Premier League — Matchweek 23

Newcastle one up.

Luton equalize.

Newcastle back in front again 2/1

Nope 2-2, Barkley.

To be honest I'm thinking it's Palace or Forest that we need to be fending off.

Luton look too lively and I can't see them going.

Forest might get a points deduction and as for Palace they look God awful although I expect they'll be under new management very very soon now.

3 2 Luton after VAR gives the pen.

Oh FFS Luton 3-2 up!

4-2 Luton, looks like we will be targeting Palace and Forest at this rate.

4-2 For Luton

I said before our game even, you can see a team that will go down and Luton don't look like one.

I think we need to start winning home games and the one against Palace will be astronomical, also we've got to still play Forest at home.

Somehow, I don't think we can afford too many more slip-ups this season though.

4 2 Luton !!!

Luton are unbelievable. Truly incredible stuff FFS

Yep, that's what goals do for you ain't it.

Wins you games.

Luton just had two games against Brighton and Newcastle which I doubt many gave them too much hope in.

All of a sudden now Forest's result look important when is it, tomorrow?

Palace have a 5-point lead over us at present.

Yep, I've said for a while Luton are unlikely to go down – even when they were losing earlier in the season, they were scoring and fighting hard. Their run will come to an end eventually, but they should have enough to stay up.

Us, Forest or Palace. When Palace come to our place in a couple of weeks, it'll be a six-pointer.

Desperate for a Bournemouth win tomorrow.

Luton are really pissing me off. Always hated them on account of my psychotic and violent Luton supporting primary school head teacher.

I don't see any romance in their shack of a ground and I've no love for their bleak city. The orange shirts are ugly too.

I hope they get relegated back to the non league.

Skunks score.

Bloody Hell, Luton, FFS they are scoring even more after the Brighton result this is annoyingly good from them. Bollox

4-3 Luton. Some game at St James's Park.

Luton as a team are brilliant
I just wish we could show the same character as them
Only goes to show we really need those points back

No way Palace are going down they already have 24 points. Win three and lose 12 and they should be safe.

Table football 4-4

Boy, am I watching the wrong game.

It’s not football at St James – it's Ice Hockey. 4-4 now!!

Wow, c'mon Toon!

I see Holgate's straight into the Blades' team.

Luton scored 8 in a week, we've scored 6 in 10 games. I know who I'd back out of us and them.

We knew that without checking goals.

Andy # 29. Consider the goals against column too. And the goal difference.

Disappointing from the Barcodes.

Looking up for Luton. But then it was for us going into our first game against them, and they nearly derailed our pre points deduction good form.

Here's hoping Sheff Utd wake up and give them a game. Otherwise we're looking at a long wait to get out of the bottom 3...

But of course, none of this football really matters. Our fate has been decided, and will be made clear early next week. Two scenarios: i) win the appeal, get our points back, the threat of another deduction disappears and we're comfortably safe from relegation already, ii) lose the appeal, face an all but certain further hefty points deduction and we're all but certainties for the drop.

Massive week ahead, that will change the course of this season, and could change the course of this club's history.

I would kill to have Richarlison and Barkley in our team (and Adebayo).

Well, at least we know one team who are going down.

"Yep, that's what goals will do for you ain't it?"

Wins you games"

The latest tired old cliche to be exposed.

"He know's where the net is"

Sheffield fans heading for the exits in droves, embarrassing!

Holgate starts for Sheffield United… concede 4 goals in 30 mins… a genius loan move from us!

Sacking Paul Heckingbottom and bringing Wilder back has made loads of difference. Should have kept Paul, he got them up.

Did you not notice the inverted commas, Pete?

Poor Tom Davies can't even get into a side this bad.

Should have sent Holgate Luton.

If only we had Ollie Watkins.

I don't think he'd want to be on the pitch tonight Kevin, what a poor side Sheff U are.

Most goals ever conceded after 23 Prem games; crap ground; fans going home after '22; Holgate; The Full Monty; that fecking shite fishcake they do there; fucking hate snooker.

Bet this doesn't end up 4-4!

Decent HT talk by Wilder.

McGinn looks like a pie arse but a proper intelligent player.
Reminds me of an arl fella playing 5-a-side who lets the ball do the work.

Sheffield Utd have Luton next - who writes the chuffing script for this Premier League?

Nice haircut on Tom there

Tom to bag 6. What's he done to his head.

Poor Mason,

I reckon if the Premier League had to put out a Bums 11, a collection of the worst most expensive players, I reckon we'd have the whole team locked down.

