Zoo 2.0

According to Sky Sports he's asking for £160,000 a week which is putting a lot of people off including Betis and West Ham. I'm glad that we're not in for him, I didn't want him to start with as he's shite and don't want him even more now that he's just another mercenary after big wages. Our biggest problem is that we don't have anyone in the squad of the "Everton mould". No Tim Howard, no Tim Cahill, no Duncan Ferguson so I'm happy for us to swerve this. Play DCL, Tosun or Charlie until summer and then actually scout someone that wants to be at the club and has the capability of putting the ball in the back of the net. 
Zouma said at the start of the season that he sees his future at Chelsea and to be honest can't see how he can look at our performances this season and think that this is the place for him - no way he signs permanently.

That was a huge 3 points. Not just because of how poorly we started and how we turned it around but also because we were put under the kosh from set pieces and not only did we come through that period (just) but we also then went up the other end and clinically finished the game off. The work rate, energy and determination showed today will hopefully prove the catalyst for our season.
The star of the show was Lookman. Even when we were crap, he was the best player and then the icing on the cake was the hard work, movement and composure to set up DCL to finish the game. Without doubt he stood up and showed why he should be starting games.
The rock for us was Keane. He made one poor touch but that was it. He seemed to win every header and he made one massive tackle/block late on.
Those first 30 minutes aside, I thought everyone played well. Gomes started dictating, Gueye got better as the game went on, Bernard was bright. Siggy started getting on the ball and dictating higher up the pitch. Richarlison and Pickford who were probably the worst players on the pitch after 30 minutes made huge contributions to the game and played really well. Digne was solid and put in a great ball for the first, he made one crunching tackle too which seemed to lift us around that early spell. Zouma settled well and even Coleman, who is still clearly our weak link, did his job.
It was also brilliant to see DCL come off the bench and bag his goal. I said before the match that his impact comes from the bench and he put in a real shift and clinically finished his chance. That will mean a lot to him.
Overall, and in a weird way, I think this was my favourite performance of the season. We played with some real quality, we made plenty of chances but more importantly, the players put in a huge shift, they didnt give an inch, and that for me is what I think of when I consider what I want from my club.

It's been a brilliant but hectic festive period for me so this is the first game that I actually haven't seen this season, made up that my phone was exploading with all the goal updates, the perfect response to the Spurs game 😁
I don't know if I'm in the minority but I like the five at the back with two wing-backs, very dynamic and the return of Yerry Mina pleased me greatly as I think he's our best centre back and has shown how deadly he can be when left unmarked in the box. His height alone is such a handful for defenders and he proved in the World Cup what he can do with half a chance. 
Disappointed that we conceded from another corner, it's literally as if we turn into a League Two side against them and had Burnley took that golden opportunity at the start of the second half then it could have been a totally different story, luckily we got away with it and then bounced back with a thunderbolt from Digne (honestly, what a signing) and a class finish from Charlie. 
Bernard looked awesome all game, I'm really pleased that he's finding his feet as he was always Shakhtar's best player, even when they were getting thumped in the Champions League and playing second fiddle to Kiev so glad that he's adapting to our team, he looked an absolute menace throughout and his stats don't lie from the afternoon, outstanding. 
Very optimistic about the Brighton game now, we've had a bit of a wobble but no reason why we can't put together a nice little run, teams will fear us if we can display this kind of firepower every week so it's up to the lads and Silva to keep this standard up. 
On a side note of Burnley, they look in deep trouble. That European Tour in the summer has really killed them heading into this season and they look totally out of it, I said at the time that signing Joe Hart and dropping Tom Heaton and/or Nick Pope was a bonkers decision. My mate is a Burnley fan and said that they best game of the season was when they "only lost 3-1 to Liverpool" 😵. Ouch. Back to the Championship I think as they won't break the bank to sack Dyche and re-hire.
Edit: Forgot to add, a belated Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all at ToffeeTalk Towers, hope 2019 is a cracker for everyone 😎!

