Premier League — Matchweek 13

Up early Michael?

The fight goes on, Brendan. We never rest at ToffeeWeb Towers.

But I admit I'm torn on the Premier League Table. We are truly independent, so should we — as a token gesture of our own defiance against the entirely arbitrary and vindictive actions of the Premier League — maintain the table as it should be??!!

Or should we buckle under, admit guilt to the alleged breach (to me, that is the biggest mistake Everton have made in all of this nonsense), and show the effect of the 10-point deduction?

I'm stuck on the former position at the moment. No doubt Lyndon will force me to take the sensible, mature, big-boy position in due course…

Michael,

10 points, what 10 points?

Nothing to see here. 😀

I know I'm an idiot for expecting anything else... but it annoys me that the rest of the Premier League carries on as usual.

I don't know from whom we could expect any solidarity, nor whether we would show any if it was another club… but this whole situation has me annoyed at every turn.

I clearly heard swearing repeated three times when the corner was taken on half time. Shame on Sky. Where art thou Ofcom?

It's a showpiece game for Sky, can't see them giving it any coverage. Why was Man City's goal ruled out just then, looked like Allison was flapping at the cross and a just about fair challenge on him.

Handball, I think Tony. The ball appeared to hit the arm of the city player who jumped with Becker.

It was for a foul. City players hand on Alison's shoulder. Ref gave the foul, backed up by VAR.

The shite have equalised. 😡

Thanks.

If I was on VAR, they wouldn't get too many in their favour. 😂

Four of them screaming at the ref, no foul. Replay showed Matip's studs in the ankle.

Bournemouth doing us a favour. Just need palace and west ham to now.

Brent, I'll message you and others. Hopefully meet up. If not, just bring the points home.

Always an early start for me for a home match but I want to avoid the London exodus of Manchester United Supporters tomorrow.

I'll be in the homeland relatively early. The dogs will understand. They can go and chase foxes in the dark.

Let's go and do it on the pitch and in the stands tomorrow. The rest is out of our control. It's on the pitch where it matters for the players.

Hope to see some of you there. If not and for the global following, I'll speak to you on my my home.

Early start, late finish, but no matter what they put me through, always worth it. All 500 miles and likely 16 hours of it.

I'll be watching a lot of Everton songs tonight.

More than life itself. We can do this.

Burnley and Luton scores not going our way.

Forest and Sheffield United both getting hammered at home. Palace equalise. Reece James sent off for Chelsea.

Well, results could have been a lot better.

Hold on, get in West Ham!

West Ham ahead.

12 minutes, come on palace!

Luton Town. Jeezus wept

Anthony Gordon had a good game today.

He was in the buildup for the first, got the assist for the second with a good cross and scored the 4th after getting behind the Chelsea line. How much did we sell him for?

Palace hit the bar

Yay. Fantastic save at the end

Now off the bottom. 2nd from bottom.

I think I mentioned last week some thread that I had heard a Luton supporter on the radio saying Everton's point deduction was a massive lift for all the promoted clubs. He is of course correct.

All those pundits who were saying all Everton had to was beat Man Utd and we would be out of the Bottom 3 – just taking it for granted – bit like our current owner and past board.

So we will stay in the Bottom 3 tomorrow no matter what.
Let's hope the "bear pit" everyone is speaking about works out tomorrow!

Oliver, seems it wasn't much of a lift for Burnley and Sheffield United, does it?

So, not correct, unless he meant for his own team.

5 points from safety and Luton is the team we are chasing two thirds of the season to go. One of the other teams in the low teens will stall and Palace may join them if Eze struggles to come back. This payback will be a memorable one. UTFT!

Oh yeah, a golden oldie, we have a game in hand.

We could really do with Tony Gordon.

I wonder how many away kits Arsenal sell? Those are hideous.

Gruesome, Saka is saying like what am I doing in this man, it's so uncool

Someone hit the Benny Hill theme.

“5 points from safety”?
How so?
3 tomorrow and we're back out of the bottom three, aren't we??

Ramsdale comedy

Yes, but at this exact minute Mark we are 5 points from safety, have a quick look at the table!

Rob,
Of course he meant his own team - there can be no doubt our point deduction gives them all a lift - up to the players and the management to put things right !

Are you sitting Mark? Luton won against Palace.

Ahhh sorry - my mate sent me a screen shot and Luton were still on 7 points for some reason.

Was it taken at 4:30, Mark?

That was some arcane ref shit. So two players cannot both stand outside the lines on a corner?