Other than the goalie, we'd have first choice plus cover for every position, managed by Koeman, obviously.

Ahh, c'mon, give them a goal, for pity's sake! The Bloody VAR.

Joe, I just said that on a WhatsApp group.

For fuck's sake, the Sheffield Utd player's nose was probably furthest forward, but why such a big scrutinising by the VAR for a goal that will make absolutely no difference to the result?

The folks with Martinez and Villa defenders in fantasy footy will be pleased, Rob. But I agree with you, absolutely ridiculous.

How did Holgate not score, what a save? And Tom Davies did a few good things when he came on. Can we afford the Wavertree lad in the summer?

Sheffield United are beyond woeful.

Paul, if you mean Ross Barkley, then I’d have him back tomorrow.

I wrote off Barkley and have been proven wrong. Sorry, Christy.

Absolutely, Rob, in a heartbeat mate.

Tips: Eddie Howe will not be the Skunks' gaffer when the next season starts; Palace and Brentford crashing at the moment although the Bees have games in hand, but it looks like Sheff-Utd, Burnley, and Palace or Forest.

Paul Tran, my brother is 9 years older than me, but I was definitely "facinated" by a huge Kate Bush poster he has on his bedroom wall when I was 9. Man, she was stunning!

To everyone, I was also guilty of writing Ross off! Don't think he'd come back now.

I don't think any of you wrote the present Ross Barkley off – just the one who played for Everton, Chelsea, Aston Villa and the French club; he's been a more consistent and good player the last 6 months.

If he keeps this form up, he can start a new long career in the Premier League.

Ross Barkley. We wrote him off too early.

I hope he has a good career and just wish it would have been with Everton.

Maybe it still can be?

He certainly seems to have matured as a player.

I think I was also down on the idea of Barkley. Despite the odd game his all round game at Nice, Chelsea and Villa had been pretty poor. But he’s really stepped up at Luton, he looks fitter and is making better decisions.

It helps that he’s clearly first choice but I doubt that would have been the case at Everton. Dyche dislikes unpredictable players and I strongly suspect he’d have been behind the likes of Doucoure, Gana, Onana and Garner. If he’d have come here there’s a decent chance he wouldn’t be showing the sort of fine form that comes with confidence and regular starts.

Lets not forget Ross had a double leg break as a youngster. Physiologically at that age, it is difficult to come back from as much as it is physically.

He also has experienced a lot of hamstring issues. Possible due to how he was managed and coached in his formative years.

I would welcome Ross home.

I don’t get this obsession with re-signing former players as it shows a distinct lack of imagination and very few of them are as good 2nd time round. Cases in point:
Ferguson
Rooney
Jeffers
Deulofeu
Beagrie
McFadden
Graveson
Donovan
Jo
Fernandez
Harper
Dave Johnson

Did ok but still not as good
Stubbs
Unsworth

Possible exception
Pienaar

I can’t think of a single other club that re-signs as many former players as we do. It’s part of our problem. Instead, we should concentrate on a model similar to Brighton.

Anyone think Chelsea will be looking for a new manager soon/ down 3/1 to Wolves at home

Perhaps as early as tonight, Bill. Now 4-1 to wolves.

Never understand how these billionaires are so successful in life yet they take punts on businesses they know nothing about and piss money away. Boehly, what a joke of an owner. Stick to what you know and thats not football.

American owners, have they ever been any good, no.

That's why I'm massively concerned for the future of Everton Football Club.

Shit, forest pick up a point at Bournemouth!

Agree Jim. American owners should stick there noses out of it and keep to american football, hockey and baseball

Re Ross Barkley. I think it was mentioned on MOTD last night that he has been playing in a deeper lying midfield position for Luton.

I can't remember where he was playing for us or for Chelsea. I think it was different positions either because needs must at times or because no one knew the 'best' position for him.

Pleased for him that he's doing ok at the moment.

I’ll take a draw with Forest and Bournemouth given it comes with a Billing red card. Hope that’s for three games.

Get in Saka!!

Nobody will convince me that the RS will not win this title this season, hardly ever play well but always fail to lose a game.

The stuffiest of stuffy own goals you'll ever see FFS.

Stuffy B-stards. If the RS fell in a barrel of shit they'd come out smelling of roses.

Old Nick, strikes again.

Arsenal, hopefully can bounce back and win this game.

FFS. I can only see one winner now, Arsenal just piss about tippy tippy.

Stuffy B-stards. If the RS fell in a barrel of shit they'd come out smelling of roses.

