Abacus

I wouldn't worry about what every dipstick on there says. I think the bigger problem is that it's encouraged there and if you dissent from it you're somehow a traitor to them and if it's a lie it just gets repeated. It's why this forum is a hundred times better. I know the Sunderland lot on here occasionally get a pasting, but they're at least trying to talk about their club through their lens and stick to this thread, which can be interesting. Stopped bothering looking on there the last few months, except the odd time for their match thread on TV, which I quite like, for the sense of community it has. The thing I most can't get is how everything is defined as being anti Newcastle as opposed to for their own club. It takes about two seconds for that to rear up in almost every conversation. Obviously nearer the derby I'll hate them with a passion, but for now I just don't care that much. Actually (unpopular opinion) credit to them for giving it a go and making the relegation battle interesting.

I feel absolutely awful how Isak signing has turned Liverpool into being so shit and exposed his new manager as an idiot. No refunds.

Moaning about his squad, that he himself built this summer, about other teams' tactics and his own inability to know what to do about it, complaining about criticism as being unfair, that Liverpool have always fielded weakened teams when they haven't and as if it wasn't his choice this time anyway. Hilarious. Interesting that he rested Ekitike ahead of the next few games. Maybe suggests Isak's groin still hasn't been located (or that he is just crap) and that Ekitike will be their main striker?

I would imagine that if you're a manager he's a bit of a puzzle and that's the opposite of a criticism. I would imagine that if you're a manager like Howe it's a puzzle you'd love to have because it's what you live and breathe for.

Used to be a thing about taking a yellow for the team. But in fairness, to be consistent, the ref then really needed to book himself afterwards for the exact same reason. Bruno knew. Anyway he was pretty superb again.

With their defensive problems they really should have gone with Guehi over Isak. Increasingly glad they did though, watching Slot bumble about so far is fun.

Sunderland have had a much better start than we or probably they expected. You'd expect them to have much rougher patches this season but they already have maybe half of the points needed to stay up, so fair enough, you can only do what you can with the fixtures you have. It would take an epic collapse from here, also helped by how terrible both Wolves and West Ham have been. It's going to take a lot for those two to recover.

It's not really a divisive opinion it's more that we're playing a different way by necessity and that will take time to click. Really wasn't having a go btw, I think Fulham at home is exactly the kind of game we expect to win and then didn't previously. Found a way yesterday. You can't change a whole team's pattern of play so fast, or to integrate what looks to be a hugely different talent in Nick or indeed Osula, and not expect a bumpy ride. That was my only point. Might have read your post wrongly but I thought, maybe wrongly, that there was impatience with inconsistency when that's exactly what we are going to have.

I think that's fair for a title challenge. I do think it's less fair when we've had such turmoil with strikers and trying to adapt a whole new system around the talents we've got. I don't much feel that's down to Eddie at all or PIF. Think they've done what they can within the rules. Personally top 5 for me and a crack at one of the other competitions with all that disruption would represent an outstanding season. Not sure what others are expecting/hoping for?

Slightly different note, only just caught up with MOTD and caught his interview there with a walloping hangover. Always magnificent, never slow to praise the opposition, never blames anyone else if it doesn't work. Note perfect. Fulham at home was exactly the sort of game people expect us to win, but we didn't last season and if we can grind these out AND compete in Europe the guy is nothing short of a magician.

I do agree with this. I just didn't want to say it in case it reignites the Ben Arfa under Howe debate.

@KaKa don't let it wind you up. It was silly and I'm sure was meant that way. On topic, I do think he's got something this kid, and if he's a Tindall pick as rumoured then fair play to JT. Was reading earlier Moyes complain how hard it was to find a striker, any striker, when he was at West Ham and, what £10-15m was it? Would be sensational business if he can be an impact sub or better in a year or two. (Headed back from town post match after a few pints and couldn't quite figure out how to put that in a grammatically correct format so apologies if that didn't make sense.)

I believe Isak's groin isn't attached to his muscles somehow, based on something I read on here. So he's essentially just a useless skin bag of offal in that case, should these rumours prove to be correct. Which I therefore do choose to believe. I can still hate Slot, though, so that's enough for my hate watch. Followed by match of the day and a nice bottle of wine and a chocolate biscuit.

if there's an upside, this thread is it.

I oddly enough can't hate this win, because it's against Chelsea. Next do Liverpool and get onion to break Isak.

Nah, don't stream stuff. Just well chuffed and first time I've been able to get to my phone to say anything after.

Get. In.

Amazing how he's become a bit of an icon already. Get in Nick, do your thing today.

People need to stop being rude about Steve Brunch, surely the most important English manager of the last 100 years.

He'll be out with a bruised ego next.

That's great news! So chuffed for him and for us that the ban hasn't stuffed us. It did a bit that season, but that was always a punching above our weight season. Proper special player Tonali and could be part of something special that's starting to build.

I originally liked the idea of VAR as it always seemed ridiculous that a clear error could be picked apart on TV while fans at the game were oblivious/fuming. It hasn't been applied consistently and it hasn't come without mistakes of its own. More decisions have been right with it than wrong most likely. But even that has come at a different cost to the flow of the game and every single club's own fans will think it is being applied with bias. I do think semi automated offsides, spotting off the ball fouls, and a referee being able to ask if they aren't sure about something should be worthwhile. As for the rest... this should more be for the fans to decide than the PL. If you can't have perfection, then at least do what the paying public want for the sport.

I think if your team isn't involved in these matches, the format makes it dull to watch for a neutral until later or the knock out phases. I skipped most of these games last year when we weren't in it because you didn't know what the results meant until later on. Don't get me wrong I am enjoying the games this season when we play and will be watching the Liverpool game later hoping Isak continues his miserable performances. I get why some people like the format, personally I think it's just more games with little jeopardy. Benfica was cracking though.

Well, that was decent.