Sheffield United vs Everton

Is this what we pay Brands for to take others unwanted Crocks?

Another one to be shown the exit door I hope.

Odd seeing Darren Gibson mentioned these years later, but he was a genuinely skilled, attack-minded midfielder. Even in the few games he played for us, those qualities were clear and plain to see.

Mina, glass man, has this guy been anything but injury prone?

Shame really as he could have been a decent defender but, when you put yourself out for weeks doing a pointless stepover, that pretty much sums him up.

I'm not knocking Branthwaite, who had a very impressive debut, but the change after Holgate's departure certainly seemed to support the case for him being captain next season.

I can't see us missing Delph, and I thought Gomes had another poor game on Thursday - until Sigurdsson's arrival, which I greeted with a huge "No, not Siggy!" groan.

But he freed Gomes to move forward, and Gomes suddenly looked far more impressive, nearly winning the game with two assists. Some reason to hope there, if we can find that replacement for Gueye!

Another stupid and crap signing by Marcel Brands.

I think we are in agreement that Marcel Brands has pissed our money up the wall and bought us shite, certainly players unsuited to the Premier League and at the top end.

I think there is a difference though comparing Darron Gibson with Mina. Gibson cost Everton £500,000 whereas Mina cost us around £28M ie 56 times that amount!

We probably differ in our opinion of Darron Gibson, although he was a punt (given his injury record) I did think he was quality when he played which is what James Flynn said also, Gibson was head and shoulders better than our current crop of central Midfielders.

Sigurdsson cost us eighty times as much and was even older when we signed him! The expensive signing hides and the £500,000 player knitted play together well and could pass a ball, pick a pass and had vision.

I remember when we could use the excuse that, once our injured players return, they would be like new signings. It's nearly over and I can't wait.

This is good news for Branthwaite, who I thought played really well, and I hope it is the last we see of Delph.

The injuries to Holgate and Mina will give Branthwaite some more experience and it will be interesting to see how the young man copes.

I am sure we all wish him the best.

Meanwhile, it looks like we'll have to struggle through the final 2 games without his services.

And to think I laughed when we signed Bernie Wright. Yawn 🥱

I'll hold my hand up; you were right, I was wrong. I thought Delph might have a Barry type impact but I hadn't paid enough attention to his injury record or attitude.

And yeah, we would have been better to keep McCarthy. He also has had injury issues, but has a better attitude, and I dare say was on a lower wage.

As I mentioned, just struck me odd to see Gibson mentioned with Delph. He was a far better attacking mid, who could and did make those defense splitting passes we all want. In the end, a lower-wage punt who didn't work out. Now van der Meyde. . . . .

No one expected that from Delph. More he would be an occasional substitute and bring the clubhouse leadership he was said to share with Kompany at City. An expensive punt of sorts that hasn't worked out. Not yet, anyway.

We bought him at a time when we really needed to improve the midfield. We didn't, and boy we really need to do that now.

Paternal Grandad Wexford, Maternal grandmother Mayo. I've got both coasts covered.

If you're not good enough to get in their teams, then you're probably not good enough to be there, so why oh why do we become the club for these players whose careers seem to have become stagnant?

Mina seems so big and awkward he gets injured too often, Gbamin has been crocked since we signed him, Delph must be rubbing his hands together that he's on big wages and hardly plays. It's just a joke.

All of Gomes, Mina and the other reject, Digne, cost less (as Gomes was only a loan) than Sigurdsson. So, I don't agree we paid massive money for them.

The problem is the signings Walsh made that squandered our transfer funds and firmly put FFP handcuffs on us for the next 3 years. We still have one more year to go to get past this.

The club must bring some stats to bear.

Soon, these last 5 years of rank must bear.

In Carlo, we trust.

Who'd have thought?

Big summer ahead of comings and goings, hopefully more goings.

I was hoping Swansea might get promoted so Sigurdsson would go back there, we seriously need to get rid of the dead wood and any players coming in should be a on 2-3 year contract at maximum.

