Recent Reader Comments

• Let us not forget that Barry has scored 6 goals in the league for us from 31 appearances. Not too shabby for a striker in his 1st season in the premier league. In comparison, Hugo Ekitike has 11, Calvert-Lewin 10, Bryan Mbueno, Benjamin Sesko, Cole Palmer, Richarlison, Gibbs-White have 9 each, Nick Woiltemade has scored 7 goals for Newcastle and costed more than double what we paid for Barry; Anthony Gordon, Saka, Eze, each have 6 goals. Beto, Dewsbury-Hall and Ndiaye have also scored 6 goals each for us this season.Comparing to previous seasons, our top 4 goal-scorers:24-25: Ndiaye (9), Beto (8), McNeil (4) DCL, Doucoure, Keane (3 each)23-24: DCL (7), Doucoure (7), Gueye (4), Beto, Branthwaite, McNeil, Harrison (3 each)22-23: McNeil (7), Doucoure (5), Gray (4), Gordon (3) I hope one of our players can get into double figures this season. Good of Keane to come out in support of Barry....
  Ajay Gopal in Michael Keane insists Everton teammates are behind Thierno Barry
• I have liked Merlin whenever he has got on the pitch. His early injury during his initial days was a set back for him. And if that shot he hit against the upright in the 1st 10 seconds of the Aston Villa game had gone in, it might have changed a lot of things for him. I have great expectations from him, but given Moyes' cautious approach and the huge competition for those 2 midfield slots between Garner, Gueye, Armstrong, Iroegbunam, and himself, it may be a while before we see him playing regular football....
  Ajay Gopal in Merlin Röhl close to being signed on a permanent deal
• Not sure why this discussion went down the who is English path. I think Paul K's original post was a valid argument about the % of Italian players playing in the Serie A which is has definitely dropped and directly affects the quality of the national team. Apart from that the quality of the Serie A itself has dropped judging by their club results in Europe in the last few years. So, it seems that the Italian youth system itself is not producing enough talent. Maybe they are stuck in their old ways and have not adapted to modern football? In terms of the EPL and the % of English players, I think the story is different. Firstly, there are plenty of English players playing in the EPL itself. Secondly, the EPL is at a much higher level overall than Serie A. So, those English players are competing against the very best which itself is great for their development. Overall, it seems that England is developing a lot of great technical players, so the (elite) youth development path seems to b...
  Frank Wolfe in The decline of Italian football
• David #105 I got what you were saying. Just wanted to highlight one aspect of it....
  Eric Myles in Dibling hints at frustrations he has endured by being overlooked
• Bit of an over the top philosophical reaction to earning by default a lucrative contract to play football. Hopefully he improves on the field. ...
  Kieran Kinsella in Merlin Röhl close to being signed on a permanent deal
• Ditto, Ditto, Ditto. And add Aznou to David's list @ 5!...
  Bob Parrington in Merlin Röhl close to being signed on a permanent deal