Dominant Blues blow away Swans

I could get used to this.

However, although Neville had a better game than Monday, there's still very little play going through the middle of the park. If we become too reliant on the flanks, other managers will eventually stifle us there.

I imagine what we could be with decent players in place of Osman and Neville.

Kudos to Victor – decent game today and can only grow in confidence...

I'm not convinced by Naismith – I think we've moved on from this type of player.

Everyone played well, but I thought Vic did himself proud, although he should have scored more, whilst Baines, Pienaar, Fellaini and Mirallas were all extremely impressive. Southampton at home next in the league. COYB

Only other thing of note is I don't think Mirallas is in top gear yet and looks a class act, could be really important to us this year.

Well done all round though, including Moyes, I think it's fair to say we walked it. Roll on Southampton!

COYB!

Perhaps this is the risk for playing a more expansive game. We are certainly opening up opposition defenses as well as I can remember since the mid 80s.

Mirallas looks good. Seems to have a good understanding with Fellaini and Pienaar. A great pick up by Moyes. Dare I say even Anichebe looked like a Premier League player. Two goals in as many games from him can only be a good thing.

Loved the voices in the crowd... "We're gonna win the League!" — nothing like a bit of optimism.

Congratulations EFC. Roll on Tuesday.

But seriously, defence looking vulnerable and better sides will punish us, and earlier in the game, in which case we might then be on the back foot (as in second half Monday) and less able to play an expansive game as we did today. But going forward we purred!!!!! Great stuff.

As for looking terrible at the back maybe that could be due to the absences of Hibbert and Distin?

But as for bad performance, he'd be unstoppable with a good one.

Southampton, QPR, Wigan all before we lose to 12 man Liverpool so things are looking good!

Big Vic was very good. Good touch, sharp and pacey. With Jelly injured, we need him in this type of form, although he was helped by having Felli sharing the burden of being the target man.

Neville & Osman midfield combo once again looked vulnerable, but Moyes is in a dilemna because taking out Felli from his current position might reduce our effectiveness.

With Jelly and Gibson out we are thin on options. Dropping Neville for Nais and shifting Felli back is the only obvious change we can make right now, but this is pretty risky as I don't think Vic can carry the attack without Felli behind him.

Coleman impressed me at RB. Still wobbly in his defensive positioning, but much more solid and going forward he looked dangerous.

Anywhere were I can see the game again guys? I was working and missed it. Cheers

Everton are playing their best football for years and all the newcomers have done well.
Im quite excited about Mirallas who is improving game by game.
I was surprised to see Oviedo on the bench as I was under the impression he had not arrived yet...DM said that he was waiting to meet him a few days ago.

With a fully fit squad we can mount a serious challenge this season but our squad is small and we need luck with injuries.

When Felli plays like today he is virtually unplayable.
Anichebe also did well and is faster than previous seasons, maybe he was carrying too much weight.
He looked tremendous today and could be an Everton Drogba if he had more confidence in front of goal.
I reckon Nev had his best game for ages and so did Howard.
Baines was brill as usual and so was Pienaar.

I just wish that we converted a few more chances as the game should have been over by half time.
I agree with Danny #256 and thought we played some great football especially for the Mirallas goal that was actually started by Neville near our corner flag.

I just hope that our little squad can keep enough energy to play like that in all our domestic games.
If we make europe for next season we need to spend money and build the squad up to at least 23.

OK, I will praise one player and that's Vic Anichebe. Obviously the club has seen a player there under the sulk and he's showing that there is.

Anichebe makes mistakes, in particular a couple of bad touches and two bad lay offs in good positions, but he's a hell of a back up to have. Another goal and terrorising Ashley Williams at times. Nick was definitely being sarcastic, but what he writes seems to be the way many Toffeewebbers look at Vic. I've been defending him, Osman and Neville this week, and frankly feel quite smug after today's game.

