James: 'I am happy'

I still sometimes fall for these type of stories partly, or those clickbaits, and I should know better by now, but it is always at the back of my mind the old "no smoke without fire", but when you see it from what you believed to be a credible source, it does raise doubts.

Glad he is HAPPY and according to other recent articles Mosh is going to waft more cash Carlo's way in the Summer Transfer Market too. Now who we will get is a matter for conjecture, Isco, Rabiot, Zelik, or Aarons plus?

He's never going to track back and run round like a headless chicken but he's the type of player we have been lacking for years. Like my brother said, you don't buy a Ferrari to take your rubbish to the tip.

UNHAPPY MY ARSE!!

As for not liking the lifestyle, I'm sure he understands that lockdown means that he hasn't got to see the lifestyle yet, nor would he anywhere else.

It's like the apparent lack of toughness to cope with the Premier League. These South American boys are literally dragged up in some of the worst poverty on the planet. And real poverty, not what we often cite in this country. They're tough cookies.

Glad he's happy, even more glad he's here full stop.

The way he creates space and plays the ball for his team mates.

James supposedly didn't have a proper pre-season, and this is his first season. Comparing him to Chelsea's imports and how practically all non-British players take a season or so to get up to speed, James has done pretty well, hasn't he?

Not to mention the goals and the assists that he has contributed to.

He is definitely the most high profile player the club has in years (or ever, if you consider how international his profile is).

It's a joy to watch him play. There is still so much in the season to play for.

Like all toffees, here's hoping that we win the FA cup, and get into European placing (CL placing is a bonus, but not entirely impossible).

Rob #9, I noticed that too.

Colin #14, I don't even want to know what that is.

John #10, you've said it elegantly, especially with your line about Sheedy's left foot. I was ecstatic when we signed James, to the point where I'm sure some of the folks here were rolling their eyes at my gushing. I believed he'd bring us something we hadn't seen in decades -- the change of a game with a touch or two. And he has.

DK #2, I'm looking forward to the summer window too, but not necessarily to see any of those players come in (especially not Rabiot, thanks very much). I expect Marcel and Carlo to bring us a few that aren't yet on anyone's speculation list.

He'll think he's gone to heaven.

That's a load of crap about British food! The English breakfast is the envy of the world. It's the only breakfast in the world prefixed by its nationality and a good old Sunday roast with beef and Yorkshire pud is absolutely unbeatable and you can have it any day...not only on a Sunday! And Cod and Chips has been copied all over the world from New York to Corfu. If it was called Poisson and Frites Francais you'd think it was fucking posh wouldn't you?

Speaking of France, unless you specifically ask for beef an order of steak and chips gets you horsemeat while Italian food is all sauce and no substance. Chinese food was mainly invented in Liverpool anyway so doesn't count and while I draw the line at jellied eels London did give us chicken korma.

You're talking to an expert here mate. I'm 5ft8in tall and weigh 16 stone. I never got where I am today eating crappy foreign food!

So there.

Bobby #28, amen. Pete Mills took me out to my first pie-and-pastie takeaway in Crosby a few years ago. Never had a better lunch in my life.

Dave #27, my wife was reading over my shoulder at your comment about Chinese food, and if she had any family in England they'd be hunting you down right now with those cleavers they use to chop lotus root.

I don't think you'll be able to try one nowadays, but Dave Abrahams will probably be able to explain the joy of a 'Connny Onny Butty', most popular immediately following the Second World War.

Any game where shits just gotta blow up is solid. Grab some C4 and run around, no gun, just planting and demolishing. Good fun.

I, too, think Christine Foster had this right. This "rumor" was total bullshit and probably emanated from the dark side.

Lovely,

I used to love it, but I feel my arteries furring up just by writing this!

That said, I do love my childhood treat of chips peas and onion gravy from the Goodison Supper Bar. Can we please take that to Bramley-Moore Dock with us?

Pasta is all sauce? You're thinking New York, not Roma; you have just offended the Italian nation sir!!

Back to James. He is a joy to watch for me. Slows the game down to a pace he sees it at. Very few can do that.

Not sure why John thinks a conny onny butty is necessarily a thing of the past. Conny onny is sweetened condensed milk and readily available, though perhaps not a standard part of most households' shopping list these days. Never had it on a butty myself but my great aunt and uncle used it in coffee. Saves spooning in the three sugars separately I guess. We kids used to fight over who got to suck the spoon, although we all got a spoonful as a treat in the end.

Personally, I could eat the stuff straight out of the tin. I'd vote we keep the conny onny secret from James. If he finds it as addictive as we did, he'd end up Dave Robert's size in no time!

Let's stick a few up Southampton. UTFT!

"Dad, I'm hungry"
"Well, have a sugar butty"
"I don't want a sugar butty"
"Well you're not hungry, then"

Anyone remember the sheer delight of a mashed banana and sugar butty, as a kid? Ambrosia. 💙

As for James – he's our gold dust.

I see Leeds thumped Southampton 3-0 last night. Let's hope we are up and at 'em from the off come the weekend. COYBs.

Si (#25); Are you sure jam butties were mined? I thought they came from the Jam Butty Factory and the treacle was mined.

