S-Clarke

Good to see him back in among it all. Will be interesting to see how it pans out over the week and what MP's comments will be on thursday...

Less time to run on his contract for a start, VVD would have to do this for 4 more years. Plus there was the added complication of Berahino failing a drugs test, which prolonged his absence. The fact is that he didn't get the big move he wanted, sulked, went mental, ended up getting a move. But had to go sideways to Stoke, and by all accounts he has been garbage for them. He's put doubt on a promising career by essentially being greedy. I don't think VVD is as dim as that though.

Great finish Rashford. Think he's been one of the better players tonight, along with Ali

He's had an absolute nightmare.

Really classy finish from Dier, still not entirely sure the corner was meant for him....! Rashford is better from the left, combining well with Bertrand. Chamberlain and Henderson have been very poor.

Naff.

Ah, is pluto still having a little cry about that. It feels like it's an appropriate moment to share this picture.

Bloody Les Reed. Everything is his fault. I'm sure he's even involved with North Korea. etc.

Good post professor, sound views all backed up by actual facts....makes a change on this place! One slight oddity you haven't mentioned was Fraser, signed up until 2021 last summer.....and then signed another contract this summer, so that was a bit strange - would be interesting to know the reasons behind that. If you want a lesson in how not to manage players contract lengths then take a look at Arsenal. They have got double figures of players out of contract within the next year, including their key men Ozil and Sanchez. In any sensible business, they should have reluctantly agreed to sell Sanchez this summer when it became apparent he wasn't going to sign - similar to Ozil. They've probably ****ed away over £100m in transfer fees.

Nope, no move at all. Be interesting to see what happens in January...

That's just a huge assumption though. There's more to life than just a career, who knows what's going on.

Goal for Davis tonight as well. Although it was a pen.

Holy ****, a Southampton player scored from outside the box.

Harry Kane hates August.

Henderson is such a boring player to watch. Just nothing.

I'd have thought Hoedts agent would have already been pretty clued up, seeing as he was signed a week ago. It was pretty obvious VVD wasn't being allowed to leave way before Lemina and Hoedt arrived.

Apart from Hoedt, Lemina and Bedranek.

Let's not tempt him back out of the woodwork.

Doh, I meant EFL

Everton have spent a lot of money, but their lack of getting in a striker yesterday has got to be ringing alarm bells for their fans, surely? You can't let a 25/30 goal player leave and not replace him, which in essence is what they've done. They're obviously hoping for a better return of goals throughout the team, rather than focusing on a single player, but it's a huge gamble. And Newcastle - christ on a bike. What a ****ty situation they've got themselves in. Huddersfield and Bournemouth have spent more than them. Rafa will be gone within weeks in my opinion, through his own call rather than being sacked. He won't want a relegation battle on his CV and they're not doing anything else this season.

It's a poisoned chalice I reckon. The dutch team look like they've downed tools.

For the first time in a good couple of years it feels as if we have made attempts to 'Improve' the first team, rather than either bulking up the squad or focusing on replacing who has left. Lemina and Hoedt are both quality additions in area's that needed enhancing and those two have come in without sacrificing any of our players. In an absolutely ideal world you'd have liked another attacking option, but I'm sure every club would just like that '1 extra' option. To summarise, we're stronger than we were at the start of July - and when you take into account all of the rumours re: players such as Bertrand, Cedric, VVD, then it's a pretty good effort we've got to today even stronger.

Not quite sure any EPL clubs could afford him.

Probably something based on his opinion, with facts gleaned from articles made to make it sound like he knew what was going on personally.

lol ffs.