It's been a brilliant but hectic festive period for me so this is the first game that I actually haven't seen this season, made up that my phone was exploading with all the goal updates, the perfect response to the Spurs game 😁
I don't know if I'm in the minority but I like the five at the back with two wing-backs, very dynamic and the return of Yerry Mina pleased me greatly as I think he's our best centre back and has shown how deadly he can be when left unmarked in the box. His height alone is such a handful for defenders and he proved in the World Cup what he can do with half a chance. 
Disappointed that we conceded from another corner, it's literally as if we turn into a League Two side against them and had Burnley took that golden opportunity at the start of the second half then it could have been a totally different story, luckily we got away with it and then bounced back with a thunderbolt from Digne (honestly, what a signing) and a class finish from Charlie. 
Bernard looked awesome all game, I'm really pleased that he's finding his feet as he was always Shakhtar's best player, even when they were getting thumped in the Champions League and playing second fiddle to Kiev so glad that he's adapting to our team, he looked an absolute menace throughout and his stats don't lie from the afternoon, outstanding. 
Very optimistic about the Brighton game now, we've had a bit of a wobble but no reason why we can't put together a nice little run, teams will fear us if we can display this kind of firepower every week so it's up to the lads and Silva to keep this standard up. 
On a side note of Burnley, they look in deep trouble. That European Tour in the summer has really killed them heading into this season and they look totally out of it, I said at the time that signing Joe Hart and dropping Tom Heaton and/or Nick Pope was a bonkers decision. My mate is a Burnley fan and said that they best game of the season was when they "only lost 3-1 to Liverpool" 😵. Ouch. Back to the Championship I think as they won't break the bank to sack Dyche and re-hire.
Edit: Forgot to add, a belated Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all at ToffeeTalk Towers, hope 2019 is a cracker for everyone 😎!

Good post zoo, all the best pal 

Even with the Gana stoppage ref added to much time. 

Please, let's not have this shite. We lost, we fucked it up. Absolutely no excuses for that goal even if it happened in the 423rd minute. I'm sorry but that's just how it is for me. Could have. Would have. Should have. 
The absolutely embarrassing run at Anfield goes on and whilst yes, looking back with a calm head tomorrow there will be positives the fact is that for yet another year we have failed to win at their place. 
I'm absolutely sick.

Please, let's not have this shite. We lost, we fucked it up. Absolutely no excuses for that goal even if it happened in the 423rd minute. I'm sorry but that's just how it is for me. Could have. Would have. Should have. 
The absolutely embarrassing run at Anfield goes on and whilst yes, looking back with a calm head tomorrow there will be positives the fact is that for yet another year we have failed to win at their place. 
I'm absolutely sick.

Please, let's not have this shite. We lost, we fucked it up. Absolutely no excuses for that goal even if it happened in the 423rd minute. I'm sorry but that's just how it is for me. Could have. Would have. Should have. 
The absolutely embarrassing run at Anfield goes on and whilst yes, looking back with a calm head tomorrow there will be positives the fact is that for yet another year we have failed to win at their place. 
I'm absolutely sick.

Please, let's not have this shite. We lost, we fucked it up. Absolutely no excuses for that goal even if it happened in the 423rd minute. I'm sorry but that's just how it is for me. Could have. Would have. Should have. 
The absolutely embarrassing run at Anfield goes on and whilst yes, looking back with a calm head tomorrow there will be positives the fact is that for yet another year we have failed to win at their place. 
I'm absolutely sick.

Please, let's not have this shite. We lost, we fucked it up. Absolutely no excuses for that goal even if it happened in the 423rd minute. I'm sorry but that's just how it is for me. Could have. Would have. Should have. 
The absolutely embarrassing run at Anfield goes on and whilst yes, looking back with a calm head tomorrow there will be positives the fact is that for yet another year we have failed to win at their place. 
I'm absolutely sick.

