What impresses me is their decision-making. Watch the number of times one of them will get the ball on the wing and rather than quickly play a hurried cross which fails to reach a teammate or cannons off the player defending the cross (something we do a lot of) they simply stop, pass it back, recycle it until a good cross or pass is on.

Simple, but requires discipline, constant quickness of thought, and support from teammates. Just brilliant to watch.

Man City will probably win the next 7/8 titles, with the Liverpool one being the odd one out in over a decade of complete dominance.

They literally have 2/3 players for each position. The average player costs 50m.

They are unbelievable to watch, until it just gets a bit boring.

They score and it's just another goal, it's expected.

Death of the Premier League.

Let's keep on our roll, catch Man Utd, finish behind Man City in 2nd, and repeat that for the next 5 years.

Takers?

I can see them winning the title with the same monotonous regularity as Celtic/Rangers, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid/Barcelona - but without the competition even of one other side, there is no-one close to them. Bear in mind that much of this latest run has been achieved without their best player.

It may be very impressive but it's also alarming.

They might go on a 3-4 year run. Americans use the word 'dynasty'.

But ownership is cyclical, there's injuries, Pep could leave, etc. Man Utd was pretty dominant for a long time. I don't think your fear of a 1 team league will ever occur. You might get Man City perpetually in the top 3 for 10+ years. But they'll have ups and downs just like everyone else.

I think it's a serious problem in the making.

"Baningime has played just 3 minutes of football so far under Rams boss Wayne Rooney. What's more, the youngster has been left out of the matchday squad altogether for two of Derby's past five league fixtures."

Yet they spout the great old lines "He's just outstanding in training,"

Yea, right...

I thought Everton did okay against City the other week but, if we are to beat them in the cup, we are going to have to turn our defence into a counter-attack very quickly, and also contest those second balls off Calvert-Lewin.

He won't be making it at Everton. That was obvious to me after last season's re-start when he was on the bench for a vast bulk of those games, but not once did Carlo give him a single minute of game time.

Oh! Anthony Gordon started for PNE, but was subbed out on the hour in their 2-1 away loss to Milwall.

Same for Simms, subbed after and hour. But was MotM in his last game.

Blackburn also lost again, they seem in freefall. But Branthwaite was dropped to the bench after coming in for criticism in recent performances. It was also another 90 minutes on the bench for Gibson at Reading.

If the loans are showing anything, it is that the players quite clearly are not ready for 1st team football in the Premier League and the loans were correct decisions.

Just another instalment in the ongoing saga of loans for me as I'm unconvinced they really play the role many posters claim, of giving these up-and-coming players the experience they need to make the final step up. More trial by fire, I believe, a step to help confirm that these players are unlikely to make that final step up.

I just scanned back over our lists of players out on loan for the last 5 seasons... typically 12 to 15 each season, some on multiple loans, so probably around 40-50 indiviual players in total.

I only see one name among all those that is now a member of our first-team squad: Mason Holgate.

Long periods of resolute defensive solidity will be vital against such a fluid and dynamic attack. I can't help thinking back to the time we talked of lottery football... was that Martinez or Silva. Anyway, you watch us defend, as on Monday, and we don't concede, but holy shit, we came very close.

Other games, and the City league match is a good example, we defend manfully but moments of pure quality are simply too hard for us to defend against... but Carlo must believe that, like accidents, all goals are preventable, so then it does come down to the counter-attack, and being able to use that second ball.

Thing is with Calvert-Lewin, you're never quite sure where it's going to go? Again, more of a lottery. The first one goes straight up in the air... and he does very well to get it to Gylfi – off his shoulder – at the second attempt! Another wonderfully random lottery moment that ultimately wins us the game!

This kid has turned into an absolute man-mountain, and the more players we get around him, the more this will come to the fore, imo.

Silva, took City on at their own game, I thought it was stupid, many people thought it was brave, but one thing that is certain, is that City haven't got a centre-half, capable of coping with Lewin's physicality, and I'm sure he'll be the key, to giving City, a really hard game, hopefully🤞

All going well until - BANG! - one incident ends it all.

The video opens with the stark fact that of the 1.5 MILLION kids playing footy in England, only 180 will make it as a PL Pro.

An exceedingly high attrition rate.

