Deacs

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.

Is that real? Are we pretty much safe, 8 points clear, with 4 games to go? Did we just send Klopp off with the best goodbye? Did we keep a clean sheet against them and not get fucked by VAR?
I really don't know what to make of all that, I need to go lie down...

Like everything else, tastes like chicken

What a time to pull that out!

I know people are making a joke out of his outfit change (and it is funny!) but I did like his explanation for it.
They’d asked the players to do some different things since the Chelsea game and the honest conversations they’d had, so he wanted to show them that he was doing different things too.
It’s only a small thing, obviously, but I think it sends a good message that they’re all in this together.

I know it’s a big ask. It’s not like they’re professional footballers… 😳

Get in.   Horrible to watch 

We look so much better when we try and play a  bit of football on the ground 

Annoyed to see Young at RB. 

Watched my boys U/15 side play this morning (I’m from the land down under). They have started to play some basic but effective football. Moving the ball quickly into space, working hard to create/find space. Simple passes to a player facing the right way not into a congested area in the middle of the pitch because they didn’t know what else to do with the ball. Like I said basic but effective. Towards the end of the game it struck me how little of this I see in the premiership now (not just us) the gap between the top and the rest is massive and the fear of losing (or being relegated and the associated loss of revenue) is stifling football. Relevance to this topic. Just play football!

I know it’s a big ask. It’s not like they’re professional footballers… 😳

We’re two points clear with two games in hand and we play three of the teams below us. Getting a point or both back on appeal shouldn’t be relevant. 

We just need to play football!

Watched my boys U/15 side play this morning (I’m from the land down under). They have started to play some basic but effective football. Moving the ball quickly into space, working hard to create/find space. Simple passes to a player facing the right way not into a congested area in the middle of the pitch because they didn’t know what else to do with the ball. Like I said basic but effective. Towards the end of the game it struck me how little of this I see in the premiership now (not just us) the gap between the top and the rest is massive and the fear of losing (or being relegated and the associated loss of revenue) is stifling football. Relevance to this topic. Just play football!

We’re two points clear with two games in hand and we play three of the teams below us. Getting a point or both back on appeal shouldn’t be relevant. 

We just need to play football!

Watched my boys U/15 side play this morning (I’m from the land down under). They have started to play some basic but effective football. Moving the ball quickly into space, working hard to create/find space. Simple passes to a player facing the right way not into a congested area in the middle of the pitch because they didn’t know what else to do with the ball. Like I said basic but effective. Towards the end of the game it struck me how little of this I see in the premiership now (not just us) the gap between the top and the rest is massive and the fear of losing (or being relegated and the associated loss of revenue) is stifling football. Relevance to this topic. Just play football!

Watched my boys U/15 side play this morning (I’m from the land down under). They have started to play some basic but effective football. Moving the ball quickly into space, working hard to create/find space. Simple passes to a player facing the right way not into a congested area in the middle of the pitch because they didn’t know what else to do with the ball. Like I said basic but effective. Towards the end of the game it struck me how little of this I see in the premiership now (not just us) the gap between the top and the rest is massive and the fear of losing (or being relegated and the associated loss of revenue) is stifling football. Relevance to this topic. Just play football!

I know it’s a big ask. It’s not like they’re professional footballers… 😳

This is the game in which all the players need to stand up and be counted - it is a proper 6 pointer. I can forgive the performance away to Chelsea if we get a reaction from the players and we get a deserved win against Forest. Beating Forest on Sunday is far more important than putting in a performance at Stamford Bridge. If the embarressing manner of Mondays defeat give the team the kick up that is needed for this run in, then it may not turn out to the be as bad a result as it initially looks. 
The fans will well and truly get behind the team if they show the fight that is expect. 
 
 

I think Garner at right back with permission to get forward and cross is a good idea. Gana, Gomes and Onana in midfield.  I'll be honest, Onana deserves dropping and if it wasn't for the fact that Doucoure gives the ball away a criminal amount of time he would be dropped.

Dele has no future with us he hasn’t played for 12 months anyone would be mad to invest 10m in him. 

unfortunately that's a big only. it's go to the point now that teams smell blood around Everton. Forest and Luton will be look at us winnable games. 
fucking hell do we miss Gana when he doesn't play.

If he's lost them then they wouldn't give a shit about that.
Their body language and effort levels does not scream that he's lost the players at all.
I get that a lot of our fans aren't keen on Dyche, I can't say I am either and I didn't want him in the first place, but all the bullshit shouts from some of you is fucking tiring and comes about every time we have a bad run of form. No matter the manager.
Why? Because we don't have a good squad and haven't for a long time. Hence the relegation battles.
Shut the fuck up whinging all the time and creating noise (not you personally, everyone that does it). Get on with supporting the team until the end of the season.

I came away from the game concerned and I'll explain why.
we have tougher games coming up that will rely on us having some ability to put passes together. We were against 10 men of a poor side and looked the worse team.  
 
we need Onana to be the best version of himself and gana winning us the ball back. Play Gomes in there with them and put garner right mid.
 
doucoure looks like a league one player.... a couple of times he panicked on the ball and just kicked it back towards our goal and fortunately one of our players got there first.   Whatever he offered - he doesn't anymore 

It’s a shame, I thought today would be ideal to kick on from a good performance in mid week.
I still think we will win today but I look at the starting line up and think we’ve missed a trick.

Apparently so. Despite my defence of Dyche today, Young playing is fuckin barmy.