Premier League – Week 30

They keep saying football is a business well I cant think of any other successful business who are prevented from pouring money into your company because your competitors don't like it. Now if FFP is to stop owners of football clubs spending money they havent got then transferring that debt back onto the club. Then make it a law that when an owner takes over a club he has to deposit a bond with the Premier league that states that if he leaves the club it will be in no worse financial position than when they took over.

You are right on investment. A double-edged sword as many of us do get frustrated with how money dominates the modern game like never before. But in some ways hasn't it always had a degree of that (Mersey Millionaires etc)? It's a reality of the sport and no other business vector I know of would prevent a company investing in itself if it had the opportunity to do so. Within reason I guess as there are regulations in place to make things fair but FFP doesn't feel fair. That's the limit of my business knowledge, so I won't dig myself into a hole!!

On the transfer front, my son told me yesterday and I read this morning that our young 16 year old left back Thierry Small could reject a professional contract to seek first team football elsewhere. Now, that may be disappointing, but I like the attitude if true. If he feels he realistically isn't going to dislodge Digne for the foreseeable, then go and earn your stripes elsewhere. Nice to see a player driven by footballing motives.

A good lawyer will tear UEFA to threads with regards FFP if these clubs are still allowed to spend Brian, but maybe I’m just getting ahead of myself and dreaming Usmanov, might be ready to move forward with his plan?

I suppose it's about how clever we are in how we declare any income, should we benefit from investment from someone like Usmanov. I'm not entirely read up on how serious that is.

Caveat upon caveat; my financial wizardry extends only to being not too bad at looking after my Natwest savings account.

Guess I'll watch Cheltenham v Tranmere this afternoon. Never a big fan of Tranmere despite their Merseyside roots for some reason but I did work in Cheltenham and have a few friends there.

It got a lot more interesting! Chelsea seemed to forget there was added time and were already in the changing room.

West Brom have played very well in fairness.

For now, I'll settle for beating Crystal Palace on Monday.

Yet again, we look at the league and the possibilities with our games in hand. So far this season it's been a case of missed opportunities by ourselves!

Please no more excuses about injuries and tiredness. Every game a cup final!

Such an opportunity as this may not present itself again for a long time, regardless of summer recruitment. Ancelotti must seize it.

If we got depressed at the gap between us and City, then so must Leicester be.

We have to take care of our own matters on Monday, but results are going well so far. Arsenal win or a draw next up?

Of course, it is by no means certain that he will stay in the Premier League.

I am now really enthused and looking forward to the new line of testosterone and asthma products pushed by FSG and plugged by Klopp.

Gonna be a very tough match and anything can happen, as proven today at Chelsea.

A bonus if there’s a draw or the RS, get beat at Arsenal, as always good when they lose, but I can’t see that game being a draw, based on current form, of both of these teams.

It just feels like we're 2 steps back all of the time... This season's top 4 is there for the taking, but we just seem to be stuttering along, missing each opportunity to get up there and get amongst the elite. It sometimes feels like Ancellotti is happy to finish top 6 rather than bust his balls for top 4.

Arteta got a lot of credit last year despite poor league form as they won the cup. People overlooked the fact he inherited a cup team. The much maligned Emery got them to the Europa League Final in his one season. Prior to that, they were FA Cup Winners and League Cup Finalists in Wenger's last 2 years, plus a few charity shields.

So all Arteta did was watch the team he inherited have another good cup run while they got progressively worse in the Premier League.

Hindsight is great but I think he would have struggled here more! At least Carlo has kudos with the players!

We could do worse than make a move for Pereira from West Brom in the summer. He has something we're badly missing.

I'm ever the optimist but despite that and the impression I may give I am also actually a realist. Top 6 or 7 and Europa League and some entertaining trips abroad and I will consider this season a success.

I'd have preferred a draw tonight but does that start to cement us in at least top 8. Providing we take care of our own results, which is most important.

On today's game, I thought Furlong was typically average even when WBA turned it on, but I wasn't giving the game my full attention. What in particular did I miss?

As you said before, the left-back seemed a much more accomplished player. WBA weren't at the races until Thiago got his red but did put together a lot of fluent stuff after that with some excellent finishing thrown in. I wouldn't trust most of them to do that consistently for 90 minutes, week in week out though, and Chelsea really seemed to wilt.

A massive week for Everton, the opportunity is there starting with Palace, to turn them over.

Out of interest, does anyone know how James McCarthy's been doing, as I've not noted him playing too many games for them?

All have a Happy Easter.

UTFT!

Home form, accepted has been poor and inconsistent to date, I believe this game will see Everton,come back to life for a final burst, this season.

It's the next Cup Final game of this season followed by a Cup Final every match.

The chance is there, let's believe, and Everton can win.

Ruthless and to the final whistle, give their all and play for the shirt.

Big stakes...

Whoever loses this should be okay but not out of the relegation water. I think they both have and should pick up enough points, but if Fulham get a win later they'd be looking nervously over their shoulders.

Southampton deserved that, it was coming. Although I felt for Pope, that was some save just before.

And as I type, Walcott messes up a 3 v 2 break with a poor attempted pass!!

