Sigurdsson pleased to surpass Gudjohnsen as top Icelandic scorer

I know the form book normally goes out of the window in a derby, but we can't afford anything less than 100% effort.

Regardless of what is said about the level of competition, if we can do this to Cardiff, we can do it to others.

If we say, Liverpool did this to Watford and that to Burnley, it means we are allowing them to rule our thoughts. Take the negativity out of the equation!

We should be saying we are good, we can score goals and we'll beet the RS on Sunday. Then we might do so! I'd love us to smash Klopf's sniggering smile to pieces. (That's being polite!)

Personally, I think your goals speak for themselves. Well done, son – you're a true star in my eyes. We're lucky to have you.

Good goals return from him no doubt this season but we need so much more from him as a creative player in the midfield. Too much time spent going through the motions for me and not enough impact on enough games over the whole 90 minutes to get too excited yet.

Let's see if he puts in the same level of performance for the rest of the campaign – I suspect not, especially when the bigger, tougher games come along.

It was Cardiff we beat.

Anyway, Gylfi is too good to be a luxury player and he runs too much as well. A true luxury player, and my favourite all time Everton player, is Anders Limpar.

My problem with Gylfi is that he cost 㿙m in transfer fees and over 㿊m in wages, and for that money I expected a bit more, someone who can be more like Christian Erikson. Gylfi is not that, but he is what he is, and that's a very good footballer who scores goals.

Gylfi also does not dominate games, he does not grab the game by the scruff of the neck and make things happen. He does, though, win games out of nothing, with a shot from distance, or an exquisite pass.

I think we need to use the example of Schneiderlin on Tuesday night, and the effect he had on Sigurdsson and Gueye as the blueprint for how to get the best out of Gylfi. If Schneiderlin can be rehabilitated, then great, but regardless we need a top quality holding midfielder who can dictate the game in the way that Gylfi cannot. We can then use that player to put Gylfi into dangerous positions, rather than (wrongly) expecting Gylfi to be the one to do that for others.

Also, it's been about 18 months now, it's about time Gylfi had a song.

6
8
10?

With Gana as 8?

Harry Kane has been let off the exact same thing that Richarlison got sent off for. Conspiracy towards the big 6???

Schneiderlin holds from the left in the typical position he occupied for most of the 18 months he played, and Gueye is alongside him on the right. The pair can drop deep when under the kosh against Liverpool and form that defensive box of 4 that worked well earlier in the season.

Gueye would have licence to get forwards in attack, and Schniederlin moving central to offer a pass behind the ball and to be ready for transition. Gueye would also be able to try to win the ball quickly in transition if we surrender the ball, which Gueye does brilliantly.

So, no not a 6 or an 8. More a box-to-box midfielder playing from a deep position.

I don't like the rigid 4-2-3-1.

When does form go out of the window when we play that lot?

Apologies but you've hit a nerve: I can't stand trite nonsense that the media put out. And now it's one of our own ?!?!

We're usually lower than them in the league and we usually lose to them

In one of the few recent seasons we finished above them, we also beat them

No doubt you'll find some exceptions to the rule but generally form does NOT go out of the window (I wish it did cos we might then have a darn chance because I'm sick SICK of losing to them)

Please please PLEASE WIN it boys. Please

He's a goalscoring midfielder, a creative source and his goal return over the past 5 years speaks for itself.

Dominating games needs to be by players in the position deeper like Gana on Tuesday, he took the game to Cardiff and made the midfield his own, that's a defensive midfielders job not Sigurdsson's.

If deep, then they don't have to be defensive. if they are then the formation quickly becomes disjointed and you end up with 6 defenders and 4 attackers and no midfield.

The best one we have seen regularly was the one the RS used under Benitez. Xabi Alonso was a world class deep-lying playmaker. He couldn't tackle, but he sat deep and got on the ball and used his excellent range of passing to dictate games. Mascherano played alongside him as a ball winner. He was also a very good passer of the ball, particularly over shorter distances. Then you had Slippy G at the point of the triangle, behind the striker.

In Martinez's best season, we had Barry in the Alonso role and doing it well, whilst also being a better tackler and a better defensive midfielder, but obviously his passing was nowhere near the world class Alonso, despite being very good. McCarthy was good box-to-box and covered a lot of ground that season and won the ball well, though maybe not quite on the level of Mascherano. Barkley was obviously a poor man's Slippy, but the comparisons were there that season, his breakthrough year.