The video is aptly titled:

The Brutal Reality of PL Academies

He's scored a decent number of goals against Man City in recent seasons, so you might be right. It would be fun if he's up against John Stones. I don't think he's scored against them when Stones has been in the team.

I still see a lot of things that need to be worked on... day-in & day-out. But then maybe he's another who is "just outstanding in training"...

Seems Everton are really good (too good?) to their kids in this situation. I was thinking of making a page on that topic. Current ones they have supported through long-term injury include Josh Bowler, Rafael Garcia, and Jean-Philippe Gbamin.

There are actually a lot more who have suffered like this and you have to wonder what that does to their development... it seems whenever a write up a new player's profile, there is a serious injury in there that kept them out for a long time.

I wonder how many of the 180 are there just through good luck (or is it inner strength or a self-protection?) in that they have avoided such injuries?

Funny hearing him spouting the "there for a reason... faith in god" crap but honestly, fuck that shit! Bit shocking now how many players (Continental and South American Catholics perhaps?) are genuflecting as they come onto the pitch or praising the heavens when they score... but I probably shouldn't go down that path.

There was one lad, Curwin, an English international schoolboy, from Blackpool, joined Everton from school, think he played in one of the youth teams that won the FA youth cup, he was let go in his late teens, he later came on a TV programme, with his dad complaining that Everton never looked after his education properly while he was at the club, neither did they prepare him for the possibility that he wouldn't make it as a footballer, it made for good viewing and they possibly got a few pound for appearing on the programme, not sure how they could prepare him for life without football, but I think the turnover of young lads is enormous and lads have to mentally tough as well as physically able to get to the top, there is more than enough money at the end of the day to make those efforts worthwhile, ten years at a premier club, once you've made it, and you are set up for a long wealthy life, if you are sensible.

I'm Catholic but I always think the public praying is a bit odd. I can't imagine with everything going on in the world that divine intervention would a factor in a football match. I guess I don't know what they're praying for. Maybe it's “thanks for the opportunity” but I suspect it's “let me get a goal.” If the latter, some of these should direct their powerful prayers to more important issues.

And that is just the referee! (OK - slight exaggeration there, but they too go through their own religious routine).

Johan Cruyff wasn't enamoured of it either:

'I'm not religious. In Spain all 22 players make the sign of the cross before they enter the pitch. If it works, all matches must therefore end in a draw. They don't.'

Whatever gets you through the night, 'n all that.

I hope so. I can't stand Brenda and it cracks me up that he is always talking his team up as title contenders only for them to crash and burn. The only "success" he had was at Celtic but put in perspective they've just got rid of his manager for looking like he won't win the treble AGAIN.

I won't bore you all again as I've done so enough already. Our academies just do not produce. I don't need a statistic, although that was insightful. It is clear to me they gobble up any half decent talent in the hope of potentially bringing one player through, only to spit most of the rest out, rather uncermoniously. But then those players have no experience outside of the pampered elite bubble they have been in so don't know the real world of football; not their fault, just the system they have understandably pinned their hopes on. I don't know the stats but I sense that whereas in the past, many would have given it a second shot in the lower leagues and risen from the ashes, many more youngsters who get consumed into the academies at a young age and then don't make it at a big club, give up on the footballing dream these days.

Anyway, promising results as it stands.

P. S........I'm also looking at TW on me kindle!!

Never mind, you're never boring, sir.

As long as we win tomorrow of course!

Glad Blades won anyway. Now let's see Palace pull one off.

Wow, that Leicester goal was pretty special, eh? Never saw Iheanacho do anything like that before.

Interesting as much as it is staggering.

Jeez a good day for us. If Palace can turn over Man U, that's a great couple of days for us. Furthermore, if Chelsea and them tie?

We really have to win tomorrow.

I have to comment on earlier threads with the overtly religious gestures and whatnot on the pitch.

Michael - you and I couldn't be further apart, probably light years, with our approach to such a weighty subject as religion. But I, shockingly, concur with you. I have to mention, there's this certain line in a certain large book that says, "When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."

In other words, keep it to yourself! So your displeasure at seeing these things is justified on many levels.

Thought you'd enjoy knowing you're thought process is exactly what God would want from you. 😂

Save of the year by Guaita right there.

Brian, I can see you're trying real hard to be the shepherd.

Rob #75, seems like the end of the trail for Jags. He's had a magnificent run.

14ms ping, 288Mbps download, 21 Mbps upload.

