Premier League — Week 33, and League Cup Final

I can relax and watch the football today.

Have to admit I'm waiting with interest to see what sort of flair induced spectacle the red cousins put on. Given their love of a good protest, I would imagine the masters of choreography have been watching and tutting at the tardy efforts of their shameless 6 counterparts all week waiting for this moment.

Just nearly vomited in my car. With the rs being the early game Talkshite are doing a bit of a post ESL collapse special which is managing to to make them lot out as paragons of virtue.
Expertly put a positive spin on what they did.
They interviewed supporters and just to show how deluded they are an actual Scouse kopite (honestly they found one) stated. "Yeh cuz we've got more history than any other club in the league like."
That was the point of being close to doing a pointillistic creation on the car floor.
So they're actually rewriting history now, in their own minds.

Twice Liverpool have won corners from obvious offsides, if they score from that corner would VAR go back to the original offside? Would it fuck, the corner should be scrubbed off before it's taken !

Get in!

Boo

YESSSSS!!!!!!! 1-1

That should have stood. His arm was right down by his side. Where else could his arm have been?

Fucking joke that

Yeeeeeeessssssss!!!!

Get fucking in

Get in!

Liverpool. They just can't gift them a win !

Ohh yessssss

Hahahahahahaha Hahahahahahaha. Finished 1-1!!

I know we benefited last night and it's been said but VAR is a complete joke

Should be 2-1 to Newcastle. they've been robbed !

The disallowed goal was as the law says. But a bastard of a law. Fecking mad.

The gob on Klopp is priceless.

H'Way the lads.

Mcmanamanamanaman praying for offside for the goal that stood. 😁😁😁

Well in Toon, and well earned.

Least said about VAR, the better but coupled with crap referees and a player can no longer make a proper hard tackle, the games heading for the ropes, if the football authorities don't get a grip and smell reality.

So they're saying that Wilson goal would stand next season, why not change it now? Or even better 10 minutes ago?

Win ugly, or draw pretty? I know what I'd rather !!

Jeff, had the first goal stood, Newcastle wouldn't have been in the position they were to score the goal they did. The whole pattern of play would have been different. The game would still have finished 1-1.

Just seen the scores.
Made my weekend.
90+5
Suck on that rs!!!

Plenty of tears from Elaine from Peterborough, Mike!!

I missed the equaliser!! I was so pissed off with the officials I went to the bog only to learn that Newcastle had scored a last second winner. Justice served.

FSG will be on the blower to UEFA as we speak

“ Any chance of the Legacy Coefficient qualification route being brought forward”

Yes I get that Rob, what I'm saying is that the Wilson goal will be allowed next season, but why wait until then to change a ridiculous rule, it should be changed at the first opportunity, after all they changed it about 5 games in this season, the pen we got at Palace wouldn't have been given 2 games later.

As well as punishing the scummy 6 the prem need to do away with this VAR garbage. It's bad enough with bent refs favouring certain clubs but add var to the mix and they're killing the game.

Sorry Jeff, I thought you were implying that Newcastle would have still won the game if the first goal stood. I agree that the disallowed goal should have stood, as I'm really baffled as to where else Wilson's arm could have been?

Colin, VAR helped us last night, but I get what your saying, I don't think they'll scrap it though, it could do with tweaking here and there.

and it's all our fault with that nasty Pickford brute ruining their season. (Titter).

No probs Rob, it's the rule as it stands, if a forward accidentally handles, it's an infringement, if a defender accidentally handles, no pen!. Ridiculous set of rules.

Nah Mike, definitely Mirallas's fault!! 😁😁

Well done Barcodes ! RS get stung in the tail yet again. Just luv it.

In our own hands now to finish above the RS with 6 games left. An opportunity is opening up yet again for us. Could get interesting for fourth place.

Well that's £20 won in a bet off a RS I know. At the start of the season he bet ten blues in the local that the RS would finish at least 19 points clear of us. The most that can be now is 17 points, so he's £200 down!!

it's funny how the right combination of words said in their proper context can bring comfort in times of stress, and the words 'Willock (90+5)' have undoubtedly added to the quality of my weekend.

Should we be worried by the prospect of Klopp leaving in the summer. Will they then need to fight it out with Spurs over Nagelsmann?

Kevin, much better than Wilson (90 + 3).

My gut feeling now is that if Chelsea win at West Ham, the RS won't finish in the top four. Personally, I'd much prefer to see West Ham and Leicester in the CL with the two Manc corporations, but I'd settle for Leicester and Chelsea as long as it ain't the RS. If Chelsea go four clear of the RS I think they've got enough quality to go the distance. And, yes, I know we're still in with a chance ourselves, but I really can't see it, despite our incredible ability this season to play like geriatric donkeys but still win.

