Graffito

I've always advocated Tadic in the 10 role but agree he's been patchy. He can thread pass. He can shield the ball, play off both sides. Sometimes isn't mobile enough and sometimes needs to move the ball quicker.

Gabbiadini wants the ball early. I've seen it in every match. He moves but doesn't get the ball. I posted a while back something which struck me as excellent advice. Guardiola advised Romeo, always look long first. If you look long you'll see the long ball and the short ball. If you look short you see only the short ball. It's advice our team would do well to follow in any circumstances but especially if we are to play to Gabbiadin's strengths.

Maybe Bertrand was as bored as we were.

Yeah nice bird. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Booby

Jamie's hearing murmurs. You can't say that man doesn't have his finger on the pulse.

It's hard to believe the Telegraph when it claims that relations between the clubs are "cordial", given what's gone on. Equally, "Securing Van Dijk would require a sensitive diplomatic mission as much as a change of position from Southampton" seems fanciful. Like, unless they're nice to us we won't sell them our best player and alienate virtually every Saints fan.

I think it does matter. English football moves ever further from its roots due to money. The draw should be in England at a time when people can watch it live.

It wasn't just the tackle. Noble threw the ball at Lemina after Lemina eventually got to his feet. The ref was dealing with Arnautovic's fake head injury from the prior incident so didn't see it. I would have thought the refs assistant had a clear view of it though.

Gareth Rogers left after 6 years service to pursue other opportunities. Odd timing considering such an exciting takeover was imminent. I'd be interested to know how the new partnership intends growing revenue. I read some rumour about academies to be set up in the Far East but there's been precious little concrete information for the fans. The Guardian has David Conn onto the story. He's just raising questions at the moment but some clarification from the club would be good.

Allows you to play two up front.

Yes, a good option, especially as we have two good fullbacks and look most dangerous when they get forward, Bertrand in paricular.

We control our own borders.

What's he doing? This can't be right. Liverpool are not a selling club. I reckon the players been tapped up. They should report Barcelona for an illegal approach. They might even get an apology.

We should prioritise this competition. Play our strongest team. Best chance we'll have of winning something. It won't happen.

I can't answer your question but I can add that I heard Christian Purslow on R5 at the weekend. He was at Liverpool, I believe as MD, as well as later at Chelsea. Asked about Barcelona's pursuit of Suarez, he was critical of Barcelona as being Expert in acquiring settled players. Typically, the interviewer didn't connect Barcelona's methods in acquiring Suarez with Liverpool's in unsettling VVD.

That'll teach me to make clever d1ck comments. Apologies to Shroppie for ridiculing his lyrics.

Italy, the home of The Ford Cortina.

He could end up at West Ham if he plays his cards right.

Maybe they're too embarrassed to show it live.

Who is this Chump from Colchester? Is he any good?

Closer the deadline the deeper the pockets. They pay our price or he stays.

You may be right but that's a conclusion that could be drawn from last season's performances since the squad is largely the same. I personally wouldn't know what to make of tonight's performance.

I gave up going to friendlies a few years ago. There seems to be no correlation between friendly results and subsequent league results and performances are often, like this one, a mishmash of several substitutions from which I find it difficult to draw any firm conclusions. For instance we won our previous match 3-0 and lost this one 4-0, with quite similar performances.

Couldn't give him a nudge could you?

Agreed. And cliche should be avoided like the plague.