Peacock absolutely is trash. It's so, so fucking bad. NBCSports is super, never have a problem.

NBC needs to freaking dump Peacock or hire capable people to fix its never ending cycle of shit. It won't come in at all. I hate Peacock. Keeping me from the footy.

Try clearing your cache and cookies. Sometimes that can block streaming.

PS... strange phenomenon in the Palace game... every time Eze pops up on the screen I find myself humming Glenn Frey.

We've just had a 9-day break. I don't really think we are good enough for top 4. But the way things are conspiring, we could well have an opportunity to sneak in there.

The results elsewhere of late have mostly been in Everton's favour and certain teams are not doing so well anymore.

Man Utd, Leicester City (without Maddison) and Liverpool are opening a door for Everton, so another win at awful Albion would really put us in the driving seat for 4th.

Obviously, if we fail at Albion, then it will be yet another opportunity blown like the Fulham game and we may as well resign ourselves to nothing more than the Europa League. COYB.

We are firmly included in that cohort, we are in a decent points wise, we have a game or two in hand, we have a squad not far off full fitness, and some great young players with the energy and stamina to push on.

2nd 3rd and 4th are all up for grabs, it is a fantastic opportunity for the players to show that can seize the day.

A win in tonight's match will put a sizeable marker down that we are very strong, and will be up there fighting for it.

If it wasn't a wobble and our home form is poor for the rest of the season then we will only have ourselves to blame for missing out on our best league position in years.

Without trawling through past league tables, I don't think we've managed top 3 since the 1987 championship season.

If only...

Chelsea looked strong, but I'm hoping they can get through against Atletico Madrid, and then get through again, but there's still a lot of football to play, and if you can't enjoy Liverpool losing five on the bounce at Anfield, then you're not a proper Evertonian in my eyes; singing "We Shall Not Be Moved"!!

ps: I know you're a proper Toffee, Jamie, I'm just happy for obvious reasons!

Kieran - I'm with you. Second isn't far off. I'll taste that, thank you very much.

Still have 12 games left to play. Speaking American, "That's a lotta soccer left!"

(Snigger)

Don't forget - it's all our fault after JP's near murderous tackle on what's his gob

It'll be deathly quiet on the streets of Oslo and Peterborough tonight.

(Titter)

Mick on the Live Forum said he didn't want a draw, he wanted them to lose.

I said that was a very Scouse outlook on the game and our place. When in Rome and all that! Singing the Blues.

Chelsea scare the daylights out of me because under the new fella they are defensively solid. Really solid.

Onwards.

Slippy back soon.

Worse run of home results in their entire history mind, so plenty for them to go at! Shame...

I watched the RS match and the more I see them, the more I look at their lack of energy. The article at the start of the season about their asthmatics and the Klopp Tonic certainly all fits.

Happy days.

The team selection will be very interesting for that one. We tend to play well against the better teams and away from home. I think we are capable of winning but as I say, expecting a tight game.

22 Goodison Classics.

But let's not forget our neighbours. here's an old Perry Como classic just for you. “Don't look so sad, I know it's over ”

(Chortle)

A RS fan is blaming the banners draped over the stands for being too red, because their players can't pick up other RS players on the pitch because they clash with the banners. Un-fucking-believable!!

Earlier on, another RS fan blamed the lack of fans for their demise. So what about all teams above them, who have also had no fans? As I type, the first Virgil van Dijk excuse is wheeled out!!

Mr Ed and his team will follow.

UTFT!

Yes, but come on, Rob - you know their fans are far better than any others so they should have the opportunity to adequately support their own team.

That Kante handball would have been given 100% if fans were in the ground. The lack of fans is definitely a factor in results this season.

As shit as VAR is it is also leveling the playing field.

Sorry for posting about the RS, but it's the phone-in on Talksport, and their fans are just pathetic, hilarious but pathetic!!

Reminds me of Sir Bacon Face blaming a United defeat on having to play a night game in their grey second strip.

UTFT!

Football.

LOL.

And that Mbappe! If only.

Game ended, Koeman doing the usual handshakes and fist-bumps, has a masked PSG player come to shake hands and a genuine, warm smile (honest) comes over his face as he realizes it's Gana. Gave him a little hug and tap on his cheek.

And that Mbappe! Wow.

1-1. Cmon Burnley!