Premier League – Matchweek 28

Leicester v Leeds 12.30

Burnley v Chelsea 3.00pm
Norwich v Brentford 3.00pm
Newcastle v Brighton 3.00pm

And a draw between Norwich & Brentford?

Followed up by and away win at White Hart Lane on Monday.

About the English Premier League Matches on Hesgoal.

Too many Kopites. If we're away, they're at home so the pubs will be chocker.

When you get to this website scroll down to “sports streams” and pick one. The best two are LIVE TV and CRICFREE. You will have to navigate some adds but that goes with the territory. Premier League games are on there and a lot of other leagues.

At least 10 points a season makes the difference... Although can't account for some beaut in a van with his red bobble hat on I suppose. With frank and his crew we have winners so eventually that will run off on the rest of the team/ club.

Simon – I will give your suggestion a whirl. Ta.

Crystal Palace 2-up.

Oh, and mygoaltv.org is excellent

If I was a betting man I'd say it's out of Everton, Burnley, Leeds that join Watford and Norwich for relegation.

We have games in hand. If we play they way we have under Frank, sans Southampton, we'll be okay.

I think.

I personally think Burnley won't go down. I think it's a Norwich, Watford, Leeds, Brentford, Everton race. Don't know why, just think Burnley will stay up.

Having said that, I have come to terms with the likelihood of relegation. We've overreached financially (and now had the rug pulled from beneath us), made a terrible managerial appointment (and took too long to appreciate the severity of the situation) and made poor signings for over half a decade.

If/when we go down, then the fightback begins the very next day.

My mistake yes its 5 points ahead, I think they have just gone two up as we speak.

But we really need to start picking up points, need at least a point Monday night then 3 at home to Wolves.

When you watch teams like Chelsea away from home, those are the levels we need to aspire to in away games when we have a good performance and a two goal lead, keep going for more goals and go for the kill, don't sit back

Kidding nobody Moss, although it does show how much power the modern referee has, even though the standards of some of them is absolutely appalling.

If they are conspiring, this fella will have already written the script, because he’s one man I’d never trust, when Everton are concerned.

Add to that the Beatle fan type groupie behaviour that officials show to the top clubs and players and you have the perfect storm.

I'm surprised most officials can stay on their feet as their knees seem to buckle as they gush in admiration when officiating matches involving the Sky 4. It must be very distracting for them and impact their decision making as they faint and swoon.

Apologies for my cynicism. Not a bad day for us but we need to take control of our own destiny on Monday. I'll be there. I hope Everton turn up as well.

1. Everton stay safe in the Premier League.
2. Bramley Moore remains on course.
3. We win the next derby at Anfield.
4. We're going to Wembley twice.

Okay, technically that's 5 things.

Not arsed TBH.

What a coup signing by Aston Villa getting Coutinho.

And I heard on these pages we didn't want a Barcelona reject. Some turned their noses up at the prospect.

Great creative Number 10 that we are missing.

All roads lead to Rome.

Watford making a game of it...

As the fixtures stand, barring rearranged games, 3 points will be the best we can hope for in April and May. Hopefully we can pick some unexpected wins and draws. Starting tomorrow night.

Just get behind the team instead of waving your white flag. No windows, no manager changes, just fight and belief now.

A point at Spurs would be very useful, of course.

Thanks for the feedback. I hope my suggestion worked.

mygoaltv.org

Server 2 is reliable, but others work as well.

Newcastle, Brentford, Wolves, Leicester, Palace all at home and all winnable games. Burnley and Watford away also winnable if we are focused.

Plus, some of the other games we might pick up points unexpectedly, starting tomorrow at Spurs. We are also capable of getting something against Man Utd at home too.

Danny, if you and Andrew want to get out your “End is Nigh” boards with 14 games left, then feel free. Personally I think it's a bit embarrassing, and I'm getting behind our boys and supporting them.

The reason we have won only a few since September is because of Benitez, who didn't get sacked until January, and it's going to take a few more games for Frank, Clement et al to fix the negative shit that muppet drilled into them.

And now a very nice goal by Kevin De Bruyne!

If we play like that, we will survive with relative ease. I have a lingering worry about where our goals are going to come from but we have good players still to come back in, notably Gray. If Calvert-Lewin can recover his form, then we will certainly be fine.

