Ginola14

I think also a run in the Europa not to be sniffed at, we'd be amongst the favourites I imagine and getting to the final in my hometown would be incredible!

hate losing to Spurs as well but Milan game more important

yet the kit worn for the 0-8 never seen again

ffs have we not worn it enough this season already? I know it probably means fuck all but just associate that kit with bad results whereas the blue away form last season we were unbeaten

We'll be doing well to finish ahead of Man U - something that's never happened since the PL began. Without so many games and injuries I'd back us, but as it is they're in a better position and will likely keep doing just enough without ever really convincing.

an evening game under the lights at Goodison is usually a really tough game, would probably be happy with a draw given the injury circumstances

I think Howe will try to rotate a bit if possible given it's only 3rd round and sandwiched between Liverpool and City games. Would be a huge risk of course. edit - sorry wrong Sunderland thread!

would be nice if local lads Longstaff, Anderson, Miley and Burn are fit for this

also please not the green kit again

I think we'll probably win but will be difficult without any options on the bench again and if needing to go for it towards the end. expect it to be much closer than last season's result here. also hoping the crowd doesn't affect Gordon too much as that could be a big factor. did Ferguson ever leave Rooney out at Goodison? thought I read that somewhere.

do we have any players out on loan that could potentially be recalled to fill in? can't see us not picking up any more injuries/knocks in the next few weeks given the relentless schedule with same 11 and not really utilising bench.

when was the last time we were such clear favourites against Man U? despite being below them in the table plus having more injuries and less options to rotate doesn't sit well with me.

Same 11 again for us whereas they can rotate. So important we don't pick up any more injuries given the lack of options on the bench. Hope the players can summon up the energy to really get at them but fear it could be a tired performance and frustrating draw. .

I know Man U have had a lot of injuries as well but still seemed like a lot of expensive talent on your bench today and Hojlund/Mount also expected to return?

seems like Man U's results against some really poor sides are papering over a lot of cracks there, really hope we can put out a strong team next weekend and give a good account of ourselves against them

does Bruno Fernandes ever miss a game?

End of December means he'd miss the cup tie against Chelsea. I had a lot of hope for this game after Old Trafford result but this is rapidly diminishing. Chelsea the luckiest cup side ever!

Just the 11 games between now and 1 Jan. Crazy schedule.

FML

Club is cursed! Chances of winning something always undermined by injuries... Thinking back to Uefa Cup QF against Monaco in 97 when iirc we had to play Lee up front as Shearer, Ferdinand and Tino were all unavailable. Ditto for our first season in CL following Shearer's lengthy injury when we had to resort to Barnes/Rush up front in crucial ties against PSV. Or Uefa Cup SF against Marseille when we probably would've won but for an injury crisis. Suppose having Souness in charge for Uefa and FA cups semis in 2006 was club's own doing. Now this latest injury crisis likely to see us out of Europe and underdogs away to Chelsea in league cup QF. FML ?

Ever since the takeover made him look like a complete fool following his beef with Staveley, Jordan seems to be saying nice things about Newcastle in a balanced way. From what little I've seen anyway.

Man U now ahead of us after winning 7 games against weaker opposition all by 1 goal is very annoying. Maybe I'm not giving them enough credit for grinding out victories but seems the fixture list has been much kinder to them - every defeat against anyone decent generally followed by an easy run of games. At least their next three are tough (assuming we don't get more injuries in the meantime).

Not too confident about this one. As poor as they've been for a long time, they still have the third best away record so far having only played 5 games. Bruno will be back but probably knackered after tough games against Colombia and Argentina. Other injuries are well documented and looks like they're starting to score goals now with 8 in their last 2. Could really do with Botman returning for this. Would love another Arsenal-style win but a draw would not be a bad result under the circumstances (said pretty much the same for Bournemouth) and with one eye on PSG away.

Out of 32 teams in this season's CL, only two teams have conceded more goals than Man U (11), those being Celtic (12) and Antwerp (14). And yet they still have a great chance to go through. Incredible stuff.

I did say considering the circumstances, which on balance seems incredibly unlucky to be without so many big players. If half of those absentees were available then I would expect to win. Need to manage expectations a bit.