Cornish Steve

5 hours ago, Romey 1878 said:

Did it? Because I really don't remember ever thinking it would ever be anything other than a heavy defeat for us tbh .

Sitting on a plane, but at least I’m upgraded to first class. 
 

I must apologize. I muddled you with someone else. You did not change your prediction, although maybe you wish you had! Change and the score will be your original; don’t change and you’ll wish you had!

10 minutes ago, Matt said:

Thanks Steve and thanks for pointing that out to Mark, that won't annoy him at all...

 

Mmuhahahahahahahahhaaaaa

Well, he didn’t officially change his prediction, but his comments on this forum led me to believe he did change his mind. Anyway, it is good to taunt!

This season, we saw a grandstand finish. We have three joint winners - Boston Toffee, Palfy, and Romey - each finishing the season with 92 points (although all were 6 points behind TT Average). Congratulations, too, to Formby who pushed them all the way and finished just one point behind. Per prediction, the winner this year is Palfy. If we use Per Prediction as the tie-breaker, this would make Palfy the outright winner - but that rule wasn't in place, so there's no tie-breaker. Maybe next season.

(Romey: You should have learned the lesson by now. NEVER second-guess and change your prediction. If you'd stuck with your original prediction, you would have won outright.)

Thanks to everyone for participating, as always.

18 hours ago, Romey 1878 said:

Watch this and tell me what you notice.

 

Striking isn’t it. 

Arsenal 3-1 Everton
Tarkowski

To the four participants still in contention, I've sent your predictions to Matt since I won't be able to post them once the match has started (am traveling for most of the day). Should you wish to change your prediction ahead of kick-off, please message Matt rather than me. Thanks.

Psst Palfy: I did reassure Matt that you really did predict a 5-5 draw.

On 12/05/2024 at 10:20, patto said:

I think we should try to move him on I know we will lose money but try and get a decent amount on him I just don’t think he will make it here. 

Personally, I think he offers something. It takes some players a while to acclimatize to the PL. Let's be patient and see how he does when the new season begins.

1 hour ago, Matt said:

You'll have to allow for a change of scorer though mate

If I share the predictions with you, would you mind posting them here right after kick-off?

(Waiting for Palfy to offer to share them.  )

Yes, I now have all four predictions.

With kick-off time being at 11am Eastern, it's going to be a little awkward. I'm traveling that day and won't be able to post anything between 9am and midnight. Do you mind if I lock in your predictions by sharing them here earlier in the day?

7 hours ago, Palfy said:

Agreed or even Arteta, you could even make more of case for Dyche than Klopp, although I haven’t enjoyed his tactics and a few of his player selections and in game time decisions, I do readily accept he has had some big mountains climb. But Klopp getting in the top 3 would be a kick in the teeth too others more deserving. 
And just in case people think I’m mellowing over Dyche I still believe he should have been sacked in the middle of the season.  

After all the disagreements in the Dyche thread, it's encouraging to read this. Thank you for your magnanimity. (BTW - was that final sentence saying the same thing in Hindi?)

So it's officially confirmed: It's Klopp to Slop. Or is that Klott to Slot?

10 hours ago, Matt said:

Well not at the moment. He's got an agreement with a company that has no money but does have exclusivity

For just two weeks. You can bet your bottom dollar there are other consortia/potential owners about to step in. I'm quite upbeat about the situation. Just imagine if the PL had approved, 777 were already new owners, and then these proceedings in Belgium and elsewhere took place. We may be frustrated by the delay, but it's definitely saved us from a worse situation.

I've received 3 of 4 predictions from those still in the running, although I won't share their predictions until kickoff since they may want to change things once they know team selection.

6 hours ago, Palfy said:

You’ll have to get your boy friend partner to come on here and confirm that for you because I’m certainly not going to take your word for it.

May I suggest trouble-free phrasing?

26 minutes ago, Romey 1878 said:

 

These are very impressive stats.

On 10/05/2024 at 07:45, Matt said:

Because it's conceding out of convenience or some deal. We should've fought our defence to the end and cleared our name a bit. 

There was probably some behind-the-scenes deal - for example, regarding interest payments on the new stadium. If this is the case, I really hope the deal is documented so the league can't renege on us.

Does anyone remember Arteta's first season with Arsenal? He began by presiding over Arsenal's worst start in 46 years: 13 points from 12 games and 15th in the league table. Here's his run of 10 games leading up to the holiday period in his first full season as manager (2020):

Man City 1-0 Arsenal LOST
Arsenal 0-1 Leicester LOST
Man Utd 0-1 Arsenal WON
Arsenal 0-3 Aston Villa LOST
Leeds 0-0 Arsenal DRAW
Arsenal 1-2 Wolves LOST
Spurs 2-0 Arsenal LOST
Arsenal 0-1 Burnley LOST
Arsenal 0-0 Southampton DRAW
Everton 2-1 Arsenal LOST

But the owners had patience. They stuck with him, and now look where they are.

1 hour ago, Palfy said:

I agree but how would you have judged him on the games before the last 10, in particular the 14 when I believe but haven’t checked we were the weakest team in the league. 
As employees and managers, being judged on them results would normally incur 3 written warnings and dismissal, well they would if he worked for me

If you're given a project to lead, what matters is whether you deliver what's promised on time. What was promised on this occasion was a higher league position than last year. After hiring the project manager, though, he was told to manage with whatever resources were left over from a previous project, his budget was to be cut dramatically, and he'd have to spend a good deal of time working with government auditors investigating past financial shenanigans - even while ensuring everyone on the project is happy. After a fast start, work on the project got bogged down as the project manager adjusted to the new situation, but everyone pulled out the stops to deliver early - even after auditor fees and penalties ate into project margins.

As employees and managers, we're ultimately judged by our results. Over the last 6 games, Everton are 6th in the table. Over the last 10 games, Everton are 6th in the table. 'nuff said.

21 hours ago, StevO said:

I make tea and coffee at work now.

Still not making any for the rest of us, though.

7 minutes ago, RuffRob said:

me personally, first 10 games or so in the bad run not overly worried and still happy enough with Dyche as performances where generally OK. But as the run got longer - from Palace onward I was getting a bit nervouse and concerned, had other teams realised the how to beat our style, had the players run out of steam, nerves and low confidence coming in to games to much - should have beat Brigthon, West Ham etc, had Dyche lost the dressing rooms? etc etc, wasn't seeing answer or changes to rectify this, Pattersongate.

So circumstances and situation change - As generally been a Dyche advocate the cracks did appear and questions being asked where not being answered for a time, but he definately answered those question this past month. Probably was fortunate he didn't get fired, but he didn't and we have survived quite comfortably in the end. Maybe a lesson to all clubs and owners not to be too trigger happy. Maybe managers nowerdays are not afforded time when bad runs happen, not just talking Everton but at plenty of clubs. Lots of clubs end up going down even when they change manager in the final panic sacking.

The best example of not being trigger-happy is Arteta at high-flying Arsenal. The best example, and worst situation, of being too trigger-happy is relegated Birmingham City. You're right that there's a clear lesson here.

2 hours ago, Palfy said:

Tarkowski, Brainthwaite, Mykolenko and Pickford deserve all the praise and credit for our defensive performances, Pickford for making some of the best saves in the league to keep clean sheets, no coaching from Dyche, Tarkowski for always getting a foot in when needed, no coaching from Dyche. 

Do you know for how many years Tarkowski has played under Dyche?