Premier League — Week 10

Arsenal looking good here, possibly turning a corner under Arteta.

Smart recruitment over the summer including a very good goalkeeper.

That save was something else.

But they're fucked now... here comes Ademola!!!!

Arsenal seem to have ridden the early second half Leicester storm. Very well organised defensively.

Leicester with a 34-year-old Vardy past the best of recent years?

I guess we go above Arsenal on goal difference with the win Monday night then. Still trying to get a ticket but the Wolves website is not making it easy.

Smith-Rowe actually is where some of our young players should be at but just aren't, again speaking fundamental problems with our youth set-up.

He's a very promising young player Jim.

Our neighbours doing to another victory again while City procrastinate over not having a centre forward.

I can see that lot winning the league by a similar distance this year to the 19/20 season, sometimes you just have to admire a great football team playing at the very pinnacle of their game.

Crap aint it just, accepting Liverpool will score a bucketfull every game. Being and Evertonian was bad enough when I was at school (that was when we were good). Must be awful nowadays.

Nope

England tonking Australia in the T 20 world cup. Australia currently 51-5.

U18s stuffed 4 nil in the mini Derby. At least we are consistent...

Unsworth out

I don't think Man City will be without a tall #9 target after the January window closes.

Palace may look at taking Zaha as he will either be sent off or carried off

Palace seem to almost win a lot of away games against bigger clubs. Injury time equalizer for Man City?

Come on, Brighton!

Well well. City equalise. Brighton equalise.

Oh City have un-equalised.

Class goal Trossard makes it Shite 2-2 Brighton. Right on Brighton.

I think Potter's Methuselaen beard is working some magic.

Danny - “unequalised”! Could we also use that as a euphemism for when we lose a lead? We unequalised.

Did anyone else see that inside out run by Seagulls MF? That fucked the RS out of their boots. Brilliant play from Potter's playbook.

Another Brighton goal disallowed!

Grim day to be a Sunderland fan. 4-1 down against Rotherham and McGeady sent off. Remember him?

It was the best I could come up with Brent. Let's use it more often!

Before Newcastle start dancing outside St James' Park like they've just won a trophy, I think they have some more immediate concerns to take care of...

City stuffed.

Danny

Unequalized is the most Robert Martinez phrase I've heard you say lol

Watford lose at home to Southampton. Typical

Jim 7 and Joe 8 what's all that crap about the red shite don't give them fuckers any credit or praise what so ever not even when the fat lady sings. bitter blue you bet.

Agree Don. Great watching the RS fuck it up. Wouldn't give them bastards any praise whatsoever. England on top against the Aussies in the T20 world cup.

At what point do we stop celebrating upsets and realize all these underdogs are creeping past us?

What sport is that, Rob?

And now what everyone has been waiting for, Thee Brown Plate Special!

Spurs vs Other Shite

Unequalize...can we then "un-lose" or in Everton's case "un-win" or "un-draw"?

Yep Don!

Gerry. Everton to challenge soon is un realistic. Getting a proper youth coach that produces first team players is very unsworth

Cricket World Cup, Mike. Each team bowls 20 overs, hence being the T20 World Cup. I'll stop there seeing as you haven't got a Scooby Doo what I'm on about!

That made me smile Kieran!

On Monday, we shall over-equalise.

I'll be hiding amongst the home fans, but when we go 2 - 0 up, not sure I'll contain myself!!

Rob. Tried to bowl a maiden over last night but got kbd at the last minute

Nice to see that the Orcs of Mordor got their noses bloodied.

True, Rob. All I know about cricket is that it involves bats and balls, which I understand.

Also googlies, silly mid offs, bunnies and rabbits, fly slips, cow corners, fine legs, slog sweeps, dibbly dobblies, officials putting up one finger veerrrry sloowwwly to trigger wild celebrations, and stopping in the middle for afternoon tea while you're competing for... erm... ashes. None of which I understand.

But by American standards I'm an expert.

PS.... what's an over?

Mike (39), you'll also realise that while many on here couldn't care less about England's football team they do care about theEngland cricket team, twenty six needed to beat the Aussies!!

Well that was easy. England win by 8 wickets with 50 balls to spare. All done in an hour!!

Great win for England, only a group game though, it'll have no bearing on the Ashes, but great to stuff the sledging twats.

Pakistan and India will be much sterner tests, Jeff. Scotland have yet to play both of these in the group. Could be total annihilation for the Jocks in those two games.

Just caught up with the day's footy scores Rob.

Totally focussed on England-Australia.

The Aussies completely banjaxed. A right shellacking.

Very, very enjoyable. All the more so with the Lancs lads Buttler and Livingstone doing well.

They were playing a different game to Oz with bat and ball. England looking a formidable well-oiled machine. Very professional.

