BlazeT44

Can understand the Everton game. We probably should be taking all 3. The Brighton game. I hate losing but they have been massively inconsistent this year too. Beat Spurs, Man Utd, Man City, Us, drew Vs Arsenal, narrowly lost 2-1 to Liverpool and drew with Forest who are flying. Yet lost to Palace, drew with Ipswich, West Ham, Southampton and Leicester

Out of curiosity, which results would you / others bemoan? (Genuine question) For me, West Ham at Home and Fulham away should have been better. But that's football.... Think we're in a good position heading into 2025.

Jesus is having a brilliant week. Hope he gets shit birthday presents in 4 days time.

Why would you risk overplaying the only striker in a ridiculously busy period, who has been susceptible to injury when over played, after he's got his hat trick, and your 4-0 up? I'd have brought him off even if we didn't have a sub to replace him. Edit: Osula would have made sense, but maybe Gordon is the next sub anyway.

Carry on like this, I'll be organising another get together....!

Tomorrow

Apparently a massive disconnect between him and the rest of the board. He wanted an English Manager like Potter, Howe or Southgate and they over-ruled and listened to Omar Berrada. He didn't want De Ligt or Zirkzee and instead Ashworth wanted to sign Jarrad Branthwaite from Everton. You'd think they'd have discussed philosophy and direction of travel during the recruitment process

Both 5 months I think.

Very good point. You can think of it like this - if the Saudis bought us years before FFP (ala Man City), who would you want to keep to seriously challenge and who would you replace? For me, the answer would be: Pope (2nd choice or move on) Livramento (potential) Hall (potential) Botman Schar or Burn (as 4th choice CB) Bruno Tonali Joelinton (as 5th choice CM and muscle) Gordon Barnes (impact sub) Isak First 11 with the sub in brackets: New GK (Pope) Hall, Livramento (New LB/RB) Botman, New CB (Young CB, Schar/Burn) Bruno (New CM) Tonali New CM (Joelinton) Gordon (Barnes) New Winger Isak (New CF/RW) I believe that team could seriously challenge depending on the quality of additions. We've got a very good spine, which all teams need. That's 8 new players though.

Now that I can 100% get behind. And weirdly, I think he's vastly underrated by a lot of football fans that don't watch him week in week out.

I agree he's great (statistics show he's a quality finisher), but for me a World Class player is top 5 in their position worldwide. Maybe that's just my definition though

Top 4 Bruno Isak Botman (pre injury at least) Tonali Think that's it. Gordon may get in some Top 6 teams there, depending on the teams you rank as Top 6 - big 6 or the current top 6? Same with Joelinton, but I think he'd struggle to be a regular starter in any Top 6 team. Livramento and Hall both top 10 but think they have a way to go in their development. Barnes and Willock Top 10, if the latter is fit. Wilson is never fit so pointless even ranking him.

Barnes, world class? Come on, Mike.

That's up there with the best of them

I'll add this one in, too.

Shocking.

This for me. Too predictable. No plan B. And I really like Eddie... what he's done for us, he will always have my love (like Rafa).

Made one or two very big saves (albeit one was called offside), then let a very soft goal in late on. Its a difficult one since I really like Pope, but I think if we want top 4 regularly we need someone better, particularly with their feet.

Shouldn't have been in a position to get one point, let alone three. But shouldn't be dropping two points like that in the dying moments of a game. What a shit game

That's his signing bonus gone up...

I'm not saying it is a meaningful argument and that's why I led with "footballs a funny game".... Football isn't played on paper and there are no guarantees. The fact we haven't played well all season and are only a few points behind the top 4 could be seen as a positive...?

I don't necessarily disagree with you man. Just his style of football when he goes into a sulk with the board is tedious AF.

Football is a funny game. We're only 3 points off top 4. Only Brentford and Forest I'd really say we should be above. If someone told me at the start of the s ason we'd be 4 points behind City after 13 games, I'd have bit their hand off.

As much as I liked his mentality when he first came to England, I really don't want to put 10 men behind the ball until we buy a £70m striker that can stay fit, due to his petulance.

Good job you're not a referee... and on camera!