Romey 1878

I’ve been looking forward to this.

You expanded on my shorter post perfectly.

I'd much rather he was our manager next season than not. The following season is another question. Things don't look like they're going to be any easier for us next season (in terms of off field stuff) so I'd prefer to keep the stability going. We absolutely cannot get relegated any time soon and he's the safest option to make that a reality. That doesn't mean he's a guarantee but I think it's too risky to get shut in the summer.

I really hope he finishes his playing career with us.

I keep expecting his legs to fall off but it just does not look like happening. It seems he really loves it here too. He was singing along with the fans as he went down the tunnel last night.

I really hope we give him another year. Finances are obviously going to be tight for the foreseeable so it would make sense.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/apr/24/sean-dyches-tracksuit-energy-shocks-weary-liverpool-into-submission

A man for the big occasion.

Fair enough, I didn't do the research. It was just what I'd seen on Twitter. Wolves have denied it's their players.

What a prick trying to steal Branthwaite's goal though, eh?

Not to mention, he's got us a famous fan in Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day!

I never thought I'd be saying this, particularly in a derby, but the ref was very good last night.

Everton have beaten Liverpool at home in the Premier League for the first time since October 2010 (also a 2-0 win), ending their 12-game winless run in Merseyside derbies at Goodison Park (D9 L3 before tonight). Liverpool have lost two of their past three league games (W1), as many defeats as in their previous 42 matches in the competition combined (W28 D12). Jarrad Branthwaite (21y 302d) became Everton’s youngest goalscorer in a Premier League Merseyside derby since Romelu Lukaku in November 2013 (20y 194d) and their youngest Englishman to score in this fixture since Francis Jeffers in April 1999 (18y 68d). Liverpool have made 99 changes to their starting XI's in the league this season, with only Brighton (121) making more. The six changes tonight from Sunday's win at Fulham was their most for a Merseyside derby since April 2016 (nine changes in a 4-0 win at Anfield). Only Arsenal's David Raya (14) has kept more Premier League clean sheets this season than Everton's Jordan Pickford (11). Indeed, only in 2018-19 has the Englishman kept more shutouts in a top-flight campaign (14). Dominic-Calvert Lewin has scored three goals in his last four league games for Everton, as many as in his previous 28 appearances in the competition.

I was fuming at first and then sense came to me - he was all action for 90+ minutes on Sunday and then was doing the same for 75 minutes tonight and he's not exactly a young man anymore.

Just think what he could achieve if the players pick up their tools again.

I don't think I've ever felt so calm before and during a derby as I did today. It was so strange. Usually beforehand I'm a mess and just want it over with, but I felt no stress at all during the day. Then during I'm usually on verge of a heart attack but I felt really calm. A lot of that was down to the players because they were brilliant. We were the better side all over the pitch. That's not to say the shite didn't have chances, of course they're going to, but when they did we had our keeper their doing his job perfectly. I'm so proud of every single player tonight because each and every one of them performed to their optimum and gave everything they had to get that win. It wasn't a lucky win, it wasn't handed to us, we went out there and we won that game for ourselves and fucking deserved it. Pickford - What a keeper he is. Made some vital saves and also kept everyone calm when we were under pressure. Godfrey - His drifting infield caused me a bit of worry but on the whole a brilliant performance and that clearance off the toe of a shite player was key to the victory. Tarkowski - Glad to see he'd got rid of the clogs tonight! Absolutely rock solid. Branthwaite - He's some player, isn't he? I loved watching him tonight. So calm and composed and just dealt with everything that was thrown at him impeccably. Nice to see him get another goal too. Mykolenko - I hope his injury isn't too serious (I'd be surprised to see him play on Saturday though) because he was having another solid game until he had to go off. Harrison - I wish he'd have a bit more willingness to take on his man but tonight he was much more like the Harrison that impressed for Leeds. Pressed, helped out defensively, used the ball well. Gana - I honestly don't know where he gets the energy but he was absolutely everywhere, from the first whistle until he was subbed off. I was amazed tbh. My MOTM. Garner - It felt like he didn't actually touch the ball all that often (probably wasn't the case) but he was so disciplined in where he was on the pitch, which was needed while Gana went hunting. McNeil - His deliveries were fucking fantastic tonight. We've let ourselves down in that department in recent weeks but they were so dangerous from him tonight. He put it on a plate for Dom to power home his header. His work rate was right up there as well - just kept going and going and going. Doucoure - He's still not at the level he was before his injury but he's getting there. We still got the misplaced passes but we also got the pure effort and graft that we've come to love. DCL - Our number 9 played like a proper number 9. I thought he bullied the shites CB's all game and gave them a torrid time. He just worked, worked, worked and I'm so pleased that his efforts were rewarded with scoring the goal that sealed the win and could get the adulation from the Gwladys Street End like he deserved.

He got his fucking. I hope he enjoyed it but even if he didn't, I certainly did!

You don't think United would still play them? They did with Antony.

Proper centre-forward performance from him tonight. I'm so happy for him.

Gana.

Dyche might even decide to play Danjuma up front.

Apparently United are the only side that has two 19 year olds. Read into that what you will.

Forest are a weird club. https://www.teamtalk.com/nottingham-forest/marinakis-considers-legal-action-sky-sports-gary-neville-comments

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/apr/23/mps-call-for-english-footballs-regulator-to-have-power-to-save-fa-cup-replays