Rorshach

So ... during that game Gusto put his studs firmly on Willian's ancle, high speed, straight on. Yellow card. DCL's winning the ball while grazing Clyne's leg merited extensive VAR. You'd think by now they'd somehow improved this thing, or managed to hide their laughable incompetence better. How anyone connected to VAR still are employed, I cannot fathom. Must be managed by someone with the brains of a Boris or worse.

So, the big question then becomes: what will VAR learn from this? My guess: nothing.

Don't sell Onana short, he has scored for us! Twice.

Silly from DCL to have studs up there. Still ... 99 minutes and Palace didn't look like scoring. So that's something. Now, all we need is for McNeill not to be seriously injured (unlikely), and somehow find a way to score ourselves soon.

I think some of that has to do with the quality of goal keepers. You tend to see it with young strikers coming up, or strikers moving from other, "lower" leagues - they finish in the same manner as previously, but the better quality goalie will get that finish. You need either more power, or better placement, to score. Some manage that fine, some take a little while (say, Suarez). Some can't make the leap.

Seems like Frankie boy is to become the polar opposite of Samuele Allardici - the guy you hire when there's no hope left and you'd like a manager who can deliver not results or survival, but press conferences and losses galore.

You might be right, thought that was what I thought of him last year. For him to look like this in his second season, it makes me doubt him more. In the "gets to chances"-department, I'm reminded of Jermaine Beckford. He scored eight for us the season he was here, and he got the chances almost every game. So in a way you thought "well, maybe, if he just gets a little more clinical". Darwin's better than Beckford at just about everything, but his finishing is in the Beck department now. ETA: Thing about Beckford, he never played PL before or after us. So he didn't really have the level, I think. Wasn't just a case of "well, maybe".

Think that's my argument about him last time he was brought up, last thread? He's a good player, got all the tools, but his finishing is atrocious. Most everything else he brings is top PL standard, but his finishing belongs in League One on a normal day.

Not helping Darwin's cause that Liverpool score freely when he's off the pitch. They've been good in the second half.

Yeah. Still a silly yellow, as they've been (and should be, by the book) stonewall.

I would like to think that players should accept the "don't kick ball away"-rule after some yellows, but it persists still. Ref not exactly great here, but why TAA should seek him out after being given that last yellow escapes me.

Staying onside is a challenge today, it seems.

We've been looking okay at times this season, but if Dyche ever starts Keane again, I'll call for his head.

And like clockwork. Play Keane vs Hwang and you're asking for trouble. Thank you, Sean. Also, please, never ever play Michael Keane again. I'm sick of him destroying the defesive surety of our team. Not worth it at any cost, really. ETA: Look at that. What possible reason is there for keeping Keane in the squad, let alone on the field? Get him off before we're embarrased further. As for the third goal, well, shouldn't be. Wasn't a corner, bad ref. But he's been substandard for the match, so no surprise.

Not really enamoured by the 5 - 4 - 1 we sometimes employ. Both because it removes some creativity for defense, but mostly because it lets Michael Keane back in the team. Nice guy, Keane, but he's simply not good enough.

I knew nothing of Malo Gusto before the season, and heard people talking him up early on. Seems, though, he's decidedly average in defense. Chelsea need a proper two-way back, like James, and he's too injury prone. Still, holding on for three points there, Chelsea. Keeps Luton off our backs a little bit.

Chelsea looked to have this game sewn up, but Luton are nothing if not a fighting team, and Chelsea are terribly soft these days. Could still be a draw, this.

Just a quick read through the BBC "complaints from the managers"-article, and in regards to heavy offside flags, I caught this comment : Now, I get we're Everton and unimportant, but Ben Godfrey broke his leg in just such an incident when the rule had just changed... Or are leg breaks not really injuries?

Ah. I didn't follow the events leading up to his switch, so didn't know. Bit of a dick move from Lev, who generally tends to be referred to as a gentleman, I believe.

TBF, he asks in a very respectful manner.

Given how strong the US is atm, I don't think he helped himself much either. He's not a shoo-in on their Olympic team right now, I'd say.

Levon even changed to USAnian these days, just to cover all the pedantic bases here.

Seems like at some point we'll have to accept that football is dead and some other form of entertainment has to be found.

Not being too good to evaluate, I looked at the position and thought it'd be fun to play f4 right away. I guess I would have gone down that route

I think I can safely blame the commentator for that atrocious penalty.