Premier League — Week 3

Thought it was a good goal by Giroud and sending off for the Norwich centre half for a stamp.

Clear as mud.

Nice to see two fit teams play a full 90 minutes. Maybe we can get their fitness coaches.

I mean, how annoying is it when you are the Biggest Club In The World, at home in the sunshine, and you attack solidly for half-an-hour but achieve nothing... then these simple lower league tossers throw up a Route One lob, and bang, the ball is in the back of the net.

It's just not fair.

I remember years ago when Everton turned crap under Jimmy Gabriel. My cousin from Glasgow told me I should be grateful. He said "if you're not winning the league then it's best to be in the relegation battle as it provides excitment. There is nothing worse than supporting a lesser team that simply exists to float around mid table and annoy other teams."

Not really hard to score and win away games is it?

When you look at the turgid dross Everton serve on the road every season without fail.

Really, because they get an away win?

But it's not over till it's over — Palace 2-1! Fabulous stuff!

Another illustration that age (within logical reason) has no bearing on the skills required to score a goal!

The point I'm making is every club out there seems to have a bit of get up and go about them.

We need to realise that maybe we are not the club West Ham should be trying to model themselves on either?

What the hell have we achieved in 20 years?

Watching Everton is like Groundhog Day – same shit over and over.

But we can't expect anything like that coz we're all morons who will put up with anything, apparently!

Bournemouth won't need to worry if they do lose today, next home game on September 15th is you know who, cue the football doctor, Everton lol

The burden of proof has been raised to allow a subjective decision to remain in place unless it's a total missed call.

Their not looking for minutiae, but complete blunders. That is much more within the spirit of the game.

Why do other clubs players seem to work harder than ours??

That was a clear and obvious penalty that the referee did not see.

From ridiculous overuse to total worthlessness in the space of a week. It is now a tool for reinforcing referee bias in terms of wrong decisions (although this one was against a Top-Sixer... err...)

it might be because we look the most unfit bunch of wasters in the League.

Sometimes I'd just love to see an Everton team with a bit of bollox, imagine us going away to a top six side and winning!?

Of course that's impossible.

I listened to the Spurs vs Newcastle game this afternoon, and both the commentator, and Jermaine Jenas were adamant that Spurs were denied penalties on two occasions. I think you know my view of VAR, but another cause of de-humanising the game would be, if it ever came about as reported, in the Sunday Mirror.

"FIFA is investigating whether robots replace assistant referees to make offside decisions, given that they are already helping the video assistant referees."

It is debatable whether the constant changes in the game, or the 'Grim Reaper,' will cause me to stop watching the game I used to love.

Wait until it happens to ‘Them' the screams will be unmerciful from the manager, players, their legion of pundits, not to mention their ‘lovable‘ fans, especially the armchair variety.

Looks like you made it home safe and sound after last Saturday, you didn't half knock your drink back John, looks like it was made for you, best wishes.

And at home as well.

See, it's not just us who struggle to make and take chances against teams from the lower reaches of the league that we seem to think we have an innate right to beat every time...!

After years of drinking Guinness, I think I've dropped on a drink that I can almost handle, and Diet Pepsi isn't too bad.

Spurs are a good team but lost at home today.

Do you think it's possible you're being a bit harsh on us? We're not great but I don't think we're as bad as you continually make out (if we lose or draw).

I think the problem is not so much with VAR but the stupid officials who decided that if a ball inadvertently brushes an arm of an attacker and as a result a goal is scored its automatically ruled as a foul. I would love to know which officials decide to keep altering the rules every year. So with that being the rule then VAR disallows the goal correctly.

Where I do take issue with VAR how come if you are at a cricket, rugby or tennis match the paying fans can see what your looking out. But with all the money in the Premier league they cant show on screen what incident they are looking at. Also why is all the decisions left to people at Stockley park to make the decisions why arent the people in charge of VAR not at the ground.

But I am afraid Dave its here to stay, but please show us on the screen what your looking at. I find it really annoying that I have paid to watch the game yet people watching Sky at home are seeing what VAR is looking at.

Problem is, that's not something that can be coached into players. Nobody coached Reidy, Andy Gray, Alan Ball, Tony Kay but by God did they lead from the front and just refused to accept second best.