By the way, if some weirdo Bees fan posted Thomas Frank's live mic of a match I would listen

I'm not going by this current league table, it's not right. We have 14 points and the Premier League can do one.

We actually have 11 or 8 points Paul as the deduction with be cut by either 6 or 3 points.

Yesss. The pouty one scores. The kits were throwing them off.

Uh oh. Looks off.

I'm quite happy with the results today.

Sheff Utd and Burnley both could have easily picked up points today against their opposition.

We'll finish above Luton regardless of the 10 points deduction….. we need Burnley and Sheff Utd to keep losing.

Oliver, you did say a massive lift for all for ALL the promoted clubs, but still, makes no difference, because as I say, it clearly hasn't done much good for Burnley or Sheffield United.

Aaron Ramsdale's confidence must be shot to bits. A really poor attempt at trying to be a smart arse nearly cost Arsenal a goal, and about the most pathetic throw out to a team mate that you will ever see.

Ha! I was about to call him Leno, comedian slip.

Always thought that Ramsdale is a bit of a gobshite with a rather high opinion of himself. I'm enjoying this. What was the name of that Man-U goalie, Dean someone was it, Henderson?, who was the next great thing? Where's he now?

Pickford does seem to be the gold standard.

Pickford ain't no Onana.

Could have been worse today. One out of three went against us.

Paul # 79,

Wasn't Dean Henderson on loan at Nottm Forest during their promotion year? Think he went back to Man Utd and has since left them again.

Without Googling it, I've no idea where he is now.

Maupay time, go on lad!

That's the fella Rob, Sheff-U was also in my mind for some reason - wasn't there a link with Palace. I'll jump on Wiki

Could have been better today, we might be on 14 points, looking to win tomorrow to go ahead of Chelsea.

I've tried watching the Arsenal match and then the WBA v Ipswich Town match, now I've switched to watching the Frankfurt v Stuttgart game and guess what, no matter how much I try, I just can't get into any of the matches. I think this time the Premier League have completely destroyed my already waning interest in the sport.

I'll still be at Goodison tomorrow, and trying to roar Everton on to victory, more out of defiance and bloody-mindedness than any sort of affinity for the sport.

Yeah, he signed for Palace and can't get a start with Sam Johnstone in front of him.

Aaron Ramsdale was at Sheffield United.

And Dean H as well, Rob. I bet you're just rubbing your hands together for tomorrow, you lucky fella!

Well you can't say that's not been coming. Arsenal 1-0.

What a ball in from Saka.

Paul, it's like I want to be in every place at the same time. I will be in the Brick pre-match and hopefully be in the march up to the ground.

But I also want to take in the atmosphere around the ground before the match, and definitely don't want to miss when the teams come out, for the reaction from the fans.

Days like tomorrow were made for Evertonians like you Rob. Stand up in the Upper Gwladys so that we can see you on TV!

Ramsdale gets the most unlikely of clean sheets.

I'm kinda glad. I hate Arsenal cheating bastard diving players but at least Man City and Liverpool drop a place now.

Well said, Paul.

Does a nail-biting relegation battle provide extra revenue to the Premier League? Has anyone considered we were dropped back to the Bottom 3 to make it more interesting this season?

I don't think the Premier League actually cares who gets relegated each season, as long as it's not one of the protected “Top 6”. And the Bottom 3 this season are particularly bad. So they “create” a relegation battle via bogus points deduction.

We're only 26 points behind Arteta, we're coming for you lad!

Ha, I missed this, our Niasse has signed for Savage's Macclesfield.

Dear God!

Rob,

If Everton were in the bottom three and let's say Luton had 14 points and 10 were taken away plunging them in the mix, I think it is reasonable to assume it would give Everton the manager and fans all a lift.

I presume you are saying it won't matter (hope you are right!) but we will see.

Same thing as all of us wanting Luton, Sheff Utd and Burnley to lose today – it didn't work out that way. Luton will now be hoping we get beat tomorrow as will the other two.

I don't think it is going to easy getting out of the fucking mess we are in – keeping key players fit is going to be massive.

Rob, same here.

It will be one of those “I was there” moments/occasions. I have been like a coiled spring all week, really, really, really can't wait.

I guess we are all thinking the same.

As long as the points deduction gets no worse as a result of either the appeal or administration, I think we will be fine too.

Yes, the teams around us have had a big lift but they really are shite, we are miles better and I can still see us finishing around 13 or 14th plus a Carabao Cup win.