I never knew if this was true, but coaches always used to scream concentration from the sides just after scoring as apparently statistically you are most likely to concede within 5 or 10 minutes of scoring. Might have just been a motivational thing.

A short-lived inviting looking league table for about a minute then!

And now it's 2 - 1!

1. Our crappy goal difference compared to the other teams in the hunt

2. We play Man City last game so effectively we've already lost those 3 points and will need to be out of sight by the time we play our second last game

3. We support Everton

Until a few weeks back, I had this down as the most given relegation non-fight I can remember. If Fulham get a result, Newcastle will be fretting with Brighton & Burnley nervous. And dare I say, Wolves not out of the equation? Although we want Wolves to get a result tomorrow.

We won't make the top 4, not a hope.

Just for once it wouldn't it be great to have a goal difference that screams this team scores goals. Who can forget the 4th place finish and -1 goal difference.

Until we start really truly competing with the top teams, we'll continue to hang onto their coat-tails as we are this season.

Everyone is inconsistent, including us so I don't see any reason to believe we're going to win enough of the last 10 games to suddenly become a real top 4 contender.

The only thing keeping us interested is blind faith.

I have no idea why, but I had a thought a couple of days ago. I wouldn't be surprised to see Celtic or Rangers take him.

That's the home game, the away match was the one postponed as as of now (on BBC anyway) we only have nine fixtures listed of the 10 remaining

I wonder if the FA just forgot about it, then will get tot he end of the season and be like...oh yeah, you guys need to play.

Then get something out of Tottenham and Arsenal.

They all count, but if we were to target games, those would be mine.

Yes, win tomorrow. Let's keep it simple!!

I've always been cynical where and when the FA are involved.

How in the hell is that pen not called? Maguire's pullback was SO obvious.

I will never pay to watch a Premier League game – it's a total joke. Anybody who thinks otherwise needs to see a shrink.

You'd trade Ancelotti for Arteta?

Don't think he has enough goodwill stocked up that he can afford too many repeats of Saturday though. The ropiest centre-back pairing anywhere in the league got an armchair ride.

Liverpool chairman Tom Werner blames Everton goalkeeper Pickford for poor season

Come on, Everton, overtake the moaning bastards and stay above them...

You know, Gerry, nothing that despicable bunch of a classless Club does, or comes out with surprises me anymore. They are vile individuals in the main but, in all fairness, not all of their fans are (maybe deluded but not all bad).

I have a few RS mates and sometimes even they are embarrassed, with what emanates from Satan's Den!

Just goes to show they're complete arseholes from the very top down!

Keiran Dowell got the 5th from a wonderful team goal.

Norwich very sensible in retaining Daniel Farke and retaining most of their relegated team from last season. Romping away with the Championship for a quick return to the PL.

Game link here for anyone interested. About to show the first half goals again at the interval.

Norwich v Huddersfield

Not surprising given the scoreline and the home team's dominance not seeing a lot of Aarons.

Kieran Dowell fits very well in this set up also.

You should know better

Re. Farke, Norwich are wise and following the example of Dyche with Burnley and Curbishley at Charlton who got promoted with similarly sized teams, relegated then promoted again. If Fulham go down, I think they'd be wise to give Parker the same kind of opportunity to bounce back. Too many teams these days get promoted then sack their coach the minute it looks like they may even be in the relegation battle.

City wins at the death and Haaland is walking around sharing his phone links with all the City players. Damn, I really hope they don't snag him. He'd score 40 a season with that midfield setting him up.

Yes, BW, they sure are! Can't help but enjoy them.

I was also thinking that when Kenny, never went to Burnley, that maybe he might go to Norwich in the summer? Especially because it looks like they are going to sell Arrons.

In front of an empty kop it might be.

Tony

What are your thoughts on Haaland? Whenever I’ve seen him he plays like a lankier version of Mick Quinn: a goal hanger who gets tap ins

De Bruyne is probably the best player in the World on current form.

Amazing City started without Aguerro, Sterling and Jesus up front but they make chances so easily which just shows how mediocre Everton's offence really is.

Haaland is the real deal. The world's next #1 striker.

Lol I haven’t seen him much. Just lots of tap in highlights. But now that you mention Beagrie there is a similarity but not sure if Lionel can somersault

As a neutral, I only find the champions league interesting in the last 15 minutes of the semi- final second leg, the Europa league might pique my interest at the last 10 minutes of the final, but this new “ conference “ malarkey has lost my interest before it’s even started!

Even more so if we’re in it.

Regardless of the valid suspicion of the benefit of being in the lesser European competition and having to go through a qualifying round in the Faroe Islands or Kazakstan, I think having European football may just tip a transfer of two in the summer in our favour. Also, following Rob Halligan's mini-series, a European tour for this fantastic fan base would be, well, fantastic.

I get what you and others are saying and from a footballing logic I kind of understand it, but I'm up for 7th and the manager's target is European football.

We entered the 3rd tier of European competition in 1984. We kick started against University College Dublin, had what was for many the greatest night in Goodison history and won our only European trophy. I'll take it giving that another go!!

Have to admit my ignorance on the new format Jeff. Will have a read up on that.