that is one good job in the middle of three crap ones. He was great for us but people need to be able to see past that. We don’t need to ferociously defend Rafa at every opportunity. Fantastic for us, but he looks a shadow of his previous self and nothing to suggest he’ll continue to do well at the top level.

Can you not?

A “haul of wins and goals scored”, including a 4-0 defeat to Barca and managing to draw 2-2 with Gary Neville’s Valencia. They were 3rd at the time IIRC and four points adrift, a gap that was looking like increasing further as their form was deteriorating. Zidane came in and did well though, didn’t he?

Apart from us, he’s been shite. Shite at Everton, shite at Real, shite in China. We’re clearly the exception, rather than the norm. A bit like Mourinho, world class manager in his day but their methods are no longer bringing results.