ToffeeWeb

John #11, the problem with Merlin is that it\'s a compulsory purchase, we can\'t not sign him. Well done recruitment team.

Bob 20, looks like we’ll be without Ndiaye and Gana if they make it past the 2nd round, with Afcon quarterfinals being the same weekend of 10 January. I’d consider them a good bet to make it out of their group and win their first knock out match, but if not, they’d have at least a full week to be ready for the cup match.

Dave(187) Cheers Dave, I’m ok, so far so good is my mantra these days. You ok? You’re probably right about that Spurs match not being a night match. Probably that thick bleeding fog confusing me. Carey was still the manager then, and Wiggy scored our goal, in for Vernon, I think. Tony(190) Yes, keep on with the music, mate, keeps you sane, in insane times. I came across a live album by Little Steven and The Disciples Of Soul, recorded live, in what they call The Cavern, these days, a few years ago. Worth a listen. Take care.

Not trying to be pedantic but the title says “three reasons” then states two statistics and one reason. Getting more points isn’t a “reason” why we are doing better it is evidence we are doing better. As to reasons as Mike says, various players including Grealish and KDH have lavished praise on old misery guts so clearly he’s connected with them and that has a positive impact. Not worrying about 777 loan sharks or Moshiri bankrupting the club obviously has a positive effect too. But I also think it’s a weird season. We have one team Wolves who are cast adrift, Burnley a little better off. Then a few more teams just above them but beyond that there’s not a lot between first and fifteenth. City lost 4 games out of the first 12, that’s more than you’d expect them to lose in a season yet they’re second. People were saying Villa were finished and Emery should go by October yet now they’re see as title contenders. Then the likes of Brighton, Bournemouth, Palace and Sunderland have all sampled second spot while Utd, Liverpool, Newcastle, Chelsea and Spurs continue to be surprisingly inconsistent and dysfunctional. So in all this chaos we like 75 percent of the division are feeling pretty good about our chances but there’s two thirds of the season left so we will see what happens going forward.

I hope the recruitment team are also looking closer to home. If reports are correct we have to buy Merlin from Freiburg for 20 million. In my opinion there are better players with more potential closer to home for a hell of a lot less. I really hoped we\'d get my mate John McGinn when he was at Hibs, however, there could be another John McGinn type at Hibs right now. Josh Mulligan is a box to box extremely hard working midfielder in the McGinn mould. Still a bit raw but has a great chance of going to the World Cup with Scotland. Definitely one worth looking out for