JRC

Yeah, as with Newcastle, what I'm taking is that we went away to difficult grounds and without playing well we dug out performances that took us within seconds of a gritty win. In both we managed leading the game pretty well until the final second - neither Newcastle nor Everton equalised because they were battering us at the end, more the usual combination of contingent, fine margin s*** dropping the wrong way. A draw was probably fair - and a result I would have probably taken beforehand - but a win if that shot misses would have been a real characterful and thus deserved one.

Everton's results have been good, no doubt, and fair play to them and Moyes. But the 3 teams they beat are genuinely terrible at the moment, which we knew with Spurs and Leicester, and Brighton confirmed yesterday. Not sure Dyche wouldn't have won those games anyway - albeit with fewer goals. Agree it's better to go there with them thinking they can match us at football rather than to a hellish dogfight.

Didn't Abramovich think that was who he was buying from flying over the old ground?

I'm there, but Twitter has long been my vehicle of choice for in-match updates - I can't watch or listen live. So I still use it for that, firstly because Bluesky doesn't seem as immediate or concentrated, and secondly, superstitiously not wanting to change a routine that has been good for us this season. But even in match, and when we're winning, there's still some utter s***ehawks on there.

Yeah, you hear individual calls about him, both when he does something s***, but also when he gets the songs and love from the crowd as a whole - that triggers some people by me. Ronay's article in The Guardian is even more self-indulgent than usual - although I think the point he is trying to make is not a bad one, and very apprecative of Slot and us in general - but I quite liked this about Darwin - "He resembled, as ever, and at all moments, a footballer being chased around the pitch by a swarm of invisible bees. He also came away looking on the metrics like a precision stealth weapon deployed at just the right moment."

Enjoyed that more than I expected. Played some nice stuff and scored good goals. They didn't try to clog us in classic 'magic of the cup' s***show with an underdog pass. Didn't make a show of themselves, but an easy run out for us and minutes for the kids. No poverty or tragedy chanting that I heard. Competent, unfussy Ref - especially for blowing spot on 5 minutes injury time despite their goalie being down for 2 of them. Love to watch a smart pro like Endo just do smart things. And a goal for Fred Church.

When we won in 2020, we had Arsenal and City away, and, iirc, Chelsea at home late in the run in. Like it mattered by then.

It's a s***e rule, but I think you're right, given the first instance of this interpretation I recall was the Lovren to Kane (penalty) one years ago. The defender has to try to play the ball, it seems unfair they are punished when it's never really in their control. Fwiw, I think they should apply the same criteria as for a pass back, needs to be more deliberate or intentional to count

Such a weird season. Top then, week before Christmas, despite some performances not at the 19-20 standard, like conceding 7 at Villa away, but still title-winning form for the 1st third of the season; then a relegation form 2nd third of the season - but even that was mainly due to that unimaginable home form, we still went away to Arsenal and Spurs and won (and the Leicester away defeat was bizarre - missed penalty, scrappy and undeserved latish goals from them to win); then, slowly and unexpectedly, putting together a title-winning level run for the final third, with that amazing night at Old Trafford, and probably the season highlight from the big feller at West Brom

As far as i am aware, them's the rules. If there is a potential advantage called, it cant be DOGSO, so not a red.

If you play an advantage it shouldn't be a red card

That was Slot's view. 'Maybe' still feeling the effects of the foul. For someone normally brutally direct, that's quite a bit of leeway.

Didn't he score against us at Anfield last season?

Just broke out in a cold sweat again seeing it written down, thanks

Martinez may be a t***, but he's good. Mo just sat him on his a*** and dinked it past him. Great finish.