I would like to see Saliba feature soon

I would to, but at the moment he will not be in the European team and he may be excluded from the epl team. Arteta is supposed to be good at managing players like Sterling so I can’t see what the problem will be. He needs to be properly managed and playing regularly (even if only cups) by the end of the year.

The most negative possibility is that after watching him in training, Arteta has decided he isn’t as good as was thought when we bought him.

Unless you're Henry or Sol.


https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football ... r-22855123
Ex-Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger explains why he made an example out of Cesc Fabregas

Hoping for the best for Everton today, even though I've never liked the club for personal reasons. Always had a soft spot for Liverpool and perhaps would have been my club if things were different. That said, I like the present incarnation of Everton. So far, Ancelotti has done a bang up job. How long this current run will last is anyone's guess but he's definitely helped his own reputation.

Is anyone else more than a little worried we are building a reputation of a club to avoid in transfers? (St. Etienne , Atletico)

He will definitely be in the PL squad as he's under 21.

So true - especially if Mike says so...

We have a negative win-loss record against Man Utd. Was there ever a time in anyone's time as a fan we dominated them?

Before this season, for a few years, I dreaded going to Manchester, for either side. Now, I'm intrigued on what may happened. I'm nervous and dreading the worst (a huge loss) but for the first time in a while, I am..dare I say it..a bit excited about this match.

De Bruyne is definitely out of the game.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/54571524

When Mike Tyson was asked by a reporter whether he was worried about Evander Holyfield and his fight plan he answered; “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.”

Wise man, Mike.

I was always a nerd, but my older brothers were pretty tough street guys. I asked one of my older brothers about some of his bar fights, which he had a reputation for someone you wanted to avoid, said "It's not how well him or me can hit, its how well either of us can take a hit". Apparently he had a tough chin (and head).

C'mon Tofees, don't give up hope. I'll forgive you this one time if you stay unbeaten. I promise.

Speaking of boxers. My father is old enough to remember from Marciano onward. He said the two 'scariest' fighters he'd ever seen was Foreman and Tyson in their primes. He also maintains the '70s had the toughest heavyweights by some distance. Several of them, according to him, could have been champion in later era.

You can do it Everton. I believe in you.

If he does not play this season, we will have another wasted season for him. Hope some Championship side takes him up.

That possibility is better than if their relationship had broken down. I still think missing out on the French Cup Final is a big thing on a young French player's mind.

Everton fortunate to be at 1-1 with Pool. The way the game is going, a Pool win is more likely.

City 1 Arsenal 2?

Anything is possible!

Saliba has just suffered a significant bereavement is what I’ve seen reported. He’s 19 and very tall and coming off quite a big injury. I’ve also seen reported concerns about his core strength. I’m guessing his heads not right and his fitness, particularly the match fitness level Arsenal want him to be at is also not right. Look for him to make steady quiet progress and step in if there’s an injury later in the season, europa squads can be altered at the ‘halfway’ point can they not?

C'mon Everton.

Yes!

That goal was too easy for LFC. Darn it.

Inexplicable ruling out of Liverpool's third 'goal' against Everton. Surely that was level.
I prefer a draw to a Liverpool win but if that happened to us I'd be fuming.

How on earth could that Liverpool ‘goal’ be ruled offside? VAR at its very worst - apart from the Van Dijk incident that is.

I don't know if they have secret footage that they don't show on TV in that VAR room, but if so I'm not sure why they're showing us anything at all. Only leads to confusion when they show Mané clearly onside and then disallow the goal. Liverpool really hard done by two wrong decisions.

I'm wondering the same but I'll take it.

I didn’t watch the game and haven’t seen the incident. No doubt it’ll be covered on MOTD tonight. But even if it was a bad decision, I find it very difficult to have any sympathy for Liverpool. Well, let me reword that. I find it impossible to have any sympathy for Liverpool.

Aside from that
1) Everton are more likely to be our direct rival for European spots this season.
2) What on earth is going on with VAR? I'm a fan of VAR in principle. But I'm struggling to understand how that could be ruled offside by someone who
i. is acquainted with the rules of football ii. has access to the footage and iii. isn't cockeyed, or under some influence or other.
3) It's absurd that despite VAR there can be two such calamitous decisions against the same side in the same match.

If my post implied I had any sympathy for Liverpool Bernard, let me clarify. I don't.
But it looked like a terrible decision.

Interesting team, penny might have dropped for Arteta that he can’t play both Aubameyang and Lacazette in these big games.

Should be good

Well done Theo!

Chelsea ( )

Interesting and bold. Including Pépé is a move I like. But I'm slightly nervous about our back 4 ...

any links?

Partey on bench..........

1Leno
2Bellerín
16Holding
6dos Santos Magalhães
3Tierney
8Ceballos
34Xhaka
7Saka
12Willian
19Pépé
14Aubameyang

Substitutes
9Lacazette
13Rúnarsson
15Maitland-Niles
18Partey
23David Luiz
25Elneny
30Nketiah

Party on the bench whoop whoop!!

edit: my apologies...

It looks a back 5 with Saka at left wing back to me

Was that Luiz coming out?



Yep Holding injured in warm up.