A slow start as mentioned but even in the first half we were the dominant team, Sigurdsson I think it was hitting into the ground in the first few minutes which would have been the perfect way to begin the game, we had a handful of other chances too that had we converted would have turned things into a rout. Gutted to concede in such poor fashion and something which I'm sure Silva won't be happy about but it's three points heading into the Chelsea game. 
Pickford didn't have much to do, couldn't do anything about the goal and had just the one save to make in the second half I believe. Zouma and Keane were once again class, not sure who lost Dunk for the Brighton goal so will have to see it again. Digne was again fantastic, a phenomenal signing and whilst Coleman was poor in the first half for me turned the screw in the second and took his goal brilliantly. After that I thought he was back to his usual self, brilliant to watch.
Gomes with another Crystal Palace-like performance, superb in the middle alongside Gueye doing the yard work. Theo didn't really get a grip on the game but always looks a threat with his pace, a 6/10 performance along with Bernard who had flashes of brilliance but never really took the game by the scruff of the neck always losing the physical battle against Bong, Duffy and Dunk. 
Sigurdsson in the middle was how we've come to expect. Quiet but by no means a passenger, a great assist for Richarlison (my MOTM) and a constant threat acting as the pivot in the middle. Richarlison up top took a few knocks, he really does seem to get  bullied which he will have to overcome but two well taken goals. The first with his back to goal under pressure and the second totally leaving Duffy for dead and rounding the goalkeeper, a fantastic move to seal the game. 
Good to see Mina on the pitch too even if it was for a few minutes. Excited to see what he can bring to the team. 

A slow start as mentioned but even in the first half we were the dominant team, Sigurdsson I think it was hitting into the ground in the first few minutes which would have been the perfect way to begin the game, we had a handful of other chances too that had we converted would have turned things into a rout. Gutted to concede in such poor fashion and something which I'm sure Silva won't be happy about but it's three points heading into the Chelsea game. 
Pickford didn't have much to do, couldn't do anything about the goal and had just the one save to make in the second half I believe. Zouma and Keane were once again class, not sure who lost Dunk for the Brighton goal so will have to see it again. Digne was again fantastic, a phenomenal signing and whilst Coleman was poor in the first half for me turned the screw in the second and took his goal brilliantly. After that I thought he was back to his usual self, brilliant to watch.
Gomes with another Crystal Palace-like performance, superb in the middle alongside Gueye doing the yard work. Theo didn't really get a grip on the game but always looks a threat with his pace, a 6/10 performance along with Bernard who had flashes of brilliance but never really took the game by the scruff of the neck always losing the physical battle against Bong, Duffy and Dunk. 
Sigurdsson in the middle was how we've come to expect. Quiet but by no means a passenger, a great assist for Richarlison (my MOTM) and a constant threat acting as the pivot in the middle. Richarlison up top took a few knocks, he really does seem to get  bullied which he will have to overcome but two well taken goals. The first with his back to goal under pressure and the second totally leaving Duffy for dead and rounding the goalkeeper, a fantastic move to seal the game. 
Good to see Mina on the pitch too even if it was for a few minutes. Excited to see what he can bring to the team. 

A slow start as mentioned but even in the first half we were the dominant team, Sigurdsson I think it was hitting into the ground in the first few minutes which would have been the perfect way to begin the game, we had a handful of other chances too that had we converted would have turned things into a rout. Gutted to concede in such poor fashion and something which I'm sure Silva won't be happy about but it's three points heading into the Chelsea game. 
Pickford didn't have much to do, couldn't do anything about the goal and had just the one save to make in the second half I believe. Zouma and Keane were once again class, not sure who lost Dunk for the Brighton goal so will have to see it again. Digne was again fantastic, a phenomenal signing and whilst Coleman was poor in the first half for me turned the screw in the second and took his goal brilliantly. After that I thought he was back to his usual self, brilliant to watch.
Gomes with another Crystal Palace-like performance, superb in the middle alongside Gueye doing the yard work. Theo didn't really get a grip on the game but always looks a threat with his pace, a 6/10 performance along with Bernard who had flashes of brilliance but never really took the game by the scruff of the neck always losing the physical battle against Bong, Duffy and Dunk. 
Sigurdsson in the middle was how we've come to expect. Quiet but by no means a passenger, a great assist for Richarlison (my MOTM) and a constant threat acting as the pivot in the middle. Richarlison up top took a few knocks, he really does seem to get  bullied which he will have to overcome but two well taken goals. The first with his back to goal under pressure and the second totally leaving Duffy for dead and rounding the goalkeeper, a fantastic move to seal the game. 
Good to see Mina on the pitch too even if it was for a few minutes. Excited to see what he can bring to the team. 