Jurgen's been outlining where things went wrong on the beeb. Alot of it is down to personnel. they've had to chop and change in key positions all season. Particularly at centre back, apparently.

... yes, apparently, the rs have had particular problems at centre back.
Not that they or the media would ever mention it.
(Well not less than on a daily basis.)

90+5

I get that we need to know the results of the games involving our neighbours, particularly as we're in a fight for European football with them, but I'm not sure why we would concern ourselves about whether the German will stay or go or about who will replace him if he does. Leave them to worry about themselves and we'll worry about us.

Interesting little sidebar on ESPNFC re VAR. They say 117 goals have been affected by VAR in the Prem this season, and we've been one of the biggest beneficiaries of the reviews (most recently yesterday):

VAR OVERTURNS (NET SCORE)

Burnley +5
Everton +4
Chelsea +3
Fulham +3
Aston Villa +2
Brighton & Hove Albion +2
Manchester City +2
Crystal Palace +1
Leeds +1
Leicester City +1
Sheffield United +1
Southampton 0
West Ham 0
Newcastle -1
Tottenham Hotspur -1
Manchester United -2
Wolves -3
Liverpool -5
West Brom -6
Arsenal -7

Even those who hate VAR must be pleased that the RS, whom we all know have gotten referee lagniappe over the years, are getting scales-balancing justice from the replays.

And here's the rundown on the rulings:

Total overturns: 112
Rejected overturns: 5

Leading to goals: 30
Leading to disallowed goals: 37
Penalties awarded: 25 (5 missed)
Pens for handball: 12
Penalties overturned: 21
Penalties retakes (GK encroach): 3
Goals ruled out for offside: 28
Goals awarded after incorrect offside: 7
Goals ruled out for handball: 5 (1 in build-up)
Goals allowed after wrong handball: 0
Goals ruled out for a foul: 3
Red cards: 16
Overturned red cards: 2
Mistaken identity: 1
DOGSO cancelled: 1

very interesting Mike. Concrete proof of how in the past referees have been influenced by the Big Six, where four of their number are now in the bottom six, once the cold eye of justice has reviewed proceedings. You can also see that it is the unfashionable clubs that are now most benefitting from the reversal

Gteat stats there Mike. I thought VAR was ruining the game until about 30 seconds ago. Now I think it's an absolutely brilliant idea.

Mike G,
Except for today where a perfectly good goals was disallowed for a crazy rule that is opposite to the rule on "handball" penalties.

But if VAR ruled against the goal (being a clear and obvious mistake by the referee?) why wasnt a penalty given for the push in the back on Wilson just before he scored?

Mike G,
Except for today where a perfectly good goals was disallowed for a crazy rule that is opposite to the rule on "handball" penalties.

But if VAR ruled against the goal (being a clear and obvious mistake by the referee?) why wasnt a penalty given for the push in the back on Wilson just before he scored?

I really don't get the VAR animosity. For years we were berating the officials for making the wrong decisions after playback and favouring the usual suspects, so we get a solution and everyone hates it. Footy fans love to vent and it seems VAR is everyone's whipping boy.

It's been a revelation and hopefully stays around with some evolution.

Watched the highlights of the Rapid Vienna game in Rotterdam recently where we had a perfectly good goal chalked off and they were awarded one that wasn't, both for offside decisions.

With VAR that night could have been a massacre.

Agree with that Paul Smith, it has definitely levelled the playing field, and it does need some tweaking, the marginal line drawing needs to go unless another camera angle shows a definite gap between player and ball when a pass is released, I think the feet should be the obvious line, not the nose, armpit or finger when pointing.
Obviously a few tweaks here and there and VAR could be a decent tool, because whether we like it or not it's here to stay.

VAR is a good thing in itself but ruined by then being subjective in certain aspects such as a clear and obvious error for a penalty to be overturned. Also how far back do you go - if a goal is scored from a corner that was wrongly awarded is that ruled out?
The handball change for next season seems a nonsense as it appears that the Calum Wilson goal would still be ruled out

Andy 54, what s the rule change then? Jenas on BT was saying the Wilson goal would stand next season, your saying it wouldn't, could you clarify please.

Do we want a draw here? Normally my instinct would be a Chelsea win, but a draw keeps them both in touch.

VAR is not the problem. It is the solution to many wrongs over the years.

The problem remains the rules (offside) and the officials (poor).

Well we've had poor (dodgy?) officials on the field for years, VAR is just another tool for them. However, it won't make them any better, although it gives them a chance to rectify errors. Crap officials, though, will make crap decisions - even with VAR.

Mike @46,

So, basically, we, without VAR, would have been shafted four times, and the RS would have benefited from five dodgy decisions. Which shows how some clubs have been favoured over the years. And some royally goosed by incompetent or bent officials.

At least with VAR, it's out in the open.

I really don't see that as a red card

Exactly Dennis. But when it's on a replay, there's no escaping the truth.

