Dark Munster

Yes indeed. Plus VVD and Austin injured. Plus the extra Thursday games every other week. Plus (as someone has just reminded me) having to deal with a toxic Fonte for half a season.

0 games in and it was clear we needed some attacking talent. Well, to everyone except Les "One Transfer Window Too Late" Reed.

Indeed. Mane, Pelle and Big Vic became invisible when Claude took over, as were Austin and VVD for half the season. And he didn't get the best out Gabbi until half the season had already passed.

Yeah, that's the silver lining. We're crap at home.

Let us know what you think a couple of months from now.

His crime was he didn't get the best out of the players he didn't have.

We've regularly been at the top of the physioroom charts, so I don't think your glasses are pessimistically tinted. Saints' physiotherapists need to go. Along with Dave Watson. And Eric Black, of course.

I'm not sure about that. It's looking like it will be a big ask for them to be able to survive at this high a level. It'll probably be better for them if they slip back into L2, where they belong.

So Souness tries to blame Terry Cooper. Bloody cheek, as allegedly it was Cooper who more or less took over near the end of the season to save us from the relegation that we were hurtling to under that incompetent arsehole Sourpuss.

Poch is a decent manager, but is nothing more than that until he wins some serious trophies. And even if he does manage that in the future, he'll always be a twat.

For big clubs, yes. Spurs are a big club, and currently have a superb squad (I feel dirty saying that), led by Kane (who Poch was reluctant to play when he was first there). So being in the top 4 is hardly a managerial miracle (unlike Leicester's unbelievable season ... incidentally denying that "brilliant" manager Poch yet another trophy).

And apparently it's also easy to forget he had Mane next to him that season.

And the rest of us will recognize it would be because they have Vardy, Iheanacho, Mahrez, Slimani and Okazaki, instead of the Long and J-Rod for most of the season. And not having matches every other Thursday.

Poch's trophy cabinet.

If he does go there I hope (and expect) he will be a big success for them (finishing one place below us).

That's how Leicester won the league.

If Tuchel does go to Everton maybe it's because he wants to go to a bigger club than ours?

If we get 45 points then we won't be in trouble this year. That is for sure.

Calling Lord T and his laughing gif.

Yes, normally you can count on at least 2 of the 3 promoted teams to struggle, but all three this year look organised and very well managed. It's not inconceivable for all three to survive. Burnley and Watford look better than they were last year, Leicester have too much quality, and WBA have Pulis who never gets relegated. Everton have had a bastard fixture list to start, and probably won't be in any danger (with or without RK!). And unlike the shambles when under Saggy, we're probably too good defensively to get sucked in. So if the above do survive, the ones left are Swansea, West Ham, Stoke, Bournemouth and Palace. Not particularly good teams, but not appalling either (except maybe Palace). Only Palace look like a team who could be miles adrift by the end of the season, but even they managed to beat last year's champions. I reckon Palace and Swansea will go down, but I think it'll be a dogfight to avoid the 3rd spot.

This, in a nutshell.

http://scores.nbcsports.com/epl/player_leaders.asp?category=107

Almost, although a Spurs win is always a fly in the ointment. If ever there was a stereotypical desired mass-brawl game, 10 players sent off, both teams deducted 3 points, it's Spurs v. Liverpool.