Bring it on! UTFT!

Some people on here need to get real: we are in a fucking relegation battle, stop romanticising about a fuck you Premier League – we are Everton, this is what we do.

Luton beat us, lost narrowly to Man Utd away, gave the RS a fright before drawing, and won today, so that's them in the mix. Burnley almost beat West Ham today and they will come again. Sheffield Utd are only one win from a resurgence, so don't write them off.

And we are in there with all 3. Bournemouth won, Nottm Forest lost narrowly so it's us and the 3 promoted teams, one or two of which will have a decent run at some point… So welcome to reality.

If we win tomorrow, we will still be in the Bottom 3. sorry to piss on your chips, but being really excited and winning tomorrow doesn't get us out of the mire.

Kulusevski, how did you hit the bar? Fantastic move, to get nothing from it is a crime against football.

Ah Iwobi, why did we sell you, you really are as good as you think you are

IWOBI!!!!!!!!!

A goal made by Everton and scored by Everton

Still can't pass though.

Sour grapes Dale Yu.

Bellegard can ball. Ive seen a couple of games and he impresses 1-1

Nice goal.

The Yank Robinson was embarrassed there.

Yes Dale, great play out wide by Bellegarde and a perfect cross. Still a bit for Cuhna to do, but a big leap to get his head high enough to bang it into the corner. Good goal.

If Fulham struggle for goals they could slide their way to danger. They can't really lock it down on defence. A spell of CB jitters and maybe they join the party.

Cuhna has been good all season. Fulham need a forward, Dale. They haven't replaced whatshisname since he left: Mitrovic, that's it. There's four or five clubs in the mix for 18th, but only a third of the season gone.

Tied back dreds are the new manbun I see.

Castagne plays for Fulham now. Missed that. He gets a goal now and then. Decent player.

I didn't realize how dependent on Paulinha Fulham are. Never struck me as the linchpin but his positional stuff is badly missed.

Decent half of footy that, but I get bored when games don't have protests.

Just saw Iwobi's goal. Credit to him, dragging that ball goalward from behind your run takes considerable skill. Glad we took the £20M though, he would have wasted space.

Still find it hard to fathom why/how we spent so much on Iwobi.

Great stuff from Castagne, we missed something there.

Should be a yellow for Fulham here.

I take it back, he shifted the ball before contact. Penalty.

He touches the ball and the player, could go either way, but not a dive I think.

Top penalty that/

Pass dickhead

Castagne does not dig the CBs at all. A couple of closeups early when he dug passes out of the box showed that. Kjer just showed why. Good take on the pen.

A decent third back- up striker in fantasy prem is Haung

Ha. You trashed him 6 weeks ago

Did I, don't remember that, but if I did then he's shit.

Ha again. I'm all for consistency

Can't believe they'll get three points from this. 3-2.

That is a fucking soft penalty.

Totally disillusioned. So many cheats. Both of Fulham's penalties were a Joke.

I stick to my verdict on Martial cheating yesterday.

He can take a penalty that lad,

Wolves deserve an equaliser.

Wilson learnt to do that at the red shite.

Yes, the dark arts return. Disgusting.

Good game that.

Crazy some of the decisions that are being made by the VAR.

I don't know about the VAR more like VHS the quality is so scratchy.

Give me football prior to this absolute joke of an invention, back when you could tackle fairly but firmly and games rolled and flowed freely without such stop-start controversy.

Absolutely correct, Jim (107),

The main talking points after most games are the VAR and the referees. And wait until next season starts — they are talking about increasing VAR reviewing corners, yellow cards and others parts of the game. If they do, that will be the end of football although that started with the Premier League and the start of the VAR.

I think the way football is now, Marine and other local clubs all over the country will see an increase in their attendances.

Dave, you're absolutely right. Even I'm thinking of sticking to my local team (Broadbridge Heath FC) if this farce carries on. At least they play in blue and the old bloke on the gate is an Evertonian.

And the queue at the bar is 5 deep at worst…

The VAR is killing it for me – it's a tool to enable selective match fixing. That and the money restrictions designed to maintain the top elite is destroying the competition.

Mark, wash your mouth out with dishwater. I love grass roots and will watch any game of football. You'll be there at Tottenham away!

I'll keep this simple: the VAR isn't the enemy.

Transparency. Competence. Accountability.

If managers and players have to be interviewed in the heat of the moment, why can't the officials be asked to explain themselves? Why can't they be heard at the time like at Twickenham?