So we need to get the rules fit for purpose. The offside once is totally bizarre.

And then get officials who can use the technology designed to help them because they actually understand the game.

VAR being wrongly used once again, slomo replays should not be allowed, What was Balbuena supposed to do? Chillwell at fault for going in on Balbuena and leaving his leg there for the challenge.

Michael I agree. Looked at normal speed that's not a red for me.

Agreed Michael. VAR not the problem there. It's the VAR official and in-game referee simply not understanding accidental v intent and the law of physics.

Where else could the player's foot go in the natural follow through from his perfectly legitimate clearance?

Chilwell endangered himself there. Not the other way around.

I think slomo should only be used to check for actual contact or where the contact happened in hand ball incidents. In tackles like that one, it inevitably makes it looks worse

Feels like this result is the better of the 2 evils as it stands for us.

This ref is another joke, keep churning them out.

Chelsea have to play Fulham, Man City, Arsenal, Leicester and Villa. It is now in our control whether we go past West Ham.

I disagree. VAR is the reason a red card is given because without it there is no slowing down/freeze framing. Implementing VAR makes it look like a foul. No VAR no red card - it's a total pile of shite and has ruined the beautiful game.

How many chances are we going to fail to take? So far the results have been favourable to us, once again. Let's not blow our now, semi-mythical game in hand.

Chelsea are on course for 67 points, Liverpool in 6th are on course for 62. Given our goal difference, if the trajectory remains the same we'd need 63 for top six or 68 for top four. The latter seems a stretch as we'd need to win five and draw one of our last six games. Sixth place seems doable, 10 points from six games. W3D1L2.

Months ago, Kieran, I predicted anything from 59 to 61 points for us. I think I'll stick on that.

Colin

I think you'll be about right. I'll hope for a little more though

Guys, not in the PL (I know) but I just noticed that Derby are in big trouble. I was very much hoping Wayne would make a better start in management.

Joe

I think he erred in going there. Financial problems, struggling manager with him awkwardly dropped in as the boss in waiting. It was a dysfunctional place to walk into

Thanks Kieran, yes it does seem since Lampard left they have been dropping, but Lampard had a few in on loan.

As opposed to the awful referee decisions of the past the gave incorrect decisions?

VAR just calls them out even more. The officials are the problem, just as they always have been.

Colin one of the best comments came from Don Hutchinson who said how many people believe we will be talking about Everton's game in hand at the start of the season.

I'm going to raise your 61 Colin. I think around 64.

First Burnley goal was a shambles from Wolves. The defender who had just got himself out of jail gets caught static, watches the ball whilst the forward peels off into the space behind and then jumps from a square, static position.

It was like watching Michael Keane.

Look a poor side Wolves.

I recall one resident expert, at the start of this season, assuring us that Wolves would finish above Everton.

How refreshing it is to see Burnley carry on attacking and go for a 2nd and 3rd goal after they took the lead. Compare and contrast with our panic stricken Mavis Riley who takes off attacking midfielders and forwards to replace them with Defenders and DMs.

No wonder our goal difference is just 4. There will be no excuses or hiding places for Jurassicarlo next season after another transfer window.

Burnley have been good today. But were 17th before and will be 15th after. They will likely finish around those 2 positions.

They are playing a Wolves side that remind me of the Everton team that played Wolves at Molineux around this time last season.

Not going down. Not qualifying for anything. Not interested.

Ian@82, Is obviously getting his enjoyment elsewhere! Seriously though Ian, I always think it's a really poor shout to call someone a dinosaur mate, simply because football has never been an exact science imo.

Perez, says he's been involved in football 20 years, and I wonder how long the owners of Arsenal, United and Liverpool, have really understood football, and yet they want to treat the “legacy fans” as dinosaurs, because they've probably forgotten more about the beautiful game, than these money people have ever known.

I personally don't like Everton's present style, but only because I think we need better players to really make the system work, but I'd love to see us continue playing this way, whilst evolving with “much better quality” on the ball.

Ian, you sound like Ena Sharples.

Check the table Ian, Burnley are 14th even after this ‘triumph'. And their goal difference is -15!

Maybe Sean Dyche is your level. But he is not ours any more after experiments in mediocrity with Moyes, Martinez, Koeman, Allardyce and Silva.

Big question, what has Sean Dyche ever won though? And don't give me promotion, because that doesn't count.

He won the young Conservative of the year competition back in the day

Colin. I consider myself more of an Albert Tatlock.

Steve. I'm not saying Dyche should be our Manager but whether he would do better than Ancelotti with our players is open to debate. It's a fact that Allardyce left us 8th ( after 26 games) and Ancelotti has us in 8th playing a worse brand of football ( after 61 games).

He's not the Messiah. He's just an aged Coach topping up his pension whilst the majority of our fanbase have been sedated by the terrible football into thinking we are Brazil 1970.