Ah well... after six pints the worlds a better place. Coyb

I've just looked for some stats from last season. Up until the end of March, only three teams had covered more ground and only three teams had run more sprints.

Anecdotally, I remember us getting a fair few late goals.

Nowt wrong with the fitness.

You are correct in that the rule changes, specifically the handball rule in the area is absolutely ridiculous. I am sure at season's end that rule will be changed.

However, the penalty decision at the Spurs game was absolutely stonewall and really there can be no excuse. How the ref never gave it at the time was in itself unbelievable and I am sure if he had then VAR would not have over ruled him.

I think the fact that it was so blatant and not given caused the VAR official to also not give it in case it caused massive embarrassment to the ref. The fact that both of them got it so wrong has made it even more ridiculous.

I just don't like it and prefer we keep the game as easy and simple as we can. I think a great part of the game is the chat after about decisions the ref made or didn't make. I think VAR is just the start of sanitizing the game and taking the immediate euphoria out of it.

Look at last week when Man City scored in extra time. The supporters went crazy and minutes later got a downer. It will get to a stage where the support won't celebrate a goal in the instant it hits the net. We'll all sit there a couple of minutes until VAR gives it and canned cheering will come out over the tannoys.

When I look at the news this morning, I wonder if it's the logic-defying luck the Red Shite seem to have always enjoyed, that has seen them escape serious injury to key players... or are they doing something different?

I believe this stems from the days of Shankly, a tough old character who detested physical or mental weakness in his players. He sought out players and coaches who held those same principles as himself. Anyone not meeting those standards had no future at Anfield.

Biographies of ex RS players describe the tough regime Bill set in place and one that I believe still exists.

Along with the physical side of things the RS build into their players an agressive winning attitude.

Being retired I have time to watch either Live or recorded every PL game and in my opinion we are already in a relegation battle.

I know you're entitled to your opinion, Dick, but may I ask, why do you feel the need to post such a negative comment? Is it on the very slim chance you can say "I told you so" in May?

I think I'll take a little break from TW, otherwise by week six we'll probably be destined for League One. I've took a screenshot of this page, so I can repost in May.

My girlfriend takes screen shots of past arguments or promises. It's annoying.

Anyway, we are going to win the FA Cup and finish top 6 this season. Monday 26th August. 2019. DP

Think of every possible bad scenario and the consequences of it. Then, take the view that nothing ever turns out as you expect.. Therefore, the good scenario that you have never contemplated becomes reality.

However, there is a downside. The good scenario then becomes contemplated and, therefore cannot happen. This what supporting Everton does to you.

England has applied a different standard for review than we use over here for MLS, or for what is used in Germany. VAR will only overturn a clear and obvious error in the EPL after giving extreme deference to the referee's discretion because he or she is in the middle of the action.

As for those complaining about VAR sucking the life or fun out of the game, please watch a couple of Bundesliga games. Tell me those fans are having a bad time. If anything, the singing and shouting seem to go up during the very brief review. If the goal is awarded, a second cheer goes up and if it is not, a second cheer goes up. It is, after all, a game.

As for not being negative towards Everton, well, I have nothing good to say about the manager so I will not say anything about him. I will, however, point out that it is still too early to tell about the new additions to the squad, and the squad itself since someone continues to play Walcott and others in their stead.

Finally, it took Lookman only two weeks into the season to shake off the "tarnish" of Silva and get into a game, albeit as a sub.

Sometimes there is an over reaction to some games and, after not getting three points at Palace, most of us thought at least there was a point to be gotten at Villa. The weekend's results proved once again that the football is unpredictable with so may upsets and I think Man Utd fans along with Spurs fans will be more upset than us.

It is early days and the cream will rise to the top but it already seems that it will become a question of who finishes 3rd. Silva has time to get things right and he must know by now what he needs to do as far as team selection goes over the next few weeks. After that, if things are the same, then I don't think he will be around come the New Year.

We all want the same thing and we want it now but, with the Gbamin bad news, it would appear things may take longer than expected.

“Anyway, we are going to win the FA Cup and finish in the top six this season.”

You are wrong, we are going to win the FA Cup and finish in the top six this season, and I knew that before you even thought about it. Mind you I'm saying it after six pints and a couple of scotches, which I don't usually drink, but were put on the table by a good friend, who also thinks we'll do the honours this season. Sad to say he knows absolutely nothing about football but was trying to buck me up.