Schneiderlin is not Alonso. He's quite different. Gueye is not Mascherano. And Sigurdsson is not Gerrard. But those three fill those positions best. And with Bernard coming inside from the wing and getting on the ball, we add some extra creativity that we are lacking.

My preferred formation would be to flip that triangle and have Schneiderlin holding and then Gomes can really showcase his ability in a true number 8 role. Could Sigurdsson do a job as an 8 alongside him? I doubt it, we'd be better with Gueye there and his legs and tackling. We'd require Gomes to burst forwards, like he did when he scored, and showcase that side of his game, little seen for Everton, but very evident earlier in his career.

To accommodate Sigurdsson though, it has to be a 4-2-3-1.

Is it really impossible for Sigurdsson to get on the ball more? When the ball is deep, he doesn't look for it, he's looking for it to go wide and then forwards and then to show for it in the way he did twice against Cardiff.

Is it too much to ask for him to show for a pass earlier, to be more involved in the build up play? He's got the skills to do it, just not the mindset. It's never really been his game, but why not? What's so difficult to get him to drop a bit deeper and get on the ball earlier in a move.

When Everton are struggling, why can't he demand the ball and try to move it around? Sure, he has his back to goal and can't do much from that position, he can only play a backwards or sidewards pass. What he can do from this position though, is to dictate the tempo by hitting his passes with more pace on the ball and with one touch, and so trying to force his teammates to do the same.

Why can't he do that? He is capable, he does have the skills, the vision and the understanding. It's a mentality thing, as he is always looking to finish, rather than to create. He can be a creator and that's what I hoped Silva would do with him.

Surely that is one of the main things he should be doing as one of our better players and main sources of inspiration. That is like saying Messi or Ronaldo can just coast through games and score the odd goal when they feel like it and it is okay.

I'm pretty sure Barca or Juve fans would not put up with that! I think people are too easily pleased if playing well and scoring against a terrible Cardiff team makes up for months of anonymous performances. Passing that responsibility onto a player like Gana who sits in front of the back four is not fair and also pretty dangerous.

It should be Sigurdsson getting on the ball in central and attacking areas and dictating play – that is what he is in the team for. Too often, he is content to hide and not do anything to really dominate a game. Another one with a lack of character and leadership... which is why we are in such a mess.

As pointed out by so many, we are a middle of the table club and will be for a long time to come. He's as good as we're likely to expect if not a bit better.

It would be really nice to see Everton upset them on Sunday; after all, they are due to lose another one so why not us?

Common sense says that their squad is much stronger than ours and they should prevail but if Everton can get some run-off of confidence out of the Cardiff game they may be able to get at least the point they deserved last time.

Whilst lowly Cardiff is no yardstick it was good to see some players back on track and I was pleased to see Calvert-Lewin do well.

It's been an awful season but just perhaps Sunday may see the miracle we are all hoping for before it comes to a close.

Wasn't too dissimilar to what Richarlison got sent off and banned for.

"Xabi Alonso was a world class deep lying playmaker. He couldn't tackle, but he sat deep and got on the ball and used his excellent range of passing to dictate games. Mascherano played alongside him as a ball winner."

If you remember, we had a duo like that, Reid and Bracewell were easily the match of them two, but Reid could carry the ball forward better than Alonso.

It's a pity they never got chance to prove themselves in the European Cup, I seem to recall we had to serve a ban for something we didn't do? This "something" was committed by a bunch of reprehensible hooligans many would say.

I wish some of the others would "go missing" more often.

I loved Cahill for his attitude and his goals and I appreciate he cost about 20 times less but did he do much more than score goals? I think that most would agree that he was a huge player for us so what's the beef with Sigurdsson. Is it just that he lacks a trademark celebration.

I quite like players that score goals, it's the general idea of the game, isn't it.

He's been out of form and struggling for the exact same period that the team has been shit yet every game I've seen he still creates at least 2 or 3 chances for himself or others. An absolutely vital player for us and has to be in the team.

If we ever recruit a decent striker who can hold up and link play then he'll be even better. He played his best for the swans when he had either Bony (when he was good) and Lorente in front of him.

He should have more assists because nobody puts a dead ball into the danger zone like he does – It drives me mad when they are not attacked.

What he isn't and he never will be is a Number 10. He simply doesn't have the vision. He does take up the Number 10 position and see's plenty of the ball, but you can count on one hand the number of goals he creates from open play.

Cenk Tosun isn't the best of strikers but he is very willing and always makes the arched or angled run... Siggy simply doesn't see the pass... Then again, if he did, he probably wouldn't be playing for us.