The LEGEND that is Barry John has died aged 79. When I was 7, the only sportsman from another game ie Rugby Union, that registered with me was a Welsh Rugby player. That player was Barry John. He was just brilliant. A genius in fact. After the loss of JPR Williams last month, I can only think God has given up on football and wants to see the best of the best playing Rugby. I wouldn't blame God if this was the case.

The age old story of sides easing up when they go a goal ahead.

Although it’s the stuffiest goal I have ever seen.

When was the last time we had an opponent punch the ball into their own net?

Rob #105

Antonee Robinson tried his best last Tuesday, obviously it din't go in and as we don't play in red or purple, it wasn't given as a penalty either.

looked a pen to me

Hahahaha……what a cock up. 😁😁😁

I believe if that was in the Arsenal end that would have been a penalty to Liverpool/ great Arsenal score mistake from ST Virgil

Nice one Virgil, nice one son !!!

Karma

Bitter sweet if the score remains the same at Arsenal.

Great to see the shite behind, and hopefully get beat, but it'll spur City on to win their upcoming games and get back to the top 😱.

I'd like to see an Arsenal third, just to make sure. The penalty looked like Martinelli touched it then Mac Allister clattered into him. If that was Salah down the kop end it would be a penalty every time. Commentators were very quick to say ‘no penalty' ‘ good tackle ‘. Maybe they watched it on a different angle.

About time that gobshite Konate got a red card. 👍👍

St Virgil swings boot at his head - No card

The shite imploding?

Yeeeees!

Hahaha, another cock up by the bearded one. Keep yer legs shut lad!

Fuckin beauty!

Brian #112, behave mate, Man City wouldn't need any spuring on to beat us, they will do at a canter.

ps: I hope Burnley do the Red Shite next Saturday as well.

Get in

how the mighty have fallen

Hee hee!

Ahhhh my weekend is complete. 🙊

Brilliant from Trossard.

Embarrasses 4 RS in one fell swoop

VVD looked absolutely fucked chasing that.

close yer legs shithead - can we have a saint virgil og

I didn't see that coming! 🙂

I think the ref is writing a best seller the amount of times he has his book out

Neither did the shites keeper.

How sad.

the long goodbye

Alls I can say is that Branthwaite would have got to Trossard before he shot.

Don't know if anyone else picked up on it but what a condescending prick Klopp is smiling and giving a thumbs up to the ref when be sent off Konate.
Having said that the Arsenal player needs a kick up the arse for clutching his face and head when neither area was touched in the challenge.
I forgive him though! 🤣🤣🤣

and when Arsenal got their third Brian, he's fucking weird

Enjoy your Monday at work folks.

Dunno about weird Paul I just think he's a very poor loser and just can't accept things going against him.
Yeh ok he's weird as well. 🤣🤣🤣

nailed on that someone from Devon or Suffolk will call 606 to demand that Kaiser knobhead should go now

🤣 I hope so!

Aren't they still top?

Come on. Own up.

How many of you keep replaying the shenanigans between St Virgil and Allison ?

I'm on my sixth look already. Comedy Gold

Don't be feckijng silly PH. They would have been top whatever the result today. The fecking lost. Red card. Two hilarious goals. A demented German fuckhead looks like a demented German fuckhead. City two games in hand and KVB and Haally back. WHATS NOT TO FUCKING LIKE. What a dumb post masquerading as being what, smart?

Well in Arsenal, and hopefully the Keystone Cops, carry on like that for the rest of this season!

Carraghers got a face like a smacked arse! 🤣

It's even better with the Benny Hill theme tune Dave

Roy Keane absolutely loving this.

"Liverpool defended like a pup team."

Two minutes later: "I blame Van Dijk for all three goals"

For once a half decent weekend. RS lose and Everton grab a deserved point despite a poor referee and VAR ineptness.

Saw the whole game again today and yes we are still woefully inept in the opponents penalty area but Everton still show commitment and determination and against a more skillful Spurs team it was necessary.

It was a ding dong battle with no backing down and kudos to Pickford for keeping Spurs from adding a third on a few occasions.

What is noticeable is that Everton in the midfield are still a yard slower than most other teams and that is for the most part preventing them from winning games.

There is no one individual as they all seem lacking in a turn of speed not just in this match. This gives most other teams far too much possession of their own.

Harrison and Garner were not to conspicuous in this game but Godfrey played really well.

If they can get Doucoure and Onana back soon then they should start to pick up more precious points but obviously City away will be really difficult.

Rob

Would he have seen red against a non big six club?

I watched Match of the Day 2 tonight.

I didn't get the Klopp love fest. A bit uncomfortable.

