Arsenal steal undeserved win after clear handball

I never like the phrase "nothing to play for" but losing 5- or 6-nil would be a shite way to finish the season.

Compete, make it hard for them, don't just lie down. At the end of the day there is another place to finish ahead of Brentford with a positive result.

With releasing Gomes and the possibility of losing Onana, surely a bit of game time for Warrington is worth a look at with our limited budget for the summer.

It took weeks and weeks when Keane was having shockers, before Dyche finally gave a chance to Branthwaite, at least give Warrington more than the last two minutes from the bench.

Well done to everyone, fans, players and manager, everything that's been thrown at us. Let's finish well today, Blues.

5,
M. Keane
Number
12,
João Virgínia
Number
14,
Beto
Number
22,
B. Godfrey
Number
28,
Youssef Chermiti
Number
43,
B. Crellin
Number
51,
L. Warrington
Number
58,
M. Hunt
Number
61,
L. Dobbin

Two.

Branthwaite took over the starting job from Keane the third game of the season against Wolves.

The Forum is open. First round of Guinness is on me.

But we've had to rely on some desperation blocks in defence to keep them out.

Ashley Young started as a Winger at Watford, became a forward in Series A and retired to being a full back. He is 38 and is not a weak link that will cost Everton a game.He has signed a new contract.He has played on the wing for Everton and won League Titles in two countries.Cups in England Has European medals and 39 International Caps, being brought back into the squad. Has been a runner up in a host of European and English Competitions.

Meaningless but leaves a sour taste.

I have absolutely no doubt that he thought, as he looked at the monitor, "You know what, I will make myself even more self important by not following the recommendation. Just how wonderful am I?" Total and utter cheating knobhead.

Here's a pre-season prediction: if we start next season with Ashley Young (if, say, Mykolenko is drafted to fight the Russkies) and Seamus as our starting fullbacks, we will be relegated straightaway.

All about him.

The good news, Brentford lost.

So pleased Gueye is staying. He was outstanding. I praised Ally McCoist at half time but I am utterly baffled why he thinks Doucoure was excellent. He works hard, runs a lot and does nothing.

Oliver you're a disgrace. That was given to Arsenal by the referee, if that was an Everton player it would never have been given. The final insult.

Doesn't matter, but does leave a poor taste, even McCoist said it shouldn't of stood as it was clearly intentional.

Well done blues, you deserved a point, we wuz robbed! Right, 5am, finally going to bed, enjoy your night out blues!

Arsenal didn't deserve to win today. Disgraceful refereeing. We definitely deserved a draw and thought we played decent.

More than the actual VAR, it is these partial referees who need to be sacked.

We're safe and now onto the real business. We need solid new ownership.

We played well down in London against a team that has owned our souls lately. Well done, Dyche and the team.

Last game of the season and it wasn't going to change anything so why invite more moaning about VAR?

For once, VAR did its job but that cunt had to be the centre of attention.

Back to the team, I thought it was a top quality, controlled performance ruined by Young's brain fart.

At first thought, I may have been viewing through royal blur tinted eyes, so sought some neutral views who have all said the same.

So whilst I'm slightly irritated tonight, if this game was important to us I'd be livid. But it proves Michael Oliver is a wanker, and the Premier League is corrupt as fuck.

On to next season now, let's hope for good news before August but let's enjoy the summer... UTFT!!

If he's not reprimanded, that too will be a disgrace.

Roll on next season, hopefully we can get off to a decent start.

COYB 💙

Martin Keown thought it was the right decision but gave no reasoning for that conclusion.

If Tarks gets anything on the ball before it strikes the arm then fair enough, but he didn't so Gabriel Jesus obviously gained unfair advantage by using an unlawful part of his body to deflect the ball.

Doesn't matter that the arm is by his side, you cannot use it to play the ball in football.