Mike Powell, we must have watched totally different games, I watched one where Everton had 60% of the possession away against a team renowned for dominating possession. Are there really that many people out there who don't understand that Phil Neville and Leon Osman are both very important parts of that? Watch the game again, watch football first, count the times Swansea try to attack us and Phil Neville is instrumental in halting their attack and winning possession. For the archetypal instance, just watch the Mirallas goal from the instant he dispossesses Michu by our own corner flag.

Can someone tell me:

1.How was Coleman at RB?
2.Was our defense any better without distin? It sounded like they had quite alot of chances.
3. Did Mirallas play well?
4. If Jelavic was back next week, would you be tempted to still start Anichebe?

Glad to see Saints won - even given our current form, our history of being the ones to solve a crisis is legendary. Glad also Oviedo got a run out but checked his stats on the BBC website and suspect he will not win many headers (Go on, http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/shared/bsp/hi/football/statistics/players/o/oviedo_436288.stm)
Icing on the cake, Saints to be still out of the bottom 3 when we play them

Standing room only of course - probably a tenner a pop - bring your own cans, chippy stops included.

Was pleased with Coleman's shift. Had a couple of good turns and moves and didn't appear to be too much of a liability

Finally got a lucky break from the refs with te first goal. Much much overdue IMO

Anichebe played well but misses a shockingly high amount of shots both sitters and half-chances. Nice physical player but needs to get up to speed and probably at some point should've been sent out on loan. (Not sure if he has but I don't think so...)

Naismith looks a fine sub. Osman and Neville played well for their standard but their standard is not good enough for us. Our team is a team made up of European class players and Championship level players. Quite amusing really!! Come on you motherfuckers!! On to the next!!!!!

I did not see the game today so I will not comment on it. Very good to see Heitinga getting his first game and clean sheet as well. I thought Jags would be benched but Distin got benched instead. Distin is getting old, we need to replace him after this season!

Anichebe needs all the goals he can get, on the first few games I think Anichebe is now a preferred option to Jelavic, since Jelavic has looked not up to his best yet.

A lot of credit must go to Davie Moyes, he has set this team up very well considering that both Jelavic and Gibson were missing, it didn't disrupt our attacking style of football. I know some fans took Davie's comments after the last away game with WBA to mean we would play a bit more defensively in our next game but not a bit of it.

Maybe we should have closed out the game against Newcastle but that was another game we dominated, the signs are looking good. I feel we have more strength in depth than we have had in Davie's reign which can only help during a very long season.

It was all set up for him today but he showed his limitations, or probably his lack of self belief.

Swansea played an open game and we tore them apart in midfield and any striker would have got on the ball as much as he did today. He couldn't help but be a threat.

However he missed an open goal, didn't have a clue on a couple of breakaways with Fellaini, scuffed his shots, poor choice of passing... and on and on (I even think his goal was supposed to go the other side of the 'keeper and he mishit the ball).

I'd love for Vic to be a good player for us. But he wasn't today. I don't know if that makes me a 'hater' as someone above alluded to, but as I don't speak 14-year-old Valley Girl, I'm none the wiser.

Game to build on though, and if he's in for the next three or so games then it doesn't fill me with the dread when he came on for Jelavic on Monday.

He does need some love but he's a pro footballer, not a Nancy. Hopefully he'll get a bit of confidence and carry on.

If so, no it wasn't over!

4-3-3 away from home and we had the possesion at 70-30 at times!

30 attempts at goal and they tried to kick us off the park.

Someone please wake me up!!

I'm starting to think this could be Moyes's big pitch to Man Utd you know. 'How do you like them apples, Mr Gill?' and all that.

It going to be interesting when we come up against Chelsea and City in particular, that'll really sort the men from the boys.

God I wish we hadn't dropped those points against Newcastle.....

Well done lads.

I don't think he's ever going to be a twenty goals a season striker but he definitely gave the Swansea defenders a game today.

He's a confidence player and after his goal you could just see it come alive in him.

