Checko

I think xG's useful, but like all stats it has its limitations. You could create nothing all game and then two defensive cockups gift you a couple of gilt edge chances and suddenly it looks like you created a bit. It's most useful when supplemented with the eye test I think. Also, if someone puts a great cross across the 6 yard box and an attacker is a barleycorn away from making contact and putting it in an empty net - is that counted for xG/xA? Or is it not added to those stats as there's no contact to measure the potential shot from? Also I agreed with TCD that PSG battered us for the entire second half in Paris and we probably should have conceded at least 3 in the second half.

Yeah, I deliberately included 'at the moment' for that reaseon Looks like a long night for Everton.

BTW, did anyone else know Everton have comfortably the fourth best defensive record in the league at the moment? Conceded 7 fewer than Spurs and Villa and 6 fewer than Man U. They can't score, but still impressive.

Just as perhaps an alternative point of view - club that overspends and doesn't adhere to profit and loss rules risks going into administration... you could say that's kind of why the rules are there.

I could see him going to Saudi for a couple of years for a final big payday.

Yeah, I mean small sample sizes can create unusual statistics but I think they look a dangerous trio. Bags of pace and movement, all three will get goals, the two wide players can both go inside or out and Isak can play off the last man or drop deep and link play.

I agree I love the NUFC badge - think it would look great on streetwear as well. Our current badge, which I also like, is a bit more boulevard than street. If I was in the commercial department I'd be trying to flog the NUFC logo on every clothing item available.

As punishment he's going to continually jink around them until they all slip and break their ankles.

Yeah CB as well for me - we know we need a CB long-term: we have Schar who'll turn 33 in December, Burn who's 32 next month, Lascelles who's 31 next November and out with an ACL. With Botman also out as well - unless we have a really talented youngster we need another CB I'd say and we might as well try to get a really good one now. Other positions of need: I think we need a really good technical playmaker. We need to decide what we're doing at LB. A backup striker who can stay fit? I mean we could run with Isak, Wilson and Gordon, but if Gordon has to cover Centre forward an attacking playmaker becomes more important.

Elliot Anderson? He seems a bit like a young ross barkley.

Feels like in a few months at the end of last year and over the summer he lost all the youthful petulance but kept all the determination and aggression. He seems already to be be one of the team leaders. Probably some great man management from Howe [Gordon references this in his interview with Craig Hope], a combination of having to grow up due to moving and having a kid, and his own determination and hard work to improve. He's just been brilliant this year. Brilliant on the pitch. Brilliant in attitude.

For clear and obvious error, if they can use video footage to see that the contact was outside the box rather than in, then that would seem a clear error to award the penalty to me. These very tight, last minute calls that decide the outcome of the game are exactly what VAR was brought in for. Of course a lot of football decisions also involve subjectivity, which complicated things.

I think one of the advantages of playing in one of the lesser Euro comps (other than chance to win a trophy, boost co-efficient, increasing the club's profile, giving players european football etc.) is that it'll give the backroom staff more experience dealing with the demands of Europe. It's been a big learning curve this year. With a bit more experience, a more fleshed out squad with fewer injuries, and maybe the odd cup draw that lets us play some kids we could give it a go on a couple of fronts.

I will say I don't think the first was a pen. It's a handball there if: 1. He deliberately touches the ball with his arm 2. If the ball touches his arm accidentally while his arm was making his body unnaturally bigger I don't think he was deliberately trying to play the ball with his arm. As Froggy said, there was a deflection and very little reaction times and there was an initial instinctive reaction to turn towards the ball. He doesn't really move from his spot. Looking at the replay it looks to me like he's actually then trying to move his arm away just as it's hitting. The key thing again is, was he deliberately trying to touch the ball with his arm? Not, was he deliberately trying to play the ball when it touched his arm? His arm was pretty much by his side as it hit him I don't think for me it was making his body unnaturally bigger, so for me that was no pen. Again though it's a subjective call there but I would feel very harshly done by if that was given again us though.

They're probably thinking of this bit of the laws: "If a defender starts holding an attacker outside the penalty area and continues holding inside the penalty area, the referee must award a penalty kick." For me it's correct there to award the foul from the point of contact if it's all one foul.

Pg 39

As Leffe said, sitting back and hitting on the break is the best way to play against Spurs, but thought he set everything up bang on today. Absolute masterclass.

Great result and a great, much more aggressive performance. Was looking forward to seeing a Barnes Isak Gordon front three and it looks pretty good. Thought Schar, Anderson and Krafth did very well as well, but really everyone did a good job today.

LOL, trolling them with Dummett

JUSTICE FOR THE VAN!

At the end of the day, FFP or whatever, the same underlying issue's gonna be present - teams with 500/600/700 million per year in revenue have a big advantage over teams with 150/200/250 million. As much as we'd like to profit from an infinite money cheat, the fact most premier league teams need a benevolent owner to be dropping in 400 million a year every year just for parity with the big boys is pretty mad.

Just waiting for the twitter photo of a toilet roll, tub of vaselene, latex glove and tin of dog food.

Fucking get in! No player I root for more than Big Jow.

I dunno, Billy Gilmour sounds like the kind of person I'd expect to be running a gambling racket in the 1930s. Might be best to stay clear.

My guess as well is that he thought neither Willock or Anderson were ready to play 90 minutes yet, he did seem to be rotating them, so didn't want to start both with only one CM as a sub.