It's not the past results or performances that will be the deciding factors in the fight for survival, and to suggest that the most points that Everton can hope for is 12 from 14 games, is [in my opinion], a rather pessimistic statement to make.

It's especially hard having been an Evertonian for 60+ years to see our club sinking lower and lower.

Thankfully we got some points on the board early on. Since the 80th minute of Watford at home we've been comfortably among the worst sides in the Premier League. I think we've picked up 8 points from 17 matches after the first international break.

Still, you never know. 3 points tomorrow would make a massive difference.

But Andrew C, I respect your pain. This must be so hard to watch after seeing so much success back in the day.

And I just love to see it.

That said, I've already accepted Reds will win the title, we just need little club Everton to stay up. At least then Frank and his team can crack on. If we do stay up, I'm sure our future will look better.

A great young player who will get better and De Bruyne typifies the class and work rate of the City team. As Graham says (114), Foden is the complete footballer.

Maguire. The expensive Michael Keane. Not that he was cheap.

Foden is an absolute gem. And De Bruyne is possibly my favourite footballer right now.

I agree. Without getting carried away, there are parallels with Gordon and Foden. I'll apply the caveat they are different players and you can never exactly compare players.

But Gordon is developing more than nicely. And unlike Foden, he doesn't have the benefit of being surrounded by some of the best players on the planet, so you could argue he is standing out even more. Imagine him playing in that Man City team. In fact no, don't.

That is, on one hand, great; on the other, concerning. Let's just hope he continues to head in the direction you mention in a Royal Blue shirt, not just a blue one of some other shade or flavour.

It's a very good point about it being harder when not being surrounded by better players, Danny, but I personally think Anthony is just doing enough, a malaise that has affected “most Everton players” for a very long time now.

I see your point on Anthony, mate, but what I'd say is that, if anything, he's actually trying too hard.

You know how it is when you really want to make a difference and your first, or first couple, of things don't come off. You can sometimes then become too focused on your own play and lose a little bit of peripheral perspective.

I think if he was able to just relax a bit in his final passage of play he'd improve his decision making and the passes he picks.

Easy for me to say like!

At the end of the day, it is our goal-scorers who can get us out of the cesspit we are in right now.

Good points along with moving away from the man with the ball and finding space so that man can find him with the ball and then he can use his undoubted skill with the ball. But he is coming on nicely and will improve no doubt having indifferent games like the other night.

I think you may be a tad harsh on Gordon, this is really his first season where he is a regular starter.

Yes, he has to improve his goal ratio and be a bit more clinical in front of goal and his final ball could be better. Let's not forget, Foden has been a regular starter for a couple of seasons now.

For Gordon, he is still learning about his game in the toughest league, so not easy. Also, unlike Foden, who came into a team full of stars and also a team that has won the league for 3 of the last 4 years.

It's inevitable with young players. They will have peaks and dips.

My own view isn't that he's trying too hard, Brian, although the bit about relaxing is a very good point and something that should also be taken on board by Richarlison, whilst Calvert-Lewin sometimes appears too relaxed, if that makes sense!

I'm not comparing Gordon to anyone either (although Foden's quality only shines through because he never stops, imo) but if it was me tonight, I'd put Anthony on the bench. I'd play Richarlison and Gray, either side of Calvert-Lewin, I'd play Alli just behind, and I'd play Doucouré alongside Van de Beek, while I think the back four probably picks itself.

It means the bench is getting stronger, and taking the likes of Gordon and Allan out might also give them an opportunity to refresh themselves.

More than in previous decades and our lifetime, it's not a best 11 game. It's a squad and rotational one. Especially for the young and developing players as much as for the older experienced ones, you need to rest them. Our problem has and is the depth of the squad. We are lightweight.

When the media pressure was on Pep to play Foden a couple of years back, he shrugged it off and managed his development. Because he could. And now player and club are seeing the benefit of that.

Premier League Pitch Sizes

I would never have guessed that Goodison was longer and wider than Anfield, in fact the playing surface - according to the link - is the widest in the Premier League. I thought I read some years ago, that all the top level pitches were to be the same width, but that looks as if it either has been shelved or was never a rule.

He scores some goals, that Benzema. As you say, he seems to have been around for 30 years.