Was very enjoyable, Jay. Buttler, then Bairstow gave that poor young Aussie spin bowler a real hammering towards the end. Once Buttler gets going there's no stopping him. Great bowling, and fielding from the English lads as well to get Australia all out for 125.

Great finish from Ronaldo.

Mike Gaynes @39,

You know more than me then and I'm English!!

Cricket must be the weirdest sport I've ever ignored.

Think I've seen more goals disallowed for offside today than goals that actually counted, wonder how many of them will get dissected like the Zapruder film as our unwinner vs United did on here.

I wonder if Tottenham will play as poor against us as they are against Man Utd? I doubt it as they need a hand to get over their slump.

The cricket is a lot more enjoyable than watching Everton that's for sure. We actually a top draw side with a shout of a double World Cup win.

Look at Watfords result today, how the hell did we ship five and lose to them?? Embarrassing.

And to think it was suggested we have Santo as manager 2 of the best strikers in the game without a shot on goal

Leighton - I fully agree. I enjoyed the Tests v India particularly in the Summer.

Bill Gall 51,

It's the new stadium curse.

Arsenal finished 4th in their last season at Highbury but last year finished 8th. Spurs finished 3rd in their last White Hart Lane effort and will now sink like a stone. Becoming lower half monkeys is their preserve for the foreseeable.

Pro rata the new stadium curse to our limpet like grasp of mid-table and it's easy to predict relegation fights as our destination.

But it's handy for town.

What's all this T20 crap, Rob? Everyone knows the T34 was a game changer and won the war for the heroic Soviet army. The T20 was an earlier model with the firepower of a Volkswagen Beetle.

Barry #53,

That is a bad omen for a new stadium as I have got our new stadium on my bucket list, knocked another one off my list with the white water rafting, had to do it twice as the first time I spent most of the time out the boat in the water.

Wish the shite would get a new stadium.

Bill 55, Good practice by the sounds I fear rough waters ahead from our new build.

Dave #40, you'll have to take me to a match and explain it all to me!

(Hope you're feeling better, my friend.)

Mike, email your address to me and I will send you a copy of "Wisden" for Christmas. It is my ambition to make you love cricket. Then you will be able to thumb your nose at Barry Rathbone. What could be more wonderful than a sport where you stop for tea,wear a box,be selected to serve drinks, on the field of play, to your team mates, and leave the field when it gets cloudy.

Stick to baseball Mike (Go Mets!!). Cricket is as dull as dishwater despite them wearing psychedelic outfits nowadays.

Colin, you are a Philistine. Next thing you will be calling synchronised swimming and croquet dull. Mike is a renaissance man, he doesn't need his head turned by the likes of you!

Mike Gaynes, as a (former?) sports journalist and general sports lover I imagine you are fascinated by what makes elite sportspeople and teams and the considerable psychology behind what both makes and breaks them.

If that is the case, may I heartily recommend to you an outstanding cricket documentary called 'The Edge.'

You genuinely don't have to understand a 'dot ball' about cricket to become enthralled by it.

A brief outline. The most intense and historic rivalry in cricket is between England and Australia. Only India-Pakistan for its religious and historic geo-politics runs it close.

A decade ago England was the whipping boys and laughing stock of international cricket. Until they appointed a flinty-eyed Zimbabwean coach who within two years transformed them into a cricketing Mean Machine that chewed up and spat out its arch-rivals and reigning #1 team Australia in consecutive home and away series.

And then...just as quickly as they claimed the #1 spot, in another 2 years it all evaporated, leaving many broken men and careers in its wake.

Yes, it's dotted with clips of matches, but the most enthralling parts are the interviews with all concerned - players and coaches alike - involved in the rapid rise and fall.

Very raw. Very industrial language. Fascinating insight into the minds of elite sportsmen.

It's quite possibly the best sports documentary I've ever seen.

** Quick edit. I meant to say the title 'The Edge' has double-triple-quadruple entendres.

'The Edge' is what individuals and team sports try to gain over an opponent. Or you may be taken to 'The Edge' in striving for victory, before being the last man standing or the loser, sprawled on the canvas. Or pushed over 'The Edge' psychologically (as some are in this documentary). Or catch 'The Edge' and get caught in the slips, or luckily see the ball run away for four. Good luck deciphering that last sentence Mike.

Jay, "The Edge" was about Anthony Hopkins fighting a bear. I vaguely remember him using a flaming stick, which in retrospect may have been a fiery cricket bat.

Just kidding. I'll look for it. If "Invictus" can make rugby interesting to me -- which it did, very briefly -- I'll give the cricket documentary a shot.

Andy, people have been trying to imbue me with wisden for years, but I am none the wiser for it.