He's won the respect of every Burnley fan, and a disenchanted Toffee, on ToffeeWeb! I'm glad I've never really hated anyone though because it's true, hate must really cloud a person's judgment imo, if Ancellotti's football is a worse brand than Allardyce's was, although maybe Ian is right, and Love really is blind.

That's about it Tony. With no disrespect to Burnley, they are probably about Dyche's level. The same as West Brom are probably about Allardyce's level.

He's done a great job at Burnley, Rob, and for a club that nearly went out of business, it's great to see how he's really helped build that club up from top to bottom.

I actually used to live with him Thomas, but I honestly didn't know he was a Tory. I'm sure with more money and better players, that Dyche could do an even better job, because he kidded Everton that Michael Keane was a top defender, which again is just my opinion!

naming Margaret Thatcher in his “six-a-side team to save the world”.

“You're doing this to wind me up now, aren't you?”

“When I was growing up, she was just such a big figure, doing so much, never off the news and I thought my God, that is some woman, in the world as it was then, you must have something special to be doing that job the way you do it.”

He probably kept it quiet Tony

Not probably Thomas, I'd have fuckn killed him mate.

👍

Was he from a working class background Tony

I'm not sure if he was from Corby, Kettering or Northampton, Thomas, he came across as a bit of a wool, but the more I got to know him he was sound. He was a little midfielder then, I used to look at him sometimes and think he never quite had the vision to play there, and then he broke his leg, a week after another young prospect Steve Stone brok his, and then he went on the weights, whilst he was injured. Loyal though, Stone now manages Burnley under 23's, so it's good to see him looking after his arl mates👏

He deffo kept it quiet if he was from Corby Tony.
A town full of jock steel workers

I know Thomas, (my mate from Corby was a mad Rangers fan, and I used to wind him up being a catholic boy) I think he might have been from Kettering, and thinking back, he had a nickname that did insinuate that he was great at looking after himself, which is probably the first rule in the cut-throat world of professional football, so well done to him again!

Dyche was from Geddington - a picturesque village just outside Kettering. No surprise he has turned out to be a Tory boy. Came to play for Northampton for a bit.

Played like he manages. Nothing fancy. Just 100%. Even when he lost his place he would still be hanging round taking coaching sessions for anyone who would attend.

I didn't realise you stayed with him, Tony. How did your paths cross?

Ian Edwards @ 90 - really?

Fat Sams win percentage was 38 per cent whilst manager at Everton. Ancelotti's win percentage for this season is 53%. We were in 10th after the first game Fat Sam took charge a 2-1 against Huddersfield in December. I'm not stating that we are playing champagne football every game but to compare the football served up at the current time is. of he same standard as under FS is fanciful. We splashed out the best part of 50 million on Walcott and Tosun under FS two players we are still trying to shift.

I'm not a blind acolyte of Ancelotti's reign but we are still in the hunt for a champions league/Europa League place with six games left to play something most of us would settle for.

Tony I'm intrigued - what were the circumstances that resulted in you living with Sean Dyche and what was his hardman nick name??

Ian I doubt very much you'd find a single blue that thinks we're playing like “1970's Brazil” or even vaguely attractive football but I'm confident that the vast majority of blues think we've got more chance of getting better with Ancelotti than we would with Allardyce. I'd advise patience. If we're still playing shite at the end of next season you may have more mates.

Mark 102

Tebbit

He lived in the same digs as me in Nottingham all those years ago when we were both young apprentices at Forest. He wasn't a hard man Mark, but I did finally find out he had a sense of humour though, because he was telling me that after he broke his leg in a youth cup match at Birmingham that he was sedated and took to hospital.

He said he was woke up the next morning, by a big 18 stone African nurse singing don't mess with my toot toots (remember that) and after the reality set in, all's he could do was shrug his shoulders and laugh.

That's a good story Darren, no airs, no graces, work with me or don't bother coming, no wonder he's carved a good living for himself, and I think he'd be the most surprised man in the world, if he ever heard me say, I was proud of his achievements, until I then called him a bald Tory bastard, for liking that horrible human-being from Grantham!

Anyone watching the Traitors cup final?

Are we ever going to schedule our "golden ticket" game in-hand?

Seriously, we're running out of time. Next week's games are in May, and the season is over on the 23rd of May I believe?

We need to get that game in-hand played, and like soon.

Does anyone know anything about this dangling in the wind game?

We played shite football under Moyes when we got 4th place. All those 1-0's and then defend to the death. Not too many people complained then. Would you complain if we got 4th this season playing even more turgid shit?

Jamie,

Bet you 50p we end up playing tuesday and thursday in one week.
Especially if we get results that sees us challenging for 4th.

