The Fish

Not sure how much say Eddie Howe would have in a deadline day deal. Without much evidence I'm fairly confident there'll be a list of targets that Howe has worked with Ashworth and Nickson to produce. If one of those players is available they wouldn't need to involve Eddie in the haggling, it'll just be a quick "Eddie, we can get X, shall we go ahead?" then they go off and sort it all out.

Agreed, a loan move might make some sense, but a permanent move to a relegation threatened, Sean Dyche lead, toxic Everton... that's bad, that's very very bad.

Would be hilarious if we get their player, then gazump them for the replacement.

As if that would matter to her. Yorkshire puddings, Yorkshire tea, waiting until we're officially in Yorkshire before complimenting the view. She's reet proud of t'yorkshuh

Because of her heritage there is only ever Yorkshire tea in this house. I picked up Twinings in the shops and it was plucked from my hand and replaced with a box of Yorkshire before I knew what was happening. She doesn't even fucking drink tea.

Looking at the stats, they're a decent Championship outfit. Creating a better than average number of chances and their attacking efficacy is better than average. They're not great defensively allowing a lot of shots (only 5 allow more), but the opposition have to take a lot of shots before Sunderland concede; However, they are where they should in the league. Not leading the league, not flirting with relegation. This could all change if their first choice striker's output isn't made up in the aggregate, because they are very reliant on him.

Wonder if MBS could lean on their owner a little. "I DRINK YOUR MILKSHAKE"

I take your point. I think my issue is that he hasn't played DM for a couple of seasons now. A loan deal is more likely than a permanent transfer because Sheffield still have a transfer embargo, I guess. I dunno, I'm still hankering for a young Cheik Tiote/David Batty type.

Cup game against Crystal Palace last November, was the last time he was really involved.

Nope. But I can probably sort one out, given time.

He's closer to Longstaff and Willock than he is to an actual out and out DM. Sander Berge Football Statistics | WhoScored.com and for the numerate among us

That's numberwang

It's less about his shithousing, that I can get behind. It's the paucity of his attacking output that worries me.

Seems to be confusion. Some are reporting that tis' £40m including add ons, some are saying it's £40m + add ons. I'd be ok with £40m total, but I think if it's £40m +, they've had our pants down.

Why do you take notice of things like this that are clearly, CLEARLY, designed to wind you up?

I'd very much like this.

Jesus Christ, just because @Dr Gloom is no longer Captain of the H.M.S. Pissypants, that doesn't mean anybody else has to take the helm. I'm 99% sure the the ASM rumours are horseshit, Wood going for £20m if he achieves his very achievable targets, is very good business. We're just starting off, lets not get frantic just because we're not signing Brunos every window, eh?

Especially if we pivoted to some 18yr old foreigner who costs us half as much, turns out twice as good and Gordon ends up going to Burnley to help them stay up next season.

He'll Odemwingie it.

I've got the same in my projection doodad. I've weighted teams by GF and GA in home and away fixtures, plus their overall league position. Spits out doom for those three and Wolves to narrowly avoid relegation. Next season I'll use xG as well, but this will do for now.

Genuinely, look at the fixtures Craig put up. They're going to need about 21pts from those games. I can't see it.

Dyche's last five seasons at Burnley averaged 1.14PpG. To get to 36pts, Everton will need to get 1.17PpG. 0.43PpG more than their current 0.75PpG. Everton are conceding the most chances and Dyche might be able to fix that, but they're also failing to create many with only Bournemouth, Wolves and Palace that are worse. And I'm not sure that Dyche's Burnley were particularly good at fashioning chances. Avg xG = 1.09 Avg xGA = 0.89 Avg G = 0.97 Avg GA = 1.39 If he maintains his Burnley average (1.14), they'd end up on 35pts.

Will Dyche have enough to keep these up? Bielsa wouldn't have, but he would have at least given them a platform to return. If Dyche doesn't keep them up this time, they'd have to replace him to come back as anything more than a plodding bottom half PL side. Which means another change of direction.