Going to be interesting to see who we can offload and who wants to buy any of our players... I expect we will see some players leave for small fees like Schneiderlin but at least they will be off the wage bill and lets see if Carlo can attract some better quality signings.

Delph is just a sicknote... and I shudder to think what we pay him... and for how long – but, like all the numerous others, they didn't sign themselves up and only took the wages they were offered.

"No, no, Mr Brands, I couldn't possibly take £100,000 a week. Please, I must insist, I won't accept a penny more than £80,000.'*

[* These numbers may be on the low side and are for illustrative purposes only.]

But wait, No, I take it all back. I'm obviously being too hard on the Club.

[* Fades in with Chief Wigham (played by 'the best little thespian we know') singing - Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows...]

Though if it's Eurovision, he'd be okay. He just needs to sing and not dance, don't want a muscle problem developing during a rehearsal, would we?

Maybe need a bit of bonding, white water rafting, and cuckoo clock training to get them ticking again. :-)

I, like many others, was thinking we had gotten a bargain for a change. How short-lived that was, and seems to have set a trend from there on in!

Onwards and downwards.

James McCarthy has missed games for Palace (whether injured or rested by Woy, I don't know). He hasn't been on the teamsheet every time.

Holgate will be missed but better to have him fit for next season.

Steve @29, You talk about Walsh squandering our transfer funds, I think he was a scapegoat. Schneiderlin, Sigurdsson, Klaassen, Bolasie, Williams and Rooney – they we're all Koeman's buys. Tosun and Walcott were Sam's.

Okay, Walsh was Director of Football, but the players I mentioned were the manager's choice, and Brands's signing are no better.

Sadly, the shocking tackle by Whitehurst, when he was just reaching his prime, and heading to Mexico with England in the World Cup, ruined his career at 24 years of age. We'll never know how great he could have been for Everton.

I know he played on until late in his 30s, it took him 2½ years and 5 operations later to recover but, as he said himself, he was never the same player.

He probably gave the best volleyed pass ever seen at Goodison, to Trevor Steven against Sunderland. What a player.

Pickford – England No 1 choice goalkeeper for 2 years now! Yet my eyes tell me he's not very good!

Keane – England's first choice centre-back less than a year ago. He tries really hard and defends his 18-yard box well but my eyes tell me he's not first class!

Sidibé – World Cup winning full-back! My eyes tell me he can't pass or control the ball!

Delph – multiple Premeir League titles, multiple England caps. My eyes tell me he cannot influence a game! He offers nothing and never plays!

Bernard – Brazilian international! You don't get caps for Brazil for nothing!! My eyes tell me my 5-year-old son would mark him out of the game!

Gomes – mainstay in Portugal Euros winning team with Ronaldo! Played for Barcelona. When I see him play recently, he looks to have the pace of my Nan! And she's been dead 15 years!

Iwobi – Arsenal are always a good team and he always played for them and he has 40+ caps for Africa's best team but, when I watch him, I do not see any form of positive contribution!

Mina, Sigurdsson, Walcott – all international football players yet seem totally devoid of class!

My only conclusion to this must be a mentality thing, a lack of correct culture! Are there high enough expectations? Is there a will to win at all costs? These players with their CVs, experience and price tags can't be as bad as they are showing, week in & week out, surely? I'm at a loss!

I just hope Carlo demonstrates by getting rid of some and bringing in a new mentality with 1 or 2 quality winners! The Gray and Reid effect?!

On his debut, we beat Liverpool at Wembley in August 1984 and I thought then, we played them off the park and were playing keep ball at the end, not winning by a fluky Andy King goal. We can really match the current League Champions. And Bracewell and Van Den Hauwe were the last pieces in the jigsaw

Like you say, it has to be a mentality thing, which I thought under Carlo would improve, but sadly it hasn't for some reason, not sure what Carlo must be thinking.

Maybe he is trying to demonstrate to the Board how profligate and misguided they have been, plus giving the players a chance to prove their worth, and basically saying we drastically need a few ins and outs to rectify this.