Not much of a dilemma, Mina is here to stay and zouma will be back at Chelsea or sold for a lot of money to someone else.  It’s mina and keane all day, I’d would start playing them and let zouma be the backup for injuries or cup matches .

South Americans especially have a hard time getting into Barcelona and Real Madrid as they are mostly bought for marketing purposes. There is a power struggle between the two to be the most marketable which is why so many flavour of the month players from that continent make the switch and then get thrown onto the rubbish heap when they next one comes along. James Rodriguez was signed by Madrid after a solid World Cup although they already had Isco and Modric. Yerry Mina was signed for Barcelona despite Pique and Umtiti being one of the best centre-back pairings in Europe and they signed Malcom as he's an up and coming Brazilian that's popular at the moment. There was also an insane power struggle between Madrid and Barcelona for the signature of Neymar (so much so that he's still on Florentino Perez's radar) and to a latter extent Vincius Junior who's signed for Real Madrid for £40,000,000 despite being just 17.
It will continue to go on and on. South Americans will sign for Madrid and Barcelona as a marketing PR stunt before being tossed aside when the next one comes along. I disagree that Barcelona are terrible at integrating new ''players'' into their team (Lenglet, Arthur, Coutinho and Semedo for example are doing well) but without a doubt they sign players that they have no intentions of using just to expand the brand. 
I don't think he will leave either for what it's worth. Ousmane Dembele has a terrible attitude, most famously smashing up Jurgen Klopp's flat when he was denied a transfer out of Dortmund so is expected to leave Spain as the management there have had enough of him. I expect him to depart for Arsenal as early as this January leaving Malcom free to be the ''bit-part'' player of the front three. 

Just me that's really excited to be going back to Goodison? The Silva Effect 😎. 
Agree that this is a very winnable game but they're organised, it could well be another Palace game where we have to huff and puff for 80 odd minutes before actually breaking through. Given how Brighton will approach this it could well turn out to be a single goal that wins it. Fingers crossed that Pickford doesn't need to make it a hat-trick of penalty saves this weekend and we can actually make some clean tackles! 
Pickford
Coleman - Keane - Zouma - Digne
Gueye - Andre Gomes
Walcott - Sigurdsson - Bernard
Richarlison
I do agree that Richarlison is better suited to being on the wing but I just don't think this is the right game for Tosun. We need to get at them with pace and it's not what he's about, Cenk's a lot more suited to the games where we need a physical presence in the box. I've no doubt that he will make an appearance on the hour mark or there abouts but I'd stick with Richard up top from the off. 
Need a big game from Theo as he was poor against Palace and United, same with Bernard to be honest. Keep Gueye away from our own penalty box at all costs and tell Andre Gomes to put in another performance like the game against Palace. 
Tosun's goal drought probably forced Silva's hand. Remember DCL got a few games up top too.
Gor Mahia probably 🙄.

Loved the first goal yesterday. Keane and zouma staying up after a set piece, Keane winning a hanging header, falls to Lookman, Keane runs back in the box and zouma hangs on the edge of the area. We had 7 players in the box when DCL scored that goal. 
What did we have? 20 shots? Granted not all on target but the foundation are there and what's breath of fresh air it is from last season with he whose name may not be spoken. The freedom that Silva is allowing the team to play with and allowing the forwards to express themselves is brilliant,band if we can keep up with the clean sheets we could be a team to be reckoned with. 
These things take time and it's so important to stick with Silva when the going gets tough (we will go through a dry spell eventually), we've seen the ambition in practise and the players can only get better when they begin to gel more. If we get behind him and allow Brands to do his thing we can build this squad together and aim for where we want to be. 
 