Hypocritical arguments put forward. We need patience to give Ancelotti time. Was Allardyce given patience and time. I'm not saying Allardyce is the answer.. I'm just pointing out that fans are two faced slaughtering Allardyce but not Ancelotti and there is little difference between the two at Everton.

I'm completely uninterested what Ancelotti has won in the past with other clubs. It's irrelevant to what he is doing at Everton.

As for the comment about Walcott and Tosun. We now have no squad depth and it's arguable that Walcott is better than Iwobi and Bernard and that Tosun is better than King.

Supporters back at Wembley again. Good to see.

I don't think it's hypocritical Ian, I think it's more about common sense mate.

You are correct though because of course we should only be interested in what Ancellotti can achieve at Everton, but surely his record in football should afford him a little bit of time, unlike Allardyce who never produced any kind of method at all in his time at our club imo.

Great to hear the fans shouting Danny, it's what the game has been missing for way to long mate🙏

City playing with six defensive minded players, four midfielders and no forwards.

That Guardiola is a real coward eh? Dinosaur football.

Lively start from City.

The thing with Allardyce is he's only ever done and achieved one thing. Survival. I'm still convinced had we kept Koeman, that team would have finished 8th.

We're 8th now but the season isn't over. And we're 8th challenging for European places. That was 8th trying not to be sucked into a relegation battle.

But, calling out poor football is absolutely right. No issues with that, but I think that's where the comparisons stop.

That manager was always just going to survive. This one might take us somewhere else.

Poor refereeing so far, but obviously not helped by the captain of England's cheating.

The ref is being bullied by the players.
Tierney is always a poor ref, gives poor decisions then tries to justify the bad decision with a card.

Knocked out of the fa cup by the team about to win the league, currently contesting the League cup final and soon to play in the champions league semi finals.

Knocked out of the league cup by the team currently sitting second in the premier league, and soon to play in the europa league semi finals.

Currently sitting eighth in the premier league, six points off a champions league position, with a game in hand, although I don't think we will get into the top four. Only three points off fifth place with a game in hand, so fifth place very much in our own hands. Can we finish fifth or sixth, I don't see why not?

The only blemish on Ancelotti's time at Everton (so far) was the fa cup defeat to the RS last season, even though he had only been in charge for about two or three weeks. After being in charge for less than three months the season closed down due to the virus. We were on a decent run at the time if I remember rightly, but everything seemed to go pear shaped upon the return, as it did for a few clubs, Leicester especially. Ancelotti hadn't seen any of his players for weeks, as had in fact every manager throughout the country, so basically it was, in the words of the John Lennon song, just like starting over (again).

A three or four week close season was followed by a two week pre season training period. Before we knew it the season had started again. We got off to a flier, with all of Carlo's summer signings playing a major part. Injuries and suspensions then playing a part in results not going our way. In fact apart from the first six or seven games, all of last summers signings haven't played in the same game.

So Ian # 110, what Ancelotti has won in the past with other clubs, is relevant to what he is doing at Everton. He's trying to build his own team, he's trying to get rid of the shite the likes of Allardyce brought to the club. He needs the time to complete this but you seem to think it can all be done in sixteen months, all in the midst of a global pandemic. Carlo has only had what we would call a “normal season”, from December 2019 to March 2020. Since then it's been far from normal, yet he has got us into a position we would all have craved for at the beginning of the season. It seems away wins at Spurs, liverpool, Leicester, Arsenal plus six other away wins, a creditable away draw at Man Utd are not good enough for the likes of you.

So is Carlo doing a good job, well I think he's doing well more than good, but no doubt you will come back with some shite against this post, but do you know what, I honestly couldn't give a fuck what you think.

Poor officials. How often are we discussing poor officials? Sometimes we can blame the rules for being ridiculous, but mostly it is the standard of officials. They can't even use VAR properly as to do so you need to understand the game.

Foden is a joy to watch. Some player that kid.

David@113 Far worse mate, I think it could be Zombie football

Ian, comparing Ancellotti and Allardyce is like comparing a fine wine with malt vinegar. Rob is absolutely right, we have a world class manager and one of the best technical directors in football who between them have the unenviable task of sorting out the mess left behind by Koeman/ Silva and Allardyce, who I include because the Club was mad enough to let him spend money on an injury prone Walcott and one of the slowest CF's in Tosun I have ever seen. This will take at least two more summer windows of incremental improvement in the quality of the squad to eradicate. That we are still in with a shout for Europe with six games left in his first season and given the appalling number of injuries he's had to contend with speaks volumes for his football nouse and experience. If you honestly believe you can talk about them in the same breath I'm not sure football is your sport.

If this finishes a draw do they give the trophy to the team thats perfomed the best?

Hypothetically speaking...

Got to say, we give Richy some stick for end product, but Sterling is absolutely shite lately.