Also, challenges the corrupt PL to charge the speaker with whatever trumped up felony arises from speaking the truth and then to defend the charge with a requirement that Oliver gives evidence.

This is my fantasy legal football world but I am truly astounded and dumbfounded and horribly angry about it all. We all know if that had been a blue arm that one look at the monitor would be enough. Cheating arrogant knobhead.

Well done, Man City an unmatched 4 in a row will really upset the cult across Stanley Park; their seething about oil money will see them on tablets. Isn't that awful?

Ha!

You can't let their obvious sporting advantage due to the money they have spent go unchallenged when other clubs have been penalised for their overspending.

I told you all many moons ago we would be okay and he is indeed the fella to man this ship through very stormy seas… If I saw him, I would bow and thank him truly for what he has done for my beloved Everton.

Never forget how bad it was under Frank and Rafa and how we would have gone down 100%… Our performances didn't reflect the scorelines for large parts of this season and we also had bad luck.

I really hope Dyche stays on and keep the lads grafting, let him sign a few lads he knows will be reliable and see what happens….

On another note. Any word on our new kit? Why are we always last for reveal them!!! And I hear it's Castore… What The Fuck!! Another shitty business decision.

A great career for him, but the man's a liability. He's miles off it for a top-level pro.

Let's just get rid of overpaid free-loaders, and one-trick ponies, and rebuild, we have a good nucleus to build on. I love you Everton – I do!

Terrible pass by Young who otherwise played well and a shocking decision by Oliver.

It's been a season of turmoil and frustration but credit must go to Dyche for getting the very best out of a limited bunch.

The lack of goals has been a problem for a few seasons now and must soon be properly addressed with whatever limited resources are available.

I'd hope to see Onana moved on for a considerable fee and maybe one or two others that are replaceable but command lesser fees.

We were solid but unspectacular but could even have pinched the win. That bodes well. Some brilliant saves by Pickford – and is it just me or is Cavert-Lewin playing with a lot more confidence and freedom since his goal in the derby?

Anyway, fitting that we should end this particular season being cheated out of points.

These bastards will give what they want when they want and to whom they want.

And with Dyche inheriting a pretty much non-existent attacking basket to choose from. And to keep the team motivated after the Premier League points grab. Remarkable.

I thought we were excellent today. Tactically spot on and we were robbed of a well-deserved point.

Well done to all the lads.

We still can't pass, for fuck's sake!

That game should have been a draw but yet again Masters and his puppets wanted the last hurrah.

Well fuck you, Masters, you cretin, we've had the last laugh. Stick the points deductions up your shitty corrupt ass!!

As for the winning goal, it was a terrible decision but let's not forget the three excellent decisions that saved Young's ass against Forest. I read somewhere that we were net beneficiaries from VAR this season.

Imagine the Klopp carnival if Man City hadn't been the bulwark fending off his red rampaging heathen.

City fans paid their dues wallowing in the old Third Division. I see their transformation as inspiration not condemnation.

Hope they win it next year as well.

Clear handball and Oliver waved away the VAR check. Some things never change.

Let's move on whoever we can for good money that won't be terribly missed.

I wouldn't think we'll see Michael Keane at Everton again; likewise, I wouldn't be shocked to see Patterson leave either, another one who's never seemed to make it.

Beto probably isn't going to be a long-term solution, Chermiti at best a cameo here and there, Dobbin likewise.

We won't have lots of money but we need to find at least one player who can come in and bag 9 or 10 goals for us and add another midfielder that can bring more pace and more creativity and a more consistent eye for goal than we've seen from this season's wide players.

It won't be easy but really it shouldn't be impossible either.

There lies the problem with VAR, two refs looking at the same incident but different conclusions.

If the ref misses it in normal play, we can argue it, think he's crap and move on, realising he has made a mistake.

However, with VAR, he looks at a screen, still makes the wrong decision. The only conclusions now are he's a shithouse and a cheat. Can't forgive that.