I remember under Koeman we had the Irish captain, Welsh captain, Icelandic captain, England captain, former Ajax captain and our own captain playing - and we didn't appear to have any leaders on the pitch!!!

Same result at the end of the day: no Indians and no Mulligatawny! :-)

I got the train to Stalybridge after that Sunderland game and it was packed with away fans. Sunderland we're facing relegation and a stuffing at Goodson only made things worse but all they could talk about was Everton's superb team performance and Bracewell's moment of sheer genius all the way to the Peak District – probably one reason I have a soft spot for them (as well as stuffing Leeds at Wembley).

Whitehurst couldn't hold a candle to him as a player, so opted for GBH instead. I read somewhere that he satisfied his bloodlust during the close season by going bare-knuckle boxing.

Something is fundamentally wrong with our club, but I don't know what it is.

Naughty. Funny... but naughty.

We are playing a forced 4-4-2 that suits nobody but the front 2. £450 gazillion spent and we have no midfield... 1 right-sided attacker, and 3 or 4 left-sided. What a mess.

I'm normally all optimistic but, given that any signing Brands brings in is either injured or a misfit, my hopes for next season are not much higher.

We have 4 or 5 good players... but can we recruit around them without playing them out of position? I mean Gomes sitting in front of the defence... come on!

I don’t think Carlo will need to pay “close attention” to who is putting forth the effort.

Bottom half finish with the money we have spent is disgusting. whether that is 11th or 14th bottom half is a joke. The second the final whistle goes for the season. Ancelotti and Brands need to get straight into transfers and getting rid of players as hard as they can. Our record away from home even teams outside "Sky's top six" is beyond embarrassing. No wonder the media pundits don't take us seriously.

Pickford - Sell.
I'd take any money over the price we paid for him. Erratic and immature. Won't be long before Southgate drops him.

Delph - Sell
Absolute waste of time. Another injury prone here for the final pay packet. Delph injured is like saying grass is green. Hopefully Leeds can take him back. Or someone just takes him.

Sigurdsson - Sell
Fifty million pound down the drain. Bar from a decent season last season. He is beyond a joke. He could not care less. Week in week out he is bottling out of tackles, given the ball away to easy and just non existence. Grade A crab.

Tosun - Sell
Heart is in the right place. Football abilities is not.

Bernard - Sell
Popular character at the club. Decent guy. However league is too aggressive and physical. Make a profit on him.

Davies - Sell
Heart in the right place. But my god he is not a premier league footballer. Lived on that goal against City in 2017. Since then honestly I cannot recall with what he has done.

Bolasie - Sell
Just sell.

Besic - Sell
Just sell

Sandro - Sell
I.E Besic and Bolasie.

Kenny - Sell
Literally the same as Sidibe (wouldn't sign on a free either) gets forward a lot but his defensive positioning is all over the place.

Only players I would definitely keep are

Mason Holgate
Richarlison
DCL
Digne
Gordon
Baines
Coleman

The rest I would not be bothered if some stayed and then I would really not care less if some left.

Sooner this joke of a season is over the better.

Richarlison & Calvert-Lewin were players on the up, and they look it too. Perhaps Digne bucked the trend but the rest have come down from bigger clubs or are beyond their peak, it shows.

The psychology of moving from a ‘big six' club to Everton seems to be the death knell for so many players, Schniederlin the exemplar. I'd rather, in the main, take a chance on a player who knew they were stepping up rather than pick up sloppy seconds.

Fair dos to Moyes, most of his signings worked this way, with some obvious exceptions. I hope this window gives some grounds for optimism.

As an aside, anyone have any sense of who might be next in line to break through? Dobbin, Simms, Cannon, Carroll? Someone else?

Unfortunately for us, I think Sheffield United will be well up for this game.

A nightmare of a season thankfully coming to an end – I just hope it doesn't finish embarrassingly against them and Bournemouth.