Colin, if North Korea played baseball, I'd root for the Pyongyang Missiles against the Mets.

Watching the highlights of the various games today, I do wonder if the officials should change the criteria of offside from if any part of your body including a large toe-nail is called offside why not reverse the idea and say if any part of a player is onside like a huge backside then it is given play on - a dual win for the Blues as we'll score a bucketful if Rondon continues to play up front. :)

If Laporte's is awarded a red card for his challenge today, there should be about three or four sendings off every weekend.

Mike G and other soon to be cricket fans:

Cricket: As explained to a foreigner...
You have two sides, one out in the field and one in. Each man that's in the side that's in goes out, and when he's out he comes in and the next man goes in until he's out.

When they are all out, the side that's out comes in and the side that's been in goes out and tries to get those coming in, out. Sometimes you get men still in and not out.

When a man goes out to go in, the men who are out try to get him out, and when he is out he goes in and the next man in goes out and goes in.

There are two men called umpires who stay out all the time and they decide when the men who are in are out.

When both sides have been in and all the men have been out, and both sides have been out twice after all the men have been in, including those who are not out, that is the end of the game

Mike, watching grass grow is more exciting than watching cricket.

How dare you badmouth those Amazin' Mets!! To be honest they were before my time but I did fall in love with the Mets team of Carter, Strawberry, Wilson etc…The original comeback kids. I've backed them ever since. I'm also backing the Atlanta Braves to win the World Series.

Sorry, Rob Halligan, I have to agree with Colin. Cricket was invented as an overly complicated game so Hooray Henry's could claim to be good at sport as no one else wanted to endure five days of standing around in vests and tennis shoes waiting for men in white coats to debate lbw.

Mike Gaynes,

I see that no-one has mentioned that a cricket ball has a core comprising of cork which is tightly wound by string and covered in leather, and has a slightly raised crease, and weighs 1 kilogram. The distance between the wickets is 22 yards.

Bowlers can impart a speed of 100 mph. A slow bowler bowls between 40-60 mph. A medium-pace bowler 60-80 mph, and the fast bowler 80-100 mph. It is not a game for the faint of heart, and like all major games, you have to know the rules to appreciate it.

Bill #68, you're right, nobody mentioned that. I'm not sure how I lived this long without that information. I cannot properly express my gratitude.

Barry #65, where does the tea figure in there?

Colin, I'm from Chicago, and I view the Mets the way you view the RS. BTW, the Amazin' Mets were 1969, not the drug-fried 1980s version. Ron Swoboda from that '69 team has been a dear friend of mine for 40 years, and he understands my hatred. When I see the Mets play, I cheer for injuries.

Mike (#69);

To fully appreciate the game and its followers try a Barmy Army Ashes Tour of Australia and you'll be hooked for life, and with the prospect of India and the West Indies to come. You can even have the choice of taking your own drum and/or trumpet.

Wow, didn't think my original post about watching a T20 cricket World Cup match between England and Australia would attract so much divided opinions. Just to really throw the spanner in the works, for anyone who thinks cricket is boring, have you watched American football? No offence to all our Yankee friends, but my god, that game is enough to want you to stick pins up your jacksie. It's boring as shit. I'd rather watch two flies race each other down a wall.

Two lines of fellas face each other while one shouts out some numbers, then clash into each other like it's West Ham v Millwall fans in Green Street, while someone else throws a ball and another player catches it and runs over a line. And that's it, apart from the conversion kick, which is just a repeat of two lines of fellas facing each other, grappling as one team tries to stop an opponent kicking the ball between the sticks!!

Riveting Stuff!

Just caught MotD. I was really shocked at the incredible hostility towards Nuno from the Spurs faithful. I haven't seen a manager take as much abuse from his own fans since Davey Moyes threw a defender on when we were losing that night at Goodison.

Poor old Nuno doesn't look like he can front it out like The Ginger fella did. He looked genuinely shell-shocked. He will need all the help he can get from the Holy Spirit if he's coming back from this.

Welcome to the typical London fan base, Darren. Probably West Ham excused, but generally they are like 6-year-old playground supporters. Remember the treatment Wenger got? And they will turn on Arteta within weeks few if there are a couple of bad results.

In fairness, and without bad feeling towards Nuno, I think we dodged a bullet there personally.

Be good to see Norwich beat Leeds today and send the barcodes to rock bottom!

Kieran Dowell just confused everyone, including himself with that free kick.

Goals flying in now!

Norwich's goal one of those perfect headers from a superb corner. I say you can't defend against them. But if our batallion Keane critics were on duty, that Leeds defence would be torn to shreds for leaving him open for a simple run. And do what? Rugby tackle him and give away a penalty?

Exciting few minutes at Norwich. Three goals in about five minutes. 2-1 Leeds but terrible goalkeeping by Krul for the second one.