Weaker members of the squad may be moved on, if there is a market for them. Players will be brought in on loan or cheaply.

I'm just worried now what's going to happen in the summer.

Not a glamour manager, not over the top either, but a good one nevertheless!

Is there any point to it if they don't call it and send it back to the piss-poor official.

If it had happened at the other end or with Liverpool or Man Utd the goal would have been disallowed..

I really don't care about Citeh or the shite or whether their fans have had a hard time previously or not.

I do care about proper justice. If overspending is ‘cheating' then overspending when you are already very well off is just greater cheating.

Measuring everything against what it means to the neighbours is what gives them the legitimate right to call some of us ‘bitter'. If you don't mind the label, fine – but it doesn't apply to me.

Now all that needs to happen is for him to explain it.

Most VAR controversies would be easily resolved by having the conversation between ref and VAR personnel broadcast.

VAR did call it and sent it back to the official to look at on the screen. He chose to ignore the clear handball for the second time (he'd didn't give it originally).

VAR did its job, it's was Michael Oliver who got it wrong or cheated.

Make no mistake I’m bitter possibly because I experienced their “take over” first hand.

I don’t know your age but when someone says they’re not bothered by the shite I tend to think they’re relatively new to Everton

Definitely all down to trying to make the last day as dramatic as possible. Michael Oliver you are a disgrace to your profession and should never referee a top match again, unforgivable and thank goodness it meant nothing

It sums up a season of total corruption

Disgusting

How fucking long ago was that? I imagine somewhere in the region of 75% of the City fans at the ground today were not there in 2000. Probably more than three-quarters. A good slice of them are "glory-hunters" but they are sooooooo "inspiring".

Ah bless, poor City fans "wallowing" in lower leagues; they have soooooooo deserved and earned these titles. Funny that, I remember City fans being a bunch of utter gobshites in the '80s and '90s before they got relegated.

Jesus wept, City's "transformation" is an "inspiration". Nothing to do with a fucking tsunami of money (setting the stage/precedent for dodgy Middle-East investment and ownership) and 115 corruption charges/allegations along with no doubt plenty of prior before they got caught with their sleazy hands in the cookie jar.

Truly "inspiring"!

How odd to see this poster wishing that another team - not us - wins next year's league.

Thank God for Manchester City and if they broke the rules on 115 occasions, which team suffered most because of it over the past 9 years?

We just have to keep the spine of the team and build from there! We also have to increase our expectation levels, we can compete at home and away and have proven same for the vast majority of the 38 games!

Conspiracy... Did some one drop him a message, via his headset? That descision put a stink descision to cap off a wretched season, off the field, but has seen Evertons squad rise and fight off an incredible points deduction challenge.

Viva Everton, Forza Santo Domingo!

The battle to find a proper new owner of Everton must be fought and won, by the end of June.

A new dawn beckons for Everton.
UTFTs!

Spot on Paul. That "battle" is more important than the footy.

Viva Everton, Forza Santo Domingo!

Your logic is nonsensical. Why should Citeh be allowed to rack up premier League title after title by breaking every rule in the book while us and other clubs get docked points? 115 charges - there's no smoke without fire! Your hatred for those creatures across the park is obviously clouding your judgement. Either that or you think we should all be happy to sit back and take it up the arse as long the other lot are prevented from winning the title by the cheating Citeh. Shall I pass you the vaseline

I lived a block from Maine Road in the late 90s when City unraveled. Yeah there was one pleasant enough newspaper shop owner and a security guard I knew who were much like our long suffering fans. But the match day fans were mostly fat belligerent thugs. I remember one game there was a scrap outside between them and Leeds fans over who hated Utd more.

If the ball went in the net directly after it hit his arm like that, the ruling states the goal should be disallowed regardless. However, the phases of play after that means it goes back to whether the arm was in an unnatural position, and it wasn't.