I may be wrong but I don't think they have been beaten at home, and can't even with blind optimism see that changing, but you never know, 'funny old game' and all that.

Looking forward to seeing how young Jarrad continues his inclusion in the team, he has certainly been a breath of fresh air, after a few stinkers.

As for McCarthy, he'd made 17 league appearances in 3 seasons. The club had to make a decision: keep him at risk of another injury hit season or sell him. Obviously we sell him and he makes 31 appearances for Palace while our midfield is either out of form or injured. He has though only completed 90 minutes 8 or 9 times and so far averaged 47 mins of playing time over those 31 appearances. Hardly the linchpin of their midfield.

For me, I see a great deal of fragility, high skill levels for sure as in Bernard, Gomes and Sigurdsson, but not the character required to fight and demand more from those around. Pickford may eventually become a top keeper, but he is clearly an idiot and profoundly unreliable; Walcott and Iwobi are decent players but needing quality around them to perform, and even then they have always been very inconsistent: obviously this is a recruitment issue and has been compounded by the high turnover of managers, each with their own [tunnel]vision and questionable philosophy (Allardyce?!?) which now sees a chaotic mismatched squad comprising of plenty of skill and ability but seemingly void of character.

The good news is that we now have a world class manager in place who may have funds to build. I feel this could be the first time the stars have aligned for decades and real progress can be made.

The one notable exception to recruitment has been Tosun, he has true world class potential if he could only play without the psychological need of balancing a shredded wheat on his head.

Who is going to purchase them?

Trying to muster up confidence to suggest we might beat SU but, feels more like it'll be a 6 - 0 defeat, such is the negativity around the club. Looks like the players need a good dose of Vitamin B12.

Sometime this week I’m going to have to take a deep breath and pay for mine. I’ve still got the chance to back out.

I’m in the same boat as you. As it stands I can’t see myself renewing unfortunately. Which is a wrench to be sure, but maybe not as big a one as I’d thought.

We must also ensure that no incoming players have mental health issues.

I'm expecting nothing from tonight's game so will be pleasantly surprised if we get something out of it.

I will have your season ticket don’t give it up!!

There was a distinct rumbling sound coming from the cemetery as various ancestors turned in their graves at my prevarication.

I’m in. It’ll just make my eyes water a bit some time this week.

I am looking forward to the game to watch our youngsters. Branthaite will come under much more pressure today and it will be a massive test for an 18 yr old. Sheffield will spare him no quarter and I hope he comes through.

I feel he has plenty of physical development to do before he can fight off very aggressive PL players attacking him. We need to be supportive of him regardless of his performances in these last two games and just be glad he has stepped in when required.

Another chance too to see Anthony Gordon, I want to see consistency and him making himself a permanent starter.

I am surprised by the omission of Moise Kean in starting these last 9 games. It must be because he is off back to Italy next month, either permanently as part of a transfer deal or on loan for essential game time.

Finally I want to see Tom Davies being a bit more confident and driving at defences with the ball. I think we are being far too conservative in possession, (because we have no fighter/ tackler to win possession back).

Regardless, this conservatism in itself is a worse weakness. I would rather us try to commit the opposition defences and try to pull the opponent out of shape and risk losing possession. The alternative is spending all game passing backward and sideways and still lose possession by doing that. That way end up losing the game without even trying to threaten the opponent's defence.

If we had a ball winner Tom could be given more licence to do that, at the moment he is shackled a bit maybe by instruction or maybe by necessity. Gomes and Tom do not compliment each other and recently that’s a big reason for our terrible play.

I think we could play better if we stuck one of our younger lads in there with Tom Davies for the last two games, ones who will at least be guaranteed to put a tackle in. Beni and Adenerin, ? You tell me who we’ve got who could be given a chance to fulfill that role.

Gomes should be taken out of the side and trained up to full fitness in September. Playing him at the moment isn’t doing him or the team any favours.

If they don't give a shite then neither do I.

2-0 Blades.