He isn't in the same league as Jelavic but as long as he puts himself about like he did today, he'll do for me until the main man comes back. If he can get back in the team that is.

He took his goal well, I don't think it was scuffed, just hit back the way it had come.

I've long been calling at Victor for being a big girl's blouse, but fair's fair, today he won good few challenges and held up the ball pretty well. He should, of course, have buried the chance from Baines' cross, but it was no worse a miss than the one he put on a plate for Fellaini.

I know he's not ever going to be Drogba, but for heaven's sake guys, give him a break when he actually does put in a performance.

He took his goal well, I don't think it was scuffed, just hit back the way it had come.

I've long been calling at Victor for being a big girl's blouse, but fair's fair, today he won good few challenges and held up the ball pretty well. He should ,of course, have buried the chance from Baines' cross, but it was no worse a miss than the one he put on a plate for Fellaini.

I know he's not ever going to be Drogba, but for heaven's sake guys, give him a break when he actually does put in a performance.

If Moyes wants to take that extra step then we still have plenty of work to do. Long way to go but looking great so far. Promising.

I tend to agree with Ciaran re. Naismith – think we've stepped up from that kind of player. Mirallas is looking excellent. COYB

We're up there with two key players missing, half the squad other clubs have and a fraction of the spending power.

Early days but the table has got a very nice look about it right now. I hope JFT96 is respected tomorrow but that MUFC come out as winners. If that happens, I can't wait for the after-match phone-ins.

One of these days a kopite is going to come out with, "It's not fair, we haven't had the money to spend that Everton and others have. We're operating on a shoe-string. Whine, whine, whine etc." (cackle).

I wish all Blues a very happy Saturday night.

Other Everton fans are providing their opinions — not 'hate-fuelled' comments. That is their reality based on assessment of what they have observed. No-one is compelling you to agree with anyone who has a different view but there is no excuse for such a pathetic and bigotted attempt by you to set your own opinion above others. It is not welcome on here.

Howard: 8 Very good for a Yankee bastard.
Coleman: 6 Irishman with no credibility
Baines: 7 Embarrassed no-one.
Jagielka: 6 Do not attempt to pass the ball.
Heitinga: 8 You got it.
Neville: 6 Fuck you.
Fellaini: 8 Nice wig
Osman: 7 Lady with balls
MIrallas: 8 We know you you've got it
Pienaar: 6 Not good enough
Anichebe: 8 Not lazy
Bryan: ok
Gueye: ok

His experience, attitude and commitment are absolutely top drawer. I'm very proud to have him as our Captain, he's a class act on and off the pitch but he really is starting to creak.

Milk turns faster than Pip, and at one point I considered ringing Stannah to help him out. It's a shame because his head and his heart belong on that pitch, I just feel his feet and hips are starting to struggle to keep up.

Hopefully he can lift a trophy for us this season and then start focusing on his next move in football.

"Lady with balls"...

Well he's been called a lot of things but you may have hit the nail with that one! Very funny!

I think the players are still getting used to each other - especially 2nd half of Newcastle and today, Anichebe was trying to get used to the other players and vice versa. When they start gelling together, somebody's gonna get whacked real bad (hope it is against the RS)!

One point, though, we seem to demand more of Victor Anichebe than we do of Jelavic, Goals apparently aren't enough for Vic.

Another thing for this match and few have mention is how we score the 2nd. Pienaar on the right, Mirallas middle and Big Vic swap to the left, it must really confuses the opposition, nice goal!!

What does "doing your Ph D" have to do with the fact that you have offered us your expert opinion on a game which (you claim) to have watched whilst sober?

Here is my lay-man's view...

Batti: 4 Soft arse.

On the downside, with 11 on 11 and at 2 - 0, I never felt comfortable and it always seemed like another goal was required. In the event, Dyer decided to help our cause and, after he went, the result was never in doubt.

