Premier League — Matchweek 19

I get that we want forest to lose, however, var didn't even show it, the penalty, except very quickly once one angle, looked like a dive to me 100%.

Harsh penalty that against Forest, Isak made a right meal of it.

Not bothered though, as much as I hate the Barcodes we need a Forest defeat.

Deffo made a meal of it, hardly touched him and then he jumps and dives, corrupt.

Ricky, agree 100%.

That was an awful decision. And as usual, there will be no accountability from VAR.

Where is Bruno’s Xmas card?

Then the VAR 'balances' it by giving Forest a dodgy one against the likes of us Rob.

One must question one's own sanity though, when like a moth to a flame, simply have a compulsion to continue watching. Lol.

Slightly off topic but looking at Boxing Day fixtures
My favourite team was the 63 team so I just looked at Boxing day 63 results
No VAR, mud pitches, tackling around the neck and great players

Blackpool 1 Chelsea 5
Burnley 6 Man Utd 1
Fulham 10 Ipswich 1
Leicester 2 Everton 0
Liverpool 6 Stoke 1
Forest 3 Sheff Utd 3
Sheff Wed 3 Bolton 0
West Brom 4 Spurs 4
West Ham 2 Blackburn 8
Wolves 3 Villa 3

A pretty entertaining day and no doubt those days most of the players would have been feeling no pain after a shed load of bevvy the day before!

St James' Park Boxing Day 1986.

4-0 to Everton with a majestic display by the champions in waiting.

Decent revenge goal from Wood. That will shut a few up about his ability.

Oh-oh... Wood scores a sweet one for Forest.

What was the Toon defender No 33 doing? Why did he backpedal away from the pass he could have easily intercepted?

Burn — immediately subbed!

Fuck Forest.

Eddie is a goner lol

oh! And happy Christmas.

Hattrick, Woods

Boxing day 2023 St James Park
Newcastle 1 Sheffield Utd 2

Eddie out!

It was 100% penalty, nailed on. Never a dive.

Elanga stuck his leg out and caught Isak.

Oh my gawd... Chris Wood hat-trick. I don't think he's offside!

What the fuck, is going on at Newcastle? Couldn't hit a pig's arse with a banjo that Wood, and today he looks like fecking Ronaldo. 1-3. Jeezus wept

I’m not so sure about that pen. There was contact but not enough to convince for me.

Bill …Nottingham Forest.

Barcodes shambolic, making Chris Wood look like Ronaldo….

Nick ..sorry about the weird repetition , I hadn’t read your post , just the same interpretation!

Tony,
He needs a better plastic surgery 😁

Something's not right. Someone forgot to forward the Sky TV "Big Team v Small Team" memo to PGMOL and Amazon Prime Video.

They could have easily gone with a frame or two later on the offside call.

I don't see many Neanderthal Newcastle supporters with no shirt on today!

Tony getting confused wonder if it is all the alcohol yesterday or my dislike of Newcastle.

Joelinton and Giumeres are a pair of shits.

It's ridiculous that we have to hope teams below keep losing so we don't get dragged into a relegation fight. We should have 26 points and not worried.

Premier League – corrupt as fuck.

Have to change that saying / couldn't see the trees for the Forest, to couldn't see the goal for the Forest

Normal service resumed at the Skunks. This time next season they will be fighting relegation. They were all over the place at the back, and couldn't hit a barn door up front.

Maybe £45M for Gordon was a good deal after all, because he was garbage and at one point didn't seem a bit interested. They will get hammered by the RS next game.

We should be happy with the Skunks getting beat, because in real points terms we'd be only three points below them, however, due to that incredible ten points deduction, Forest winning is a big blow.

I didn't watch that game but instead tuned into Preston v Leeds, and the little Canadian winger Liam Millar who is approaching 25 is a player to watch, he's on loan at Deepdale from Swiss club Basle, I can see some Premier League team taking a punt on him in the near future.

As an aside the Leeds keeper held on to a Leeds cross, had a bit of a heated exchange with a Preston player and then completely lost it by putting his hand in the face of another Preston player, he was red-carded, but play restarted with a free-kick to Leeds.