City are entitled to due process and are innocent until proven guilty. If proven guilty then there sanction needs to be proportionate to that handed out to Forest and us.

Spot on but people get themselves into hang ‘em high territory before the case is heard, weird as fuck.

Theres no time to lose, the qwest is on.

UTFTs!

City are indeed entitled to 'due process' but many of the charges date back to 2010 onwards. I find it ridiculous that none of the charges have made it to a tribunal and have been allowed to stack up to a staggering 115 charges 15 years later!

It's as if they've been rewarded for been evasive and lawyering up for so long - and now it's gonna drag so much longer because of the amount of charges.

It's clear to me and many others that we've been targeted by the PL because they wanted to flex their muscles as they're terrified of the government independent regulator. We was a easy target because we admitted breaking the rules for the one offence. The double standards and the severity of punishment to our chargers stinks to high heaven.

How about now dealing with everything else that has been said about your utter drivel at 73 you grasper of straws? But you won't will you.

And do take the time to read what Mark Frere has to say..

We and other also rans exist to be beaten for the global viewers' pleasure. It doesn't work as a fair competition. That's not the point. In return we get a share of huge global TV revenues but we're not supposed to win.

Girona were a breath of fresh air.

Deffo not denigrating your loyalty it’s just an observation that in my experience the majority of those old enough to have suffered their unparalleled rise hate them with a passion.

In many ways I envy your capacity to ignore them

The neighbours may have missed out on a few baubles but are they actually suffering?

As much as we have?

It’s not just this season’s sanctions is it? We’ve been on a short leash for a few years now which has really messed up our ability to really compete.

Do people not think our personal goon squad were perhaps influenced with the likes of Citeh getting away with twisting the rules (Moshiri see, Moshiri do?) when they went gung ho on a fruitless spending spree which now threatens the very future of our club?

Even if Citeh have been the very model of financial restraint since the profit and sustainability regulations were introduced, they still are still the clearest beneficiaries of a huge financial input from owners that others are now simply not allowed to do. That ‘ladder’ has been removed.

And if they are still ‘cheating’ despite that advantage then they really should be the ones attended to as a priority.

Danny, did Masters get blasted from our lot?

Man Utd and Everton have proven that spending big doesn’t always guarantee success and that it can even make the team and the club much worse than before such spending took place.

Although city have clearly breached FFP rules, they have also increased their revenue exponentially and achieved great success.

It was a handball, and the fact is, VAR felt it should have been disallowed. They had far better visuals than Michael Oliver or us.

"Inspiration" is not the word that springs to mind when I think about "outlawed" wheeling and dealing and all those nasty Moss Side gobshites waiting to welcome us to Maine Road.

Michael Oliver? really mate? hang your head.

City fans have a bad rep? Nothing new, around 67-68 when my Gran found out where I was going in the afternoon she said 'watch out there son they're a gang of gobshites'

Unlike the Referee who was that poor he managed the near Impossible trick of making VAR look semi efficient, Sean Dyche can hold his head up high - a serious candidate for Manager of the Season.

Was it pretty? No - but it was pretty effective.

He'll have to repeat it again for a 3rd time and that won't be easy.

Reaches for another drink…

I have had to eat my words from a earlier post.

Given where we are with the finances he is the ideal man for the job.

Got to be adjudged to be handball by anyone with any common sense.

How can anyone other than the player determine if it was deliberate or not? Maybe Maradona didn’t deliberately utilise the ‘hand of God’, maybe he was just trying to scratch the top of his head whilst jumping for the ball?

Some pundits say it was handball today, others think not. I know who I think is right and I don’t actually think it’s that debatable.

Of course the pass was shocking (and you could see something like that happening when we began to play ‘keep ball’ just to waste some time) but that doesn’t change the fact it was handball. Goals have been overruled for free kicks well back in the build up so the few passes after the handball don’t matter either.