I like Heitinga but I really don't subscribe to the view that he was a key reason for the way we played. Passing out of the back etc etc. His rushed clearance and missed defensive header late in the first half could have cost us. And he played the Swansea forward on early in the second, to be rescued by Howard. I don't get either why Jags was supposedly garbage today, that goal line clearance and the way he never hides... I will take that any day.

For those of my age, we've all experienced mostly defeats against Leeds at Elland Road going back 40 plus years. So let's hope for a win and no injuries. Warnock will have them kicking anything in blue that moves. COYB

I don't know though....

ps: I'm from Garston.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-owl6j2Z-w&feature=BFa&list=FLFvZ85dOrBFLlXgt4JbqaxQ

With regards to opening piece, what does it matter if Anichibe had control of the ball when he was fouled? If he hadn't been fouled he's have been through one on one and so it should have been a red card.

Delighted with the win but I'm not one for "we should enjoy the win and less of the negatives." Swansea were dire for the first half hour, albeit we pressed them very high up the field. But the amount of times they gave it to us under no pressure was amazing. I hope the game time and goals Victor is getting brings him on. He's got certain good attributes but some glaring weaknesses. He doesn't run the channels well. You could see from some of his teammates reactions that they weren't happy with some aspects of his game.

We missed a hell of a lot of chances as stated above but I also thought that Heitinga was average at best. Paul McGinty pointed out a few of the reasons for this view. Hopefully he's just rusty from the amount of game time he hasn't been getting. We learned very little about Coleman today that we didn't know already. He didn't have to defend and he was no more than willing in attack. I thought Neville's defensive game today was good but we badly need to replace him esp with Osman in there. I don't dislike any Everton player so my views on Osman and Neville are based on watching them. This idea that some posters pick on them is annoying.

Howard was good today and saved us many times. I still don't really rate him. I think he's poor on crosses and woefully slow off his line for balls played through. His shot-stopping is hit and miss, thankfully it was good today.

We were promoted from the "old second division" at the end of the 1953/54 season, our last match in that division was against Oldham Athletic - at Boundary Park (ever heard if that?) we won 4-0. It was a mid-week game - on a Wednesday I think.

Nice one!!

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=nkqfa-kaRFM&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dnkqfa-kaRFM&gl=GB

One of the biggest reasons for our good form is Leon Osman. Some fans seemingly only see what they want to see. he got pushed off the ball once in the whole game and fouled the man to stop him getting on a break. He barely gave the ball away, he is always offering an option, and most importantly he passes the ball forward, something our central midfield post Arteta pre Gibson failed to do. He gets the ball to the feet of Fellaini Pienaar and Baines and switches it to the right flank. He's been brave enough to take some of Neville's reckless passes when in trouble facing his own goal and turn and set us on our way. We've always played our best football with Leon in the middle and this current period is no different.

From the mind numbing Fellaini-Rodwell axis and their side to side risk free play we finally have a central midfield partnership in Gibson and Osman that can pass forward with both feet, have great positional sense, and offer a goal threat. They are the platform on which all our good attacking play is being based with Fellaini revelling in an advanced role making use of his height.

I used to hate watching Baines get the ball laid off behind him from someone like Rodwell and having to constantly check his runs before just booting it down the line as he'd been closed down. Now we have a functioning central midfield all our players seem to be getting the ball into space on the run and its putting us on the front foot in every match. Moyes has clearly seen this otherwise he wouldn't be keeping Fellaini up front.

I also can't believe that in the same thread someone has given Pienaar the lowest rating out of our team and someone else has said that Anichebe is now clearly the preferred option to Jelavic.

Totally agree with that Andy Crooks. Our striker scores goals, but he's not good enough. Julain seems to be an absolute nutjob, and Graham is too scared to defend our captain and the man who did more than anyone else to pin Swansea down and prevent them mounting any kind of threat, thereby allowing our talent to create almost at will.