We can’t be worrying about the teams around us winning. We just have to win more games than they do.

Luton also winning

There are always going to be weeks like this but we'll still win more games than the bottom 3 between now and the end of the season.

Our goal difference is like an extra point over them as well.

I thought Luton were guaranteed to go down, but there putting up a good fight.

It’s worrying that we are still worrying. This is the lower teams’ desperate attempt to stay close to us. I like Barry’s take. Chelsea, Skunks and Ushited could all be wthin 10 points of our finish.

It's becoming a tad concerning that Luton seem to be growing into the PL now.

Dont get me wrong I don't think we are in danger of relegation but with injuries or suspensions it always looms in the background that we could hit a poor run of form.

Don't want Burnley winning tonight either.

We still have the potential for a few points being reinstated on appeal as well. I also believe over the coming weeks we'll pull away again from the chasing bottom 3 and likely end up above teams like Palace, Forest, Brentford etc.

We're a better outfit than all of them and it will tell over a full season. It's a long game remember.

It's no great surprise Luton are winning. They're easily the best of the bottom 3 and Sheffield Utd are easily the worst.

All the bottom teams seem to gain un us so not surprised if Burnley also get something

Wrong Paul. So wrong.

Paul, I don’t care who beats the teams around us as long as they continue to drop points. We have to be pragmatic.

Leeds loose to Preston

Dale, do you want Burnley making ground on us.?

I’m not concerned that other clubs around us get the odd win - I’ve seen enough of us to know we’ll be ok.
I’m really really really hoping to finish above Brighton as well as there’s a Cnut at my cricket club who gleefully posted the league table when we were bottom and took the piss. Most other people I know were sympathetic but Brighton fans are almost as bad as the skunks on the back of a half decent season! 🤬

I personally hope Burnley absolutely thrash the shite!
And another thing - what’s happening with Tom Davies at Sheffield? He’s not even on the bench??

Mark, Sheffield realising what some of us knew during his time at Goodison - he’s just not good.

I see our former player, now at Fulham, is just as shite for them as he was for us. Doesn’t Santa have a donkey called Prancer as well?

Sheffield scores. Perfect

1-1 in the Luton game now

Mark, that hit a nerve. Brighton eh?

I wanted to get with them on style of play and a challenge to the old guard. Fuck those guys, I always dubious.

Colin, I knew you'd get another one in on him! Can't give up.

BTW, Davies suffered a major injury in October -- not that he was playing much anyway.

2-1 Sheffield United

Yay

Mark, Davies got a thigh injury a couple of months ago and I don’t think he will be back for a few weeks

Mike, all he does is prance around like he’s in the nutcracker suite.

Plenty of effort from Sheffield and Luton, but can’t see either of these sides staying up, not enough quality.

Tony Luton might. They beat us at Goodison and very neary beat Liverpool.

Colin, that cracked me up.

To be fair, he does have four goals and an assist for them, while his replacement Harrison has a goal and four assists for us.

I'd be happier with Sheffield Utd winning this. Keeps them both 4 points behind plus our far better goal difference.

2-2 they're both shite

Leno giving the ballboy a bit of a shove.

Leno, the Fulham goalkeeper,raises his hand and pushes an “opponent”, and gets away with it. However the “Opponent” was a ten year old Bournemouth ball boy, but amazingly, it was reviewed by VAR. Michael Oliver deemed it to not be a yellow or red card for Leno.

Rob, the ballboy was booked for a dive.

Wow.

3-2 Luton. FFS.

To be fair, Mike, he stood his ground!

Leno absolutely should not have touched the kid. However, he had a complaint for the kid not just throwing the ball to him as asked

That's one of the worst own goals I've ever seen. So unlucky

Leno gave the kid a hug and an apology. Then the kid was moved away from the goal.

Crazy game. Joe, yeah Luton have a bit more about them, may have the best chance of the bottom 3. They’ll be hoping Fulham and Palace get sucked into it.

Fulham won't get sucked in, Tony. Palace might, they're fragile. But Forest is the most definite candidate for collapse.