Some players are worth the risk, I can understand why we went for Gibson. Good player and an excellent passer that could add goals from midfield. Unfortunately his mind and body were not up for the fight.

Bringing back Ferguson from Newcastle, understandable but I'm not sure I would have bothered. I've a lot of time for Dunc but he had a long term poor injury record that we already knew about.

I think Delph was a similar risk. He's a good player that offered a bit of pace and mobility, something we lack in our midfield. It was always a no from me but I can understand why.

I don't know much about Mina and Gbamin's prior injury records but the future is not bright without big changes and better luck.

Mina repeatedly has muscle injuries and unless he looks after himself better, diet, yoga, personalised specific warm ups and stretches he will continue to be an injury prone player.

Gbamin will need a long time to fully recover. When you break down again whilst recovering from a muscle injury it tells me things need to go slower and rehabilitation methods needs to change.

McCarthy is a great example of how not to recover. He was constantly rushed and an example of how not to do it. He had to go.

I'd be looking to move them all on, all unreliable due to injuries and sadly young Beni appears to be another that has had repeated injury issues.

We need to stop taking these risks but also look after players minds as well as bodies better.

I feel bad now when I look back at how I used to say that Barkley and Lukaku weren't good enough for Everton and didn't do it against the big teams. Careful what you wish for, eh? Look at how much stick Leon Osman used to get onTW. He was head and shoulders above anything in our current midfield. He used to get goals and assists - something none of our current crop do.

Richarlison is good enough. The rest aren't.

Criticise Carlo and the self proclaimed positives will round upon you in numbers - "Dont you realise how lucky were are to have him...He used to win things, you know ?".. "I'm with Carlo all the way. I prefer to see my glass as being half full"

Yet before we travel across the pennines to take on a bunch of journeymen who cant believe how far hard work and effort has taken them. Many of those very same people are bracing themselves for a hammering ?. . . If this is what the feel good factor having a "world class manager" gives you, I think I'll give it a miss... Half the people on here sound like they need should be calling Samaritan's rather than posting on a website. It was exactly the same before the Wolves game.

The manager may change, but somethings never do... We still have the most negative, self proclaimed positives in football

It may be worth noting for future reference if you type into your PC, Laptop or whatever device you are using, LJ's Satellite Football, then click on the English flag, it will then display all the matches being televised at what time (GMT) and who is covering it. Hope that helps mate!

Pickford
Coleman Keane Banthwaite Digne
Richarlison Davies Gomes Gordon
DCL Kean

Really hope to see something positive from DCL today. As horrendous as our midfield has been since the restart he has been almost as bad. No goals, no assists and very little ability that I've seen to link play or hold the ball up despite having two up front for most matches. I expect much better and he's definitely capable of it.

Calvert-Lewin has sweated blood to get where he is. I was worried to see him popping up all over social media during lock down. I hope a decent first half to the season hasnt convinced him he has already made it.

He has looked sluggish, almost disinterested since the restart.

Only by continued hard graft can he continue to improve.

I'll be watching him tonight too

Walking.

Not kicking the ball, not twisting nor turning or (god forbid) tackling, just walking.

Unlucky I suppose. That could happen to anyone I hear you say but bear with me here. I do not use Instagram or anything similar as it is just not for me, however the lad who cuts my hair is also a blue and is very social media savvy, like most of the, ahem, cool kids are.

Anyway, said barber told me that Mina had basically spent the whole of lockdown (apologies for using that term) dancing around his house/garden and posting his moves 🕺 onto the internet.

Now as far as I’m aware during these videos our Yerry didn’t complain of so much as a twinge.

When men were men.

Those performances are even more remarkable, when there are no superstars or household names outside the Sheffield area. They work as a team, and all graft for each other, can be dangerous at one end, and difficult to score against at the other.

Now I've bulled them up, I'm hoping that the reverse psychology comes into effect, oh wait a minute, it's our disappointing side (thus far) that they are playing!