He could have done better Rob, but poor defending on the edge of the box in the build up.

Another shocking delivery from Dowell... drag him off, Mr Farke

Dowell hasn't shown much in this game. Very disappointing.

Good game, though.

It was, Danny, but what do you expect from a team with a minus goal difference of 22 after nearly ten games.

Gilmore can't be showing much if he can't get into this Norwich side, Raphina the difference in this game, Adam Forshaw on now.

James got red carded for pushing over his team mate lmao

Making friends in Qatar

Good to see Krul fuck it up. And the ‘Oscar' for best actor in a footballing role goes to Hames! Played himself into an offer from the MLS probably.

Didn't see much from the very rated Aarons.

Maybe an off day?

Spurs call urgent board meeting. Nuno could soon be a no no!!

Just been talking to my well-informed local landlord, Rob. He's gone apparently.

Kane dictates that club right now and he wanted out in the summer.

Not a happy camp.

New Zealand spanking India at T20, they will be our biggest rivals for the trophy.

See Dean Smith has finally realised Tyrone Mings is an awful defender.

Jeff, India were one of, if not the pre tournament favourites. They also got spanked by Pakistan, and will now struggle to get to the semi finals

Hopefully Spurs will give Nuno another game or two. But Knowing our luck, Nuno will go and the Spurs bounce back will kick on on 7th Nov when they play us.

Agreed Rob, New Zealand will go deep into the tournament.
Villa reminding me of Everton, pointless passing back and sideways, followed by a long punt upfield giving up possession cheaply.

Villa fans not very happy with the passing back to the keeper West Ham pressing hard

Really? Nuno NoGawdNo hitting the road? Thankful for Spurs and United while we get it together. Villa don't deserve to be level but how it is.

McGinn could have done more there, Villa unlevel it so to speak.

That Moyes. Crap manager ain't he. Don't want him back here.

Moyes has got some team at West Ham, mind you suppose it helps when you have a beast like Declan Rice in midfield.

Keeper was complaining they were blocking his view

A lot of teams on the up. West Ham, Villa, Leicester, Newcastle??. Add the established Sky 6 and all of a sudden we look for irrelevant than ever!

Darren @ 72, Nuno looked like I did when Skelton's Shan Blue fell in the Charlie Hall. If you shut your eyes for a second it may not have happened.

Should be two red cards. How can you be allowed to do a forearm smash as a valid defensive move?

Villa should have got 2 reds there!

First one was worse than the second, which was a technical red.

I thought the forearm smash was going to be the red card. You more you see it how can it possibly not be?

VAR bottled it, couldn't be seen to give 2 reds for one passage of play, even though it should have been, again loses all credibility by not enforcing the rules.

Agreed. Dude looked right at him like he was timing the elbow move. Smith looks twitchy. Not good when you switch it up big and it goes like this. No stars in form could keep them subpar for a while.

How do you allow play to go on after a serious foul and give no card that should have been red, and then send off a player for a tangle of legs, first player gets away with it yet the other player is set to miss games. i understand the second foul is a technical red but the game should have been stopped for the first foul

Bill, the second one was for denying a goal scoring opportunity, the first forearm smash was undoubtedly a straight red.

Sorry Jeff I was talking to the wife before I finished my post and entered it before I finished what I had to say.

Newcastle on the up........... don't make me laugh! Villa at the moment in the bottom six, so yeah,they're definitely on the up. Leicester are not exactly setting the world alight, who just happen to be below us, albeit on goal difference. Should we avoid defeat tomorrow, then I assume we will be on the up, literally, climbing above one of the"established sky six".

We are far from irrelevant, but I suppose people who do nothing but moan and complain, will come up with anything to knock the club.

Brill save. Still in it

It's one of them Bill, the ref allows play to go on to allow West Ham to continue the move, VAR should then go back and advise the first red after the incident plays out, therefore, for me, 2 reds is what should have happened.

Can Hause get a retrospective red card for that assault on Fornals, or is that it because VAR have seen it? I don't think he was even booked for it.

It's a funny old game, Villa playing better with 10 men and without the star signings of Buendia and Bailey

Fornals scores the winner when he should have a red for raising his arms and pushing over McGinn

Well, that's a bit ironic. Fornals could have seen red for that challenge on Hause, then goes and scores. Bowen lucky as well

Rob

In fairness, Leicester have won the FA Cup and Charity Shield this year as well as flying in Europe not to mention a League title in 2016.

Jeff, didn't Bowen push McGinn over? As he goes and scores as well.

I thought it was Fornals, your right Rob just had another look, but either of them should have gone and meant West Ham down to 10 at 1-2

West Ham have built a proper good team within a decent budget.

Guess that Moyes guy is better than many give credit.