Bournemouth score a screamer for their third. Sinistera just dances in from the left, along the Fulham penalty area then smashes it in.

Sheffield push the self destruction bottom

Probably cuts Sheff Utd adrift. A heavy defeat for Burnley and it's looks like it's just Luton to beat.

Surprised that the Tosser Yu isn't on here winding everyone up - he is a fanatical Luton fan!!!!!!

I’m beginning to think that our doing Newcastle wasn’t such a big deal.

Exactly Danny and can’t be a bad thing

We’ll be fine as we have decent players who work hard for each other, a fantastic team spirit, a manager who won’t take any nonsense and the best, loyal and most passionate fans in the PL by a country mile

“Tosser Yu” ? Was he a character in the Japanese Tv show Boys from the brack stuff??

Sheffield and Burnley down. Then it's between Luton, palace, us ( points say we are) and forest. Don't see anyone else getting sucked in.

Imagine having to rely on the RS to batter the Dingles. Today's results put us right back in the mix.

Been a lousy Xmas so far for us Blues in the results column. Can we at least get something from the City game. Barcodes results going belly up ??

Bournemouth have hit some fine form of late, well played to them! Fulham very unpredictable, gone from smashing teams to getting smashed.

Not expecting much from tomorrow, considering City have been on holiday.

Some terrible side effects of the ten point deduction….like wanting the RS to win against Burnley. Can’t get used to it as it goes against every footballing instinct I’ve had since childhood.

Tony, can we settle for a draw and for the RS to have a couple sent off? I wouldn’t be too displeased with that…

Paul 33.

I do, I don't want the shite to win any game.

Anyway, I think it's irrelevant – they'll beat Burnley quite easily.

Sounds good Rob, think it may be a long night for Burnley though by the looks of it.

Get in.

How could we lose to Fulham? They are crap.

I don't think I can ever bring myself to say that about a Liverpool goal Paul, but I understand the sentiment.

Watch this space.

Forest had an unexpected result today. If we get one tomorrow and then beat Wolves plus claw some of those points back through the appeal and we are are comfortable and the landscape looks very different. We'd be 10th today regardless of tomorrow's result.

Forest aren't out of it. The likes of Fulham and Brentford can get sucked in. Interestingly, Chelsea are not too far off and a club that has issues.

Lots to play for.

Blatant barge by Nunez, but no foul given. Would it have been reviewed if it had led to a goal?

Paul # 82……you might well want the RS to win, but don’t be cheering any goal they score. Keep that to yourself.

I'm not celebrating the rs winning, I'm celebrating Burnley losing. Plus I don't give two shites what the rs do or win. They can win the lot for me.

I just want the teams below us and just above us losing.

Svein @ 83, maybe Onana can answer that one for you.

Absolute hate wanting the RS to win but I'm afraid needs must at the moment.

Personally, I think we'll be fine but, it could be an uncomfortable season and any help is welcome. Even from them.

We know what you mean Paul. It's just a bit unnatural and unholy.

We just need to look after our own results.

Man City, Wolves, Palace (FA Cup).

Stop it guys or there are going to be a few Hail Mary's dished out in the morning.

Salad bar

I thought time wasting was a booking? Trent Arnold spoken to by the referee for the amount of time he took over a throw-in, but no yellow card.

Dear Lord, an Evertonian saying that they can win the lot for and I don't care. That was not how I was brought up. Part of our identity as Evertonians is defined by hating them.

Poor stuff, Mr Hewitt, I hope you dance round the house when they score next or don't get booked for wasting time.

Dale, you've been waiting a while to use that one? 😂

Get over yourself, Ferry. They're hardly rivals, haven't been for years.

Maybe. not in St Helens, Mr Hewitt, but they still are in Liverpool. I dare you to turn that into an article for the site. You won't.

What you wrote is 'Un-Evertonian'. You could and should have left it as "I want them to win. End of."

I'm done with this because I have plenty of prior of you with a few Carlings down your neck. Happy New Year.

Paul, I'm drawing a line there.

Not rivals?

We grew up with them being rivals.