Well excited.

Hey everyone,
Really hope you don't mind me posting on here. I am the programme cover artist for Wolves this season & for each game have been painting a player from the away team as well as the home team, before both paintings are blended together to create the cover.
My A2 watercolour painting of Richarlison, signed by the player, is one of ten (from my covers to date) available via a 10-day auction launching tomorrow at 9pm & finishing on Sunday 28th October at 9pm. All funds raised with be shared between Cure Leukaemia, Race Against Blood Cancer, YMCA Black Country & Good Shepherd Ministry Wolverhampton.
I have included a photo for you. Please note that Limited Edition prints will be available later this month (as we recognise that the majority of fans are unlikely to be able to financially compete in an auction) with 20% of profit from the sales of these also being donated to Cure Leukaemia.
You can view all 10 paintings & find out more about the auction here.
Thanks so much for taking the time to read. 
Louise Cobbold.

Superb that. Marco Silva football is such a breath of fresh air after the past few seasons of pure shite. Even though they had some chances in the first half I thought we did alright and looked like the "home" team which couldn't be said last season under Allardyce. 
Jordan Pickford though, an absolute beast. More than happy to make Sunderland the capital of the country in his honour, class save for the penalty which changed the game and swung things in our favour. A few big stops in open play too which kept us on top, that touch onto the bar in the first-half springing to mind. 
So good to have Seamus back, yes Kenny has done well but when Coleman's on form he's electric. I thought Theo didn't offer him much and had a really poor game but in defence we were solid on the right, as was the left with Digne. 
Zouma and Keane bossed it. Kurt looks clumsy as hell IMO but he gets the job done so it suits me just fine. Great to see that Michael Keane has turned into a footballer too after looking like a rabbit in the headlights alongside Ashley Williams, he was unlucky not to have scored too - let's just forget about the brainfart in the first half.
Top debut from Andre Gomes, unlucky to be thrown into the Barcelona machine when Xavi and Iniesta were departing but if he can capture his form from Valencia will be a fantastic addition.
Gueye alongside was brilliant. Some tackles rather close to the knuckle but against teams like Palace that's exactly what's needed, no nonsense stuff. Just a shame pineapple-ballbag Zaha couldn't be on the end of a bone cruncher as he's turned into a right melt.
Bernard had a really bad game - one to forget. Richarlison did OK, a couple of poor decisions in the final third but by no means terrible, a shame he couldn't have put himself on the scoresheet. 
MOTM? Marco Silva. Inspired, positive substitutions at the right time which flipped the game in our favour. Lookman comes on, bags and assist to Calvert-Lewin. Tosun comes on and bags the winner, three subs bringing home three points. Obrigada Marco 🇵🇹. 

Superb that. Marco Silva football is such a breath of fresh air after the past few seasons of pure shite. Even though they had some chances in the first half I thought we did alright and looked like the "home" team which couldn't be said last season under Allardyce. 
Jordan Pickford though, an absolute beast. More than happy to make Sunderland the capital of the country in his honour, class save for the penalty which changed the game and swung things in our favour. A few big stops in open play too which kept us on top, that touch onto the bar in the first-half springing to mind. 
So good to have Seamus back, yes Kenny has done well but when Coleman's on form he's electric. I thought Theo didn't offer him much and had a really poor game but in defence we were solid on the right, as was the left with Digne. 
Zouma and Keane bossed it. Kurt looks clumsy as hell IMO but he gets the job done so it suits me just fine. Great to see that Michael Keane has turned into a footballer too after looking like a rabbit in the headlights alongside Ashley Williams, he was unlucky not to have scored too - let's just forget about the brainfart in the first half.
Top debut from Andre Gomes, unlucky to be thrown into the Barcelona machine when Xavi and Iniesta were departing but if he can capture his form from Valencia will be a fantastic addition.
Gueye alongside was brilliant. Some tackles rather close to the knuckle but against teams like Palace that's exactly what's needed, no nonsense stuff. Just a shame pineapple-ballbag Zaha couldn't be on the end of a bone cruncher as he's turned into a right melt.
Bernard had a really bad game - one to forget. Richarlison did OK, a couple of poor decisions in the final third but by no means terrible, a shame he couldn't have put himself on the scoresheet. 
MOTM? Marco Silva. Inspired, positive substitutions at the right time which flipped the game in our favour. Lookman comes on, bags and assist to Calvert-Lewin. Tosun comes on and bags the winner, three subs bringing home three points. Obrigada Marco 🇵🇹. 

