Stoke Stinker

Easy goal, no doubt powerful, but 3 defenders in front. Almost an entire half of pressure and only 1 penalty to show for, a result definitely undeserving of our effort. However, Stoke's physical toughness remains and I can only hope that this 1 point we got is going to be better than the points other UCL contenders get from them. Chelsea already lost there and Man City drew. As disappointed as I am with 2 fewer points than I hoped, the result is in the cards from the start.

I can only hope we get reinforcements that will help us unlock other tough matches and provide some needed rotation and cover for our existing players. Their effort and result are above and beyond expectations and the only thing we need is a solid bench to further our goals.

Side note, horrible fan comments usually stand out, such as one suggesting Everton creating Barkley sale rumors and another wanting Mou to recall Lukaku to destroy our season. Both show how horrible people can be as both are really of bad faith. 

Manchester Evening News broke the story about Barkley and unless we have more influence over their papers than SAF, it is certainly tasteless to suggest we want to sell the centerpiece of our future by initiating such rumors. From Everton's view, we're enjoying our football so much we don't even have time to talk about players we are willing to sell. We are focusing on players we want! Focus on your sinking ship and stop bothering us!

Recalling Lukaku (or Barry) has been a fear for some time now. Never mind the contract and legal obligations. It is purely bad business practice, bad faith and ones that inspire no confidence of the speaker's morality or the club if exacted. 

To do so, when the parent club is unlikely to offer player the playing time he needs, will not only anger my club, but it will also annoy the player. And if one is to notice, we've played games without Barry, or an ineffective Lukaku before and we still edge out opponents. Sure it will mess with our plans, but the player would want out next season, Lukaku certainly wants more game time which he cannot get until Mou cleans house. Furthermore, who would want to take your players? So, if Athletico Madrid plays Chelsea in UCL, you want to call back Courtois? Where will Courtois want to ply his trade in the immediate future? Will you play him instead of Cech? What will he do next year? A man of his age will want to win things and play, even if it is for more money. So the greedy comment to sabotage others by recalling players in bad faith just shot the club in the foot.

Search Junior Malanda, a recent excellent example of proper business done by Wolfsburg. While I'm not sure if he will turn their season, but I'm sure he'll get quite a few games. To sit him on the bench would signal that Wolfsburg cannot be trusted. No doubt this will impact Zulte-Waregem's season, but as long as Wolfsburg do it in good faith, Zulte-Waregem and others would continue to look to Wolfsburg for loans.

As mentioned in my earlier post, loans is essential given the distorted market. Think for a moment if you have to keep all the players you have, like every UCL team, how do they prove they are good enough? Reserve games? Street pick up games? Now, are we to suggest that no team should only have X amount of payroll or players? How do you like REAL fair play rules to screw your big spending club over? Success is a double edge sword that cuts both ways. The bigger you are, the more you spend, and the more management worries you have.

Side side note. Cardiff is getting Solskjaer as manager. Poor Solskjaer. He doesn't know what he's getting into. Cardiff fans will no doubt back him, but his tenure there is like trying to light a candle in water. If you get someone who makes Bluebirds wear Red, you know he doesn't care about the club.