If I'm a powerhouse attacking crosses (Like Llorente) I would want to see Sigurdsson in the team every week. If I'm a play on-the-shoulder-of-the-last-man kind of player. I would probably be as frustrated as poor old Cenk.

Darren #27 – I totally agree. A proper striker would feed off Sigurdsson better and he would feed off him better. Almost a la Lampard (although obviously not as good).

Sigurdsson has been one of our most effective players this season. Still gets stick though which is bizarre.

It's Martinez's philosophy all over again and we don't have the movement, blistering pace on the wings or players comfortable enough on the ball to carry this off. This, if anything, would encourage the opposition to pin us in and commit more men forward safe in the knowledge that our “out ball” is either going straight back to them or out for a throw.

Darren, I completely agree that Sigurdsson is fantastic at arriving late just like Lampard used to as Kase points out but think you are being a little harsh saying Gylfi lacks vision. Gylfi, for me, is the best passer of a ball at Everton, Digne is running him close now though.

He seems to be the only player who possesses the ability to accurately fire a pass into feet from 20 -30 yards which is crucial where play is so congested in the final third. (If the recipient can't control it then that's another thing entirely). If there were willing runners and movement in front of him he would see it and find them. I have lost count of the amount of times our forwards or widemen either hang back or stand directly behind the opposition!

Sigurdsson is our biggest asset and those who want him benched or ask “what has he ever done for us” need a firm shake and a trip to Specsavers.

Very calm on the ball on the edge of the box.

Right now, I would take a 0-0 draw and hope that Man City win. It's about as much as we can salvage from this steaming pile of offal of a season.

Form went out the window during the Royle, Smith, Kendall III years.

No doubt VVD, will be going up all their set plays, so I hope and pray that who ever plays in defence and the whole team has a defensive plan, unlike Watford whom, defended like we have most of this season and gave him two free headers.

Siggy gets too much stick, so without his goals this season, we'd be in a worst place, than we are.

We haven't had a balanced team for a few years now, and perhaps there was a few signs of better team play and movement v Cardiff.

Let's hope they aren't in their finest diving mode and falling over. As proven, so many times we get sfa, against this shower and Rooney pen, 2 years ago, was the first we've had against them in Donkies years. The last at GP, I recall was David Unsworth circa 2002, and 2003, and both games we lost.

I remember that Dutch Troglodite getting 2 against us in 2007, when he should have been sent off.

Yep the penalty record stinks, and I can't see the bias eve, ever changing.

So, I hope the team has a leader on the pitch and sticks together, on the pitch, and hounds the RS, into miss takes.

Clinical finishing we need, let's, hope we can do it.

That at least would ease the pain of of this season so far.

Not too bad.

Nothing wrong with Richarlison making the Brazil squad. Tite going with continuity.

I doubt if Tite is going to change his squad that much ahead of this year's Copa America in Brazil in the summer.

The Brazilian league hasn't kicked off yet, although there is plenty of football being played in both the state leagues and the preliminary round of the continent's inter-club competitions. Not that there are many alternatives plying their trade in Brazil.

Like last summer ahead of the World Cup, as far as the Brazil squad goes, the nation is on 'Neymar watch' to see if he is going to be fit for the Copa America.

The easy way and hard wat to do and learn things in life as they reach you, as a kid.

If, and a massive if, we won, how nice it would be. History tells its story, but I'd love us to spike their plans.

Fair to say, a life time more or less of anguish generally with EFC and that lot in particular does make you look at life differently.

I just hope the team plays with fire and steel and stops them playing. Our finishing must be on par with the Cardiff game and we must when the chances comes take them.

Hopefully we'll have a real captain on the park, and we stick to the game and etch out a win and put Mr Ed in his place.

Dave Abrahams at 38 -

I could not agree more.

Van Dijk, plainly to me, is an absolutely fantastic footballer. For my money, he's the MVP (Americanism alert!) of the entire Premier League this season. It will be very difficult to score with him back there. He's just everything I personally would ever want from a centre-back.

We simply have to counter when he goes forward for a set-piece or corner and is out of position. They will be at their weakest if we can gain possession quickly from a corner and literally blitzkrieg the shit out of them.

I pray Silva is drilling that into the team this week.

Man for man, they have a better squad. They're a better team at the moment. It's that simple. We have to expose as many weaknesses as we can, and countering from set pieces when Van Dijk is up the pitch is, for me, the number one way to do that.

