spyinthesky

I am a card carrying pessimist (realist) who expects us to lose on Sunday (just as I did away to Man Utd and home to Spurs!!!) However I well remember my pessimistic outlook before kick off when we played Liverpool at home at the Dell quite a few years back with a load of untried youngsters including Jason Dodd, Frannie Benali etc and we walloped the Scousers 4-1. So it can be done. Fingers crossed.

Schneiderlin and Martina are being absolutely slaughtered in the Liverpool Echo and Everton Forum's Martina - we were advised about his very mediocre talent before he joined us by our Dutch based supporters, so there was no great expectation. Schneiderlin - he always did well for us but his career has nosedived since leaving SMS although his on field disappointment must be offset by his increased bank balance. Separately when you look at Koeman's time at Everton there was a significant amount of transfer funds outlaid for a number of very poorly performing players.

When you think that, with a relatively strong line up, we were well beaten by a second string Wolves team and just about scraped through away to Fulham, whoever takes over form Perry Grino will need to bring in a fair few loan, freebies and Championship type players to compete next season. Almost all our first team squad will go apart from the likes of McCarthy, Pied, Stevens, Targett, McQueen, Sims, Hesketh, Berdanek, Gardos (!!!!), Gallagher, possibly Austin and Long on the basis that they either wont attract decent bids from other Prem clubs or their agent wont be able to match their wages elsewhere, even on a reduced wedge, in the Championship. All other players will have a reasonable transfer value (albeit reduced due to their displays this season) and are unlikely to accept less wages (presuming that Les and Co had the sense to insert relegation clauses in contracts)

I'm not so sure we would beat them the state we are in atm!!!

Kenzie is currently renting Ronald Koeman's old gaff in the Cheshire countryside having intensive voice coaching in the regional dialect and being given a 'Scouse Brow' before being unveiled as the newest member of the Liverpool FC media team!!!

I reckon cheaper tickets at SMS should range up to 25 years of age

Two things that surprised me re the Watford game: 1. Fielding a relatively strong side 2. The size of the crowd. I really thought that even allowing for decent pricing and a healthy contingent from Watford, it was unlikely that the crowd would exceed 12,000 bearing in mind our recent turgid home form. However there were a lot of youngsters at the game (great for the future) and I was particularly amused by a large group of under 10's walking to the ground singing OWTS. Also I sit in a relatively quiet part of the ground and there were a lot of unfamiliar faces who individually and, at times, collectively added to the atmosphere

LBA Many thanks for the correction

Some suggestion that Cardiff are interested in signing (30 yr old) David McGoldrick from Ipswich for £1m (Pretty sure I remember him and Leon Best playing together upfront for Saints at Everton about 12 years ago) Another bit of transfer speculation is Bialkowski ( another ex Saint) may be interesting Palace

I feel sorry for Martina He seems to be a nice chap but is getting crucified by the fans and the local rag on Merseyside. Even the Mayor of Liverpool, Genial Joe Anderson, who has spent several millions of Council money to buy Everton's Training Ground and is prepared to 'invest' a further £250m-£300m in helping fund a new stadium for the club, went on a local radio phone- in to slate Martina (and Ashley Williams) saying they were the worst defenders ever to play for Everton. Can you imagine a local politician acting that way down here!!

I suppose there was little choice Long was ill, Austin injured, Gallagher on loan, the other young lad only just back from loan at Yeovil and Gabbiadini probably knackered after ploughing a lone furrow upfront. The other possibility was putting Redmond up front in a 'Thierry Henry' role but this obviously was less of an option than trying a 17 year old debutant who had little or no experience in the U23's!!! Poor management for a team with the 18th highest revenue in European Football!!!!!!!!

Another disturbing fact is that we have played more home games than any other club

Not many one club players in the top Leagues Jimmy Armfield, Bpbby Charlton, Tommy Smith, Steven Gerrard, Matt Le Tizz readily come to mind. Going back in time there were many more. Money trumps loyalty in the modern game Jimmy Armfield - one of the games legends

Mark Wright was good in the air!!

Havent seen him at last few games but regularly saw him stewarding at the Chapel end until recently Remember him (playing the bagpipes?) at a supporters protest meeting at the old Polygon Hotel many years ago Also bumped into him later when he worked as a Groundsman at the Sports Centre

Very good points

Apparently simple tap in after a defensive error Would be interesting to see how he played generally

Interested to know if anyone has an informed input into average wages in the Championship. I am assuming that the current average wage paid out to our (below average performing) 25 man squad is around £50k per week ie £65m per year. Possibly this figure may be a bit lower as I guess there would be an element of win bonuses included within the estimated figure, so not much pay out there!!! Assume the average Championship wage is around half of the Prem, so assuming there is a relegation clause in players contracts(by bye to most/all well paid players then) the wage bill, if we go down, will reduce by around £32.5m. However read an article on Rodway at Sunderland who, apparently, remains on a £70k a week deal although he seems to be permanently sidelined through injury and the fact he is garbage Many years ago Bristol City plummeted down the Leagues after failing to write in a relegation clause to players contracts and had to suffer severe financial strain as a consequence. Lets hope our contract negotiators are much more aware. Lets hope!!!!!!!!!

Average at best, I am sad to say

Spot on comment

Presumably he is on a tasty weekly wedge!!!

Thanks for the correction. I must have lost count even though, as always, I suffer to the final minute!!!

Fool that I am, I bought 4 tickets today. Only one at the ticket office. Expect to sit and suffer whilst a relatively strong Watford team will wallop a below strength and physically inferior team walloped in front of about 10,000 fans, of which approaching half will noisily supporting Watford. Shades of last year's 6-0 defeat v Arsenal is already in my mind. We then move on to a further dose of disappointment at home to Brighton on the Weds

Having enjoyed a period of relative success since the Liebherr take over, I wonder if relegation will be harder for the fans to take this time round than last. My memory is not clear on the matter but I recollect our crowds weren't too bad back in Championship in the initial stages until it all started to unravel. I fear that this may not be the case next season and the club will have to think very carefully as to how they pitch season ticket prices whether we escape the drop, or not, as there is a real sense of disillusionment and apathy amongst a lot of fans at the moment

In some way I am pleased one of the Liebherr family seems to have an interest in Saints