Razoray

After Van Dijk was injured (assaulted) in 20/21, he was excellent with initially Gomez, until his injury, and then Fabinho at the back. After the Palace 7-0, we had 31 points from 14 games - the same as we had before tonight. Matip went off injured in the 15th game v West Brom to be replaced by Williams), we conceded a late equaliser and went on to win just 11 points in the next 13 games. Obviously we have Van Dijk, Gomez, Konate, and Quansah still available this season, but I thought of it during the week and was delighted that Sheff U didn’t equalise late on tonight and put my superstitious thoughts to bed.

442 I'd say, with Gakpo up front with Salah.

FFS

Akanji has a very different skillset to Stones also, but Guardiola plays him in the hybrid role for City when Stones is unavailable. Partey played the role for Arsenal earlier in the season. Postecoglu, Klopp, Guardiola and Arteta will use one of the back 4 in midfield when they play 433 for most games. I think if Trent moves to midfield, it will be with another DM in a 442. He wont play in the 6 on his own very often, in my opinion.

Spurs played Sunday afternoon.

I watched him against City and he impressed me. I presumed that he was a kid that had come through the Fulham academy. I was surprised to read that he is 26, was on Everton's books growing up and that he grew up in the UK but has 39 USA caps.

I can only gues that Owen had another try to return here after leaving the Mancs in 2012, when Brendan had just started, and got the calls to Carragher mixed up.

They've beaten 7 of the bottom 8 (Bournemouth are the one they haven't played yet) and 10th place Brentford. They've lost to 1st, 2nd, 5th, 6th, 8th and 12th. Pathetic

The fear is if they reached the final with us - Dublin would be a nightmare

Need to win this so there is no kind of jeopardy in the final game, and we can rest players in the middle of a 9 games, in 27 days run.

They'd still need a draw in the Copenhagen v Galatasaray game. They could go through but I think they are gone. My fear is that they win and qualify for the Europa

Sancho is on 350k pw. West Ham or similar will only pay a quarter of that. The only way he leaves, is if they offset his wages with a large portion of the sale. I can see him try outlast Ten Hag

Onana is worse than Taibi. He's fucking putrid. Only one team winning this

He was on the Times podcast this week on the Everton charges. Against my better judgement, I listened. His shtick was basically that investmet into your business should be allowed. Everton have loads of money so should be allowed invest in their own company - I don’t know if he realises that they are virtually bankrupt. He justified it by saying that a club can't buy everyone, and City have sold their unwanted crumbs (my words) to Chelsea and Arsenal in the past couple of years. The traditional clubs are blocking anyone else competing and unfettered spending should be allowed, if it doesn't mean debt on the club - but fails to add that Everton are in huge debt, are looking to be taken over by a dodgy outfit to survive and are in serious danger of going out of business. It was obvious that he wasn't referring to Everton in his defence of Everton at all. It was all related to the 115 charges against City but he was pushing the closed shop "cartel" agenda and masking it with a defense of Everton not being allowed spend what they want. He is a disgusting prick but is beloved by Everton fans now. Newcastle seem to have stayed within Premier League FFP (so far) and have gone from relegation candidates to Champions League football in less than two years. It is possible to compete, without cheating. And the one thing that nobody mentioned, is that the PL is all 20 clubs. If the other 15/16 clubs have an issue with the traditional big 4/5 clubs, then they can outvote them. Everton signed up to the rules, admitted they broke said rules, and now (backed by fat sloppy journalists) call corruption. Weird bastards.

Before Tony asks - what type of biscuit?

Carragher was saying today that they start slowly and then push on towards the end of the season. At this stage last season they had won 10, drawn 2 and lost just once (at Anfield) and were on 32 points, 3 points ahead of this season's tally. 3 points down on last season would give them 86 points. I think we are capable of achieving that.

Jota for Diaz was probably planned but occured when it did, due to Jota's injury. Curtis hasn't started a league game since Spurs, so an hour was probably max for him. Darwin and Mac Allister were expectedly flagging, due to the travelling to and from South America. Szoboszlai was definitely a surprise, but Elliott has given us energy as a sub this season.

Pulling a keeper's arm is like pulling back an outfield player's leg. It's a foul. Every time.

2 keepers, 4 defenders, a DM and a young forward

If Egypt don't reach the quarter-final/semi-final, he will only miss 2 or 3 league games, and a maximum of 4. Hopeuly not as disastrous as it could have been

The Lobster Potless

The decade could have been even better. If only we had signed @dave u but unfortunately, he was deemed too similar to Kenny.

Cunts

I'm unclear on the wording of the 12-8 in favour of a ban on related-party loans. They needed 13 to change the rules, so related-party loans are allowed?

5.5 miles from City of Manchester Stadium to Ashton under Lyne.