Trying to respond to the various issues people have brought up, Jagielka defended well but is guilty of absolutely dreadful distribution, almost every time he got the ball today. Swansea were bad because we made them bad, I get sick of people trying to downplay Everton performances by slagging off the opposition. They're a good team, they were at home, and their reputation is for dominating possession and now having a more attacking edge, and we didn't let them get near us. People need to suck it up and accept they've been proven wrong today.

1) We would be automatic to Champs League
2) 'Poop would be relegated!

Would dearly like to know the last time that happened against P.L opposition?

Where is KITAHTKO?

We need a new acronym guys – any suggestions?

Shrewd stuff from the Blues today...

I will put down the sword for today. (But tomorrow Leon's gonna get it :)

I have a big smile on such a performace and can't believe any true blue isn't the same.

COYB

Although over the moon with the result, I still think there is a lot of room for improvement, Swansea were poor and still Howard had to pull off some great saves to keep a cleansheet. I think we definitely need a centre mid if Felli is going to stay up top. Fingers crossed the Vadis move comes off in Jan.

I did expect more than Shane (#337) would take up the cause of the Williams's red card incident, based on the fuss the second commentator made over it, but any who feel so inclined should probably watch a reply beforehand.

"What does it matter if Anichebe had control of the ball when he was fouled?" — isn't that a key consideration? I don't think he did. If he had and was fouled then yes.

"If he hadn't been fouled he'd have been through one-on-one and so it should have been a red card." — Both players are scrambling to get to a ball in open play. Neither player has possession of the ball. If anything, they both reach it at the same time and I think they both make contact at the same time. Williams's stretch is probably enough to be called a foul / dangerous play, but nothing more. I think many refs would have played on but for Victor's dramatic tumble.

I don't think it could be construed as "denying a goalscoring opportunity" when the attacker is not in control of the ball — there was a covering defender nearby as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12YgJrsDWN8&feature=BFa&list=FLFvZ85dOrBFLlXgt4JbqaxQ

GOOD NIGHT!

Kevin Tully...

Sorry to be a pedant but KITAHTKO is an Initial-ism, an Acronym is when you can spell a word from the initials.

SEAGOTATO

Score Early And Go On To Annihilate The Opposition!

It sounds like a seafood dish originating from Spain, if you ask me. Any other ideas?

I like SEAGOTATO....Tastes good!

Or maybe "Shall we talk about that pay rise now, Mr Kenwright?"

Howard: If you can't be good be lucky (and he was lucky that is) his whole match form was all over the place like mad women's shit.

Neville: his brain is writing cheques his legs can no longer cash; short term only until Gibbo comes back, he is in my eyes, in a dead heat with Hibbo and Coleman for the FB's slot.

Osman and Naismith: if we had money and thus more better players they might not even make the bench, but we don't so they are. Is it a conundrum or a paradox?

CBs: the more attacking ethos tends to leave them exposed and does not help them.

CM x2 Neville and Osman: Limited and Lightweight, some say they are excellent like maybe Stradivarius and Picasso, but our Stradivarius can't paint and our Picasso can't make violins.

Anichebe: There is a player in there... I think.. was this as good as it is going to get from Vic? ... or is this the new bare minimum benchmark? Only time and Vic will show us.

This Bainaar phrasing I keep reading is a bit cringeworthy isn't it?

I thought everyone played well yesterday. Coleman was disciplined at the back, Howard made some crucial saves, Baines played like he was on a motorbike down the left-hand side, and even Vic was effective.

Mouth-watering stuff, and we still have Jelavic and Gibson to come in plus a little bit of money left from the summer. We're going to win the league?

Come on the blues, in Moyes I trust.

Those of us who've seen him since his debut know there's a good player in there somewhere. Personally, I think he'll be yet another in a long line of Goodison prospects to have an average career, potential unfulfilled.

Jelavic may be the journeyman that bitter Rangers fans have warned us of. If he is we'll make a tidy return on him, but he'll score a shit load on the way.

