Special K

Interesting and I agree with that, but he's young, has been through the academy and i'd be surprised if he can't adapt. Also, I thought he played well in the 3-5-2 / 5-3-2 type formation Koeman adopted last winter. I think he's better suited as a midfielder than a left back and provides some versatility, which could be useful.

For someone who is supposedly universally disliked on this forum, he's doing a grand old job of reeling you lot in.

Anywhere between 8th and 12th will be a good result, providing we have a decent run in either the EL or FA cup. that will be a good season for me. Losing to Man U away in August is not a litmus test as to how well the season will pan out. The Black Cats at home will be more telling.

Yeas, agree with that. Someone has posted it on twitter from the rear angle and Jordy definitely caught Shaw as he was running and caused him to fall, not a dive at all and not a great deal he could do really. Kind of like a tap tackle in rugby. Correct decision. Much respect to the fans caught up in the traffic on the way up - hope it didn't spoil the day too much (although the result and our lack of punch up front probably did more to spoil it!)

I'd be surprised if there are any trenches down the Docks at Noshers Alley, to be honest.

I'd rather assess his suitability after half a season of results and not on whether he portrays inspiration during one press conferences.

Jose has form for showing "interest" in players when their current team are about to play his and thereby upsetting the preparations before a game. And it's not confined to the transfer window either as when he was at Chelsea he'd hint at loving to have oppo players in his team. It is imperative for him to get a good start to the season at Utd, else the pressure will a huge distraction and a lot of it is all part of the mind games shown in the modern game. It would be no surprise to see the tabloid coverage ramp up about it before Friday. I'm not saying there is no interest as I wouldn't know, but i expect Utd to make full use of it before kick off to try and have Jose's head in Manchester.

Don't be such a tart. There was and will continue to be division. I wasn't the one claiming that it's as a result of being a "bad loser".

From the yawn-athon stock answer of "Get over it!" to the bizarrely triumphalist and equally juvenile "We won, you didn't!" mantra of the UKIPpers, the creation of any "divisive and bad tempered air" is primarily down to gob****e Brexiters who seem to think that the referendum was a Win / Lose scenario and if you "lost" (voted Remain), you need to shut the **** up, forever and a day. I'm not referring to you, Saint 86, but more generally, but imho I don't want to pull together with someone who believes an economic policy should be based upon the phrase "It Will Be Alright". I don't want to pull together with someone who believes they voted to leave the EU because "It would stop the muslims coming in". I don't want to pull together with someone who believes the promotion of lies over facts is a good idea. And I don't want to pull together with someone whose responses to a post - brexit UK range from the bizarre "Well, World War Three didn't happen did it?, huh!" to the "stop moaning and get on with it" slogan from the School of Head Burying ********.

I can imagine his Mrs will take a bit of that to set up home with the man with the golden chopper.

The Physio Room has Bertrand logged as injured, returning on opening day game against Watford.

http://cer.org.uk/insights/theresa-may-and-her-six-pack-difficult-deals An interesting read on the possible deals the UK will have to strike, the likely stumbling blocks and the gargantuan task ahead for her Government.

True enough. It's easier to sell a dream, even if it is based on lies, than it is for the privileged to convince someone who thinks their life is shyte, to believe that their ****ty life is better staying as it is.

There is a new economic policy called "It Will Be Alright" which was rolled out by brexiters after the referendum. It's now been modified slightly to "It Will Be Alright, Stop Bloody Moaning" which is an answer to anyone who questions them as to what exactly trade deals will consist of, who with, what form brexit will take, etc, etc (you know, all the boring but pertinent questions). Some of the less educated brexiters are still rolling out the "we won, you didn't" line in some form of strangulated triumphalist tone, but it is a stock answer to anyone who questions what brexit actually means, thereby closing down any debate. I'm interested to see how the Govnt negotiates trying to keep passporting rights for financial services as part of brexit negotiations. If it fails and the City is weakened, the treasury will see a decent slice out of it's income and we can all look forward to income tax rises and more austerity. Couple this with the huge reduction in EU funded science and health projects and there will be a flight of talented people overseas, too. But I shouldn't worry as, it will be alright.