Steklenberg
Sidibe Keane Branthwaite Baines
Walcott Baningime Siggy Gordon
Iwobi
Kean

Give Coleman, Richy, Digne Gomes and DCL a time out.
Give Pickford a kick up the ass.

Not really fussed otherwise. However I arrange the metaphorical subbuteo pieces, it all looks a bit shit.

He is our last hope for a return to the top table and has inherited what most believe is our worst squad in recent history.

Can we please park the negativity bus until he brings some of his own players in and has the chance to get them organized.

Thank you.

My team:

Pickford
Coleman Keane Branthwaite Digne
Davies Gomes Baningime Gordon
Walcott Kean

SUBS: Virginia, Sidibe, Baines, Siggy, Iwobi, DCL, Richarlison, Simms

My team:

Pickford
Coleman Keane Branthwaite Digne
Davies Gomes Baningime Gordon
Walcott Kean

SUBS: Virginia, Sidibe, Baines, Siggy, Iwobi, DCL, Richarlison, Simms

You need to address that to somebody who is grateful for what we have. Somebody who thinks its ok to tell us its our "last chance". Who always wants to shout down dissenting voices.

BTW I dont see this Sheff united side as anything more than a hard working professional outfit. who are reaping the rewards of endeavor.

I expect us to win tonight

If only to still have Lukaku eh, watching Kane yesterday just brings it home, even Ings.

Pay no heed. There are always people who rejoice in misery.

I don't see anyone being happy clappers, who have failed to acknowledge that Everton has been poor in the last 4 games. I don't see anyone excusing the lack of application or fight from the players.

What I have seen is the 'law of immediacy', people regarding those 4 most recent performances as typical of all games under Carlo since he arrived. They are not.

Seemingly, some people relish the defeats and resent the victories. Very perverse. They are also incapable of acknowledging perfectly legitimate mitigating circumstances as to why there has been a fall off in quality.

They invent an 'enemy within' to ridicule as a means to promote their own inflexible position that Carlo is the wrong appointment for Everton.

Thankfully, the wider Everton family and probably the considerable majority have greater tolerance and patience than the sneering few. They are willing to grant the Italian a wee bit more time than 0-5-10-15-20 games in this runt of a season before condemning the man as not good enough.

Hope you and the family are still doing ok despite Bonzo's best efforts.

The blades still have something to play for and kudos to Wilder for what he has done with them. It will be another tough game to get anything out of as they are very strong but you never know.

Even the best Everton to show up in any game do not impress me much so I don't expect much today.

The result is of little consequence to the Blues but it would be nice to end the season with two decent performances.

I still think Mina can come good, but he might be someone who won't be able to play every game. In the modern game where we have to rotate, if the player can accept that, it might not be a bad thing for the squad. And that can give other players on the squad abit more game time.

Delph is probably over-rated, but we paid, like 8 million pounds for him?

I would like to see Jonas Lossl given the last two games, and Moise Kean to start them too. Richarlison to come off the bench should Kean or DCL needs replacing.

Says the guy who put up daft arsed snaps shots of current form tables in order to support his latest argument.

Ancelotti took over when we were 13th. Our football has been absolutely dire and negative ever since. If that truth is just too painful for the delicate ears of those who want to apologise for it. Tough. Lets see how many places we rise to justify this cowardice.

I have lumped on at 14/5 tonight. We have the better players than they do. Nearly all of our players have spent nearly all of their careers in a much higher position than nearly all of their players.

Now I expect the manager to have the courage to go and try to win

Good point about the kid, looking assured on the ball Terrence, he reminded me of Lescott with the ball at his feet, except I was thinking he was taking a bit to long in possession!

That’s when I realised he’s got a chance, because with no movement in front, and nobody showing for the ball, he kept his composure, and kept trying to push it into midfielders feet.

Let’s just hope we get players who want to go and get the ball, isn’t that the whole point when playing football?