Fran

Our biggest error was not getting Moyes back when we went for Allardyce in November 2017 and then again just before we appointed Ancelotti in 2019.

Ancelotti was never known as one for building a team from scratch and as soon as he knew we couldn't spend off he went.

Likewise the decision to appoint Allardyce boggled the mind when we could have appointed Moyes for cheaper than Big Sam and then sacking him six months later with another handsome payoff.

Moshiri has proved himself a serial offender of stupidity.

Jeff I could not understand why the referee didn't blow the whistle for the first foul, watching the replay he was practically alongside the 2 players when the Villa player elbowed the Hammers player across the face.

Jim, our biggest error was not showing Moyes the door six years before he secretly negotiated to jump ship.

Make no mistake, even though WHU are flying the serial bottler aka the Moyesiah will collapse in a heap of self doubt, loathing and negativity.

Several times he had us challenging for a top 4 spot by Xmas only to fall away in the new year.

Please, Please, please stop with the lamenting of Moyes not returning to Everton. He knew he was going to United long before he actually did, he has as much time for Everton FC as all of the other mercenaries in the game. He's having a good time of things at the moment and he deserves the credit for it. Would he or could he have done the same at Goodison, maybe or maybe not, we'll never know now will we and I for one am glad about that, despite the terrible time we have had in the last five years.

Where are all the TW experts who claimed that Villa have shown Everton up by making astute signings that would propel them up to the higher placings in the league? I suppose next week will cause a few to have to choose between their favourite other team against their favourite former manager.

I don't really fancy our chances tomorrow, but I remain hopeful that the team can get something out of the game, if they return with 3 points we'll be just a few points away from the Hammers, which sort of puts things in perspective, considering his ability and our short-comings and injuries.

Feckin' can't even watch Doctor Who now without a visit to Anfield in the Klopp era, who says the BBC isn't biased?

Barry, I think it's safe to assume that the Hammers will come crashing right back down to earth next week, even though I would love to see them win.

As for Villa, yes you're right. The signings of Bailey, Buendia and whoever else they signed, were seen as great signings and Villa probably had the best window out of everyone. Not doing well so far, are they, and yes, before any smart arse comes on and says they beat us!!

So. if we win by a 4 goal margin tomorrow we are back in the top 5!
Rondon & Delph - your stage awaits!

Barry, isn't that because that RS gobshite John Bishop is now in Doctor Who? Probably had it written into the script himself.

As an indian cricket supporter, the last two performances have been rank abject (similarities to another team that plays in blue) Talented they maybe, still many weaknesses in this side particularly in the bowling areas. Fundamental flaws continue in not being able to produce top class fast paced bowlers in a country the size of india is quite bewildering.

I can guarantee West Ham are in for a good season. Will go far in the cups, while finishing higher than us in the league. They have a strong squad and can rest players for Europe. Not bad for a guy that nobody here wanted back. Of course it helps that when their first choice right back gets injured they have a home grown kid just able to slot right in.

500 million thrown down the toilet is not what Moyes would have done. Been chasing our tails for 5 years. Unless any of us are happy with mid table finishes.

BMD looks spectacular. If not for that l'd want shut of Moshiri.

Seem to remember that when there were talks about a new manager Moyes name came up into the conversation and B.K.'s name came up on who wanted to sign him. I don't remember any manager being successful returning to his previous club. Like him or loath him Benitez seems the right choice at this time. What was the average age of the under 23's Saturday they seem to be getting younger.

Moyes is doing a great job at West Ham. They look solid and play entertaining footy, I'd be surprised if they don't finish above us.

I never especially wanted him back but we could have done (and did do?) a lot worse.

I think its a nailed on certainty that Arsenal, Spurs (even with there on field issues), Leicester and West ham will all finish above us. Thats why 9th might be as best it gets.

I am pleased for Moyes, he has a much better squad at what seems like a much better run club. I do hope he gets them top 4.

I didn't want him back at Everton though, because the many-many defeats to Liverpool gave me dogs abuse for many years off some very vile people. Also they way he treated Everton and even left to an ovation on his last day (knowing he was off to a bigger project). He is also our longest serving manager never to win a trophy, he was very lucky to be at Everton for so long.

I was always puzzled by the continued support Moyes got (and still has by the looks).

He was a proven bottler when it mattered and hapless once removed from the Kenwright protectorate failing at the top and bottom of English football whilst landing flat on his face in Spain. But I get it now.

Stability and plodding along without genuine ambition IS perfectly acceptable (almost desirable) to some. His successors might not have taken us to the promised land but you got the impression they were going to try.

