Elston Gunnn

Lookman has a brace now. Everton lads looking very strong, all 4 of them. Maybe DCL not quite as impressive, ineffective finishing. But even he is getting into the right spots on the pitch.

Don't agree here. They pressed a lot, yet got back with numbers behind the ball as we tried to find a seam near the box. Whereas several times as they moved forward with the ball, we did our too-usual backing off, giving them plenty of space. And their defending in the box was far superior to ours. Though I concede that last point might be a left-handed compliment.

Swansea played with understandable passion. We played with an irritating lack of passion. The other major difference was that their defense in the box was excellent (except for that Mirallas flick near the end), whereas ours, especially Jagielka's, was disorganized.

Lukaku put a good cross in. Barkley stood still, absolutely no movement to get a foot to the pass. Then put hands on head. He's not strong in the box. To put it kindly.

Defoe is a free transfer. In his contract, if Sunderland are relegated.

AL's point (from MOTM thread) seems spot on to me, and is very, very worrying. Barkley was probably the anti-MOTM today. He does sparkle on occasion, including passing, displaying his great physical skills, including strength and remarkable balance. But too often he just wanders around the pitch, 2 steps behind where he should be, and going forward seemingly obsessed with over-clever dribbling. He doesn't like to get in the box much, either. Will he ever become a first-rate footballer? It's an open question, which is not a good sign for a club with real aspirations. Barkley presents a delicate problem.

In Friday's press conference, Koeman said no new injuries. ???

Surely one of Auto-Incorrect's iterations of the word "iterations." Not entirely convinced that MJB has chosen the correct word in his post (mildly) chastising me for lazy research; nor, for that matter, that I have chosen the correct word in explaining Auto-Incorrect's "iterTions." But whether MJB and I have fallen prey to misusing a word now very much in common parlance owing to the omnipresence of computer-ese, MJB's earlier post explaining the nuances of CL and EL placement seems, I now see, admirably thorough. I promise to pay more attention in future to intricate explanations, and maybe iterations.

I hope to avoid becoming involved in what has developed into a joke about general topic of obscure rules about CL and EL placement. But the possibility that Liverpool's loss today may well lead to their missing out on CL does, um, interest me.

CP's win today at Anfield leads me to check facts on what I assume about EPL slots in 2017-18 CL. Say Man City finish 3d, Liverpool 4th, with ManU 5th, 6th, or 7th. And say ManU win Europa League. Does that mean Liverpool would go into EL with Everton and Arsenal? If yes, Liverpool messed up big time today. While they have a relatively easy run-in, the same is true for Man City, who have 2 matches in hand on Liverpool. Help.

Two weeks back I said our real battle was with WBA for 7th, not with ManU and Arsenal for 5th-6th. As a realist, I thought several others were overly optimistic in thinking we could rise in the table. Two weeks on, they appear to have been better at predicting than I. (This is gentle way of my avoiding saying, "You were right, I was wrong.") Back then I said, "WBA are somewhat more a threat to take 7th than are Everton to move up." Now it seems fair to predict that, while Everton are still likely to finish exactly 7th, Everton are also much more a threat to move up than down. The 3 games in hand for both ManU and Arsenal are the big stumbling block to our hopes. But wins by Chelsea and Boro would produce some run-in drama, for sure. Maybe further unsettle Wenger and Mourinho.

This is my concern about Robles. Maybe it's the camera angles (though I doubt it), but especially on free kicks, he's frequently a step or even 2 off where he should be. Just seems -- literally, looks -- like fundamentally, laughably poor positioning. At any moment, he's capable of making a spectacukar save, but also of screwing up abysmally. I don't see him as a long-term #1, and will be both surprised and disappointed if we don't bring in a better GK this summer.

Amen.

I'll claim to be a realist rather than a pessimist in this mini-conversation. And I'll be thrilled to move up, even to 6th. Excited at the thought we might play for 6th @Arsenal the last day of the season.

I must be in a small minority here, but for me, our "battle for Europe" is with WBA for 7th, not with Man City, Man U, and Arsenal for 4th, 5th, 6th. Of course I'd much prefer to nick ahead of all 3 and take 4th for CL. But passing all 3 clubs -- 2 of which play Everton at home and have 2 games in hand compared to us, and the 3rd of which has a game in hand -- is highly unlikely. Virtually impossible absent taking 3 points @ both Man U and Arsenal. Even then, still unlikely. If we take -- I don't know, 18-20 points from the 24 remaining -- well, then maybe we will finish 5th, even 4th, but the 3 above us would all have to be mediocre in the run up. But we have a solid chance to win our real "battle for Europe," 7th in the table. Solid, and way, way more likely than moving up. But, even 7th, though solid and likely, is not guaranteed. Interesting that Everton and WBA play many of same clubs going forward. Here's a comparison. Exactly the same: both Everton and WBA are home to Leicester and Chelsea, and @Swansea. Similar: Everton get Watford and Burnley at Goodison, while WBA are @ both Watford and Burnley. Different: Everton have @Man U, @W Ham, @Arsenal, while WBA have Southampton, Liverpool, and @Man City. WBA are somewhat more a threat to take 7th than are Everton to move up.

Yes. Hate to root for Man U today, but don't want to see WBA steal 3 points at OT.

Fundamentals, energy, concentration, confidence. Liverpool yes, Everton no.

Yep, that's it. Fundamentals of the game.

Barkley overdribbling. Then another basic pass, Barkley failed.

Another basic pass, Holgate failed.

Yes, a major difference is their crisp passing v. our inability to make basic passes, over and over.

Lukaku had a shot there, but chose a fancy pass.

Barkley's balance and dribbling skills are impressive, but his passing is abysmal today.

Koeman just interviewed pre-match, referred to pressing Liverprool rather than sitting back. Unless I'm still half-asleep and misunderstood.

Because I'm a dolt. Meant Robles. Spelling of the 2 names is so similar that I got confused (........) Beyond that, my guesses were wrong in other ways. It does look to be 3 at the back. Youthful energy appears to be the theme.