Steve #120 “comparing Ancellotti and Allardyce is like comparing a fine wine with malt vinegar”.

And at the moment we're putting that fine wine on chips. Roll on the transfer window.

David 121

I think they roll out the Rathbone scale and see if either side scores a 6-9 out of 10

City have a natural striker on the pitch and this is out of sight. The other thing, I'm never a huge fan of playing wingers / full backs on their wrong side. They always take that extra touch to cut in onto their good foot which often takes the momentum out of the move and the runs of the forwards.

Totally agree Brent, which makes it more impressive. Quality RB, an attacking midfielder and a centre forward this summer plus a little more luck with injuries and I would hope we'll be knocking at the door of the top four places and maybe just maybe a bit of cup silverware.

Cheers Keiran,

Wasn't sure if it was the Rathbone method or the Edwards bull-shit-ometer.

Steve #126 that's my wish list for the summer as well. Injuries haven't helped but there's only one injury this season that people are allowed to talk about.

Sterling thinks he can win every game single handed, he misses so many passes and ends up running down blind alleys.

Anybody else see the similarity between Foden and Gascoigne at his best?

Andrew Ellams; your reference to Sterling almost describes a better quality Ross Barkley.

Hopefully Foden keeps his mind on the football and not being the celebrity like the ill fated Paul Gascoigne.

Breakthrough.

Laporte possibly should've been sent off first half, but he doesn't make the second foul if booked for the first.

Danny, I firmly believe that if Gascoigne had chosen Alex Ferguson over Terry Venables his career would have been very different

Shouldn't Spurs be winning this?

After all, the year ends in a “1”.

He chose the bright lights of London Andrew. Such a shame. What a talent.

Why do the Reds qualify for Europe because Man City won the League Cup?

Correct Rob. Super 6 member Spurs always win a trophy when the year ends in 1 (apparently).
To agree with other posters - Foden looks outstanding. Mind you, plenty of his team mates do too.

City could've easily won that by 5 goals but greedy Sterling wanted to steal the show. Great talent with a pea-sized brain.

Barry, as it stands at the moment, Liverpool are now in the final league placing for the Europa League. The League Cup winners normally qualify for the Europa League but Man City will be in the Champions League and, as the runners up in the League Cup don't qualify for Europe, it goes to the best placed league position, currently occupied by Liverpool. Doesn't mean they have qualified already.

Was a great player Col.
Hes gone mate. Seems mad saying that about a player of his age but I reckon we have seen the best of him.
Looked like he was playing 5 a side

I think (caveat think) Barry, that because City have won this trophy that pretty much confirms 7th place gets Europe now?

These things always need complex algorithms to work out, but I'm guessing the assumption is Liverpool will finish in the top 7???

And if they don't, then someone will make it so?

Who knows.

Thanks, Rob @138,

I should have known Richard Keys would get it very wrong; he stated the Reds are in Europe due to Man City lifting the League Cup, without any reservations or explanations.

I think that year ending in 1 thing for Spurs was very much a 20th Century thing...

Have to admit, Neville just made me chuckle. "You can't touch your medal, but make sure you get the champagne in lads. It's like a pick and mix".

Referring to the organisers not awarding the medals and insisting the players pick them up to avoid contact but then running after them to hand them the champagne bottles!!!

Dann,y

If Arsenal win the Europa League they'll go into the Champions League but I think that comes at the expense of a Europa League spot, so we would have 7 teams total in Europe. I may be wrong but I think that's the rule.

I don't see why Goodison can't have fans inside the stadium next week, on the same day they are having a concert for 5,000 people without social distancing in Liverpool.

This is why I try not to figure it out Kieran!! It always gets too complex.

Totally Tony. I appreciate the cautious approach and understand the nervousness around relaxing too early, but a controlled environment like a football stadium like today is surely achievable.

Loved hearing the sound of real supporters today.

Ross Barkley goes down rather too easily to get Villa a penalty. 1-0.

Most definitely but the contact is there. Like it or not, it was the same with the Arsenal player against us before VAR and the ridiculous offside bailed us out.

Watching with the Villa supporting wife so playing a game of diplomacy but we could just do with a West Brom result of some sort tonight just in terms of consolidating where we are.

Not hopeful. West Brom look dreadful.

Danny the Arsenal penalty was a farce, a little tap and down he went, in stages, but I suppose any contact whatsoever and bingo, penalty. West Brom got a penalty now.

You don't stop them! 1-1.

Totally not disagreeing with you Rob. Very frustrating. But the way the game has gone. The players are taught to go down if they feel the slightest contact.

In fairness, there has always been an element of that, but the honesty of trying to stay up when it was honest contact or an attempt to get the ball has gone.

Player feels contact in the box now and they go down. I'm not saying it's right but that's what they seem to be taught and coached.

No way Rob. That was a penalty. This keeps it good for us.