That narrative plays into their hands and makes us plucky little Everton (as per Benitez).

Sorry to swear, but fuck them and everything they stand for.

They are rivals. Did Manchester City ever admit defeat against their local and at the time, more illustrious rivals when they were in the 3rd tier of English football?

No.

Never.

And we won't. They are rivals. Always have been, always will be.

Oh dear, Wazza 3-0 down at home to Stoke.

I'm not admitting defeat and hopefully one day we will be rivals in winning trophies. But as of now we ain't. So if them winning means a team around us doesn't make points on us. Then so be it.

Best to leave it, Danny. He simply just doesn't get it, not least the wider social and cultural points that you are making.

John Ruddy in goal for Brum, didn't know that he was still around.

I don't think the outlook is good for him, Paul @98.

Another in the Lampard (and others) bucket of great player, just not cut out for management?

Why wasn't Nunez booked there?

Different rule book for the RS.

He even flopped at Washington, Danny. Did well out of the plucky corrupt FA Derby but that's about it and still lost more than he won, I think.

It's a pity, he has a top footy brain.

If this isn't ruled off, the rs have paid the PGMOL

Burnley nearly scored from a corner.

I've always found it interesting, Paul.

Apart from the likes of Cruyff, not many great players can coach as they don't know how to explain or demonstrate.

To them it came naturally so they couldn't explain.

Guillit was the same. He just couldn't coach as it was instinct to him.

Danny, John Eustace was also unlucky to be sacked for a big name.

Unfortunately, it looks like Rooney is joining Dunc and Unsworth in the ex blues struggling in the big seat club.

I wouldn't mind Burnley getting an equaliser and taking a point.

Maybe they ask too much of lesser players, Danny, who they expect to have the same instincts and nous as them.

And, on the other hand, some of the best managers either never played the game at pro level or had very limited careers.

Agree, Barry, a draw would be the perfect result for me.

In terms of games played, we're not even halfway through the season, so the time for anyone to want the RS to win (If required) is towards the end of the season. By then, however, we will be well clear of the bottom.

Hopefully we get at least half our points back, and another 6 or 7 wins will be enough. Seeing as we've won 8 out of 18, another 7 or so out of 20 is well within our grasp, going on current form.

Burnley pressing them.

I can see the same happening to Eddie Howe.

It feels like a stop-gap until something better comes along.

A bit like Mark Hughes at Man City.

Trent Arnold booked. Should be his second, as he should have been booked for time wasting in the first half.

Wazza must be the most bizarre appointment this season; Top 6 when he arrived; and now just slipped into the Bottom 6.

Boos ringing out all over St Andrews, schooled by the Stoke mutants, sake. But I still love him.

#91 very good.

Bastards.

Shit

Those Stoke mutants, as you refer to them, are now under the stewardship of former Everton youth team player, Steven Schumacher.

He's going about his business pretty well so far in his managerial career.

Rooney won't be manager for much longer. They should sack him and get Cooper in.

Stoke mutants refers to the crowds around the Sky bloke on deadline day when Stoke were still in the Premier League. It was common parlance, Barry, like say, Newcastle are skunks.

Nor do I need to be informed about Steve Schumacher. But thanks anyway,

Oh all right Paul @122
Perhaps, I should have realised that you are the oracle on all things footy related, but hey ho, Merry Christmas Ho Ho Ho

Crapmanaman spewing utter shite all over Klopp. It was offside, you big red bell.

The bitter Reds

Can't stand Man Utd but Aston Villa are also one of the established jammy bastards and media darlings of English football.

How the fuck did these beat us? Too easy for Villa.

Ten Hag is done like dinner!

Rob,

On one hand, tell me the amount of times the Sky 6 have played us and not turned up. And tell me how many fucking worldies they've scored.

And then tell me how many times the ref has had a blinder for them. Was the same against Spurs and will be the same tomorrow.

Nick, Villa ain't a media darling by any stretch.

Sorry, Paul but they are.

Media loves them cos they're the biggest team in the “second city”.

Always have done. Seen it with Taylor and with O'Neill.