Allison, as good as he is, had a nightmare along with St Virgil.

I couldn't travel this weekend. I was with my sister visiting my brother-in-law who is not well and in hospital. He was annoyed that she forgot his earphones as he wanted to listen to the Arsenal v Liverpool match. I'm going to visit him on Tuesday and give him an iPad so he can watch them as it doesn't look like he's going home any time soon.

Maupay. Contender for goal of the month!

Chelsea off sorts and struggling.

Brentford being sucked into it and a few others.

Focus blues. Get some of those points back and we'll be okay.

I don't think many refs blow for deliberate obstruction nowadays, Tony, even though you can see how much of an advantage defenders often get by being so cynical.

Once I knew the score, I watched the highlights of Liverpool's game yesterday and thought that one such foul was in the build-up to Arsenal's second goal.

Van Dyke obstructed the Arsenal player imo, but then after thinking he'd done his job, he caused a bit of confusion between himself and his keeper, by not getting out of the way quick enough, and because the Arsenal player carried on running, he got a simple goal.

The spare defender blocking a forward's run has become very common in football, and how it is no longer deemed a foul, just doesn't make sense or sit pretty with me.

Could Man City put out stronger starting eleven than they have tonight? Maybe John Stones into the back four but for who?

Jeez, even their bench is scary!

I reckon the plan is to put out a second-string team against us. Very smart thinking by Pep.

It’s Man City v Flekken. No other Brentford player has been in the game yet.

Ho can Pep not start either Foden or Alvarez, even with KDB and Hally back?

Paul, they’re both playing.

Sorry Rob, expressed it badly. I meant how can they be benched because they are so good,

Maupay scores. Unbelievable. Straight from a goal kick.

Bloody hell. The fella who couldn't hit a cows ass with a banjo at Goodison.

Anyway, he's found his home. Good luck.

Just shows what Maupay can do when he is up front in a two and not on his own isolated with no service.

Wow. That's our boy.

The fella was terrorised at Everton for being shite. He was mind.

Maupay increasing his value with every game! We may get our money back on him.

What's the betting we gave them a figure of about £8M if they wanted to keep him! Everton that.

HAHAHAHAHHAHA lurker Ian and his 2 up front fixation that worked so well for us it lasted one game.

How the fuck can you use a fluke/weird goal straight from a goal kick as evidence of anything. But we must not underestimate our Ian.

The penny still wont drop for those who abuse our strikers. Richarlison and Maupay on fire,

This place would have gone into meltdown if Calvert-Lewin had missed either of those chances squandered by Haaland.

Maupay clean through slots it into the corner, Haaland clean through straight at the keeper 😯….Brentford keeper playing a blinder so far though.

Paul #162 - beat me to it. I suppose we can count their goalie as the support man up front.

I don't think that many people abused Richarlison, Dave.

Calvert-Lewin would be forgiven for some of his misses if he scored now and then. Mind you, he did on Saturday.

At the moment Maupay is not isolated, he’s playing in a back ten!!

Well that's his 5th league goal of the season, he's doing well.

Franck obviously playing to his strengths.

Brilliant, Rob.

Lovely finish from Neal, glad to see him doing well. I said the other day that he could possibly occupy the Doucoure role for us but we're unlikely to see it as surely Brentford will want to keep him permanently.

And, we can't exactly turn down the money.

Paul 162.

Two up front is so last year. I think we should play 4-3-3 with Chermiti, Calvert-Lewin and Dobbin.

See Maupay scoring again. See what happens when you play him alongside a striker.

He can score – just not as a lone striker.

Paul

DCL had two legitimate goals taken off him against Spurs this season. They'll already be forgotten by people who delight in his bare stats.

Maupay already had twice as many chances as Beto and chermeti put together this season. Gordon getting more chances and finding the net this season too.

Richarlison thinks its Christmas

We don't play with out and out strikers. We buy strikers ad ask them to do something else.

Liverpool play with three offensive players up front. We play with one.

I tell you what, that fella at Brentford seems to pop up with odd goal doesn't he?
Wonder if we could get him in summer haha.

"Maupay thought about taking on Kyle Walker" no he didnt.

That equaliser was coming. Foden is one hell of a talent.

How quick was Foden there, brilliant.

Can't disagree there Ian, those three are fucking offensive (are you a Yank?)

Dave, that's a really good point about our former strikers (different sort of story, I know, but the lad at Leicester is doing pretty well also).

The rotten fruit chuckers would do well to dwell on this before they press submit for their DCL dog's abuse.

