Btay

How exactly have I shit the bed? Curious, especially from the person who has pulled a figure from no where on his weekly wages and continuelly gone on about it. I’ve not once said he is more important than the club. I’ve been more than fair - just that I don’t expect all our players to come out and say Everton is my life because in all reality those kind of professionals are few and far between.

Because Carlo brought him here on the back of this “project” he was heavily invested in and then fucked off… I mean if I took a job and was promised all these developments in the pipeline and then after 12 months the person who brought me there jumped I would be questioning the direction too… He said in the summer he was happy to stay, he said he didn’t think he would go to Madrid - if they wanted him would he have gone? - Yes, along with every other member of our squad. He hasn’t been perfect, some of what he has said/done has been naive and that’s to put it nicely - but I really don’t think he warrants a lot of the criticism that’s come him way and think partially it’s due to how Carlo fucked us over and people see James as an extension of Carlo.

It’s been no secret that he hasn’t been in Rafa’s plans

Again I see nothing wrong what he has said. He has simply said I’m ready for selection if they want me. For me it’s equal parts - management seems to have shown less desire for him to be here than he has shown to be here. I don’t really care what he says just as long as when he is on the pitch we have the James that can pick apart teams.

Christ lads it looked like a warm down jog…..

I don’t see an issue what so ever with what he has said.

Yeah I have it a swerve. Maybe if it was a home game. Hope you guys get up, no qualms with the US team what so ever

American friends - putting together a dirty multi and the US are at decent odds to win today, how comfortable are you with getting up over Honduras?

Always here for you in your time of need mate!

Saying all the right things. His performances have been better than last year however that’s not saying much. Needs a big year if he is to stay here.

Brain fart there mate!

Pickford Holgate Mina Keane Digne Allan Doucoure Iwobi Gray DCL Richarlison Holgate, Mina and Keane to sit as a 3 as I expect us to have plenty of the ball here. Digne push on with Richarlison to come central with DCL. Bench, Begovic, Godfrey, Branthwaite, Kenny, Gomes, Gbamin, James, Townsend, Rondon

Pickford of late - perhaps. The Pickford before his new found maturity, no fucking chance. He still needs more time before he is captain.

Yeah that’s why I suggested Godfrey at RB. I can see Patto’s point. He’s our only decent RB, who’s been injury prone so we kind of need to wrap him in cotton wool a bit which is the opposite of this. Will never begrudge a player representing their country but we need him fit for 90% of the games

No I’m saying we are as likely to see him play left back as we are to see Mina play as a 10. Micheal Keane, a defender who has played for England is a great example of how severely CB’s mistakes can be punished. I don’t think we need to throw Branthwaite in the deep end just yet. Cup games, sure. Part of a back 3 or as a centre back, again sure. But we don’t need to shoehorn him into a side to get him minutes.

Alarm set for 10:50 to get up for this one. Should be an interesting race. That third corner should be entertaining, think there’s going to be some aggressive lines. Hoping Ricciardo can get a decent result.

I think I remember Vlasic saying he was our best midfielder but it wasn’t seen that way by Managment. Wouldn’t have been easy for him seeing 3 other players in his position ahead of him.

Okay so we’re not putting him at left back. Or are you saying we put him on the left side of the 5? With what I assume would be Yerry Mina as the number 10?

Bang on, he feels the love here as well. Seems a good bloke as well, he has a bit of a nasty streak as well so I don’t think he is someone to go through the motions. On his day, he is capable of winning the midfield by himself. Hopefully Benitez can get those days out of him consistently.

Christ mate we’re not chucking this giraffe at left back.

I’m hoping Rafa gets more consistency. Caro had really high highs and very low lows. I don’t expect us to get results against the big 3 this season but I wouldn’t be surprised if we finish higher in the table than last year.

No - we got that money in on deadline day. Early in the window? When Carlo had just left us or when the major European tournament was on? Or both? I agree it’s disappointing that we didn’t get the Rb but is coleman regarded better than the 4th or 5th option that was available? The money was there for Dumfries - he chose inter. Much of that is down to Carlo royally fucking us right before a European tournament. That threw a lot of plans out the window. I still think we might end up Aurier, not the best result but given what we have he could be a cost effective solution until we get someone we really want. We’re in this position because we previously threw stupid money at bang average players like Gylfi…

Yeah we could have pissed it all away on some last minute signing we didn’t really want. Patience mate, this window believe it or is a better direction than what we have shown the last 2/3 years. I believe we genuinely tried for Dumfries and had we got that one over the line I’d be so much more relieved but not to be.

I mean it’s not great reading for us but it’s still better than arsenals….

On the topic of RB cover - I agree that both Holgate and Godfrey looked awkward to say the least. Godfrey is better but it’s to sure up the defence more than anything which is okay. Does anyone think Townsend could do a job at RB? From what I’ve seen he seems to get stuck in, has great energy levels and seems to have a good footballing brain.