I want a late, late winner. I want to see Silva run out on the pitch. I think it's a terrible thing to do and I slated Klopp for doing so. Classless act.

But I want the sweet satisfaction of revenge, and the dirty joy of excusing something that should never be done, only because one of ours did it.

Those other folk are notorious for that. I'd Kevin-Keegan-love-it if we can repay the act.

Teammates mobbed Tim Howard, but Tim Howard wouldn't celebrate his goal. A keeper got a goal and wouldn't celebrate it!

Why?

Because Tim Howard said he didn't want to show up the opposing keeper after such an error.

Contrast that with Klippity's pitch invasion after our boy Jordan made the mother of all mistakes.

Class and cunts. Two categories. File each action under which you will.

We lost that night... typical against a side doomed.

I don't like the RS and I don't wish for any success for them, but I don't get the venom for Klippity who I find kinda refreshing.

Back to the footy, and particularly this coming Sunday. I agree on the need for a counter-attacking threat but I'd personally I'd be surprised if Bernard could out sprint either Alexander-Arnold or Robertson. I consider his forte to be tricky feet and a short dash getting him away from a more cumbersome player.

On Sigurdsson; yes it's not his fault how much he cost but I had hoped he'd be more like Erikson, who I think is at a level of player we could reasonably attract and keep. Spurs aren't that far ahead of us in the wages they pay... are they?

This fucker acted like he's won Wimbledon, the Open, the Grand National and the fucking Boat Race all in one go when they got that poxy late goal at Anfield.... and he has the fucking brass neck to tell us it's our World Cup? The archetypal Kopite — a complete Kelly Maloney.

Fair means or foul, we have to derail their season this weekend. I want him suffering, I want this to feel like a kick in the teeth (all 40 of them). I want every Kopite to know that "The Bitters" ruined their season by raising their game simply to spoil their party

And then, afterwards, by way of celebration, I want to quite literally hang the fuckers on the banks of the Royal Blue Mersey.

I just watched 2 video interviews one with Tim Cahill the other his best blue mate Arteta...

Arteta in derby wins says we had no choice but to play ugly to stop the red shite playing their game coz technically they were far superior... his words still ring true... but this Everton side is full of shithouse losers who have no fight or desire to win.

Not being negative, just realistic...

Untill we get fighter-mentality footballers in the team, we will always lose to the top 6...

Klopp is trying to deflect some of the pressure from his team and claiming it's our cup final is cheap and classless as Jamie C rightfully pointed out above.

In reality, all the pressure is on them as they can't afford any “slip” ups.

That being said, I want nothing short of 100% on Sunday and want to see us going toe to toe with that lot.

I don't really want to hang them all down by the river if we win. Too many relatives. too costly... and who would we wind up on Monday?

Besides, I once met one that was quite a decent fella.

Up the Toffees!

The “eyes” have it

I watched them demolish Watford. We won't beat them for pace or strength so it will have to be guile.

Bernard on the left, Lookman on the right, and Calvert-Lewin up front.

Oh, and Sigurdsson just in behind them.

Up the Blues!!

We have to show up and at least balance out the 2 extra points we gifted them at Anfield. They'd be a point behind Man City without our assistance.

They should hang your post up in the dressing room, before the game, as an inspiration of our desire to beat the crap out of the RS at all costs.

I wonder if some of our foreign buys realise how much it means to us supporters to grab this victory I hope they do. We only have one chance in this game and that is to fight them with blood, sweat and tears for every ball for the full 90+ minutes. I'm sure the crowd will play their part.

Cahill always had an impact in games when he played and galvanised the whole team behind him. If Sigurdsson does this, I must have missed it for the entire season.

I think Sigurdsson sums up most of our current problems. No doubt a very nice fella, can do lots of fancy tricks and flicks but does not have the ability to boss games or get himself involved enough to make a real difference regularly. Until we start valuing character as much as technical skill, we will have a team full of Sigurdssons who do not have the mentality to be winners.

Yes, he will have a few good games where he looks pure class – like the other night – the question is, why does he not do it every game? If he is such a master at pinging passes around, why does he create so little for the team in most games? You cannot blame other players here – if he is as good as many claim, he would make things happen on his own more regularly.

"Besides, I once met one that was quite a decent fella."

You're wrong mate, there isn't a decent one on the face of this planet.

"Kopites are gobshites, every single one of 'em."