The Welsh Anti Temperence Society.

And I mean that in a good way!

TWAT — Thespian Without Any Trust.

Where's Eugene when you need him?

Did you miss the bit where I stated Neville had a better game than Monday? Consider that faint praise.

The fact is that central midfield is arguably the most important position in the team... Closing down and pointing isn't really good enough.

And we believe credit were credit is due, well done to all the lads, especially Vic and Pip. Hats off to DM, quality football being played.

Let's all enjoy the moment because us fickle members at CUNTS will turn on you in a heartbeat and spout our bile on here should things take a turn for the worse.

COYB

Andy Crooks you made me laugh quite hard out loud then.

As for Anichebe's critics, oops, looks like Matt Traynor has given the game away and confirmed exactly what I was speculating on another thread. There seems to be a significant section of the Toffeeweb community who don't judge Victor on his performances as a footballer, they're already pre-disposed to dislike him, because he earns a lot of money, fell out with Moyes once and has bad 'body language'. Get over it. I wouldn't stay going out with a girl who was as sensitive and keen to hold onto a grudge as that, grown men should be ashamed of themselves.

And how any Evertonian can think Ashley Williams shouldn't have been sent off! Your bias against Anichebe seems to be stronger than your bias towards Everton. Last man red cards don't come much clearer than that. Anichebe would have comfortably got a shot on target and the 'covering defender' wouldn't have got near him before he did.

I can't agree with the implication that, if you win games, then there's no improvements that can be made.

You appear to be unsure of the effectiveness of our central pairing, Mike... despite your continual defence of Neville.

Two points about how good we were, and yes we gave too many chances away, from Match of the Day: Gary Lineker described the Blues' display as "Imperious". Hawwy told how he got a video of last season's roasting of the Swans to show his players how it was done and then went on to say that we'd done it again.

I can't really accept what you say in #501 either, I think there's a big gap between what I said: "it certainly seems to be working at the moment" and what you've inferred "if you win games, then there's no improvements that can be made." Your statement could apply to us beating Barcelona 5-1 in the Nou Camp. ie. We could have kept a clean sheet, we could have scored 6, etc. Mine simply says that whether or not its the absolute best we could possibly be, what we're doing is working. Incidentally, not that this applies to you personally Ciaran, but I can't help but feel that if we did win every game 5-1, there would still be people on here complaining. It just seems to be in their nature.

We could all imagine a better line up, and a scenario where we do better than winning 0-3 away, but we don't know that our scenario would work, whereas we've all just watched Neville and Osman in central midfield working.

Mike, Neville did find a blue shirt all day. I don't have the stats to hand, but I'll simply point out (again), the bit where he dispossesses the Premier League's top goalscorer, Michu, by our own corner flag, calmly feeds the ball in to Coleman, and Everton score a length of the pitch top quality goal. Seriously mate, watch the game again with a pen a paper and count what happens (a) when Neville gets the ball, but especially (b) when Swansea attack, if you don't believe me. Do it, then get back to me. Otherwise, accept that a pub full of drunken football fans may not be the hotbed of analytical thought that you're assuming it to be. Most people agreed with you? Yeah, did you have the sound down? 20,000 Swansea fans thought the ref was making outrageous decisions against them every time he gave us a free kick. They weren't all correct either.

Regardless of your answer, please join the debate and tell us why you think we should/shouldn't criticise the Blues' players.

It would be must more informative than the general statement you just posted.

[* OK to gloat at the deludes, though.]

"I've said it before and I'll say it again, the criticism of Phil is mainly lazy and ill considered. He may be reaching the final years of his career but a career that only a few could compare with. Selected over 200 times by SAF, over 200 times by DM and selected for England by 5 separate England managers. But hey what would any of them know he's obviously shit isn't he!"

The above, as an argument, is about as lazy and badly thought out as it gets.

Look, Ali was a genius in the ring.

