Gribz

Im slightly redeemed with 5 out of 6 predictions for Wednesdays results. Newcastle and Liverpool throwing up another classic, and with Arsenal and Chelsea winning the gap is closed slightly. Chelsea are just absolutely flying, I cant credit Maresca enough for what he is doing. Its refreshing that him, Slot, Nuno Santos and the Brighton manager are "at the moment" in line for manager of the season rather than the same old. Arsenal with 2 set piece goals again, how long can they rely on that, teams will start to work it out. Everton give Wolves a walloping at the bottom. Wolves manager must be another who's job is on the line. I had Wolves to go down at the start of the season. Bournemouth must be laughing, they got rid of him and got mass criticism.

Cracking result to wake up to. After Sunday's bore fest I decided not to get up to watch in. We must be a midweek team, 10 goals between last Thursday and this game. At least second place is now looking likely, 4 pts behind with a game in hand.

I think that has to be final straw for Lopetegui. Total wrong appointment so hold hands up and make the change. Go and get Thomas Frank out of Brentford and give him a bigger club with a bigger challenge. Either that get De Zerbi.

Midweek round of games. Not sure the need for Thursday games, that was always the one day football wasnt played when I was growing up - TV dictating and it just knocks the weekend fixtures into Sunday aswell - although its Tottenham on Thurs and Sun which is good for us next week. The first 3 games listed are relegation battles. Ruud' new manager bounce is possible but West Ham cant lose. Everton must win and I think they will to distance themselves and Portman Road has draw written all over it. Newcastle are due a performance and Man Utd could counter against Arsenal. TUE: Ipswich 1-1 Crystal Palace Leicester 1-1 West Ham WED: Everton 1-0 Wolves Man City 2-0 Nottingham Forest Newcastle 1-1 Liverpool Southampton 0-3 Chelsea Arsenal 2-2 Man Utd Aston Villa 2-1 Brentford THURS: Fulham 1-2 Brighton Bournemouth 2-1 Tottenham

Never been a Premier League club and never will be 😀 TBH Id love to see West Ham v Millwall in the Premier League.

I dont think we would win a physical battle with King Kong at the moment. We need a player or two who can get more physical and pull shirts - not just with the opposition but with his own team mates to lift them - we cant constantly wait for a goal to start playing. So without derailing the thread - where can you find such players - thats up to the scouting department, but they are certainly out there - whether they look in the right leagues or not Ive no idea.

Everton are playing a 39 year old ahead of him. We should try get him on loan. What we need are new versions of Ian Ferguson and Jelavic to put it about while still having ability.

Hagi for me especially with his first start in over 500 days. He has that touch of class and was probably only at 70%. Souttar did alright when required, he is a bit like a modern day Alan McLaren (not as good though).

Well deserved and really good to see. For me that talent has always been there, and there should be more to come. What is in the award anyway - a can of Talcum powder or something?!

Is the tide in Manchester about to turn Red again?? A feel good factor with an energetic Manager. Thats the first time Ive looked at City and thought they have no answers and look rattled on the ropes. I dont think Pep is a manager who builds sides, this is a first for him. Is there stuff going on behind the scenes especially with the 115?! When you see their players laughing on the pitch (Haaland with Salah at 2-0) they cant be caring much - they did the same at Tottenham in the league cup when this bad run started. 2-0 flattered Man City. Spurs being Spursy again, win 4-0 one week and grab a draw with Fulham the next. Chelsea have also got to be taken seriously, what a job there coach has done - I expected them to be nearer Mid table but he has done amazing considering they were being laughed at for signing everyone. He has knitted a certain amount of the squad and are playing really well. A Shoe in for top 4 as it stands.

Liverpool v City hasnt let us down in the last few years, the fact City have to come out and win should make it good. As for Newcastle something isnt right. I think Isak wanted a move to Arsenal last summer. He isnt playing his best midfield either, Tonali, Joelinton and Guimaraes are the better 3 with Barnes, Gordon and Isak up front. Yet Selhurst Park is a tight little ground and tough to play flowing football.

Chelsea 2 up against Villa who have been poor. Champions League must be taking its toll.

Very very ugly game. Played a bit better after the goal. The positive was Hagi - very good performance for his first start in over 500 days.

What was the thinking if Hagi was coming off? - Was it Yilmaz to LB and push Jefte forward then move Bajrami into the 10??

The shake up thats required is ridiculous. There is talent in there with Hagi, Jefte and Cerny but they cant do it themselves.

Hagi does look good but bar a 5 minute spell we have been very poor. As mentioned grinders and leaders are extremely lacking.

Got to be happy with that. No option to not bring Tav back in but the rest is what Id have gone for

Yes - he was high up on my list also. As for today - Ive no idea what line up to expect never mind what type of performance we are going to see. The only positive is its St Johnstone who are awful.

The original Enigma was Kris Boyd. However there is a big difference between Boyd and Dessers - Boyd knew how to put the ball in the back of the net. His criticism was he didnt do it against Celtic and was a waste of a shirt outside the box - Older posters will remember I was one of Boyd's critics - yet Id take him all day long right now over Dessers. Dessers issue isnt work rate, its that he misses chances in the range from half chances to easy chances to sitters - yet will still get goals but its 1 out of 9 or 10 chances (which actually says we are creating in the final third). But I dont see his game improving in the future and I can only see the sitters continuing.

Arsenal have scored 11 goals at that stadium this year. It was too easy again. Bournemouth and Brentford continue to impress, Ive been expecting them to collapse

West Brom with yet another draw, its easy money with them at the moment. Lampard nicks a lucky point in his first game and Rooney hammered again. Why do these owners persist with trying quality players but clearly awful managers.

He was right by a mile, it was good for an initial period but has got way out of hand now. I think at the turn of the millennium was when it started to become to commercial. Foreign owners dont care who sits in the 50000 seats per game so long as they are full which means tourists and non loyal long term supporters. This shows with the gap between clubs now. Just a few short years ago when there was empty stadiums everyone was saying how important fans are but thats been forgotten already.

I'll go for the Ruud appointment to make Leicester up their game and get something. Newcastle to respond at Palace, Villa to get back on track, Spurs to continue being Spursy and Liverpool to knock Man City out of the title race. Brighton 1-1 Southampton (Result 😁) Brentford 1-1 Leicester Crystal Palace 1-2 Newcastle Nottingham Forest 2-1 Ipswich Wolves 2-1 Bournemouth West Ham 1-1 Arsenal Chelsea 1-2 Aston Villa Man Utd 2-0 Everton Tottenham 2-2 Fulham Liverpool 3-1 Man City

Yup thats looking good, I thought they would have went for a slightly higher capacity though. 53000 is still a big ground but they could fill 60000 especially when you can give an away allocation of 5000.

Didnt realise there was a top of the table clash last night. Sheff Utd go top with a win against Sunderland who havent won in 7. Sheff Utd now 5 clear of 3rd and they started the season -2 points so they are obviously the team to beat now.