Alright I’m back, good to see a near full house today. So, he has to be down to his last Hag now.

Paul Hewitt is right, Nick. They might be celebs in the Birmingham Evening News but they are a million miles away from the Sky love-ins.

The love for Villa now is exactly the same sort of love that was dished out to Leicester for one season.

Taylor and O'Neill Villas were media love-ins? Dear Lord, I think you need to have a more accurate walk down Memory Lane, Nick.

A Taylor love-in! I've heard it all now.

Oh yeah. Declined

Leicester? Looool. I'd have given you more credibility, Paul if you'd have used Forest as an example. Taylor got the England job after managing Villa to second. Kendall didn't get an England job.

Sky and the Premier League have a cabal of six. But they also love the Barcodes (even more now) and they've always loved the European Cup winners from Birmingham.

Didn’t the United manager tell them anything at half time, seven times they got pulled up for offside in the first half and that goal was the bleedin’ eighth.

I've seen players sent off for less than that Martinez tackle.

Nick #131,

Brum might be seen as second city in UK but in football terms Villa are not up there with the likes of teams from other cities (I just can't bring myself to name some of them). Johnnie come and go latelies.

Nick, we all have our opinions, but I don't mind Villa at all, to me they are a proper club, with no media bias and genuine fans.

Just like Everton, Wolves, Forest, Sunderland, The Baggies and many other clubs celebs and the media ignore.

Yes they have been up and down a few times, Brent, I agree. Newcastle same.

Merson was on about it last week. They pull out all the superlatives when they're doing well but conveniently forget all that when they're getting relegated (again).

Absolute gobshites of fans the pair of them too. They've beaten Man Utd 5 times since the Premier League and McCoist was “surprised”… to my point.

And United equalise as we speak, Nick.

Can’t stand the fucking pair of them

And a United third as we speak.

Shit

Example I found after two minutes of looking. All think they're massive. Never met one who wasn't some smug bastard about football and thought Everton were shite.

https://arsenal-mania.com/qa-with-an-aston-villa-supporter/amp/

And anyhow – we beat these at their place and Sky etc never even mentioned it when they were “on an unbelievable run”. Gobshites.

I can't stand the Man Utd.

I have family connections through Villa. They are a very traditional and decent club. Not dissimilar from Everton.

There's only one club I have total disdain for despite having friends and family who follow them as much as I follow Everton.

Cheers. I have family connections through Man Utd and Liverpool. Even on playing side. Both traditional clubs.

Still can't stand them, like I can't stand average Aston fecking Villa. These and the Barcodes would be in the Sky 8 if possible and we'd get fucked over. But don't listen to me.

Everton aren't we.

Teams fans I like and (mostly) get on with:

Arsenal
West Ham

In my older and wiser years, I tend to get on with most supporters of other clubs. Maybe it's something to do with having spent years mixing with them.

Villa and United are who I get on best with. Maybe just a personal and friendship thing.

But if I stereotype.

Arsenal boring. Tottenham strange. Newcastle up their own arses. They think they are as big as Manchester United.

Chelsea arrogant.

City surprisingly passive despited recent success.

Leicester just strange.

Leeds horrible.

I won't talk about them.

My worst experience? Not just because we nearly suffered a Hillsborough like crush only weeks before that awful tragedy, but Barnsley. Bricked in the stadium by concrete from the crumbling terrace and an attempted attack on the way back to the station.

I'm obviously talking about the collective support bases. I'm sure many have views of ours. I know lots of individuals from many of those clubs who are friends and family.

Didn't realise that Steven Schumacher was now Stoke boss.

18th May 2002 - last time he and Wayne played in the same team. FA Youth Cup final 2nd leg. Schumacher was captain. He was released 2 years later and, despite being captain of England U19s, never played above 3rd tier. Wayne, on the other hand.

Just goes to show that youth players have it so hard these days.
England x6 of which 2 signed as U19s
Scotland/Ireland
Ukraine
Belgium
Senegal
Mali

After no penalty for the shirt pull against Everton, Tottenham get a penalty against them for the same thing, a shirt pull, and puts Brighton 2-nil up from the penalty.

