Loose

Lookman sent out on loan - to Germany. Going to get that EPL experience he's lacking there, is he? Fuck off, Allardyce,

Giroud to Chelsea. Sam can go after Crouch now. Yay.

Calvalhal has won two games. Should we go in for him? I'm up for it.

Mangala is a left-sided CB ... so we're getting closer to a Left Back. I'm a bit nonplussed by Allardyce's claim there are no suitable players available - anyone would be more suitable than continuing with Martina. I like the bloke, can't fault him for his approach, but he simply isn'tt a Left Back.

Yep. Search Fireman Sam's locker and I bet you'd find a can of petrol and some matches.

I'm not. He only knows playing 'not to lose'. Must've been gutted when Walcott agreed to sign. Probably thinking "I'll just play him at left back."

You read my mind. He'll talk up our relegation prospects as keeping us up is the most he can hope to achieve.

"Swing low, sweet chariot ... " If that doesn't fire the blood, nothing will. Maybe not. Faintly pathetic, actually.

That won't happen. We'll be lucky if this board can get rid of Allardyce at the end of his 18 months.

Niasse saving Allardyce's skin. He'll still be sold. Feel sorry for that fella, continually insulted, vontinually bounces back.

I'm certainly getting bored of this shit every week.

A strike at goal, what's one of those?

That ball in from Walcott - not playing for Arsenal now, mate. Don't waste your time :/

Agreed. I said earlier that we shouldn't have to play teo DMs at home to these. Rooney (or whoever) should be feeding what looks a decent attacking four. Instead we're trying to mitigate mistakes by defenders by sitting two DMs in front of them.

Is he a centre back? That's what we need today.

http://wiziwig.ru/soccer/watch-1216a01-everton-west-brom?l=1454979620 Not that you'll want to see it

I like the front four. Tpugh to squeeze Rooney in to that system. I'd maybe prefer Rooney over Schneiderlin at home against West Brom, but that defence probably needs the protection of two DMs. The lack of a left back sticks out most painfully, but we need a new CB as well.

Interesting stat that doesn't reflect well on Allardyce - 222 games since Everton last went this long without a shot on target. Need a hatful tomorrow.

I'm quite excited to see what Walcott is made of. Never been his biggest fan, but in truth never really watched closely enough to fairly judge. Great stats, albeit in a better, more attack-minded team. Not sure hoofing it to Tosun and expecting Walcott to pick up scraps will suit him. Be good for Rooney to have some pace and movement in front of him. COYB

Damn ... there's still time

Hey hoe ... good job I'm talking to myself

City have got this - RS had advantage of the wind that half and didn't make it count. 3-1 City. Word.

Arsenal aside, we've got a run of winnable games coming up right up to the end of March. Sam will continue the percentage football; cleansheets will mean we probably win a few, draw others. By the end of March he will have picked up enough points to guarantee safety, as per his remit. I'm not a Sam-hater; he's just doing what he does. I sincerely hope he moves on in the summer, though. We got a bit ahead of ourselves last summer, thinking we could run before we could walk, but Sam won't take us forward at all.