Cornish Steve

Ok.. Correct format this time.. Norwich 1-1 Everton Jelavic

Mark Lawrenson predicts 2-1 Norwich. Jerk!

Personally I've never seen the value of Garett Barry. I certainly don't understand why he ever played for England. Still, I would be glad to be proved wrong should he be loaned to Everton.

He may be good, and let's hope his confidence is back, but he's not on a par with a Suarez or Van Persie.

In fairness, the BBC did not quote his entire comment - which went on to say that they still have to play 38 games and it will be tough for the teams that play his team. On the other hand, the FA have confirmed that he had the gall to complain to them suggesting bias because they won the league last year. I can just imagine the conversation: "We haved to play three difficult teams in our first five games. That's unfair. I demand you change the schedule so we play Palace, Hull, and Cardiff first." "OK. Done. So now you play those tough teams at the end of the season." "Wait. That's not fair. If we're in a tough promotion battle, we should be playing easier teams at the end of the season. Palace, Hull, and Cardiff last." "OK. Done. So now you play the tough teams over Christmas and the New Year." "Bias! That will slow our momentum. Over the holidays, we should play Palace, Hull, and Cardiff." "And what about the Easter weekend?" "Same thing. It must be Palace, Hull, and Cardiff." "But sir, you only play those teams twice," "What? Most of our games are against difficult teams? What is this - a conspiracy? Next you'll be telling me I'm only allowed 11 players on the pitch."

1-1. Everton goal from Jelavic.

Agree with just about all of this, except the reference to Newcastle - who will be fighting relegation all season. I'd replace their name with Aston Villa.

I'd put a different spin on this: - Baines is staying - Fellaini is staying - Barkley and Stones are ready for the big leagues - Three new players brought in - One new player on loan Even without additional transfer activity, this looks good.

This is not intended as a dig at any manager or team (although I confess to being very frustrated that the Fellaini saga is dragging on and on). It's simply a factual summary of transfer activity of two teams who brought in a new manager on July 1. Everton in: 4 total (including 1 on loan, fees of 8m) Everton out: 6 total (including 1 retired) ManU in:1 total (fees of 2.4m) ManU out: 9 total (including 1 retired) It's been this way for almost 6 weeks now, and only two weeks remain in the current transfer window. You have to think that the coming days will be chock-a-block with activity for the Reds.

And all I have to say about that is.......nah, forget it.

Not another almost former Wigan player? And Baines too? Relegation!

OK - I slightly mis-spelled Luca's name (confused maybe by Stefane Morrone who's with Parma). Here's the link.

So if the choice was between the Australian Brillante, the Spanish Crappo, and the Italian Morone, your selection is obvious.

Glad you have such confidence. Very few throughout history would share your opinion, including most of the world's most brilliant people. And, frankly, today is not much different. I don't see fear of death as a phobia, actually. Whether you call it survival instinct or, as I would, something more than that, it is a pervasive and understandable fear. I won't start a debate on this: Suffice it to say, though, that it's easy to build a public veneer on this topic and to display bravado, but many people who do their best to embrace nonchalance remain terrified when the moment comes. I don't see that as weakness at all, more avoidance. As for phobias, I've been in many high places in the world to try to overcome my fear of heights, but I just can't shake it. I had no problem in a hot air balloon; it's heights on solid objects that's the problem. My other phobia is snakes, and I've never even tried to overcome that one. We have rattlers where we live, and my son saw a copperhead on our front path a few days ago. That makes me nervous. As for spiders and bugs in general, I try to catch them and let them go free outside. I've had to temper that a little, though, because I came across a brown recluse the other day (which is poisonous).

By Christmas, maybe 9th-11th. As the team begins to gel with the new approach, they'll kick into gear in the spring and finish 6th or 7th. With luck, we could finish 5th. Liverpool are a complete unknown for me right now, and I wouldn't like to predict whether they'll finish above or below us. Swansea may be last year's West Brom - going gangbusters initially but then falling back. If we do finish 5th, it will be ahead of ManU.

It's all about negotiating the right price for Fellaini right now. Say you're going to buy and you're giving away an ace. Just be patient. The real work is being done behind the scenes.

I agree that he'd get plenty of playing time. RM is not one to play the same team week in and week out, plus he has an excellent track record of making tactical substitutions.

Money, money, money! That's why.

Tofu?

But so would the Market Rasen over-60s B-Team.

Just read this quote from the Daily Star: "Repeatedly this summer, Moyes has spoken of the difficulty in securing new players quickly due to the upheaval created by Sir Alex Ferguson's departure." I really don't understand this: If RM can bring in four players within a week, how come DM can't bring in a single player in six weeks because of the "upheaval" of the former manager's departure? It makes no sense. The whole transfer business with Fellaini and Baines is driving me to drink. I wish ManU would just get on with it so we have time not only to bring in replacements but also for them to become part of the team. I remain convinced it will happen for something over 40m; it's just a matter of time.

I can see Morecambe and Peterborough providing upsets.

For pity's sake DM, are you going to do a deal or aren't you? How can teams plan with such infernal dithering? It's so frustrating to read all these reports in the press and then to see zero activity from the Reds. I'd really hate to see a merry-go-round on the last day of the transfer window.

Would be glad to provide an opinion. 1) I wish David Moyes every success. He did very well at Everton, but the time was right for him to move on. Think Tony Blair initially the PM of Britain, but the time was later right for him to become a Middle East envoy for the United Nations. Moyes from Everton to ManU; Blair from Britain to the Middle East. Fair comparison? 2) As far as I'm concerned, Martinez was the highest ranking man available. As a young manager, his track record is impressive. He turned Swansea from almost a non-league team into the EPL powerhouse they are today. He turned Wigan into a team that, on its day, could beat any other team in the EPL, even in a town of only 75,000 people and a pitifully small budget. Clearly he has the respect of Barcelona, because they loaned Deulofeu to Everton and not to other EPL teams. I'm very excited about RM now being at the helm of Everton. 3) Money does not hold back a team from a top four place. See how Notts Forest won the European Cup two years in succession despite having a very small budget compared to ManU, Liverpool, and so on. It can be done. Watch the coming season, and you'll see that this is the case. Money is a factor, but it's not the principal factor. 4) Frankly, why is this relevant? I think ManU's new kit is a joke, but I wouldn't probe you about it. 5) From what I hear, Wayne Rooney and David Moyes didn't really get along at Everton, so it's no surprise to see they don't get along at Old Trafford. Payback? Who knows. It would seem in everyone's best interest that Rooney leave and join Chelsea. 6) It is a wide open season. Everton, Swansea, Liverpool, Spurs, and other teams have a genuine opportunity to finish this year in the Top Four. There may well be some surprises this season. 7) The strongest assets of ManU are its history and its fan base. Its biggest weaknesses are its defence, its midfield, and its forwards. Honestly, the biggest name brought in during this transfer window is a player from some no-name country in Latin America who has played first team football for only a year? And this because no fewer than six players from Europe turned down ManU. Think about it. That is a huge problem. 8) I could say the same about ManU at various times over the last few decades. What matters, of course, is where we are now. Two seasons in a row ahead of Liverpool, and the current season will make it three. Nothing there to hurt. 9) Everton could finish anywhere from 1st to 20th. Personally, I'd say anywhere from 3rd to 10th. 10) Manchester United could finish anywhere from 1st to 20th. Personally, I'd say anywhere from 3rd to 10th. In other words, we'll be at about the same level this year. Want a small wager on which team will finish higher up the league? It might influence your answers to questions 1 and 2.

So which is it? The headline reads 50m, but the article states 35m.