Unlike Mr Knife to a gunfight

Barry

I agree. Yes we would have done better and spent less with Moyes but we were trying to actually become a top team again. We failed dismally but that's the ultimate goal and I don't see Moyes achieving that

Barry and Kieran, the final straws for me were the FA Cup semi v Liverpool, when he shit himself and who can forget Everon 0 Wigan 3, with a semi final place waiting.

Kieran

The terrifying thing is I couldn't even see Mr Moyes trying

Joe,

Thing is I wasn't at all surprised at either result given his previous.

Calls to bring Moyes back show the nonsense of recent years - Moyes and Kenwright contributed to the current standing of Everton with years of treading water and failing when it counted. It suited both parties to reduce expectation. Steer well clear as Barry says - none of the results surprised given what had gone on before - he had gilt-edged opportunity and failed us all good style

Speaking of those long absent from Everton, it did my heart good to see Adam Forshaw check in as a sub for Leeds today. After leaving us, he carved out a solid Championship career and even played one season in the Prem when Boro got promoted some years back. Then in 2019 he suffered a hip injury that refused to heal and kept him out for two full years -- I read he even got some of his teeth pulled to help his body's healing energy.

Great to see him back. I love a comeback story, especially from a brave Blue.

Moyes was a decent enough manager for us and brought in some really good players and looked at one time to be building a very decent team.

I think he knew that, as long as Kenwright was the owner, funds would be a bit more than feck all. However; he went and knew well before that he was off to United. I remember him coming back to try and weed out two of our best young players for about £20 mill for both of them, the cheeky get!.

As for where we are today, I think that Rafa Benitez was the best choice for us and I still do. Let's see what we can do, when we get Lewin, Doucouré, Gbamin (if he ever does get proper fit!) and Gomes back fit.

Even playing West Ham at home, we had the clearer chances to win and didn't take them. I don't think Rondon is much more than the cheapest option available to us, when they learnt how long Calvert Lewin was going to be out.

The biggest problem we've got, as I see it is our defence. I don't rate Keane as a top class defender; but we've got him so have to make do with him. I think he's too slow in tuerning, and too slow in his thinking; and with Ben Godfrey as his partner we look all at sea. Ben is a good athlete, but he's got to learn the ropes as a premier centre half. It'd help though, if he had a top class oppo.

Let's see what we're like when we get all our players fit; and the two young strikers, Simms and Dobbin to see what they are made of. Somehow, we have to get to the summer (at least) before we can start building up our squad.

Moshiri gets some stick but in my view without him, we would have been well and truly up shit creek without a paddle. I think the major mistake he's made is having Kenwright as Chairman and allowing him to be still involved in transfers.

I was a massive Moyes fan but am also a firm believer in the "never go back mantra" so I'm torn. But, if the Ginger twat had come back and had £500M to spend... I reckon we'd be in a much better place than we are now.

Mike

Forshaw.

ps: I wasn't just saying his name that was me agreeing with your statement precisely as Jurgen Klopp would.

I tend to believe that returning to the same position at a club mostly doesn't work and can think of only one reason that somebody might want Moyes back and that would be 11 years without changing managers, which seems to be bettered only by our Chairman.

I've already warned off a friend. Wait until the expectation gathers in the media and then judge West Ham's manager.

They could do with keeping a lid on Rice. I never really rated him, but since watching him against us, proper midfield enforcer.

Despite their signings, Villa are missing Grealish. They had pretty much built there team and style around him over the past few seasons.

Barry @ 125. I saw that. They even managed to get a reference in about everybody's favourite little scamp 'Trent'.

I'm personally very pleased for Moyes. He had his faults but overall, left us light-years ahead of where we were when he took over. You can't say that about any of our subsequent managers.

Rob @71 I couldn't disagree more about the NFL, it's a fantastic game I love it, would sooner watch any NFL game than any football match, except for the blues obviously. I love watching the physicality of it and how athletic the players are. It's a tough game, once you understand what's going on, it's a great game to watch, but each to their own. I think T20 cricket is boring, it's not a patch on test cricket

Mick, I spent many years and trips to the States trying to understand American Football. I wouldn't claim to fully get it now, but from what I see and watch, the most parallels for us Brits are with Rugby League. Gain territory and a limit on the number of tackles before conceding possession to the opposition if you haven't progressed? Like I say, no expert but that's the closest we have. Not Union, Rugby League with helmets.

I believe that Nuno is on his way. Can they just give him Goodison next Sunday? Otherwise I can see the Conte script being written already.

So, after 17 games, Nuno is under threat to lose his job.

At the start of the season, it was his counterpart at the other North London club that was under serious threat and, according to the press, was another defeat away from the sack at the start of the season. You really have to ask the question: Do any of today's owners know anything about the game? They all seem very quick to sack managers yet never seem to take responsibility that the manager they are about to sack was their choice.