Superb that. Marco Silva football is such a breath of fresh air after the past few seasons of pure shite. Even though they had some chances in the first half I thought we did alright and looked like the "home" team which couldn't be said last season under Allardyce. 
Jordan Pickford though, an absolute beast. More than happy to make Sunderland the capital of the country in his honour, class save for the penalty which changed the game and swung things in our favour. A few big stops in open play too which kept us on top, that touch onto the bar in the first-half springing to mind. 
So good to have Seamus back, yes Kenny has done well but when Coleman's on form he's electric. I thought Theo didn't offer him much and had a really poor game but in defence we were solid on the right, as was the left with Digne. 
Zouma and Keane bossed it. Kurt looks clumsy as hell IMO but he gets the job done so it suits me just fine. Great to see that Michael Keane has turned into a footballer too after looking like a rabbit in the headlights alongside Ashley Williams, he was unlucky not to have scored too - let's just forget about the brainfart in the first half.
Top debut from Andre Gomes, unlucky to be thrown into the Barcelona machine when Xavi and Iniesta were departing but if he can capture his form from Valencia will be a fantastic addition.
Gueye alongside was brilliant. Some tackles rather close to the knuckle but against teams like Palace that's exactly what's needed, no nonsense stuff. Just a shame pineapple-ballbag Zaha couldn't be on the end of a bone cruncher as he's turned into a right melt.
Bernard had a really bad game - one to forget. Richarlison did OK, a couple of poor decisions in the final third but by no means terrible, a shame he couldn't have put himself on the scoresheet. 
MOTM? Marco Silva. Inspired, positive substitutions at the right time which flipped the game in our favour. Lookman comes on, bags and assist to Calvert-Lewin. Tosun comes on and bags the winner, three subs bringing home three points. Obrigada Marco 🇵🇹. 

Superb that. Marco Silva football is such a breath of fresh air after the past few seasons of pure shite. Even though they had some chances in the first half I thought we did alright and looked like the "home" team which couldn't be said last season under Allardyce. 
Jordan Pickford though, an absolute beast. More than happy to make Sunderland the capital of the country in his honour, class save for the penalty which changed the game and swung things in our favour. A few big stops in open play too which kept us on top, that touch onto the bar in the first-half springing to mind. 
So good to have Seamus back, yes Kenny has done well but when Coleman's on form he's electric. I thought Theo didn't offer him much and had a really poor game but in defence we were solid on the right, as was the left with Digne. 
Zouma and Keane bossed it. Kurt looks clumsy as hell IMO but he gets the job done so it suits me just fine. Great to see that Michael Keane has turned into a footballer too after looking like a rabbit in the headlights alongside Ashley Williams, he was unlucky not to have scored too - let's just forget about the brainfart in the first half.
Top debut from Andre Gomes, unlucky to be thrown into the Barcelona machine when Xavi and Iniesta were departing but if he can capture his form from Valencia will be a fantastic addition.
Gueye alongside was brilliant. Some tackles rather close to the knuckle but against teams like Palace that's exactly what's needed, no nonsense stuff. Just a shame pineapple-ballbag Zaha couldn't be on the end of a bone cruncher as he's turned into a right melt.
Bernard had a really bad game - one to forget. Richarlison did OK, a couple of poor decisions in the final third but by no means terrible, a shame he couldn't have put himself on the scoresheet. 
MOTM? Marco Silva. Inspired, positive substitutions at the right time which flipped the game in our favour. Lookman comes on, bags and assist to Calvert-Lewin. Tosun comes on and bags the winner, three subs bringing home three points. Obrigada Marco 🇵🇹. 