It has to be drummed into them, when Wayne Rooney came back and played in his first derby game, he told friends he couldn't believe how quiet that week was at Finch Farm. No one any different to any other game, so if they don't know how important it is, get them in the mood from now and let us make them know on Sunday by creating a great atmosphere from the minutes the gates open for the game. Just play for us for 90 minutes – it won't kill you... make us enjoy the game by your efforts.

Hairs on the back of the neck...

Hoping they may come out with gritted teeth, and fight in their bellies, which is why team selection will be not only be important, but could determine the outcome of the game.

I'm sure our players want the crowd to get behind them – sure-fire way to do it is for the players to come out all guns blazing. Give us the sort of fight and grit we saw against Man City. If we lose, we lose, but I want to go away from the game with pride if not a point.

I've just been watching a video of Tim Cahill's Merseyside derby memories... If we've got anyone on Sunday with half the heart and fight he showed in these games, then we've got half a chance. Even talking about it years later, you could still see what it meant to him; he was nearly in tears, as I was myself listening to him. I forgot how good that side was. Cahill, Arteta, Carsley, Baines, Jagielka etc...

I just hope these shower of cowards put up one hell of a fight for us on Sunday because I fear, if we lose an early goal, it could get messy. I think the longer it stays goalless, we've got a good chance. I hate this fixture with a passion, my stomach is turning now just thinking about it... But I've a funny feeling I won't be feeling any better come 6:30 Sunday night.

Down to you now, Marco lad!

Some reckon Siggy has got no vision

My main gripe has always been about not being dominant in games and trying to make things happen. There's no reason he can't get himself on the ball more and speed up the tempo of the game. He can drop deeper to show for the ball earlier, then move the ball quickly to the flanks and get forwards himself, now a yard or two back and so able to arrive late unmarked into the box, or he can find a forward pass to the forward to try to get him through on goal.

No questions from me about his shooting, his passing, or his vision. It's just why can't we see more of it?

We contained them well at Anfield and had chances. We are at home, we have the crowd. If we play at the same level with the same commitment as we did in December, with the luck swing our way we can win the match.

We all know we have been struggling for form this last 2 months, but it's a confidence thing. You could see it flooding back in the 2nd half at Cardiff. They were well beaten at the end, but that was down to us being well on top of the game.

The first goal will be all important for us for that confidence to take root.

The team selection will be interesting, I think Zouma will be back in. Up front we need Richarlison to get some form back. I think Silva will stick with him as a starter but really Bernard should be ahead of him, and I want Bernard to start.

There were signs of improvement from the little man on Tuesday, if he can build on that performance he can become a menace. I want him to be beating the full back in every game, and getting his pull back or cross in. It creates havoc, and he is well capable.

I'd take a scrappy 1-0 right now, though a Van Dijk own-goal from Sigurdsson's set-piece. Yeah – I would take that.

Seriously though as many have pointed out he seems to have gone way off the boil recently, and the antics of going down for a cheap free kick, have his card well marked in most ref's books, plus it won't fare well for Sunday's task.

Again as many fellow TW'ers have intimated team selection will be paramount, we need 11 'men' for the duration of the match, with no shirkers or passengers. Also no rash tackles in dangerous areas, which will give them opportunities on a plate.

I said on another thread you could count on one hand the number of assists from open play. I wasn't just talking about his time at Everton. Siggy tends to look for the easier pass to the wide men rather than thread the eye of a needle. There is the odd exception – there always is (let's hope we get one tomorrow) but if he had the vision to regularly pick out the runs of strikers. He would be a more complete player and probably wouldn't even be with us.

I'd rather concentrate on what he can do. His delivery of a dead ball is as good as anyone in the League. If we had somebody like Llorente to attack those deliveries I think seventh may already be secured. Let's not forget, he can shoot with either foot, The RS will be very wary of him tomorrow.

He's been very poor since around Chrimbo and has been justifiably criticised, but he looked like he had found his shooting boots again last week. his passing was crisper too.

The first thing I will do when I get in the bookies tomorrow morning is check out his odds to score again against RS

This would be my team for Sunday. One surprise maybe having Jagielka before Keane. Although Jags is not the greatest player, he has plenty of experience, and any signs of trouble, he just hoofs the ball away. I always say the opposition can't score if the ball is 80 yards away or in Row Z of the stands.

I would also stretch their back four with the two wide men, Richarlison and Bernard, with the strict instruction to stay as close to the touchline as possible, Walcott and Lookman always come inside to narrow the play, and give Coleman no options of a pass down the line. Both Richarlison and Bernard have the pace and ability to go past their full backs.