Spurs had a manager that took them to a Champions League final yet they fired him just over 12 months later, yet Levy seems to take no responsibility. Our owner is another who is quick to sack but never seems to appoint the right man for the job. The maxim today is if we have a run of bad results appease the fans and sack the manager – that way, it makes it look as owners we understand our fans.

Even West Ham released David Moyes from his contract but there failure to attract anyone else they went back to Moyes who has got them somewhere they haven't been in over 50 years. But you know if they have a bad run they will sack him.

Again the press calling for OGS to be sacked but he still has a lot of backing from the fans, which is unusual when a club is struggling for results. The only upside of being a Premier League manager is when you eventually get sacked, you will walk away with a king's ransom to lesson the disappointment.

I didn't want Benitez and am not over keen on his style of play where we forfeit the majority of the possession to our opponents, but we can't keep changing managers every 18 months, as has happened under Moshiri. We need to let him have his 3-year cotract honoured (unless they get relegated) and see where we are towards the end of his contract.

I reckon Spurs are panicking in case Ole gets the shove at Man U and they steal Conte.

It wouldn't be a bad thing for us if Nuno gets the push this week because chances are Ryan Mason will run the show for a couple of weeks beyond that at least.

Well it's not if now because he's gone.

It's ridiculous isn't it, Brian. Just as the BBC call the shots on running the country these days based on creating mass hysteria amongst the population, Sky Sports do it with football owners.

Apparently the league is determined in October and if you're off the pace, sack the manager. If you're over-performing, what a great decision.

The league settles after the Christmas period. The season ends in May. Despite the foaming at the mouth and rabid behaviour of the modern fan, if a game isn't won after 20 minutes or the season tied up by Halloween, I tend to stick to those principles.

**Edit & update. Apparently Nuno has gone.

I think as fans we sometime link all decisions to what happens over 90 minutes at a weekend when sometimes it may be obvious to insiders that what is happening on a day to day basis just isn't working.

I recall reading comments about Nuno when he was linked with Everton in the summer on how the size of the entourage that he brings with him was potentially disruptive and damaging to the existing folk at a club. Perhaps that is what's happened here.

Apparently Conte is already in London to hold talks with Spurs. Weren't Newcastle already targeting Conte, but let's be honest, there's not a cat in hell's chance of any high profile manager going to the North-East.

Nuno sacked by all accounts. Once the crowd stopped turning on Nuno and started on Levy, it was all down hill.

It's players who get managers the sack, if they don't like a particular manager and his methods, they tend to show it, in half-hearted performances and in turn gain poor results.

Nuno getting the boot before Spurs' arrival at Goodison is so typical, I quite fancied us to turn them over next Sunday but, if they have a new manager in place, watch the lily whites suddenly turn into a well-oiled machine.

Interestingly Benitez says that the last couple of results for Everton were not down to the mood within the camp but more down to a lack of technical awareness and attention to detail.

So Nuno has gone and reports are suggesting Conte is in London to negotiate with Levy about becoming Spurs new manager, just in time to face Everton.

What I find strange is that Conte was in talks with Levy before they appointed Nuno and reports are that Levy was worried that Conte would be too disruptive. But I am sure that, if Conte turns things around quickly, as he probably will, then the fans will be behind Levy again, so damage limitation to his reputation restored.

I agree with Barry Hesketh that, by and large, players get managers sacked, and it seems that quite a few Spurs players threw the towel in a few weeks back, so the manager pays the price. We know from our players how often they have thrown a couple of managers under a bus.

But some managers don't help themselves, Mr Koeman being a prime example. When he came, it was as if he was doing us a favour till the Barca job came along and, despite that happening, he was found wanting again.

I just think that not enough attention to what you want from a manager is done by football boards, and therefore you end up with managers who play a game that the fans don't like and usually, in that scenario, the manager gets the sack.

Just looking up odds for a Kane hat-trick next weekend. Although how bad has he been this season? Maybe Spurs would do a swap for Rondon!

Dear me, talk about early days, Levy a bit trigger happy. Conte's appointment will be interesting but that could prematurely all end in tears too.

Nice little earner for Nuno for his 3 months of hard labour.

You can see a Conte-inspired Spurs coming to Goodison on Sunday.

Reported at weekend that Levy had to be convinced by their new Director of Football, Fabio Paratici, to appoint Nuno. Levy was concerned about his style of play. If so, I doubt that he will forget that advice in a hurry.

Spurs make us look rational, quite some trick that.

No reason just feeling particularly cynical and grumpy this morning but have to agree with Barry and Brian on the players getting managers sacked thing.

Kane has been sulking since his City move didn't come off and obviously saw himself as superior to working under a coach like Nuno. Almost total switch off, which much have rubbed off on other players.