Superb that. Marco Silva football is such a breath of fresh air after the past few seasons of pure shite. Even though they had some chances in the first half I thought we did alright and looked like the "home" team which couldn't be said last season under Allardyce. 
Jordan Pickford though, an absolute beast. More than happy to make Sunderland the capital of the country in his honour, class save for the penalty which changed the game and swung things in our favour. A few big stops in open play too which kept us on top, that touch onto the bar in the first-half springing to mind. 
So good to have Seamus back, yes Kenny has done well but when Coleman's on form he's electric. I thought Theo didn't offer him much and had a really poor game but in defence we were solid on the right, as was the left with Digne. 
Zouma and Keane bossed it. Kurt looks clumsy as hell IMO but he gets the job done so it suits me just fine. Great to see that Michael Keane has turned into a footballer too after looking like a rabbit in the headlights alongside Ashley Williams, he was unlucky not to have scored too - let's just forget about the brainfart in the first half.
Top debut from Andre Gomes, unlucky to be thrown into the Barcelona machine when Xavi and Iniesta were departing but if he can capture his form from Valencia will be a fantastic addition.
Gueye alongside was brilliant. Some tackles rather close to the knuckle but against teams like Palace that's exactly what's needed, no nonsense stuff. Just a shame pineapple-ballbag Zaha couldn't be on the end of a bone cruncher as he's turned into a right melt.
Bernard had a really bad game - one to forget. Richarlison did OK, a couple of poor decisions in the final third but by no means terrible, a shame he couldn't have put himself on the scoresheet. 
MOTM? Marco Silva. Inspired, positive substitutions at the right time which flipped the game in our favour. Lookman comes on, bags and assist to Calvert-Lewin. Tosun comes on and bags the winner, three subs bringing home three points. Obrigada Marco 🇵🇹. 

Superb that. Marco Silva football is such a breath of fresh air after the past few seasons of pure shite. Even though they had some chances in the first half I thought we did alright and looked like the "home" team which couldn't be said last season under Allardyce. 
Jordan Pickford though, an absolute beast. More than happy to make Sunderland the capital of the country in his honour, class save for the penalty which changed the game and swung things in our favour. A few big stops in open play too which kept us on top, that touch onto the bar in the first-half springing to mind. 
So good to have Seamus back, yes Kenny has done well but when Coleman's on form he's electric. I thought Theo didn't offer him much and had a really poor game but in defence we were solid on the right, as was the left with Digne. 
Zouma and Keane bossed it. Kurt looks clumsy as hell IMO but he gets the job done so it suits me just fine. Great to see that Michael Keane has turned into a footballer too after looking like a rabbit in the headlights alongside Ashley Williams, he was unlucky not to have scored too - let's just forget about the brainfart in the first half.
Top debut from Andre Gomes, unlucky to be thrown into the Barcelona machine when Xavi and Iniesta were departing but if he can capture his form from Valencia will be a fantastic addition.
Gueye alongside was brilliant. Some tackles rather close to the knuckle but against teams like Palace that's exactly what's needed, no nonsense stuff. Just a shame pineapple-ballbag Zaha couldn't be on the end of a bone cruncher as he's turned into a right melt.
Bernard had a really bad game - one to forget. Richarlison did OK, a couple of poor decisions in the final third but by no means terrible, a shame he couldn't have put himself on the scoresheet. 
MOTM? Marco Silva. Inspired, positive substitutions at the right time which flipped the game in our favour. Lookman comes on, bags and assist to Calvert-Lewin. Tosun comes on and bags the winner, three subs bringing home three points. Obrigada Marco 🇵🇹.