Wife looking at me suspiciously.

Could do with West Brom winning, tell her! 😀😀😀

West Brom 2-1. 😄😄

Much as he gets a lot of stick on here, I was disappointed that West Ham lost yesterday. It would have been nice for a Top 4 of Man City, Man Utd, Leicester City and West Ham Utd.

Then 4 of the big 6 would be out of Champions League places and one would not be in Europe. I know it would have been the Hammers and not us in the Champions League but it would just have been nice to have someone else apart from Leicester City.

As it stands and looking at last year's results, then we all know Man City are Champions. It is a lock in for Leicester City and Man Utd for 2nd & 3rd. Two big games for Man Utd at Old Trafford: Liverpool and Leicester City. Could mean Leicester are 2nd.

4th at present are Chelsea – who have Arsenal and Leicester City at home and Man City away in their last 5 games.

Liverpool get 5th on Goal Difference from West Ham Utd. Can the former win at West Brom (they lost at Watford last season) or can West Ham beat Burnley and Brighton away?

So 7th? We still have to play Sheffield Utd at home and Aston Villa away, where we lost – Spurs, on the other hand, go to Leeds Utd and Leicester City but also play Sheffield Utd at home. It could be down to the last game where Spurs go to Leicester City and we take 3 points from a Champions League Final focussed Man City at the Etihad and pinch 5th.

Hold on to your hats, guys, the next few weeks are going to have a lot of twists and turns...

Barkley gets the shepards again.
Career dwindling away

Phil #156

Hopefully Everton, Leicester & West Ham can all finish Top 6 to deny three of the "Super Six" their birthright slots.

OMG what a ridiculous goal to give away. 2-2.

I'd have Pereira off WBA when they go down

Centre half at fault Rob?
Keeper blameless?

Hard to say, Thomas. Centre half just chested the ball into the air, though I suppose if anyone was to blame, I'd say the keeper as he should have gone and collected it. So yeah, keeper error. I'd have to have another look though. As least Danny should get his tea now! 😋😋

Thought the centre half should have cleared, trying to be a bit clever maybe

Brent at 123, that must be the most insightful thing said all season about our current situation.

City are a class above every team and when on song (which is almost every game) they are hard to get control of.

They keep possession and basically run opponents dizzy.

If they have a problem it is when Sterling won't pass to a player in a better position but his speed is hard to deal with but De Bruyne is just exceptional.

After this odd season especially concerning Everton and RS I expect to see Carlo get the squad he needs to move Everton into a team that will compete better especially in the midfield areas.

It's really strange that both Everton and RS have had so many poor games at home but that may change next season when the crowds are allowed back. (fingers crossed)

Is that Traore of Villa related to Iwobi, more than a touch of uselessness about him, and that Villa equaliser, don't know who was to blame but it was great to see Hippopotamus Head lash his chewie from his mouth and go off on one when it went in!!

Tom

It'll be interesting to see if teams like us have a bit more confidence going away from home next year having problem it's possible to win without fans. Now they just need to do the same without getting intimidated by the noisy onlookers. It's all psychological although we will still have to contend with dodgy refs

It will look better with Everton swapped for West Ham Phil.

That was a ridiculous goal to concede Rob. I have no idea why the defender is trying to chest it in that scenario.

Decent results for us.

Well, 45 minutes to go, but in the "as it stands" table, we can potentially be 4 points behind nailed on Champions League Leicester (my view as much as anyones) with 15 points to play for.

Jeez, where the hell did that Leicester goal come from?

I should just keep my mouth shut.

In fairness, it was coming. But what a strike.

Iheanacho's boot Rob!

Hell of a strike though, Jeff.

Looks like its Leicester and Chelsea then for the other two CL spots. RS balls up against Leeds and Newcastle

Rob, some would claim the keeper was at fault because it was fairly central.

The fact the ball travelled quicker than an Exocet missile would be irrelevant!!!!

Brilliant hit that.

Danny I doubt the goalie saw it. I never! 😁😁

On the positive side.
Thats just the one place left for the devils club to try to reach.

Thomas @178
Plus a reduction in the chances of Everton gate-crashing the Champions League, which is more important to me at any rate.

We wont get there Barry

Barry, I think we all have to be realistic and say that route to Europe has gone. By the time we kick off against villa we could be eleven points behind fourth placed Chelsea, who play Fulham at home in the game before us. You would strongly fancy Chelsea to win that. Granted we would have two games in hand, but eleven points is four games we would need to win, and we only have six left. Though after fulham, che!sea have a pretty difficult run in but I think the top four is pretty much sorted now.

It is back to reality. Our realistic hope of European football was Europa (or the now European Conference, which I admit to not knowing about).

At half time for a moment, I got another sniff and got carried away. As I said, I'll keep my mouth shut in future!

