The Fish

I'd rather Austin, but there's no harm in signing Remy on loan before an international competition.

I'd say it's 1 from us, Bournemouth, Norwich and Swansea. Sunderland are fucked and haven't the existing squad, the pull to attract new players, nor the dynamic manager that'd turn draws & losses into wins with a cavalier approach. I think Swansea are better off than us to drag themselves clear with the players they have and the bounce a new manager will give them, but injuries to key players could see them struggle and if the new man is more Di Canio than De Boer they're bang in trouble. I think we've been unfortunate in the past few games, we were definitely worth a point in all and maybe more vs Everton? That said, we need to get to a place where we're value for our win and luck doesn't come into it. I think while everyone is calling for a new striker, (and if Cisse is out for a while it makes sense), I think the priority is a quality central midfielder; one who'll help win, keep and use the ball. We're not creating loads of chances and our young striker needs more opportunities. I can't believe people are already writing Mitrovic off, he's just a bairn and he's being expected to lead the line for a relegation fighting side of misfiring internationals. Still think we'll get ourselves out of it. I think we've enough quality in the side and enough pull to attract better players than those around us. 36pts has meant safety, on average, for the past decade in the Premier league, and I believe this squad of players (plus a few additions) is capable of getting the 1.06PpG needed to get to that modest target.

Dummett

Cheers Ant, that's some good work

Happy New Year you mongrels.

Elliott out because he's eaten too much Figgy pudding and hoyed up all over the bus.

Team Formation Team stats Go!

You've dropped your toys mate. We played well enough to get a point against Everton, who're a good side this season. If we'd come into this game playing well and sitting pretty in 10th (or wherever) I'd not have expected a loss, but given our season thus far & given theirs it's not daft to predict a loss. Doesn't mean I think we'll definitely lose at their place, as we might go into that game flying & they might be having a shit time. Fwiw I also don't think 10th would be an unreasonable place for this group of players & head coach, if the fixture list had been kinder at the start. But it wasn't so we play the hand we're dealt and although we're in the bottom 3 now, I think there's enough in this side to survive. That shouldn't be our long term aims, but to expect much more after the previous few years is a bit fucking silly. Isn't it?

Mitrovic is apparently a doubt. 1-1

We played ok against a good side and were unlucky to lose. But forget about all that, let's cry and piss on anyway because people love a good moan. Are we in the shit, aye, but we were before this result and will be for some time. It's like everybody seems to forget we've been shit for quite some time and it's going to take more than half a season to turn us into anything but a 15th/17th side. The players, the coaching staff, the head coach, etc are capable of that modest target. Let's not self flagellate after every defeat because there'll be plenty more before the seasons over. Have to laugh at Gemmill who only ventures onto the football side of things when we lose, because... I dunno, morbid curiosity?

Performances are improving. I'm not shrugging my shoulders at being in a bad position, I'm rolling my eyes are the "Wuh gannin doon, all the players are shite and we'll sell the good ones and ..." Look at this thread, who was predicting a good result? Same thing on Twitter, everyone (near enough) was expecting a loss and then when the predicted loss comes after a spirited performance (where but for some poor finishing we may well have come away with more), somehow it's a terrible result and the harbinger of certain relegation.

Pants. Pissed. All over Twitter . What a bunch of reactionary arseholes. We'll stay up, but anyone expecting a sudden lurch up the table is a bloody child.

Said in the other thread 3-0 for Everton

Comfy 3-0 win for Everton. Brace for Romelu

Merry Christmas I look forward to unwrapping all the gifts you're dropping off at mine later.

Start Perez, Mitrovic & de Jong, drop Anita & push Sissoko/Wijnaldum central, Perez on the right/left.

Apparently found shitfaced in a hotel, a hand sliced open. I'd hoped he was getting better support these days.

Just saw this, hope he pulls through. Once ruffled his hair on a flight to London.

Does it have something to do with cowardice?

Happy birthday How come he hasn't got birthday boobs? He has access to the Internet, he's probably seen more porn than we had by his age.

He's got form. He's a horrible little oik

My fucking head. I stuck to the champagne in the office (bar a couple of punishment shots). Then, more champagne, then red wine, then white, then beer, then rum, then it all gets a bit hazy. Thankfully no drama bar some arsehole bankers being obnoxious with one of the girls. Got an uber home because why wouldn't you?

RIP Jimmy

A worrying development.