Maybe not even intentionally but I think on some level they are just not properly motivated for these remaining games.Probably waiting for the new improved 20/21 Everton next season . I've seen enough not to be too worried about DCL but I do hope he is not taking his eye off the ball now he has got his new contract. As next season is exactly the time he has to kick on and produce the goods consistently.

Very surprised Moise Kean hasn't been given more starts in light of it. He must be off back to Italy next month; sold, part of a deal or loaned.

From the man who consistently fails to put up any coherent opinion on...anything, really.

It's a fine line between the kind of arrogance needed to play, and complacency, which I think is where many of us are wondering, which side is Pickford falling on.

And also, it's a judgement call to know when someone should be pulled aside to be given a wake-up call, and whether dropping the player will cause him to lose confidence totally.

I think Pickford can do with a kick up the rear end.

It's a fine line between the kind of arrogance needed to play, and complacency, which I think is where many of us are wondering, which side is Pickford falling on.

And also, it's a judgement call to know when someone should be pulled aside to be given a wake-up call, and whether dropping the player will cause him to lose confidence totally.

I think Pickford can do with a kick up the rear end.

Still hope he starts the next two games.

It’s like the pundits who look at our squad and say that we’ve got some good players. Where? Are they the same good players that couldn’t beat the RS’s kids or have the 4th worst away record in the division?

Hope we win tonight but it’d be too little, too late. Sheffield United have had a great season, no matter what. We’ve been abysmal.

An RS I know has watched a few of our games and is pissing himself laughing. "Fat Sam on the pasta" was his summation of our Italian genius manager.

Our Italian managers lack of adventure has me very concerned. He's clearly decided there's virtually nobody in the squad worth a sweet shit so asking them to play the most awful version of football I've seen since...well since Allardyce and Koeman.

We need almost an entirely new squad, and Brands has bought absolute dross. Nor has he moved on much of the dross he inherited. Thirty million quid for Iwobi makes me throw up in my mouth a little. Delph is a fucking joke, but one only non Evertonians can afford to laugh at.
Silva, an absolute gobshite, was the one who signed Richarlison. Without Richi I'd dread to think we're we'd end up. Brands is just another foreign chancer leeching Moshiri money in my opinion.

We are literally at the crossroads now. There's no way Ancellotti is managing this squad for much longer and nobody is really sure where the help is coming from. My hunch is it might be Dunc in charge by Boxing Day. We'll end up with the greatest new stadium in the whole championship.

I'm channeling my inner Moshiri, good money after bad!

I am thinking that Carlo may well want more experience up front, a tried and tested forward. All the talk is midfielders and rightly so, but I bit more competition up front is absolutely necessary to keep Calvert-Lewin and to a lesser extent Richarlison on their toes. At the moment, effectively they have no competition. We need more proven strength in depth.

Judging by Kean's omissions he is off back to Italy [in some form] and Carlo will be replacing him with a more proven striker. I would be in no way surprised if Carlo brings in someone. Would have loved Carlo to have got Milik, with Moise going the other way as a makeweight but there are a few much better positioned clubs after him so the chances are very slim.

But with Allan, Hojbjerg and Milik coming in and Sigurdsson, Delph, Bolasie, Besic, Kean, Bernard being moved on, the team starts to look very different.

Brands will be filling in an overtime sheet.

(of course, I'll be nowhere to be seen if we get spanked).

I’ve got 50p and waiting for our Tony to come, I’ll borrow another 50p off him and throw the lot on a 4-6 scoreline, reckless I know, but easy come easy go!!!

He who dares

This time next week, it'll all be over! :-)

Pickford, Sidibe, Keane, Branthwaite, Digne, Walcott, Davies, Gomes, Sigurdsson (c), Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin.

Subs: Stekelenburg, Virginia, Baines, Iwobi, Bernard, Coleman, Baningime, Gordon, Simms.

Kean must surely be injured. Why else would there be two keepers on the bench.

Hope Branthwaite has a good evening.

Maybe they'll give Stekelenburg the Tim Howard treatment and a cameo off the bench to get a rousing reception from the empty seats as reward for his years of bench warming service