Brighton doing to Spurs what we should have done.

We battered Spurs more than Brighton currently are, Mr Bennings, so I assume that you mean score two, though it's hard to tell with you.

Our goal v Spurs was also considerably classier than anything I've seen in this game so far.

Another "is the ball in or is the ball out?" moment for Arsenal. West Ham score but is the ball out of play?

Goal stands but looks very close to being out behind the by-line. No conclusive evidence for the VAR to give a definite answer, so 1-0 to West Ham.

Was I dreaming it, or did I hear a few weeks ago that David Moyes was under pressure at West Ham? Bizarre if true.

Anyway, it looks like Man City and Liverpool will be fighting it out for the title. I won't write off Arsenal just yet, but I'm fairly certain that Villa and Spurs will be nowhere near those 3 come May.

Can the Premier League claim that there is no conspiracy against Everton as the game at Brighton, the same player doing a shirt pull the ref was recommended to have a look at it by whoever was the VAR and a penalty was given.

In the game against Everton, the same player pulled an Everton player by the shirt yet the ref done nothing and whoever was the VAR never recommended it be looked at.

Why do officials have their own interpretation of the rules?

Agree Duncan.

Moyes has been the best thing to happen to West Ham in 20 years.

And yes, I include moving to that stadium too.

Rumours Steve Cooper is to take over at Birmingham. Rooney didn't last long…

No way are those camera angles definitive; can't wait for the 'teta post-match blast off.

Richarlison missing a lot.

If Calvert-Lewin missed any one of those chances, he would be murdered on here.

Ball hits Richarlison's arm, in an almost identical position to Onana's arm… Decision: no penalty.

Estupendous!

Screamer from Estupinan on his return from injury for Brighton. 3-0.

Spurs losing discipline. Red card on the way?

4-0

Postecoglu is a gambler. I’m not sure that back line can withstand many blowouts.

I thought that Spurs were a top 4 team?

Pathetic challenge from behind by Lo Celso to give the penalty away.

Only their own fans think that, Paul.

Too true. Those aways are gonna cost a bit more when we get into the Super League Rob!

Bit of an OTT celebration by the Spurs goalscorer. Okay, it's his first Premier League goal, but even so, he celebrated like he'd scored the winner.

Brighton defense not looking that good

4-2 hmmmm

Game on!

Moyes 2-0

Arsenal choking?

Seriously, how do West Ham finish today 6th on 33 points, they're a bit shit this season, but here they are.

Sad to say but I can see a comfortable title for Liverpool this season.

Arsenal seem to fall apart in the second half of the season, City will need to go on an astronomical winning run and probably need to do something they don't usually do this season which is at the very least take a point at Anfield or maybe even win.

Jim, fear not, City are 5 points behind with a game in hand. They will go on one of their long runs where they win every game whereas Liverpool will drop points by drawing several games.

LOL

"City will need to go on an astronomical winning run".

They are 5 points behind with a game in hand. "Astronomical"!

Listen, misery guts, I know you go out on a limb all the time to be dour and sour but that's stretching it a bit, even for you.

And to think West Ham fans want Moyes gone.

Some of them, Paul, not all by a long shot.

LOL West Ham fans singing "We know what we are, Champions of Europe"

Jeff #177,

We used to be up and around those positions several years back and also were labelled a bit shit.

Can't think of a common denominator though!

And Rice gives away a penalty.

Saved!

First ever win for Moyes at Arsenal.

Actually his first win in 72 at Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and Man Utd.

Controversial first goal for the Hammers. Only happens at home on the Sky 4/5/6/7/8.

Tottenham well whacked tonight, as were Fulham a couple of days ago, and City's win against us was their 2nd in 8. All three beat us.

I fear we may be in a bigger slump than it seems. Certainly our good form feels like it was a good few days ago. No criticism intended on the management, I think we're just knackered.

To be fair, Paul @188, he has won a few at that there Goodison, and he probably won a couple at Old Trafford, so he has done okay at top grounds,

Okay, he was at home but that's splitting hairs.