Mike G; Is a ham sarney kosher? Don't worry, we'll keep it in-house but it does remind me of a true story set many years ago. A friend worked in an abattoir in Woolton and the Rabbi used to come around to check the sheep were kosher. This involved him rolling up his sleeve and putting his arm down the dead animal's throat to check the lungs weren't stuck to its sides. While he was doing this one of the lads went around the other end, put his arm up it and shook his hand. Never seen anybody jump that high before or since.

Where ever you may wander,there's no place like home...

Let's hope he gets a feel for the dark, muddy north-west of England.

But no, that ham was no more kosher than the Italian sausage I had for breakfast -- before I knew I was eating a butty! (My wife cannot stop giggling at that.)

I love the mind-broadening aspects of TW. My education never stops.

Another favourite butty of mine was an Ulster fry butty. Not to be confused with the Ulster fry breakfast, this was a slice of fatty, salty, cold meat served on two slices of mother’s pride with lots of butter to keep the cholesterol levels down.

James would be in his element with that, perfect carb loading a couple of hours before a game!

My father was from Knotty Ash and his family and Doddy's were known to each other and he often said that the Diddymen were from an Uncle that Doddy had who was barely more than 5 foot tall and sold newspapers. Unfortunately, he never mentioned mining so I'll bow to your superior knowledge.

Strangely, they once appeared on the same bill when my father was the comedian, Doddy was the Bass Baritone and I think the headline act was Sabrina. We often told him that he probably gave Doddy the confidence to take up comedy.

Wonder if it is a reference to the last match?!?!
Funny fellow James.

I worked with a feller who used to have alternating butties for his packed lunch, always the same. Mon Wed Fri Dairylee cheese spread and onion butties, Tue Thurs, Corned Jock and onion. I am not sure if he is still alive.

Miles better than your peanut butter and jam sarnies (joking) and totally kosher.

Except they weren't burger vans, they were all piled high with ciabatta sandwiches containing parma ham, salami, fresh salad, artichokes, cambozola cheese, brie etc etc. Unexpected gourmet experience.

Chip butties, though. With lots of salted butter. Hard to beat.

Of course we want to play forward if it's on. But at the same time, playing forward for the sake of playing forward will just give possession back to the opposition and invite pressure onto our defence.

Conversely, overplaying at the back or going sideways too much will allow the opposition to get back behind the ball and deny the space that could be exploited with a quicker pass forward.

The key ingredients are composure and decision making. Really good players have composure and make good decisions with the brain, even when under the type of pressure where others would just snatch or smash at the ball. James for the first goal, Tom for the second, both demonstrated composure and looked for options and movement. I can watch both of those goals time and time again. And not just because of who they were against or the historical context of the result, just the pure footballing beauty of them.

So a "butty" is salt, vinegar, potato chips, and buttered bread smashed together? Or is it french fries in lieu of the potato chips?

Either way that sounds absolutely foul, and a heart attack waiting to happen!

And no, Derek Knox lurking out there somewhere, I don't mean it's missing duck or turkey or some type of fowl. Foul = disgusting.

If I get there before I die, I'll stick to the pies, fish n chips, curry, and the bowl of Scouse. The "butty" ain't ever entering this digestive tract!

How the hell do you people make it past 60 years old? 😂

And just remember that a pastie over there does not mean the same thing it means here. Although both are delightful in their own way.

I often eat the fried egg butty with ketchup between two lightly buttered English muffins. Surely that's gotta count? Love that sandwich / butty.

Andy Crooks and Rob Halligan -

I've no idea what a Doner is. But I might surprise you and give it a try.
When I was first introduced to the Irish Breakfast, I was presented with my eggs, sausage, fries (not a breaky food here), and beans with the pudding / stuffing / whatever the hell you call it.

It looked nightmarish. I was told to slather some HP on it and have at it.

I now will order the Irish Breakfast at any authentic pub over here, every single time, no matter the day. I make bastardized Irish breakfasts in my home, often on the weekends.

And yes, I know what that stuffing / pudding shite is made of. I don't care, it tastes wonderful.

So insofar as that Doner is concerned, I just might give it a whirl.

But a buttered sammy with chips stuffed in the middle with vinegar all over it is just not healthy, it's nasty sounding, and I'd for sure pass on it. Eat those everyday and you'd be 300 lbs plus in a month FFS!

https://dallas.eater.com/2019/5/9/18562623/german-doner-kebab-dallas-coming-soon

It's coming to the USA, it looks fantastic, and I'd eat the shit out of that / giv'er a try.

Jamie, yes that counts as a fried egg butty.

Donner kebab, only beaten by a double donner complete with onions and that white sauce stuff after a skinful. Bliss.

That does set you for the day, but adds a good sink base for a good ale session, on match days, and in lock down.

The humble butty, but arguably the best soul food going.

Got home, fried it up, presented it to my hungry 11 and 13 year old. They had one bite, spat it out and then it was. Dad...is there anything else to eat.

Paul, double decker with mayonnaise and tomato sauce for me.

I’m convinced as a kid in the days of Higsons, at the match, it was as if the ale being pumped was from the early days of the Brewery, I think in the 1780s, or close to.

The stench of the Street and Paddock, will go with me to the grave.

But happy days,, and chips in news paper, after the match.

Yep age catches us all up.

We have corned beef hash - like hash browns with corned beef them - often served with eggs.

But corned beef with a poached egg on top sounds like some fancy-Dan chef trying some weird Irish fusion breakfast.

What you had isn't normal fare here in the USA.

Rob Halligan - my choppers would devour that sammy.