Sheaf Saint

Joelinton really is a cock isn't he. That looked deliberate, after their handbags earlier.

I don't think you can even pin this on RM's tactics. It's not like Newcastle pressed us hard into the mistake - there really was no danger. It was just horrifically casual from Macca when he had time and space to do much better with it. It's as if he just switched off when the ball came to him.

We wouldn't have even got a corner if that was Che. That's a decent effort from Arma.

Why was it bizarre?

So this co-commentator doesn't like play-acting when it works against Newcastle, but he recommends they should time-waste as much as possible now to hold on to this lead. Who is this prick?

Yeah I assume so. No need to play a back 5 against ten men. I'm expecting KWP to go to RB and Stephens to LB.

Was it Joelinton? He was squaring up to Bednarek ahead of that terrible FK.

The giveaway was bad enough to begin with, but what the actual fuck was that pathetic attempt to save the shot? He just flopped to his left. For the love of God, please can we sign a new keeper before the end of the window. And I don't mean a stop-gap loan until Baz is fit again, I mean a new, competent number 1. All of our good work pissed away in an instant by a player who shouldn't even still be at the club, let alone on the fucking pitch today.

Oh Macca. That's horrendous.

Looks like we don't even have to wait for the second half 😒

Def needs a bit more practice

Yep

Of course the Geordie co-commentator doesn't think it's a red card. BBD didn't do anything - Schar headbutted him. Easy decision for the ref.

Everton 0-1 Brighton

Well we're winning the possession contest 68/32 at the moment.

Couldn't tell from the replays I saw.

First blood to us but offside. Was Smallbone's shot on target? Would it have been better for Stephens to leave it, knowing he was offside?

And that's OK, as long as BBD and Arma get a few between them, as well as the midfielders chipping in.

I think so. We'll definitely be seeing more of it this season, after it proved so effective against Leeds in the playoff final. It certainly makes us much more solid defensively, and given our propensity to concede 3+ at times last season, that will be much needed in the PL.

Yeah I'm not knocking Archer here. I'm quite enthused about him from what I've seen. I just think there was a bit of confusion in the way Saint_clark worded his post, that's all. I messaged a Villa supporting mate yesterday and asked if this signing was something I should be excited about. He replied: "Excited might be a bit strong, but he works hard and is a tidy finisher". On that basis he would appear to be an upgrade on Che, and certainly on Mara.

Which is more than Archer has ever managed in the PL, is the point Clarkey was making.

This makes me want to dance like a baby

Well that all happened quickly. This signing has made me quiver with excitement.

I think we do. Che might have had his faults, but we really missed his presence when he wasn't playing last season. He was frequently the glue that held our attacking play together. It would be a huge oversight to go into a PL season without a single player who can offer what he did in that respect. Unless, of course, we are pinning all our hopes on Stewart getting and staying fit. Which I really hope we're not.

Is this one of your cryptic clues? Were we working on a deal to bring Neil Shipperly back but it's been scuppered after being leaked to the press?