Won Golden gloves, Olympic gold, heavyweight world title three times.

You think he should STILL be fighting?

As for the 'water carrier', yes of COURSE all teams need them.

But when they start dropping the bucket..

You crow about SAF picking him over 200 times?

Yeah he did.....THEN when he saw no more use for him - gone.

(whenever that was - seems about 15 years back?).

I genuinely like Phil Neville as a feller and I don't think he's 'a shit player', but with the football we are playing at the moment, his shortcomings ARE being exposed.

His touch and passing have never been great and at the moment, with the none-hoof, pass and move, intelligent stuff we're trying to play, this is being highlighted.

If, in the simplistic black-or-white world many TWs seem to exist in, that makes me ' A Neville-hater', I'll live with it.

Like I said, he's seems to be a good, solid bloke and he's got more decoration than Crown but he's becoming the past and Gibson, Mirallas, Jelly etc are the future.

Good player, great ambassador, but he will know better than anyone within two years it's over.

He mentions that he has been watching and learning from Jelavic which is helping to get him in better striking positions. I think he will have taken note of Jela's work rate too. Previously Vic would have been learning from our former senior strikers, Saha & Yak, which is probably where his tendency to be a bit lazy came from.

Let's hope he continues to reap the benefits of learning from a player as classy as NJ.

Anyway, momentum was not impacted. We responded perfectly.

Everton are now solidly becoming a team that are too much to handle. We used to have to handle other sides, and scrape a win with a one goal margin. We were good at that. Now we are beating teams 3-0 away.

Pienaar was class, so was Mirallas. We have two pacey lads who are not afraid of going at sides. It will be interesting to see what happens with Jelavic's return. I would start Anichebe just to recognise his efforts and semi-decent form and then would bring on Jelavic for impact if needed. If Jelavic then produces the goods, he reverts back to first striker because overall he is different league to Vic.

Neville can still contribute and will continue to do so, but to be honest, Baines needs to be prepared for the armband, and Gibson needs to fill Neville's boots full time when back.

Christmas signings: a dedicated rightback to transition Hibbert out, loan cover for Gibson, bring back Barkley and then we are good (injuries permitting). Maybe a shrewd striker on loan to cover for the slightly lightweight Jelavic, Anichebe 1,2.

One game at a time. Next cup final is against Southampton next week. Just get 3 points and keep momentum. One game at a time. Pundits keep talking about our neighbours aiming for top 6 and club stature etc and history and then don't get a result on the pitch. Let's just win the very next league game and watch City and Arsenal share points etc. Points make tallies and the one at the end of the year determines where you finish. So far, very satisfied.

If your really don't believe me, or haven't noticed this, I urge you to watch the Swansea game and the Newcastle game (first half especially). At one point it seemed every time Swansea tried to get the ball out of defence Phil Neville was either picking up the clearance, intercepting the pass, pressuring the front man's first touch, or forcing a dribbling opponent down a blind alley enabling us to win the ball. Maybe its just because I've played a lot in defence and defensive midfield, but those things are as clear to me when I watch football as a good pass or clearing header, but many don't seem to see them at all. So there's no mystery, it makes me sound clever, there's those who pay attention and see it all and those who don't. Watch the Swansea game again, bearing in mind what I've said. If you want it in microcosm, watch the second goal.

" the stuff that's a bit vague and hard to pin down but makes me sound like I know what I'm talking about....) "

My point is that these are just normal parts of football that everyone should know about and notice but many people don't seem to, as if they did, Phil Neville would not be having this much negative stuff written about him.

Our odds on winning the league went from 20/1 to 5/1. we're now the same as the shite. SSN ( I think)

( WTF was I drinking )

The thing I'm not so gutted about is the fact we're the same odds as the shite to finsh in the top four ( cheers Stef ). Early days I know, but we finished above them last season, they've been ..........blah blah blah.....wank.

Just something else to chat about, I know were my cash is going.