I suspect my conspiracy theory suspicions might not be far off the mark.

Star struck officials bowing to the so-called mighty. Afraid to make a call. Protected behind a wall of silence. I could go on, but it's only 4 days until we play our next game.

The VAR is part of a process being used to help fix (I deliberately chose a word with a double meaning) certain situations imo.

But if it gets any worse and they start using it for things like Dave described@108, then I also believe it will destroy a massive part of why people go to the stadium to watch football.

But what do I know?

Dave, Mark, Danny, I totally agree about grassroots football.

I'm going to see South Liverpool vs Bootle tomorrow night. I'm actually looking forward to it and it will cost a tenner, including a decent pastie at half-time.

The idea that PGMOL want to extend the VAR's influence to less important but not inconsequential parts of the game, sends the message that they believe that VAR is currently working just fine.

That in itself is a concern for the supporters, but perhaps for the broadcasters and the bookies, it's great news: more debate, more filling of endless blogs and sports pages, more for the likes of Sky Sports News and TalkSport to fill their air-time with.

The Americanisation of football, with its endless, and mostly meaningless stats, appearing all over the screen – which many people within the stadium have little or no interest in.

But it can, for the TV viewer, make even the drabbest of games seem to be more fun because it might be mired in controversy due to the VAR and the viewer will be shown a load of useless stats that they might discuss in the pub or with those watching alongside them in their homes.

The spirit of the game has been lost in a confusing fog of the authorities attempting to seek perfection, when what most fans really want to see is the consistency of the rules being implemented for all teams at all levels.

The authorities, by attempting to make everything seem perfect, are destroying the point of the game – it's supposed to be a distraction from the real life issues that most of us face, it's supposed to be fast-paced, spontaneous, unscripted entertainment.

But it's become such a part of the fabric of society that its importance to our individual lives has been overblown and exaggerated to such a point that it's become farcical and has more in common with other reality TV shows such as Big Brother and I'm A Celebrity than it does with competitive sport.

How long will it be, before the TV audience has a say on what decision should be given via their TV remote control or mobile phone? "Was it a penalty? – you decide!"

If this trend continues, I won't be following any non-league club or amateur team, I'll be joining the cult of "I'm an Evertonian get me out of here" and find something more productive to do with my free time.

Barry, the VAR is working.

It doesn't produce the right decisions, but that's not what it's there for.

I can completely understand why PGMOL want it broadened. Unless they really cock up, they've never had it so good.

Barry, I don't know how else to put this so I'll revert to my roots. Football has cocked it up. Compounded by incompetent officials and rules that see a player given offside for his front left stud or end of his elbow being ahead of the Stockley Park lines.

A big part of the issue is how it's being implemented.

Get them on the microphone to talk through their decision making process.

Stephen, enjoy. I still follow local teams near me. South Liverpool. Now there's a trip down memory lane. I always glance left as I travel to Lime Street as we pass through what is now Liverpool South Parkway and takes up the majority of what was their former ground.

Garston or Allerton? I think Garston?

They play at Otterspiol now I believe? Jericho Lane. Fields I graced once. I use the phrase graced liberally!!!

Rats, I can't find the Barcodes game anywhere - Barca on sky, Man City on TNT. I want to watch the skunks get humiliated and laugh at the shirtless thick twats in the stand.

TNT Sports 2 over here, Paul. It's all PSG who should already be one up.

Great, thanks Rob, I can get that, I just checked TNT1. Cheers mate.

Dortmund just damaged Skunks' chances. 0-1 Penalty

If Dortmund can hold on, and PSG win, then it's all over for the Geordie redshite.

Mbappe needs to calm down a bit… he looks really wound up, and his frustration may get the better of him.

We need Milan to win that one, Dale, as that will mean that the skunks will deffo finish bottom of the group if they lose in Paris and not even in the Europan League.

Gone, vanished, humiliated, end of, see ya, enjoy the trip back to shit-ville, auf wiedersehen pet.

Twats.

FFS, Donnarumma should have held that. Piss poor goalkeeping.

Tragic goalkeeping, crap. And fecking awful defending letting Livremento dance through like that.

Chukwueze just dribbled the Dortmund LB beat two to the byline, cutback and drilled into the side netting. 1-1

Man City 2 down at home.

1-2 Dortmund. Clever play at the top of the box.