Yes I was at the University of Manchester initially living one block further over in Rusholme. Joke being it was called that cause when people went there they’d rush home. Honestly the area was the worst most crime ridden depressing place I’d ever see before I moved to America where after I’ve found somewhere similar or worse in every town or city I’ve lived over the last 24 years.

Funny Gabriel actually injured himself by diving onto his shoulder, absolutely pathetic behaviour.

Gana my Motm with some great defensive work and decent passing.

Arsenal will be challenging again next season as will City and Chelsea.

The handball was clear as day. Terrible mistake by someone who should know better but a handball all the same.

Var intervenes and the ref 99 times out of 100 agrees with the var observation. Not this time.

Imagine if that handball was to gift the league to Arsenal? Oliver didn't know the score at the Etihad, was he trying to be the billy big bollocks?

The current refs simply aren't good enough for the billionaire premier league. It's about time we brought in refs from all over Europe without the baggage to make honest decisions.

Surely we can't go through another season like this again?

Really?

What is the greater sin? A 39-year-old ref of 1200 games' experience in the PL refusing to call a handball that the VAR official clearly felt should have been called?

Or a 39-year-old player of 500 games' experience in the PL making a pass in the final minutes of a tied game that the average Conference player would be sacked for?

Oliver could have bailed Young out from his error. He declined to do so and therefore erred himself.

But to me the deciding point is that the ball should never have been within 40 yards of Jesus' hand or any other part of his body. Young could have backpassed or hammered the ball into the stands. He chose to present it to Jesus.

It was Young's blunder that cost us this game, not Oliver's.

Rusholme was divided from Moss Side by about 12 feet

Summer's coming and whilst I'll try to enjoy cricket and rugby I have the horrible feeling that Moshiri having unwittingly had his ass cheeks spread right over a barrel on the advice of his trusted (by him alone) chairman he's going to get a right shafting from every potential new owner.

And they'll shaft us Toffees too - guaranteed.

Masters is the least of our problems, seriously, bent dickhead as he is.

And whilst Lineker and his self-serving "experts" again eulogise the magnificence of Citteh with near on no comment on the 115 charges those Saudi-backed charlatans face for doing what our bonehead owner did but twice, I have little expectation of football in England ever becoming interesting again to savvy football fans.

It's knowingly corrupt to the core - like so much else in the present UK, but nobody wants to even try to restore credibility.

But Young's ball across the defence was so obviously a no-no. It had “mistake” written all over it as soon as he kicked it.

On the pitch, we were organised and reslilient for the most but were ultimately undone by a mistake from a player who should really only be cover and a mistake from an official which was out of our hands.

What would have been 48 points and 12th (above the lauded Bournemouth and Iraola) represents a big improvement on last season and impressive work from Dyche with a squad that I'd rate as around 15th best in the league. Credit to him and the players.

Let's see how many of these players are here next season with eyes especially on Branthwaite, Onana, Pickford and Calvert-Lewin.

Calvert-Lewin was superb today. Jordan was not far behind. But I can't wait for Onana to get out of our club.

I genuinely struggle with Young. I hear people on here say what about his experience and winning mentality, but he did that today, with all his experience.

Give Mackenzie Hunt some minutes, for fuck's sake.

I agree that Young's brain melt gave away the goal but it was handball and should have been disallowed. Just like the equaliser where Tarkowski had been poked in the eye and was delayed getting back on to the pitch. Even then he almost made the block.

Hoping for better things next season and I may be in a minority but the spending rules are pointless and should not be in place. And I am not saying that because we got done.

Oh… it wasn't rugby league then?

I genuinely wasn't even interested in yesterday's game but I am interested in a referee who I believe has had it in for us for years.

I said in the pre-match thread that, with Oliver and Atwell officiating, I expected incidents and accidents. Although I was obviously guessing, I do believe it was an educated guess.

Let's move on to the most important thing now. Let's get sold and let's start becoming the real Everton again. It was good that I could forget about our last game instead of worrying about relegation but this meant it was a meaningless fixture for me and this has got to be the thing that changes most.