Europa league is very much on, Danny, but only if we beat villa on Saturday. Draw or lose that and I reckon that route into Europe will slam shut on us.

Or looking at things a bit differently -

If we win our "Golden Ticket" game in hand, we're only 3 points back of 4th.

Glass half full.

Don't give up until it's mathematically past us. Fight till the end, keep hope till the end.

Sorry, got me sums wrong. If Chelsea beat Fulham we will be nine points behind them before we play. Still four games though as they have a much better goal difference.

A few of us said it over the weekend. I know all games are important, but the two against Villa and then the one against West Ham are key for me as they are in or around us.

Then we have games we can pick up in; Wolves (on holiday judging by last night), Sheffield United and City last day (Champions by then?).

Ultimately down to us, but we have a decent run in.

Rob, Danny, and particularly Thomas I agree we only ever had a very outside chance of making CL, or indeed any form of European qualification, however, why is it so accepted that the neigbhours could or would have done so ahead of Everton?

7th gets us into the conference league. We're right in the mix for that, and might even win it if we got in.

If we win 6/6 then 70 points could do it. Then Chelsea would have to lose points by drawing two matches, not completely out of the question.

Still it's a very long shot , betfair will have us at a large price for it.

If we beat Villa twice Barry, very much on.

I guess I'm talking about what was a realistic expectation at the beginning of the season.

Right now, we do have the chance to claim 4th spot. 3rd went tonight, but 4th is still within our gift.

I don't think the RS will finish top four, Barry. For me that top four is sorted, just remains to be seen in what order from two to four. Still possible Leicester could catch man Utd.

It's good to get to European competition but not if we perform miserably and unless they get the two or three extra players with class then I cannot see much progress in Europe or next season. We are carrying some dross that needs to be offloaded.

It is possible that maybe for the first time we could come up against RS in Europe. Now, wouldn't that be something.

Tony # 189. Chelsea beat West ham last Saturday!

Rob, I amended that quickly!

We are 25/1 for top 4 on betfair so that shows the scale of the task.

And 3/1 for a top 6 finish .

Danny and Rob, if we are honest with ourselves, we ain't a CL club yet, but we are getting nearer, although we will have to overtake others to get there.

I don't actually mind leicester, their recruitment has been spot on. It looks like Vardys best days are nearly over and Iheanacho is now 100% stepping up. I hope they with the FA Cup.

Amazing that Leicester have lost the same number of games at home as we have.

Yes, yes, I am willing once again to believe and I'm sure Colin is snickering at my naivete. And Jamie, let's do hope that it is a golden ticket and not a golden shower. Grealish still out, we could make that most unexpected of runs.

Nowhere near Joe. I know we were done by a dodgy referee last time, but if we did pull it off, I suspect we use it to go out and get players to help us compete this time.

Back to reality and hopefully Europa; I'm selfish, I want a European tour!

Total credit and respect to Leicester. Not only did they surprise everyone a couple of years back, they have now defied the elite by disrupting the alleged top 6. Who aren't a top 6 as one sits 7th and the other sits 10th.

Here's to us being the next disrupters only in my head we are not disrupting anything, just regaining our place.

Danny, its crazy isn't it, like you say, in the elite 6 one is 10th.

I think arsenal will miss out on Europe altogether next season. Realistically, their only hope is to win the Europa league, and I can't see them winning that.

Danny @198, I'm fully expecting the media to christen them as part of the new ‘big 7'.

Rob (200) - You can't see Arsenal winning the Europa League? They face Emery's equally unpredictable Villarreal in the Semi Final, and are favourites to make it through to the final. Get there and it's one game to guarantee a spot in the Champions League next year (barring any ESL sanctions). I can very much see Arsenal winning the Europa League.

We don't want to playing in the new Conference League. It's been designed for teams from countries outside of Europe's so called elite nations which is why the only teams competing in it from the 'Big 5' will be those that finish 7th

I see Tottenham's alleged manager target, the Leipzig coach has gone to Bayern. Wonder where that leaves them now if the interest was genuine.

Andrew, I'd still take it. I'm probably being short-sited and craving a few trips abroad rather than having my football head on.

Had a quick look and as it stands today in those 5 leagues some great clubs and trips away:

Germany - Borussia Monchengladbach
Italy - Roma
Spain - Villa Real (flash back)
France - Rennes (although only a point behind Marseille).

Iheanacho, what a player he is turning out be, provider and scorer, both last night, didn't we show interest when he was at Man.City, I think he was sold for around £20M, he's taken two or three years to show his worth but looks like a great buy now, maybe Kean? but not for us?

Intrigued to see what happens with Kean Dave.

I would imagine he'll move on and the money seems to be leaning towards a return to Juventus; maybe as part of someone coming the other way?

But then I wouldn't be massively surprised to see him back at Everton next season. I'd only put a pound each way on that, but it could happen.