HalfTimePost

Called up to England U20s

Booed themselves off at HT Booed us on after HT Lovely atmosphere for Marsch' first game

The rules changed didn't they to ensure the game is stopped in emergencies like that. It helps the medical teams involved get better care to the person, a stand of thousands of people who may not quite realise that somebody is having a heart attack can mean things like gangways become obstructed, people get angry if they don't understand what's going on etc. Heaven forbid a goal goes in whilst somebody is getting urgent care and celebrations cause issues getting the person care. So because of the rule changes, we're more aware of it happening. As for team doctors getting involved, a couple things: there's more expectation that they get involved as 30-60k people are stopping their day, the one set of doctors you can actually see, it's comforting to see them do something. Cynically, maybe it's slightly performative - but I'd probably assume the Dr to multi-millionaires is maybe slightly better than the guy in the stands, if it was you you'd want the best care and it looks good for all entities if they get involved, performative or not.

He's getting plenty of minutes. He's only not appeared twice, one of those was less than a week after he joined, needed to settle in, train with the team. They have a RB of their own whose been playing alright. He's done well to take his place already with Tennai Watson filling in a LB - partly due to suspensions and partly because of how well Kaine is doing. His minutes are fine

Everton have 2-3 games in hand on most of the others, but looking at their fixtures is difficult to see where their next points are coming from

I assume he's going to be out injured for a while? He's got a boot on and crutches in a few images in his Insta Story. Was out at St Georges Park representing Villa (rather than Grimsby) at a PFA event for their AIMS programme (Asian Inclusion Mentoring Scheme). 45 clubs took part with young players and reps at the day, he was repping Villa. A good scheme and great for him to be taking on that sort of role for the club and local community.

Has the joke maybe alsoinfluenced his chant? (or the chant influenced the joke?) Its been a while since I've made it Into The Holte yesterday and was a tad surprised when a pretty poor rendition Shakira's Waka Waka was Baileys chant The song usually ends 'This time for Africa' but changed to 'He comes from Jamaica'

The only thing Gerrard got wrong today was Bailey and Buendia. Played them on the wrong wings, swap them over and think they both would've looked more dangerous. Bailey's poor lifted attempt off his right foot had no power, had he been coming off the left her have had more power behind that like his goal at Everton. Buendia off the left would've looked better off the right where he's been more at home in his recent good performances

Finn Azaz quietly going about his business as the most successful loan of the year

Mings long balls working. Winning with WatkIngs Sanson is alive. What a day

Just needed more long balls from Mings

Yes Ollie. Loved seeing him back amongst the goals. Please kick on again now.

I know it's only one performance but not a £50m performance today

This. Gerrard clueless. Theres three options to that lineup, all crap. - Watkins and Ings in a 2 together, which demonstrably doesn't work, with Coutinho doing all creative work centrally. Against a team that play 3 CBs and a £50m CM we're desperate to buy to fix our own central issues. All of their gaps are wide. - Watkins wide left, out of position, with Coutinho wide right, out of position. - Coutinho on the left and Watkins on the right, way out of position. (We'll win now)

I completely agree, just think that's the route we're going to take. Rumours of Wijnaldum too, I'm very worried about becoming Everton

What a focking moron

Who can we give Swindon next year? Raikhy? Young?

I think we'll sell Ings and sign one of Suarez or Firmino. With Archer staying as third. Or maybe he goes on loan again and we sign both. That's not what I want to happen mind. It's just what I think happens. Maybe we sell Watkins rather than Ings but I hope not.

There's a surprise

By no means do I think we should be thinking of getting rid. But I am nervous about our transfer policy come the summer. I don't think we should be giving him £40m+ players after Coutinho. Bissouma may well be a good player but I'm concerned that we'll fast become Everton. Full of good players from other Prem teams, for massive money and end up being very mediocre. I'd like us to go back to our old policy. Ibrahim Sangare is the buy for me in midfield, I really like Bissouma but I'm not convinced I want a hugely expensive squad built by Gerrard. Smart buys with sell on value I think for me

He's made deals worth £68m to the club for new players (although assume Coutinho won't be taking up the offer come summer now) Don't get me wrong Digne and Coutinho are good buys. But we still don't have an improved midfield, still don't have competition at fullbacks and still don't have competition at CB. We treated January like Football Manager and whilst we improved the squad. We didn't actually remove any of our weaknesses. He had a mini pre-season, something no other managers normally get that join halfway through the season and is failing to implement any tactics or style. He also is (so far, bar United with £140m Coutinho on the bench.) incapable of changing games with substitutions. It's a little bit his fault

We need a stronger Director of Football if we are to keep Purslow. He's great at the non-football side of his role. But when he gets involved in football he makes bad decisions because he's too attracted to 'names' whether it's signing Ings or hiring Gerrard. Lange needs to be stronger to manage the sporting side of the club and be strong enough to shut Purslow out. If that can't happen, Purslow should go.

Deserved boos

FFS that was the chance

Both of the argies are/were. For some reason they seem the only ones that are angry rather than sulking