I also said before the game at Anfield that it might be a good thing to have no local lads in the team, that there mightn't be as much pressure on "outsiders" in the team. This almost worked until Pickford's blunder.

Whatever team is put out though, every single one of them needs to ram Mr Ed's words back down his throat. And also Marco, you know it's only a maximum fine of ٦k to run on the pitch and celebrate a last minute winner, so go for it!!

That's what has cost us nearly as much as the zonal marking this season, with the gaps that we leave when we attack, so maybe even just flood the midfield, and frustrate. Look to stay in the game and then look to break on the counter very quickly.

The story all too often, we go in all guns blazing, over committing losing either an early goal or worse a player to a red card.

A controlled, counter attacking effort will, I believe, be the way to win. The pressure is on them not us, staying compact is the way to mitigate our weaknesses as we are often opened up in transition.

Let's hope we don't see the usual mistske of going straight for them, it rarely works.

Saying that, to take some prisoners, and win, would be great.

I sense that they may be think they just have to turn up.

If we don't commit Kamikaze passes and keep organised and play as a cohesive team, we have a chance.

That's the question, but we are over due a good win at GP and more so against v RS.

Let's hope for once in a decade almost, we can beat them.

Ode to Mr Ed

Jurgen, die Dumpkopf, Jurgen, die Dumpkopf, ist schlect,
Repeat, x3 times,
Jurgen ist ein grossen, rotten, schlect.

Repeat again, and if we win, we sing songs, all night, in the pubs, bars and homes of all Evertonians.

To the tune of Rosaller Mende, as they sing at The Munich beer festival.

Great memories of Munich.

What's wrong with that? Well, two things. 1/ Refs tend to book or send players off who get a bit gobby or have a go at the opposition.
2/ The RS seem to get under our players skin with their antics.

A solid performance doing the job they're paid to do with the serenity of Siggy will get us a point. A little bit of magic will get us three.

Give Jordan a big fat spliff about half an hour before kick off and a few tokes at half time to stop the showboating. Shove a gram up Richy's hooter to a/ wake him up and b/ so he doesn't rub the back of his head every time his hair gets touched going up for a header. A bit of amphet for Keane and a personality transplant for Marco.

Play with patience, stop them controlling the game at their pace (centre halves strolling to the half way line), look to get in behind their wing backs on the break and get Siggy arriving late to the edge of the box and we might just start to believe again.

Hate playing these f**kers COYBB

I hope Gana gets to grips early. Interesting to see which attack, midfield and defence start.

Fighting spirit for 98 minutes and some luck.

Whilst I agree that Bernard should get a start, I am not sure if he is s 90min player - he seems to have more impact when coming off the bench (as does Lookman). Having said that I would still start one or the other ahead of Walcott, preferably Bernard.

Zouma has to play so simply a case of who partners him; Jagielka or Keane. Difficult one and although I lean towards Jags I think it will be Keane.

Richarlison needs to chill a bit, he is trying too hard and becomes very frustrated early in the game. He needs to learn to be patient, keep his cool and stop falling over. I would still start him though,

The rest of the team I think will be as started on Tuesday.

As others say above, we have to get stuck in from the kick-off, no slackers, get under their skin at every opportunity and above all else stay calm. Stick to the plan and, with strong vocal support, we can do them – COYB!

Thanks. I hope our support at the match doesn't show controlled aggression. I hope those twats leave Goodison never wanting to come back ever again.

Before anyone pipes up, I am not condoning physical, homophobic or racist abuse. Just make it as hostile and uncomfortable for their players as you can, lads and girls.

Oh I do like to be beside the Mersey,
oh I do like to be beside the sea,
Fuck off McMahon.

Believe, sing your hearts out and give the bastards hell.

Of course the players get it. They always have. That's why they've always bottled it in recent times

The world gives them cash to keep safe in cold store in their igloos, attracting little attention to the world tax revenues whilst gaining fantasy-ful interest rates no doubt through the aid of their local dwelling pixie hedge fund managers.

This whilst heavily investing in grass Astroturf roots football and producing some world-class footballers out of a population of only a small city.

Also, while keeping the globe peacefully unaware that the pixies have indeed cooked the books and distracting their debtors who cried out “send us the tones of cash” with a massive explosion that sent tonnes of ash all over the world and grounded every plane in the northern hemisphere so no one could send the high court sheriffs over to collect.

Bloody genius bunch of islanders; we need to set up an academy up over there pronto.