Now there are questions to be asked about DCL, but commitment and effort are not among them while his support and service most certainly are. He is lacking confidence but that's not a capital crime and I really hope that his "goal" on Saturday puts more fire in his belly.

The people defending DCL are probably the same people who give Keane dogs abuse

What an odd and strange thing to say Mr. Hewitt. Would you expand on that and tell us why you think that there is this reverse relation between defending DCL and abusing Keane?

Myself, I try to see the whole picture when it comes to DCL and I have never given Keane 'dog's abuse'. Can you explain to me why I am so different to anyone else in this respect PH?

Absolutely Paul.

Our wonderful DOF's spent a fortune without signing any creative players.

I get why Dyche employs the tactics he does. I support it because I believe it is our best chance of survival, but there is a price to pay for the way we play and our strikers are the people who pay it.

Paul Hewitt

You need to try to avoid judging people by your own standards mate. Yo wont find a post from me abusing any Everton player

I don’t think that City No. 24 well see much of the second half, City will likely score more but don’t be surprised if Brentford score again either.

Keep scoring Maupay and agitating we’ll get our money back at least.

Well that’s stumped Mr Hewitt. No reply will be forthcoming anytime soon.

Dave@173, I can't argue with your last paragraph. Been the Everton way for years. Beattie and Johnson running to the corner to get the ball.

Under your current name anyway Dazza. Still drawing attention to the "abused" I see by constantly posting about how people say they are crap even when no one is talking about them. Did it for years with Tom, now you've moved onto DCL.

Very few people actually think DCL is crap so he really doesn't need you constantly spreading false propaganda that he is seen that way just so you can ride in on your white horse, or moped, donkey or whatever to his rescue.

Dave, I never mentioned you.

Leave Dazza alone. He's a new man!

I'm not going to name individuals, but people who defend DCL have called Keane out. Just don't understand the difference.

Foden is a player with great potential and Pep has managed him brilliantly.

Maupay?

Danny

Maupay has always done reasonably well in attack minded teams that create a lot of chances. Sooner or later he'll get one in. Never a good fit for Everton, the squad we had or the tactics we used.

Kieran, who’s ‘Dazza’? And what’s his old name? I know I’m a bit slow but……?

Ha Ha

He really had a profound effect on you, didn't he, Keiran?

He's everywhere. Hope he pays my subscription this month.

After this Brentford play wolves away, home to the rs. Away to city then Arsenal. Can't see any points there.

Ray

Dave Cashen AKA Darren Hind. His new identity but same old material.

Foden hattrick.

Foden 3.

That lad knows how to pull a face I'll give him that. 😱

Foden. Just love him as a footballer.

Foden's balance on the ball is just superb.

He's quality Foden isn't he. England have a great midfield. I'm slightly worried about Saturday, even more than I was.

It's a fair cop guv.

Kieran, so, old Darren has slipped surreptitiously under the fence in some sort of witness protection with a new identity but the same heartfelt views?
Welcome back Darren!👍🏻

Brent

If only Southgate could figure out how to use him

You're nuts Kieran. You've lived too long over here with their conspiracy theories. Mind you,I'm part of it too, apparently, guilty by association.

I think is goes something like this: Darren Hind was Darren Hind and then he was Darren Hind and David Cash (I think it was) and now Darren Hind is Dave Cashen who may or may not be Dave Cash.

As Christine wrote on another thread about Soap; "confused"?

Oh, forgot to add that Kieran does not believe that Dave Watson took the cup to Boundary Rd or that I went to Rotterdam!

PH rubbish, the old fall-back, I would name them but ....

Ian E, that was a very good reply, enjoyed that!

What was Ederson trying to do just then? He must be really bored!!

Ivan Toney is an average striker imo. Can't believe the hype!

Soren, you would be a fool not to have him at Everton in a heartbeat.

Foden is an outstanding talent. Alongside De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva, what a midfield group – an absolute delight to watch.

But looking for optimism ahead of the weekend… at least Gundogan has moved on.

Paul, at current situation we are in, perhaps. But he is not what the media want you to believe he is. Most of his goals are penalties.

He'd be no good with us then. We don't get bloody penalties.

Man City 3-1 up in stoppage time and still arguing for every decision.

It works for them.

Maupay increasing his value with every game! We may get our money back on him. What's the betting we give them a figure of about £8M if they wanted to keep him! Everton that.

Some great football by City, some great defending by Brentford and saves by their ‘keeper.

But the one thing that stood out for me was that “dive” by Toney at the start of the second half right in front of the referee who gave a foul to Brentford when he should have booked Toney for such a pathetic con.