We've had more than enough examples. I know it may not be popular, but Martinez got pressurised with player power for daring to drop Baines. Both he and Jagielka had a seeming grip on the changing room at that time.

I get the senior player thing, but not necessarily a healthy thing when the influence is from serial losers and nearly men who are happy with the status quo and mediocracy they dwelled in.

Told you I was feeling grumpy!!

I've watched Spurs 3 times this season, and ecah time they were absolutely abysmal.

Slow, ponderous, ineffective and vulnerable at the back. Just woeful.

No surprise that Nuno has gone.

Conte is a winner. He won't last long I'm sure, he never does. But his record is among the best.

Conte will do well I suspect. Typical timing for us but hopefully it takes a while for his system to implement. I expect Reguillon and Emerson to do well as wingbacks under him.

Fran, it looks like Spurs don't expect Conte to hang around for too long either, as they've only offered him an eighteen months contract.

Not a good move for Newcastle this one. I'm half expecting them to appoint Koeman now.

I would imagine most big-name managers won't be touching Newcastle until they know they'll be in the Premier League next season, Andrew.

I think they may make a mistake by throwing big money at the wrong person before Christmas, Danny.

Levy's premature dismissal of Pochettino within a year of Spurs' miraculous appearance in the Champions League Final, having failed to back him in the transfer market to bring in fresh blood, really isn't ageing well, is it?

The word 'premature' strikes a chord, Jay.

To my point about judgement being passed and decided by October.Good job some were not calling the shots after our first 2 games in August 1984 when we lost 2, shipped 6 goals and responded with 2. Just prior to romping home to the league title.

Time and patience all. The season ends in May.

Levy's recruitment is awful. Pochettino gets them to the Champions League Final, with a team that clearly needs refreshing. Does Levy refresh that side? No, he sacks Pochetttino instead. He replaces him with a manager past his sell-by date who doesn't like a tight budget, then with one who can only be regarded as a cut-price punt.

If they go for Conte, he'll demand a clear-out and a decent transfer budget.

On one hand, you can look at Levy as an effective business person. He's established Tottenham as a top 6 team that regularly qualifies for European football and has built arguably the finest stadium in the World at this point in time.

A bit like over the park, never shy to sell on playing assets, but only for the right price (Bale, Modric wouldn't budge on Kane). He's very shrewd and brutal in that sense.

But I agree Paul, he failed to back the best manager he could hope to have when they had almost reached to very top of European football.

Yes Danny, Levy is a very astute businessman and deal-maker, but like many owners, he comes unstuck when he thinks he knows football better than the professionals.

But there they are, wonderful stadium, regular European football and no apparent profit/loss issues. I suspect Conte will give Levy nightmares with his transfer budget demands, but at least it's about whether he wants to spend the money, as opposed to whether he is allowed to.

Spurs possibly peaked just before their Champions League final, been downhill since. With the biggest debt in European football, even eclipsing Barcelona, not sure they have the money for a complete rebuild.

Levy hears the latest round of boos echoing around his new super-duper stadium after a series of a mere five or six losses and decides to fire his manager, the guy he provided with next to no transfer kitty six months ago. Conte, if he comes, will only come with a transfer kitty provided up front - guaranteed.

Meanwhile, back at the nursing home that is USMFF, for incredibly loyal (allegedly), inadequate and sick staff, plans are no doubt afoot to decide which part of BMD is to be named after our anything-but-illustrious 32 year director/chairman.

Benitez has already opened the bombardment of the owner/board as is his wont so maybe, just maybe, if Moshiri wants to retain any mere vestige as "a football man" to the wider world who enjoy taking the piss and points off us he might, just might, not get rid of yet a.n.other manager in the manner of Levy but instead address the serial decades-long failures of the guy he, Moshiri, quite recently said had "an enhanced role" in the boardroom.

What could possibly go wrong?

That said, Goodison will probably be packed and as protest-free as ever for the rest of the season, so Kenwright will reassure Mosh, "What's the problem?"

And so the inertia goes on.

Don - I suggest the temporary floating boom acting as a warning and shipping barrier currently in the Mersey near BMD might be a suitable structure to name after him - it is the only 'boom' Everton have had under Kenwright in 32 years

Great news for Saturday, Conte coming with a fired-up Spurs side, that,s gonna be interesting...

Fuck Spurs. They won't improve much in a week.

Most pundits don't believe Conte will take the job as he wants a team that can give instant success, he does not need the money and the believe is Tottenham need a rebuilding process.
The hiring of Nuno who was at Wolves for 4 yrs showed he was a re builder of teams and that takes money for new players that he was not given. Spurs lost their chance of having a top European Club when they sacked Pochettino and brought in The Special One, with limited amount of money due to the new stadium.
Personally I don't care if Spurs get relegated along with Newcastle.