Rival watch

F's next to D on the keyboard, so I'm sure this is just a typo.

 

Autocorrect tried to revert it back to 'turf'.

I corrected my autocorrect.

 

It's always interesting when teams stop getting the benefit of the doubt. For example, Newcastle had the 50/50 decisions routinely go in their favour during the Keegan era, but basically haven't got the benefit of the doubt from refs since Alan Shearer retired twenty years ago

 

Did it go something like this ...

 

I get the same thing whenever I'm talking about JK Rowling...

 

They are gone IMO - at least if you believe the underlying principle of: sheep led by lion > lion led by sheep.

Everton might have more quality but i'd much rather have Dyche and Hodgson's experience over Lampard's. I feel that's what is needed at that end of the table.

I'd say Burnley's next 7 games are all winnable. If Everton don't get at least 4 points from Burnley and Man Utd, it's hard to see them staying up. Arsenal and Liverpool away are definite losses, their record against those sides is abysmal, especially away.

 

That's an interesting take and just shows two people can see the exact same thing and interpret it differently because I think an Everton relegation exonerates Guardiola and other supposed "chequebook managers". City having loads of money is great but nobody will convince me they would have dominated as much with a lesser coach. They were spending more lavishly under Mancini and Pellegrini and neither of them won back-to-back titles in what was a less competitive era at the top.

 

Burnley at Norwich on the weekend could be massive.
A loss for the home side will basically kill them off completely.
A win for them probably kills Burnley with them, but a Great Escape could still happen.

There are so many teams down there playing ****.
One big run from anyone could see them stay up.

 

Even Dermot Gallagher thinks it's a red. That's how blatant it was.
As for the foul on Varane, he pushes Iheanacho, which is why their legs come together.
Is that not a foul? Why does one count and the other not? Well, I think we know why...

 

You have a point about Hodgson and Dyche's experience in these situations, compared to Lampard and Everton who, in stark contrast, have never been involved in a dog fight so won't necessarily understand the minerals required to get out of it.

However, I do think that Watford and Burnley's lack of quality is quite vast compared to Everton's, even if the former two have better managers.

For that reason, I don't see the bottom 3 changing from what it is now IMO.

But like I said, it wouldn't surprise me at all if Everton did go down. I just don't envisage it.

 

If Marriner was standing any closer he'd have been in Mctominay's way.

Absolute clown.

 

They've all been doing it a lot this season, for some reason.
I don't know if somebody had a word about getting closer to the game, but it's not working.

 

You're probably interpreting it differently because you support a team who have bought success rather than earned it.

It might be a point that is lost on a great many football fans, but when a club like Spurs who have painfully climbed up inch by inch to try to get to the top of the canopy sees a club who've simply tried to install a cable car failing, there is a profound feeling of poetic justice.

Since Moshiri took over, their net spend is circa £230m, their wages are close to 85% of club income and they're on their 7th manager in as many years.

Honestly, feck 'em.

 

Looking at the "foul" before the Leics disallowed goal, I can see why it was ruled out. But that's not the point is it? The point is that had that been ManU attacking Leicester than it would not have been ruled out.

 

It's not just that I want Palace to win tonight, that's a given. It's also because the pundits have been awarding 4th place already, not so much in the past few days but certainly for a couple of weeks. And I just love it when the pundits get it wrong. Yes Arsenal are favourites for 4th, but I suspect even Brunel don't make them as clear favourites as the pundits that have been talking them up.

 

NLD confirmed Thursday May 12th

 

Utd are perfect opponents for Everton.
Will get the crowd up and that will spur Everton into life. They might look rubbish but they out run and work Utd and have better midfielders so will probably get plenty of the ball.
Home win

 

I wouldn't say we're clear favourites, but yes, it's in our hands. However, I've not seen too many pundits say that it's guaranteed to be ours. Neville very recently said he think its 50-50 whether we'd get it. Rio Ferdinand, Robbie Savage and Michael Owen were all unwavering in their belief that Arsenal wouldn't finish 4th. Carragher said he thinks it's likely we'll get it, but we still have a lot to prove and nothing is sealed.

Personally, I'm still not sure. We have some very tough games left, especially away from home. Meanwhile, your fixtures are, on paper, a lot easier. I also think Kane and Son's lethal partnership could be decisive at this stage of the season. And our side are very inexperienced. Many of them have never been in this position before, whereas quite a few of Spurs' team have. That could make a difference.

I wouldn't entirely rule Man United out, but I don't trust them to put a run of consistent form together. So I do think it'll be extremely close between us. I reckon it will go to the wire.

 

Fair comment.

 

Utd aren’t getting 4th - nor are West Ham.
Spurs and Arsenal have some tricky games left.
Arsenal have been a lot more consistent since their poor start, but are not world beaters. Spurs have game changers in form.
It may come down to who prevails on 12th May.
But would you risk backing any of those teams?
Chelsea have just about done enough but not guaranteed top 4 yet
I’m already looking up obscure places in Moldova and Slovenia for next season