I don't want to be like Man City, winning four in a row, but I do want us to start completing before eventually winning trophies once again.

But the club's aren't actually voting on bringing in this process, even though this is why VAR is constantly falling down.

“Michael Oliver, you’re a cheat”.

Whether it was a poor ball by Young or not, Gabriel Jesus gained an advantage by using his arm and leaning into the ball. His arm may not have been in an un-natural position, but the movement of his arm/shoulder definitely meant he knew what he was doing to control the ball. As soon as it went to VAR, I said to those around me that Oliver would award the goal, deliberate handball or not.

So I’ll say it again……………..

“Michael Oliver, you’re a cheat”.

Young's brain fart was completely unprofessional. But it was Jesus's handball which converted a mistake into a chance.

Even then, VAR identified the foul and pointed it out to Oliver. He looked at it and decided to make himself the story by over-ruling a blatant handball. I called him a cunt in an earlier post.

The standard of refereeing in the Premier League is abysmal, VAR should be scrapped apart from offside — the natural excitement and rhythm of the game has been killed.

I find it quite staggering that some can defend Oliver for not disallowing the goal, simply because of a poor pass by Young. So what some are saying is, “Well it should be allowed to stand because it was a piss poor pass”.

Well that's okay then! Next time there's a piss poor pass by anyone, for any team, then an opponent is well within his rights to use his arm/hand to control the ball, because after all, it was a piss poor pass.

Unbelievable!

At the end of an incredible difficult season, we prevailed, no thanks to our owner. He will either sell to 777 or sell to another third party. Failing that we may end up in administration, hopefully resulting in a sale to someone who is competent.

If we obtain competent new owners, we will progress rapidly, however, more short-term pain lies ahead.

It has been drummed into us over 30 years.

Man City, 115 charges, some very straightforward, over 10 plus year period, still wait, and you can expect the legals to be drawn out, and for it to end in a mess.

It is time for all fans to call out the Premier League and to call out Man City, and to simply say ‘Not Our Champions'. A National voice disowning both parties.

Obviously Bournemouth would expect the same amount as well.

I do believe in conspiracies. This decision does not shock me, but reinforces my belief about the hatred towards our club from all of the authorities involved in the scandal that is the Premier League.

Regarding VAR. Is it a surprise that justified claims from clubs and supported allegations that this season was the worst performance by all the refereeing and VAR officials ever when you have the calamitous and incompetent Howard 'World Cup' Webb in charge!!!

Anyway, on a more mundane point. 26 points would have seen us safe because of goal difference. We achieved that on 2nd April, away at Newcastle. Little did we know that 7 weeks ago we were safe from relegation. All that worry for nothing.

End of season form - last 6 games
Luton 1 point, Burnley 5 points, Sheff Utd 0

Man City 18, Arsenal 18, Chelsea & Palace 16, Everton 14 but only 13 thanks to a dodgy ref.

The squad and especially the manager deserve a lot of credit for the way we have finished the season.

In this last game, to keep Arsenal to that score is a top performance; they were desperate to win this match.

The scene after the final whistle at The Etihad with all those fans invading the pitch reminded me of the £300k Everton were find for the fans doing the same at Goodison last season after avoiding relegation. Will Citeh be fined? I doubt it, Masters would never be even-handed, after all, he did call us a small club.

• 54x Failure to provide accurate financial information 2009-10 to 2017-18.

• 14x Failure to provide accurate details for player and manager payments from 2009-10 to 2017-18.

• 5x Failure to comply with Uefa's rules including Financial Fair Play (FFP) 2013-14 to 2017-18.

• 7x Breaching Premier League's PSR rules 2015-16 to 2017-18.

• 35x Failure to co-operate with Premier League investigations December 2018 - Feb 2023.