IMF forecasts are always over optimistic. The revisions to figures over the last 5 years alone mean markets take their predictions with a pinch of salt as they are continually downgraded until time catches up with them. In fairness it must be a difficult job to do and they aren't in the business of promoting global instability, but nonetheless, it would be no surprise to see further reductions in these already downgraded figures in the months to come.

Loved his enthusiasm and will remember his celebrations at West Ham away two years ago when we won 3-1 and it kickstarted a terrific run. His celebrations when Pelle scored the 3rd were brilliants and showed a real back room commitment.

In the interests of balance.

Not at all. He previously said the economy can thrive outside the EU, but was better and more likely to thrive from within. He's been pretty consistent on that.

I guess we are about to enter one of the most turbulent periods of our history. Scotland will leave the union, eventually, and we will be entirely dependent upon politicians and civil servants negotiating our future from a weakened position, which doesn't fill me with hope when considering their track record.

From what the gutter press report, he loves the black box and any other colour box for that matter.

Some Italian fella on twitter saying we've offered £7m for Silvan Widmer, currently at Udinese. No idea as to how valid this is at all (probably a load of old pony), just putting it up here as a rumour -

Glad he's finally ****ed off. Let's get on with securing a new man at the helm. Shame that Erwin and Jan will probably go though, they seem decent sorts, unlike the cash loving Ronald.

I liked Koeman when he was here (i know he's still to confirm departure but it's all over bar the shouting), but he is a two faced bastard and i'm looking forward to giving hims some grief if he's still in charge of the sh!tkickers when they come to SMS next season. I couldn't give a toss about who is the bigger club and all that ********. And there fans coming on here with their smug posts, seems to me the blue side of scouseland is like a fella with a small nob who feels he needs to lord it about when he's finally got a bird (who will fleece him for a load of cash) before he's ****ged her and she realises he's not all that he promised. The validation they need of being a once big club is just weird. I suppose it's something to do with them achieving **** all in the last 20 odd years. Oh well, I digress. I read the article but I cannot see how appointing Koeman is a statement of intent to the rest of the Premier League? Sure, he's a good manager, but nothing special. His record isn't that great and whilst he did well with us, fannying about in the dutch league after a few dodgy years in Spain doesn't compare with the stellar managers currently around. Citeh getting Pep is a statement of intent. Klopp was a canny appointment for the bin dippers and is a statement of intent. Jose to Manure is, too. But Koeman? Hello? He might do well, but i don't think he'll take them into top 4 over the next two seasons, which is where i assume they want to be. They can dress it up all they want, but I think there is a limit to Koemans managerial ability that may not meet the expectations of the club's owners.

If he get's the resources that are being quoted, he will have a bit to play with, but after a couple of seasons decline for Everton through a lack of investment (hence wanting new investors), they appear to have some catching up to do. I completely agree with you derry, he will have to clear out what he doesn't like, stop the better players from going and try and buy decent replacements in a European championship summer where a lot of decent players are concerned with other matters and securing a transfer will be more difficult than usual. Add to the mix an apparent DoF at Goodison who is yet to be appointed, then Koeman may get very little say in who they bring in. Plus the grandstanding they've been on recently with the amount to spend and suddenly anyone they were interested in has an starting price 50% more than before. It wouldn't surprise me if a) Koeman gets sidelined in player choices b) he get's very little time to integrate players who may not be his first choice c) fights a losing battle trying to keep the very few decent players they have who will be tempted by bigger clubs and European football. Add to that a Bertie Big ******** level of Scouse expectation because some mouthy **** has come in saying he's Loadsamoney and he could be getting his P45 before the New Year if they are anywhere below 10th at Christmas.

Don't know mate as I don't look, but if there are some, then they are equally a bellend too.