Make that 1-3. Milan CBs getting scorched from simple plays

A hideous night so far, PSG tossers, skunks might be bottom right now but they would have a great chance of qualifying if Dortmund/PSG draw or Dortmund win and the slimey obese shirtless gobshites beat Milan whose defence looks all Keane and Godfrey

Foden bossing things right now

Dortmund's Adeyemi on the left has been impressive.

Get in, even sweeter, it was not a pen.

Tough tittie, you skunk maggots! 😁😁😁

Giving that penalty just sums up how shite the game has become.

It's ridiculous. It won't be long before all the enjoyment has been squeezed out of football in its inevitable march towards a totalitarian, emotionless, fucking mess.

Brian, there was a much clearer penalty for PSG earlier on, not given. Was a funny moment though, because following “the foul” by Gordon, Pope had the ball in his hands and threw the ball out to a teammate.

Suddenly the referee stopped play and picked the ball up. Everyone must have thought the VAR had told him to review it, but after a few seconds, he gave a drop ball to PSG. Very strange actions all round.

Rilliams Williams I think you summed it up perfectly.

“It's supposed to be fast-paced, spontaneous, unscripted entertainment.”

I'd be interested to know how many players honestly see it that way?

Is that why any of us have ever wanted to take to the pitch? Is it about entertainment or just competition that just happens to be entertaining? (no, I don't think they are necessarily the same thing.)

Were any of the professional clubs set up with that ambition in their original charter? I very much doubt it.

‘Unscripted'? Well most things don't have a script. Professional sportspeople however spend their lives training their bodies and reflexes to absolutely minimise the variation in what they do when they are ‘reacting' to unfolding circumstances.

When did football become more part of the entertainment industry than the sporting industry? When did most of the things we hate now started creeping into it?

I've said before that, in my view, people who go to the game should consider themselves primarily as supporters rather than customers waiting to be entertained. I say that because, through that positive interaction, fans can legitimately feel part of any success on the pitch. You don't feel like you've won something when you go and watch a play, do you?

I bet the really successful ‘entertainers' like Messi and Christiano Ronaldo enjoy befuddling their opponents more than simply performing for a crowd. I bet they'd do it just as eagerly if there were no crowds.

The adulation of the masses is just an added bonus, something they'd pass up if they'd ever needed to swap something for success.

Tasty this, that keeper is insane and isn't he the skipper?

Hey Rob, if you come on, have a great holiday mate and enjoy the cricket. You're going in a couple of days right?

Would love to see you on the Live Forum taking care of the whingers and whiners. There's this fella called Victor Yu ..........

That's a tight group at the bottom. Just got in and missed all the action.

Brilliant 2nd from the slug Fernandes

I reject that as well as the so called worldy, overrated.

That kid Garnacho is a cracking little footballer - has a bit of the (red) devil in him as well. I like him.

Players like that are usually hated by opposition supporters, but I always enjoy watching quality who also like to get under people's skin. Fair play to him. Talent and balls. Something we've lacked for years.

He certainly did something to upset their keeper, James, and I don't just think that it was scoring! He took that beautifully.

I think it was running to the Gala fans with his hand behind his ear that upset their keeper, Paul. He loves a windup of supporters does Garnacho, and I'm all for it, especially in a cauldron like Galatasaray.

He did it to us at the weekend, and who can blame him after scoring a career goal. It was a beauty. :)

Delicious. Game on. Why the fuck couldn't he play like that Sunday?

I must confess that is one of my pet hates, James, it's sort of outdated but still goes on.

Golazo! 3-3

Gala's touchline work to break through Utd's defence has been brill.

Good enough, Utd bottom of the group

This Arsenal game could be really close!

Jeez just got in 4-0.

Lens scheming a big comeback? I'm stuck with Real and Bayern matches.

Rob, when are you heading off to the Carribean?

This Gooners game is a snooze-fest now. Jessies moaning about 19°F temperatures in Cumbria. It was 14°F here and we were out in tee-shirts and shorts.

Tomorrow, Paul. Driving down to Gatwick airport, staying overnight in a nearby hotel, then flight is 9.30 Friday morning.

Have a great holiday, mate! Enjoy the cricket. And maybe see you on the live forum on Saturday! The game is on Sky but I watch through Peacock.

This is the site/link I use to watch Sky main event directly from here (not sure if it will work in the Carribean, but it might):

https://crichdplayer.com/sky-sports-main-event-live-stream-play2

If you use it – this is annoying – for volume you need to press the blank area on the right-hand side where volume control is, sometimes as many as ten-ish times, but it will definitely come on for you.

Thanks for that. 👍👍👍