If we generously set the cut off date at 2017-18, that includes 3 league titles, 1 FA Cup and 3 League Cups. Yet their achievements have not been questioned by their fans and the Premier League allowed it to happen.

We simply need to stand up for ourselves the way Man City have done and the way Liverpool do.

So I would like us to complain about Oliver formally.

Like I said yesterday, surely this means that from the minute they punished Everton and then Forest, the rule makers have brought their own league into disrepute?

The question put to Gallagher was what was the difference? His reply… the referee! Simply put, different referees interpret different handball offences, or to put it another way, it depends who scores the goal, and who against?

But to describe Young's pass as merely "piss poor" is unbelievable. It was moronic, catastrophic, inexcusable in a teenager let alone the most experienced player in the Premier League.

We had earned a point with heart and effort and near-flawless execution, and Ashley Young literally gave it away by choking under the mildest of pressure.

And to use your words, Rob, I find it quite staggering that nobody here will say that. All anybody wants to talk about is how Oliver should have given back our point. After Young idiotically tossed it away.

Plus City have already given the authorities a bloody nose by defeating a 2 yr Euro ban. Don't light the torches and grab the pitchforks just yet - have a cup of chamomi!e tea to soothe the anxiety.

Be inspired by the notion one day we could rise from the dead and dominate the shite as city have if the right owner appears.

Of course if sweeping all before us isn't your thing then keep enjoying mediocrity it takes all sorts

Cue frothing stalker in 3 ...2 ...1

He has put in improved performances over the past few weeks but, overall, he has been poor since he joined us and is very fortunate to have been offered a contract for next season. I’m afraid it's indicative of what lies ahead for us.

Not happy that Young has been given a contract given his overall performance - money for old rope springs to mind! Still it’s a case if seeing what happens with the saga of the sale of the club, the quicker the brain dead Moshiri is gone the better, we need to be rising out of the ashes instead of part way and falling back in.
Personally I’ll not laud him for starting BMD - I’ll just say it was some bloke who once owned Everton had it built - he’s blotted his copy book the same as his mate Boys Pen Billy Bullshit and One man and his dog Sharpe.

Fingers crossed we keep Branthwaite one of the seasons rare shining lights. The whole team were hit and miss but Dyche, despite the points deduction somehow got them galvanised to finish the season on a high after a 13 game worse run than Walker days.

We need to be more lethal in the final third and stop fanny around passing it all over the place which means either DCL gets back to his Ancelloti days and gets better crosses in or a better striker.

Looking forward to next season and what controversy that brings, but it’ll be a poignant one given it’s our last at Goodison Park. Fingers cross we can leave some great memories of our last season and maybe a trophy 🥳💙

What goes around comes around - can't wait Shearer !

But no-one can ever again do it the way that Man City were able to (ie, the simple way) because the rules have been changed and the ‘ladder pulled up'. That's why the Saudis are having to build slowly with Newcastle.

We can't even look at Newcastle as a template either because it's a one-team city.

Under the current system, which Man City have not yet had to abide by, even mega-rich owners have got years of incremental growth before they are likely to see any sort of success in the form of trophies.

I still don't understand why Man City having an easy path to success is supposed to inspire those of us on a much more difficult one. It is like climbing a mountain in full gear and being ‘inspired' by those who use a cable car.

Not sure I follow.

You concede money might get you there, albeit at a slower rate these days, whereas without it we and others remain in pauper doldrums.

I don’t get not having that chance to challenge again as an aspirational dream ie being inspired to tred that path.

We knew it was possible before Citeh because we saw Chelsea do it, and even Blackburn Rovers before that.

I have hope for the future but I’m not ‘inspired’ by Citeh. Can’t you grasp that?

If not then it’s a case of ‘there’s none so blind as those that will not see’.

I'm not saying Vardy now but you get my drift.

We were heavily fined and censored for that. I don't see anything from the media, the FA or the Premier League to say they are investigating that.

Why not???