Damian_de

Nope, I am not taking the piss. And I take on board the examples given there. But Reina's level has dropped, IMO. He used to be the guy who could concentrate for a whole match and then make the save that mattered - like we hadn't had for many many seasons. I seriously think he needs to look at himself. He might not be the highest priority fix, in fact, he defo isn't, but still, it is becoming relatively common that we drop points based on the opposition creating little more than one chance. No need to get all Saturday night aggro about it. Come back if you want to discuss.

You take a game like that in the context of the game - we did enough to win and can feel hard done by. You take a game like that in the context of the season, or last couple of seasons and you start to see a pattern of not winning games we do enough to win. I don't think there is any getting away from the fact that that was a rotten result, regardless of how well they have been doing this year, how good their manager is, or whatever. It is a piss result and no doubt 2 points dropped. I'd be happy if our keeper would make a save that changes the outcome of a game sometime, too. That goal was a hopeful punt into our box, nothing more.

Well spotted. Has any nation ever had such a good set of keepers?

Guardian's article on it manages to sneak in this little beauty "Suárez's career in England has so far been free of acts of cannibalism, his undoubted skills have not been completely unblemished. The red card that Everton's Jack Rodwell received in last month's Merseyside derby, widely disputed and subsequently rescinded, came about largely because of Suárez's theatrical reaction to what was little more than a tap on the foot by Rodwell's trailing knee." http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/oct/16/luis-suarez-patrice-evra-manchester-united

Sturridge

Haha, me too! Although, having seen the game, thought I'd oblige

Came on as a sub

Meanwhile, wtf was David Conn on about with ground share in his John Henry piece today? Hardly controversial to suggest that it would be unpopular with our fans, and drops in a pretty laughable justification by intimating that Everton could afford to share the cost. Can't say I can see the point of his '2 day special'.

Re: the Germans... they have been quite open about the investment in coaching of young kids by UEFA qualified, high quality coaches. It all stems from there. After that, they also reap the benefit of less money sloshing around most of the Bundesliga clubs who therefore look to bring through young players. Also, clear progression from u19-u21-senior side - including playing the same system. Having a system which carries through age groups is also part of the Spanish model (and Liverpool these days) Sounds simple, of course it is much more complex than that, but that's the essence of it.

I agree. He is getting better and better. Having 'missed out' on the likes of Mata and David Silva he is the closest 'realistic' alternative for a similar kind of player. SHould've scored, though.... (and Rommedahl, and Jakob Poulsen)

Speak for yourself.

Called it ages ago

Quite possibly the greatest display of needle the Premier League has ever seen from Suarez there. He is a magnificent t***.

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That's the thing isn't it, Leo? The HJC stuff 'proves' he was working the fans for his own ends... etc etc. Logic doesn't apply. I think some of the hatred is born of frustration that we came close to 19, but never quite made it, and some of it is the effect of the constant xenophobic sniping on Sky and some of the written press.

Depends what their thinking on a Stadium is, IMO.

McClaren's doing well at Forest...

You know, Rafa's not always busy at 10AM on a Monday morning. Get him on!

They do it in loads of countries. In Germany they do it for subs as well. One of my most disliked football rituals.

World class Hodgsonism

Is right, especially the bolded bit. We didn't have complete control of the match, but we had enough control to see it out fairly comfortably. Personally I never had the feeling we wouldn't win it.

You'd think Moyes would send his side out to cripple him in that case, like they did with Silva today.... oh

3rd wasn't boring

He doesn't. We need to indulge him, in fact. Hahaha. Get over yourself with that. Far better than they were in the first half. If they were far better than us they would have taken something from the match. Boss game, really enjoyed it. They ran a lot of top sides very close last season, so they have good football in them, but they didn't create much IMO, certainly nothing like as many good chances as we had. Didn't think we were on the ropes or anything. Lucas was very good, so was Carroll. Other stand outs obvious/the usual suspects.

If you have dodgy streams getting on Sopcast is a no brainer