Cam

That's a good point. He's a good manager, only some poor buys bring that into question. But he does seem... stuck. I think he believed his own publicity - that he'd done all the hard work, he was next in line for United/Rangers/England. And playing to the Everton fans and trying to cement a legendary status by pissing off Reds with silly comments rather than concentrating on the actual job backs this up. Like Curbishley before him (and Allardyce & Pearce to come) he thinks he's done enough. Maybe in some respects he has. Curbishley every season talks about the Champions League, the team then panic. He gets ahead of himself - and shows himself up. But he stays in his job because guiding Charlton to a midtable Premiership finish is more than a club of their stature could have dreamed of. If Moyes was at Charlton, West Brom or Portsmouth he'd be a hero. Everton, for the last 20 years and for the foreseeable future, are that type of club. They'll survive this season. If they go into the last day in a relegation battle and finish 17th I'm sure they'll celebrate. So why not celebrate finishing 9th to 14th next season? It's their natural habitat. But the fans will be demanding CL football because of a brief moment of glory in the 80s. Unrealistic. And because of bitter jealousy of their neighbours. Yes, they finished 4th - and it's not sour grapes saying this - but it's only down to an unbelievable start and the rest of the league (us included) being to crap to challenge. Was it 3 wins since January? He should step away for his own sake, step down a level to a smaller Prem club or larger Champ side. There his talent can be recognised and appreciated, he'd meet their realistic dreams. And Howard Kendall should be brought back, just for the laugh.

No, he realised a dream he'd formulated over the previous 8 years. A plan he was working towards throughout his repeated contract refusals. This was no unlucky, instant accident. The only mistakes he made was thinking Benitez was soft enough not to see through his £££ Bosman-plot, that the club would buy him back for his true worth (and thus effectively rip itself off) and not having the bottle to turn round to Madrid and say "no, only Liverpool".

Y'see - and we all laughed at "Bring Baros back on".

There was one guy at the food stalls under the L.C. (maybe you heard him) who, when Phil Easton read out Owen's name from the teamsheet, started singing "Meeelan, Meeelan". Idiotic but very funny at the time.

Some great one-touch, pass & move and slide-rule passes today. But Crouch clearing the ball while stood on his head was the true moment of skill.

If our own treat us right. He dodged his contract. He was going to do a Bosman. We only got £8m for him when he finally left. When he couldn't hack it anymore and wanted to come back to his "safety zone" his double-dealing is what bit him on the a***. By ensuring we only got £8m for him (and thus securing a much larger signing-on fee for himself) it meant we couldn't justify the £16m outlay. He dug his own hole. Now he can stay in that CL-free hole. I'll give him a thought in Paris. And on our European adventures next season.

But one of 'em was getting the run-around from Gerrard at defensive midfield. I can understand leaving the 2 on - but up front. You don't shore up midfield and settle for a 2-0 defeat. He was scared to bring either of them off but neither should he have done. He did the right thing too late - bring on Ameobi and play the 3 up front.

I'd like to see rolling substitutions trialed, see if it reduces timewasting. No subs during injury-time. Keep the 3 subs maximum but clubs are permitted to bring back on brought off players (the Baros Rule). Nothing against shielding the ball and letting it go out of play but really obvious obstructions should be penalised.

Rule change? Sissoko is no longer allowed to attempt to pass the ball - he must keep the ball at his toes and wait for a teammate to come and take the ball off him. Failing that necessary one.... players who are called Gary or Neville and celebrate in front of rivals fans or flick v-signs must be charged with attempting to start a riot and jailed indefinitely. Seriously. I don't mind players giving a bit back to fans, we're grown-ups ffs, but there has to be a line.

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I've seen nothing from Owen to suggest he won't be so demanding a 2nd time round. Let him rot in Madrid's reserves. Or at Newcastle - a worse fate. Sign Derek Kite.

Who is Madrid's 6th choice defensive midfielder? Biscan, Hamann and Mr Gerrard can man the fort until Alonso returns. With little sub cameos from Potter and Welsh.

Thanks matty. And Des - did you photoshop Heffer's hair on in that photo?

It's probably mentioned elsewhere but The Times says the story was originally written by a Simon Heffer. My dad says a Heffer was a Merseyside MP a while back and was wondering if there was any connection there. Anyone?