Cornish Steve

I didn't write that players should face "no criticism", just not "OTT criticism". It was getting to the point where Young and Beto were being pilloried in every other message. DC-L missed a sitter on Thursday, no less than the opportunity Beto missed last weekend, but is DC-L being criticised endlessly? No. Young played a different position on Thursday, and played it well, so does he deserve, in virtually every message, to be ridiculed and demeaned? No. I agree that no player should be immune from criticism, but it gets a little tiresome to read message after message that goes over the top. Just my opinion.

I was wondering whose shirt is number 58. Looking it up, it's Mackenzie Hunt.

Without the point deduction, we would be above Chelsea in the table. That means we ought to be favourites to win this game.

I was receiving text notifications about the score during business meetings I was attending yesterday in Dallas, and I couldn't believe the score going up and up. At the airport, I read everyone's comments with praise for the entire team. That's so encouraging after all the negativity surrounding Young and Beto, both of whom appeared to play well yesterday. I hope this puts an end to the OTT criticism faced by these players. The truth is that both are contributing to our winning run. Well done to them and to everyone on the team.

Clearly not ready for the Prem. Where's the slide, the fanatical celebration, and taunting opposition fans?

Everton 1-3 Bar Codes Harrison

For round 14, I manager to win by a point. There were a few strange anomalies this round. First of all, no-one predicted a clean sheet. Second, only one person predicted that Everton would score a single goal - and he predicted a loss even while coming second. Third, Bill increased his lead per prediction even while forgetting to post! It means that, for the month of December, I'm a point ahead of MikeO. Boston Toffee still leads for the season, and Bill leads per prediction.

It's all going to come out one day, I'm sure, and there will be uproar when it does: influence of gambling, influence of big money, influence of Saudis, power-grabbing and egotistical in-fighting, and no end of illegal bribes and influence-peddling. I can't wait for the day because there's no doubt the league is being tarnished and diminished and fans are being taken for suckers.

In fairness, that should be the attitude of every player in the squad.

Let's also not forget that Beto won the free kick that led to our goal.

There are some similarities since Lukaku would come across as lazy, but he was a top goalscorer nonetheless. Whether it's pacing himself - choosing which opportunities to chase and not others - or something else, I'd rather a goalscorer that comes across as lazy than a busy bee whose goal stats don't warrant a second glance. What matters in the end is scoring goals. I'm confident Beto will get there once this initial famine ends.

Sorry, but I just can't let this pass. Remember when we had one of the top 30 best strikers of the past decade - better than van Persie, Robben, Torres, Giroud, and Falcao? (He's ranked #26.) https://www.givemesport.com/87988881-ronaldo-messi-neymar-zlatan-top-50-forwards-of-the-2010s-ranked/ I was disappointed with Beto as well, but we'll see a big change in him once he bags a couple of goals. It's clear he's a confidence player: that's the issue right now, not lack of ability.

McNeil's goal was very well taken, and he should've had one in the first half as well.

Once again, it's a clean sheet. It may not alway be pretty, but our defence lets in fewer goals than most.

Honestly, we don't see what happens in training, so it's not fair to pick so much on Ashley Young. Our defence this season is one of the better ones in the league, so it can't all be wrong. Branthwaite was given his chance at the right time, and I'm sure Patterson will be, too.

One or both of Beto and Chermiti to score today.

You can always contract out the work to others who live here.

Forest 1-2 Everton McNeil

Poor predictions. Unwanted result. Boston Toffee leads for the season, but Bill leads per prediction.

I remember when several of you gave me flak for claiming the Royals benefit from the assets of those in the Duchy of Cornwall who die intestate. "But it all goes to charity", you wrote. "The Royals wouldn't do anything as greedy and unconscionable as benefiting from the death of others", you wrote. Surprise! "We've been lied to. Moneys we all thought were going to charity have instead been used to improve properties owned by the duchy, increasing the income stream that flows from them into Charles's pockets." https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/nov/24/royal-greed-king-charles-profiting-dead-disgusting

I wish I could fly overnight to see this game in person. The volume in the stadium will be deafening, the intensity of players and the fans will be immense, and, even with refs working against us, Everton will be unstoppable. I've no doubt it will be a game that those present will never forget. Can't wait to read the reports of those in attendance.

And in other news, the sky is blue, water is wet, ...

You're not below average; you're below TT Average, which is different. TT Average is the average of all predictions made, which (because of the "wisdom of crowds") is usually a very good predictor of scores. It's not uncommon for TT Average to achieve the highest score in this game. By the way, if you want to win some cash, enter those competitions at local fairs where you must guess the number of marbles in a jar - but wait until the end of the day. Look at all the previous guesses and calculate the average. Chances are you might well win. The wisdom of crowds was used once to predict where a submarine sank in the Atlantic. A number of experts were asked to predict the exact location, and then they took the average of all predictions. The submarine was found 100 yards from that spot.

PLonkers.

Newcastle looking to buy him in January. Go take a running jump. The rich don’t always get their way.