The Fish

Potato, potato

Isn't that an Aussie kids tv show from the 90s?

Absolutely agree. When I watched that interview I didn't really get the sense this was some show of vulnerability, some peak behind the curtain. The closest I came to seeing the private Eddie Howe was when he spoke of wishing he could have spoken to his late mother again. Even then and when he talked about missing parent-teacher meetings, or spending time with his kids it felt like there was a guard up. Which, like you say, isn't a criticism just an assessment. He's not the kind of public figure that gets your pulse racing, but frankly I don't want or need that from the manager. He clearly has personal connections with his players and that's what really matters. Said it before, but he reminds of of Hughton in that regard, measured, professional, comes across well without stirring oratory, or endearing charm.

If only someone had told him at the time that Qatar was a tiny country. I had a quick check on Wikipedia and apparently, it's half the size of Wales and is in fact smaller than the Falkland Islands. Like that he's trying to shift the blame onto Platini, mind you. Sepp and Michel, two evil bollocks in the same foetid ballbag of corruption.

You're probably right. I don't think Man City are as invulnerable as they've been previously, but they've got so much quality and so much depth it'd be daft to bet against them passing Arsenal at some point and never looking back. Liverpool would have to go some to get into the top spots. They're on 19pts from 13 games(1.46PpG). Continue at that rate for the rest of the season, they'll end up on 52pts (19+(25*1.46). Average for 4th in the last 10 seasons is 71pts. So they'd need c52pts (71-19) from the remaining 25 games or 2.08 Points per Game. Games which include; Chelsea home and away, Man City away, Newcastle away, Arsenal, Man Utd and Spurs at Anfield, plus a Merseyside derby. Plus the Champions League. And the Domestic Cups. They've got to squeeze the postponed Wolves game in there somewhere too. The only free weekend I can see in the calendar is the 7/8th of January.

I dunno, they're definitely in the title challenge on merit. Attacking and defending superbly. Only Newcastle have conceded fewer, only MCI have given up fewer good chances.

Eddie must be favourite for Manager of the Year, right? If Arteta leads Arsenal to the title, then fair fucks, but that aside, Eddie is in the middle of a Comăneci routine

RIP

Helmethüttl

And that's not including the threads dedicated to our matches.

Best way I found to fill out patchy face foliage is regular trimming, not shaving just trimming. My beard is glorious.

Listen here you little shits! We'd be at worst 4th in the league going into the Christmas period.

So many hands grasping, those straws are getting fucking mangled. If Crystal Palace beat us in the League Cup, disappointing, but we're 4th in the league, playing good football, some good players and collectively a committed group. If we lose that and Chelsea, it's disappointing, but we're 4th in the league, playing good football, some good players and collectively a committed group. None of their predictions have materialised; we haven't simply thrown all of the money at the problem, we're not entirely dependent on Saint -Maximin or the new signings, Howe hasn't flopped, we're 4th in the League on merit. It must absolutely burn them.

Bit of a change from a 2-4-1 Meal Deal at Bella Italia under Ashley, isn't it?

Feels like it should be a line from "On the river where they used to build the boats", or "American Pie".

Might set up a Patreon...

Playing Burn at CB means Trippier can push forward further on the right hand side. Burn stays deeper and makes it almost 3 at the back. We still get width on both flanks, but we're solid at the back. Can't really do that with Targett.

Fucking Viral Conjunctivitis. Had to take a photo for the Optician. Eyes are so swollen I look like I'm pulling 8G.

Passing % for the 4 defenders (Burn, Botman, Schar and Tripps) Wonder if Joelinton's absence had anything to do with that pretty significant drop?

How much are they asking for? (cba to read the article)

V.Likely %= Percentage of their squad that is very likely going to the World Cup. Possibly %= Percentage of their squad that could possibly go to the World Cup in total.

I'd still like us to sign Maddison because he can play centrally and out on the right. The priority for me is the base of the midfield three though. I want Bruno closer to the business end of the pitch. It's not sexy, but someone in the Tiote mould would be great.

Yeah, I called that wrong. Have to wonder though, if Howe has managed this with Miggy, what could he do with the likes of Pedro, Diaby or Maddison?